Annette French

How They Brought The Good News of Annette

I galloped, Dirk galloped, we galloped all three ...”

That was how they started to bring the good news from Aix to Ghent, although the author of the poem never told us what the good news was or why they had to get to Ghent in such a hurry.

But it all sounded desperate and romantic.

It was Ferdie who brought the good news of ANNETTE FRENCH. He came whizzing in on his bicycle, and almost knocked Kitty sideways. "Here, watch it," said Kitty, who was taking the coffee round, "either ride that thing like a gentleman or else ring your bell."

"I'm all impetuous this morning," said Ferdie as he dismounted and took off his clips. Then he presented us with a file of lovely photographs, and they were all of Annette, one of the most gorgeous girls born north of the border. We thought she'd emigrated, but she hadn't, and we gave Ferdie a piece of chamois leather for bringing the good news.

"What's that for?" he asked.

"For cleaning your bike,' we said, "it's filthy."

Beautiful Britons No 188 - July 1971