I have to say that, despite my aversion to weddings (especially those in which I have actively played the male lead), I did rather enjoy the one which brought London to a standstill on Friday. I thought it delightful and far more authentic than the new fringe sported by Sir Elton John at the ceremony.
But, as entranced as I may have been by the service which made the dashing Prince William and comely Catherine man and wife, I was even more taken by the 30-odd (that’s 30-odd, not 30 odd!) ladies with whom I had the pleasure of taking tea and cake while watching the nuptials at Jill Smith’s most fragrant Galashiels Lodge in Stanford.
Well, as they oohed and aahed over, to be entirely honest, Kate’s dad Michael Middleton, I snapped a few pics of the, um, quite indescribable headwear on display. Here, see for yourself…
I love Elma Hunter!
And you have to love this hat... check out the, er, is that a koala bear?
… and this lady’s nose, I mean hat just floored me!
Style, my Hatpeople, style. Essential. Very important to take the trouble to be well turned out. Just like this…
Yes. Just like that.
I call it my Karoo-meets-Kensington look. Very big next year, fashion insiders tell me. You read it here first. It’s OK. Just thrilled to be of service.
Umdlotian Darren Aiken is a sculptor of international repute. He lives in a beautiful home which seems to tumble down a hill on different levels until it lands almost on Umdloti’s north beach. He shares a home and studio space with wife Audrey Rudnick, also an internationally acclaimed artist.
In this, the first of a series of interviews with some of a whole bunch of amazing people who help to make Umdloti the idyllic South African seaside village that it is, Darren spoke to fredhatman.co.za…
Darren Aiken... with some of his miniature sculptures. That's Archbishop Desmond Tutu listening in awe to Metallica guitarist James Hetfield... with Springbok rugby star Schalk Burger looking on Pic: Hatman
FH: What was your early inspiration to take an interest in art?
DA: My first introduction to plasticine, at four years old. My inspiration for it to become all-consuming was the 1978 World Cup soccer in West Germany. My dad was there on business, I collected the Tiger comic weekly (a sports action boys comic book) and I sculpted each player from West Germany, Brazil and England 4cm high, with pin pricks for eyes and a cut for the mouth and a blob or spike which suited the shape of the nose, complete with hairstyle and “sidies” of the time, full colour clothes, numbers and bootlaces and stripes. These players I used as working toys, physically striking the ball to each other (with my help of course) and at goal on a green painted field with lines on a wooden board – it was my favourite game or toy of my youth.
… and this lady’s nose, I mean hat just floored me!
