On Sunday morning it was dry so
I decided to drive to Tintwistle in Derbyshire and
walk around the reservoir. I parked in the small grounds of Christ Church, a
cemetery I visited before looking - unsuccessfully - for Vivienne’s grave. An
old man putting flowers on a grave had told me the funeral service had been
there but there were no new graves. On Sunday I got lucky for as I walked up
the main road to access the reservoir I passed a bedraggled-looking overflow cemetery
and thought I’d have a quick look. Immediately I spotted a brass plaque and
knew this was the one I sought.
Though she spent her adult life in London Vivienne
had lived in Tintwistle as a child, her parents running
the post office. She attended the local village school. There was a flash of
her future was seen when she turned up to a school dance in a Suzy Wong style
dress she’d made herself. When she was 17 the family moved to London where she
became a teacher until she aged 30 before moving into fashion. She became a
world-famous designer and businesswoman credited with bringing modern punk and
new wave fashions into the mainstream. There’re about 30 flagships stores and
700 other outlets selling VW gear.
There were three marriages: (1) Derek Westwood
who worked in a Hoover factory (producing son Benjamin), (2) Malcolm McLaren
with whom she founded the lingerie brand Agent Provocateur (producing son
Joseph) and her former fashion student Andreas Kronthaler.
She died aged 81 at her home in Clapham
surrounded by her family (whispered to have succumbed by cancer.) A memorial service
held at Southwark Cathedral in London was followed by a burial in this humble
grave in Tintwistle village (population 1800.) you
wouldn't know it but for the plaque. I thought it a little unusual for her to
be buried here are she’s left Tintwistle over six
decades ago.
A local chap I spoke to said some family still
lived in Tintwistle and Glossop so her roots must
have laid strong ties to the place. I read an urn had been stolen when a
florist had returned to the grave to plant new flowers. I doubt this one is the
original. This overflow cemetery looks ramshackle and unloved. I was impressed
by the grave's simplicity though. With a person fortune of £40 million and a company
turning over £60 million per year she could have gone for a bold gaudy thing.
When I returned to the car I looked at the church
where the funeral service had been held. The church had smelled divine courtesy
of candles by Padfield business Essentialiese
and there was music from Arnfield Brass and The
Pennine Singers. The wake was held at The Bull’s Head pub. I was sure the
fashion designer would have preferred to have been buried next to the church.
Oh well what do I know - of know about fashion.....I must admit I thought her androgynous
designs and irreverent attitude was all a bit studenty
(thumbs up to her being a veggie though.) She did well though - all the way
from Vivienne Swire to world-renown designer and entrepreneur. I enjoyed a frothy
coffee and a Twix finger, did a salute and left.
Vivienne's home in Clapham where she died...