In 1974 I celebrated my 21st birthday in April Ashley’s Knightsbridge restaurant, April and Desmond’s (April Ashley, model, actor and transgender activist, dies aged 86, 28 December).
I had gone down to London from Manchester to find my way in the world and was living with a group of beautiful young dancers from the London Contemporary Dance School at The Place, one of whom April had taken under her wing.
April swept through the restaurant with the grace and poise of a classical ballerina, many layers of chiffon swirling about her elegant frame, a sparkling choker at her throat and her signature glass of champagne in her hand. At the end of the meal, a spectacular cake was brought to the table and the waiters were summoned to sing Happy Birthday. As I blew out the candles, April looked at me and said “21 and still a virgin?”, thereby outing me to my friends and blowing apart my attempts at urbane sophistication in one fell swoop. In spite of the humiliation, I am still thrilled to have met such an important and trailblazing icon.
Trish Kelly
Manchester
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