I passed again those two old boys on Bond Street London today. They were still there chatting away 26 years on and today I was so intrigued that I joined in the conversation.
They told me that they first met on board a ship in 1940 when they agreed to get their countries together to fight the Germans. They both lived in Hyde Park, one in London and one in New York State and they both admitted to being egotistical, then again you had to be if you were going to run nations especially those at War.
It was ironic that despite the fight against the Germans they got together in Europe only to break away again in times of peace. Though the Germans apparently lost two wars and were defeated they came out stronger economically and the two old boys mused over that. I asked them if the world had changed and they both said that they no longer recognised the place. They both fought for freedom and wondered why there were so many cameras of surveillance on the streets these days. Added to that they were surprised to see that the people obeyed their leaders to the letter just like those old days in Berlin.
They were amazed to hear that 4 members of the public were whizzing at 17,500 mph 274 miles above them around the Earth as they sat there. They couldn’t understand why people were wearing masks and could speak with each other’s nation whilst strolling down the street and no longer needed a hot line lavatory in a bunker in Westminster.
FDR and Winston were perplexed and I tried to reassure them that all their efforts and the 10 million that died paid a price for all we had now was worth it and that 76 years on we were really grateful. The two old boys continued their long chat and I moved on to my next meeting. I’m sure they will still be there tomorrow though I’m waiting for the day when some politically correct wag will move them on as they claim an offence of some description.
Roosevelt and Churchill two great leaders, figures of history enjoying their long chat in reminiscing of days gone by. The bronze designed by Lawrence Holofcener in 1995 is a wonderful street piece that I am very fond of. I do like a long chat though these days your more likely to get a short text.
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