Lost in the mists of time is how I came to pick up a copy of ‘The Affectionate Punch’ the 1986 autobiography of sixties boy about town Justin de Villeneuve. But I’m so glad I did. I found the tale of this East End waif and stray who reinvented himself over the years fascinating.

His given name was Nigel Jonathan Davies. He became a Soho face, a hairdresser in Mayfair, then the manager and boyfriend of Twiggy at the height of her fame. Later a photographer, in fashion, music and more recently birds, of the feathered kind…

The book, written in the slang and argot of Justin’s own, is one I often give as presents to those I find of the like mind. In my humble opinion it is one book everyone interested in the 50s and 60s should read.

The full JdV story begins in Hackney in 1939. Due to Hitler dropping bombs in and around most of London during the Blitz, Nigel was evacuated to the countryside and ends up at the home of JB Priestley the well-known writer and social commentator where young Nigel starts to see a different way of life, and it’s possibilities. An impression is made.

Later returning to the East End and fed up of the name Nigel, he adopts the name Nagels and begins to ‘duck and dive’. He gets work in Soho strip clubs, dodgy boxing booths and is always up for buying THIS and selling THAT. One of his schemes involved obtaining a job lot of suspect wine, the proceeds of an insurance job. He simply relabelled the lot with a better known and tasting grape.

Celebrity hairdresser Vidal Sassoon bought the lot for his wedding. None of the guests sussed the wine scam; Vidal was happy and impressed with the young mans nous, decides to make Nagels his assistant.

At first he worked in hairdressing under the name of Christian St. Forget. Only even that name wasn’t glam enough so he concocted Justin de Villeneuve and set to work in the Mayfair salons.

There he bumped in to a young Lesley Hornby, then only 15, Justin being ten years older. Within six months he had cut her hair, changed her name to Twiggy – due to her skinny frame – and before too long she was on the cover of magazines galore, with the photos often taken by Justin, now passing himself as a fashion snapper. She was declared the face of 1966 by the Daily Express and bosh, Justin was off and running.

He took to the buzzing sixties lifestyle like a duck to water. He had the front to get by in any company, and with his ‘street smarts’ also kicking in, he made the most of every opportunity.

‘At one point I got through 23 cars in 12 months, Ferraris the lot. I had domestic staff, five of them: cook, butler, and a chauffeur. Ridiculous, but I don’t regret a minute of it.’ he said in a later interview.

Twiggy and Justin were the toast of London, New York and pretty much all over. Then, Twiggy met American actor Michael Whitney and things take a turn for the worse, for JdV at least. Suddenly the ‘Twiggy gravy train’ has halted. His 50% of her earnings as a model comes to an end and once again, Justin has to get juggling. This time around he becomes an interior designer and then a manager of pop acts, including the ill-fated Tim Hardin.

He then got his camera out once again. He had brokered a deal with Vogue magazine in which JdV would photograph David Bowie and he would become the first male to grace its cover.  Even though Justin and Twiggy were no longer a couple, he remained her manager, and they both flew to Paris to hook up with Bowie, where he was working on his album ‘Pin Ups’.

The photo session began. Bowie loved the test shots and decided he wanted the image of him and Twiggy for the cover of the album. Weighing up his options, Justin took the deal to go with Bowie, knowing it would be the bigger earner.
Vogue never spoke to him again.

Justin married model Jan Ward in 1975 and his daughters from that marriage; Poppy and Daisy are heavily involved in the fashion world of today.

Later he married designer Sue Timney and through a few contacts, I met Justin and Sue in Deal in Kent where they lived, for lunch one Summer day.

It was a lovely couple of hours and Justin was a very fine host. I distinctly remember he had impeccable manners.

I also met him again more recently and though now a senior man, he still looked as sharp as a razor and I still found myself inspired when talking to him. He told me he is now retired and spent days photographing birds, ducks mostly.

I had to smile, only him.

The Mumper of SE5