A Fashionable Life
This Is Your Life A Fashionable Life feature
  This Is Your Life Big Red Book Thomas BODKIN

14 March 1960

Eamonn travelled to Birmingham to surprise the lawyer turned art historian and curator, who had been the Director of the city's Barber Institute of Fine Arts since 1935.
Among those paying tribute to Thomas - who was born in Dublin - are writer Compton Mackenzie and broadcaster Gilbert Harding.

     
     
  Twiggy This Is Your Life TWIGGY

10 December 1969

Eamonn surprised the international model and fashion icon outside the studio of her manager Justin de Villeneuve in Chelsea, London.
Twiggy - who became a model at the age of only 16 and had been named 'The Face of 1966' by the Daily Express - was greeted by, among others, broadcaster Cathy McGowan and journalist Marjorie Proops.

     
     
Arthur Dooley This Is Your Life Arthur Dooley This Is Your Life Arthur DOOLEY

4 February 1970

The artist and sculptor, who first began sculpting while working as a cleaner at St Martin's School of Art, was surprised by Eamonn outside the House of Commons in London's Westminster.
Arthur came to national attention following an appearance on the BBC television programme Today, and the programme's host Cliff Michelmore is among his guests.

     
     
Vidal Sassoon This Is Your Life Vidal Sassoon This Is Your Life Vidal SASSOON

2 December 1970

Eamonn surprised the hairstylist - credited with re-popularising a simple close-cut geometric hairstyle called the bob cut - at London's fashionable Cafe Royal.
The success of his innovative cuts led to the opening of his first New York City salon in 1965.

     
     
Ginette Spanier This Is Your Life Ginette Spanier This Is Your Life Ginette SPANIER

9 February 1972

The production team flew to Paris to surprise the former Fortnum and Mason shop assistant who became director of the fashion house, Balmain. Ginette received her first surprise guest on the flight to London when Eamonn revealed that her husband was in the seat behind them!
Her guests include theatrical producer Binkie Beaumont and actress Lilli Palmer.

     
     
Norman Parkinson This Is Your Life Norman Parkinson This Is Your Life Norman PARKINSON

2 November 1983

Royalty played a part in surprising the celebrated portrait and fashion photographer, when Eamonn caught 'Parks' at the Hamiltons Gallery in London's Mayfair, while he was photographing HRH Prince Andrew.
Among those paying tribute are novelist Barbara Cartland and the muppet character Miss Piggy!

     
     
Zandra Rhodes This Is Your Life Zandra Rhodes This Is Your Life Zandra RHODES

20 February 1985

The excesses of the 1980s were highlighted when Eamonn surprised the fashion designer – famous for her outrageous designs – during a fashion show at London's Café Royal. The fashion show continued into the start of Zandra's tribute, which included guests Marie Helvin, Janet Street-Porter and a recorded message from JR himself – actor Larry Hagman.

     
     
Terry O’Neill This Is Your Life Terry O’Neill This Is Your Life Terry O'NEILL

11 December 1985

Hollywood royalty - in the form of Terry's wife, the actress Faye Dunaway - was on hand to assist Eamonn in surprising the celebrity photographer at London's Ritz Hotel.
A star-studded parade of guests paying tribute includes Elton John, Ringo Starr, Kevin Keegan and Dudley Moore.

     
     
David Shepherd This Is Your Life David Shepherd This Is Your Life David SHEPHERD

28 February 1990

Michael surprised the outspoken conservationist and artist - most famous for his paintings of wildlife - at a fine arts fair at Birmingham's NEC.
Prince Michael of Kent, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and the Hollywood film star James Stewart are among those paying tribute.

     

* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details