People forget that in the music/fashion world of 60s London everyone was interconnected and knew everyone else.
Of course I knew Brian Jones well before Jimi arrived in London.
In fact I think I introduced them which was a mistake because they immediately bonded and used to goof around like a couple of naughty schoolkids.
Dandie Fashions was started by Tara Browne and Alan Holston. Tara Browne was the son of Oonagh Guinness, heiress to the Guinness fortune, and his brother Garech was a founding member of The Chieftains.
On the night of the 17th December 1966 Jimi and I went to a party. Brian Jones had come round and insisted we should go to a party to see his friend Tara Browne before he went off to Ireland for Christmas.
We arrived late and met Tara Browne and his girlfriend, the model Suki Potier who had both been spending that day with Brian, and they chatted with us around the dining room table. We exchanged phone numbers and said we would keep in touch and then they left.
Tara was driving his sports car and had a fatal crash in Redcliffe Gardens just minutes later.
Suki survived and later became the girlfriend of Brian Jones.
Jimi and I were shocked when we heard of the car crash. Tara was the first one of our circle who died.
John Crittle took over Tara’s share in Dandie Fashions and then Dandie Fashions was later taken on by the Beatles and was called Apple Tailoring.
We got to know John Crittle quite well. He was a cheerful, sociable Australian.
On one occasion, when I flew to New York, he was on the same flight and we sat together.
He entertained me with stories about Australia and the flight passed very quickly.
Incidentally he was the father of the ballet dancer Darcey Bussell.