Haywood Stenton Jones wanted only the best for his son. “David has no doubt told you that he has been in show business since he was about sixteen and during that time he has learned to take hard knocks and disappointment,” wrote Mr Jones of 4 Plaistow Grove, with the mix of concern and pride typical of a suburban father whose talented child is chasing an unlikely dream. The reference letter was sent to one WA Freshman Esq, head of a Mayfair legal firm, some time between 1964 and 1966.
From a little terraced house in Bromley in Greater London, close to a railway station offering a direct line to Victoria and an escape from postwar provincial dolor, Jones painted an image of a smart young man who needed a little help to get going. “Whenever he takes on an idea of any kind he never lets up and he puts everything he has got into it,” Jones continued, asserting that his son “will be a good ambassador for your organization”.
