It must have been interesting working with Little Richard.
Goodness, what a friendly chap! I’ve worked with some convivial people in my time but Little Richard really was especially eager to be everybody’s chum. I remember he seemed to take a liking to yours truly almost straight away. He’d embrace me firmly at every opportunity and frequently distributed friendly pats on the bottom which was a demonstrative way of expressing friendship and not one that I was used to. A firm handshake was always considered sufficient at Oxford, but he was an American and they’re different you see.
Was he friendly to everyone or just you?
He did seem to take quite a shine to me for some reason. I was frequently invited to visit his house and he suggested I might enjoy using his bath which he claimed was especially ornate. I recall he even suggested staying the evening at one point, which was very hospitable.
Did you ever take him up on the offer?
No. No I’ve never been one for the overnight visit; too attached to the comforts of my own bed, no matter how lavish the bathing facilities on offer are. So I respectfully declined.
Did you ever think these advances were something other than just…friendship?
Ah… I see what you mean. You think he wanted… he wanted me to be…
Yes.
He wanted me to become his butler? Well, I confess it did cross my mind. If I do say so myself I was an extremely competent studio cleaner who was always very well presented and I can imagine the idea of having someone permanently on staff who would know how to attend to an intricately decorated bath setting was an attractive idea for someone who took as much care for his own appearance as Richard. So yes I declined in part because I enjoyed my current occupation and had no desire to work as a butler in any capacity. Very astute of you to realise that was what was happening by the way. I can see nothing gets past you. Did you know he was later ordained as a minister of the church?
Yes, I did hear that.
Very different to my old vicar at St Cuthbert’s On The Hill. Old Reverend Daintree couldn’t play the piano and never uttered the phrase “Tootie Frootie Oh Rootie” in his entire life. And while I never saw the ablution facilities at the vicarage I’m sure they were relatively austere and in keeping with a style befitting a traditional Church of England Rectory.
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