Miss World 1970 by Jennifer Hosten

Author:Jennifer Hosten
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Sutherland House Inc.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Miss World Around the World

WHEN I RETURNED TO London in January 1971, some of my real work as Miss World began. Mecca, as mentioned, owned dance halls, restaurants, nightclubs, bowling alleys, and similar venues all over Britain. I made a tour of them, often in the company of Miss United Kingdom, Yvonne Ormes; Ken Dodd, the buck-toothed comedian who was a regular on UK television and quite famous at the time; and Bruce Forsyth, the actor and game show host (who would later marry a former Miss World).

In this way, we hit Mecca properties in London, Manchester, Liverpool and many other cities, some of them grand facilities, others less so. After being introduced, I would perhaps say a few words and meet local dignitaries or mingle with the patrons of the establishment. I did not mind these appearances, but they required a lot of preparation and organization on my part.

For each event, I would have to decide what to wear and get my hair and makeup ready each time. I was fortunate to find a hairdresser from Grenada named Suzanne Mary Smith. If I had time, I would go to her salon. If I didn’t, she would come by and simply comb my hair and give it a style. There was not always time because the events could be on short notice. It helped that I was an organized person. My time as a flight attendant, where I would often get called on four- or eight-hours’ notice, had made me especially methodical about preparations.

The excursions would usually begin with the Rolls Royce pulling up at my hotel and the chauffeur, after helping me into the back seat, driving off to parts unknown. There was no briefing about where I was going or what I was to do, and I was often alone, without a chaperone or anyone to guide me or assist me through whatever place or event I was to attend. I was quite vulnerable to the people I was about to meet (some of whom would be well refreshed), but fortunately I managed to avoid any regrettable incidents.

Over time, I learned how to navigate the Mecca organization and get my schedule in advance. It was a matter of who you knew and which member of the extended Morley family you had to see about particular matters. One of the more memorable destinations in this run was Brighton, the seaside resort town. After making various promotional appearances for Mecca there, I accepted an offer to stay on for a few days with an old friend of mine, a Barbadian fashion designer by the name of Anthony Roach. Anthony and his friend Geoffrey escorted me one evening to a British Conservative Party dinner and dance at the Grand Hotel, where I met and danced with British Prime Minister Edward Heath. I found him to be a quiet, gentle and most interesting man with a great passion for music and the arts.

The following day, I visited the beauty salon at the famous and sumptuous Regency-period Hippodrome Hotel.

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