A REGAL JAMAICAN ~LADY COLIN CAMPBELL
THE NEW ROYALS, FASHION, FOOD & GLOBETROTTING
The Peter Jarrette Interview
CaribbeanBELLE
IMAGE: TRISTAN GALINSKI
In a quietly
upmarket quarter of the South London area of Kennington there is a small walled
garden shaded by a handsomely imposing fir tree. From that secluded garden
steps lead to a door next to a turret and at the top of that turret is the
boudoir of the most gracious woman, the Jamaican born citizen of the world,
Lady Colin Campbell.
“Georgie” as
she is known by her friends, new and old, greets me as though I fell into the
latter category of acquaintance. I’m
afforded a warm and immediate hug as she flings open the garden door entrance
to her London home and bathes my ears with her rich, cultured Jamaican accent,
“Darling! How are you? You found me! We meet again!”
Lady Colin Campbell or Georgie Ziadie, to use
both her less formal first name and her maiden name, has the ends of her
tumbling blonde locks loosely wrapped in curlers, only a scant application of
foundation on her serene face and our Lady is wearing a casual jersey top and
dark denims. Although London is her
base, Georgie’s Kennington home sees her in residence only once a week for a
day or three as she alights in London for the business of her publishing, media
and of course shopping. Her second home is a stunningly large concern-a chateau- in the south of France.
Chateau de L’Algarie, in the Tarn region (the famous Roquefort cheese producing
domain), is set in an idyllic parkland and is towered over by ancient trees. 20
kilometres east of Albi, the L’Algarie area, which boasts a treasured Cathedral,
has been named a World Heritage Site.
Halfway
between her many-roomed, jaw-droppingly large chateau and her much more compact
London pad is her apartment in Paris, a pied-a-terre that she arrives to from
time to time. “...For the shops and the fine dining in the city of lights darling.” Our Lady informs me and leads me
into her art laden and objet d’art- filled Kennington drawing room. “I’ve always kept homes in London. I lived in
Belgravia for 30 years, the lovely Campden Hill in Notting Hill and then
Mayfair. For the past 4 years I’ve kept this home. More of an investment for my
two sons but now I’ve fallen totally in love with it and the area. It’s beyond what they like to say these days. You
know that phrase, up-and-coming. It’s
actually one of the most sought after boroughs I’m told. Be that as it may, to
me none of that matters. I’m very comfortable here and this is my most adored
city and there are many that hold my heart but London, for me, without a doubt
has everything... the theatre, classical concerts, the social life and culture,
culture, culture.”
Lady Colin
Campbell, Georgie, was born into one of Jamaica’s wealthiest, most prominent
families, the Ziadies. Her father was of
royal Russian bloodline. His family were Greek Orthodox Catholic who had been
settled in Lebanon. Her mother, a
celebrated Jamaican beauty, had an ancestry of English, Irish, Portuguese and
Spanish. Georgie’s maternal Great-Grandmother, family name De Pass, was
Sephardic Jew and hers was one of the earliest European family arrivals to
Jamaica whose Spanish ancestors fled that country in the years of the Spanish
Inquisition.
“One could never take part in a war,” she smiles giving me her
take on her very mixed heritage, “...because one’s foot would be fighting with
one’s hand!”
The artworks
of religious iconography mixed with varied items such as hand crafted Russian
lacquer boxes and lacquer eggs on French antique side tables hold testimony to
her intriguing multicultural life story.
A small table at a window is laden with family photos. There is Georgie
being presented to the late Pope Jean Paul II, a black and white one from many,
many years gone by of her mother leading her father’s famous Jamaican racehorse, 'Patriotic Lady', back to a paddock after a winning race. “In fact,” Georgie says
proudly and thinking back in time, “the Ziadies, for 40 years were Jamaica’s
leading racing family.”
There are
pictures of her two sons (adopted as infants from Russia, both now 18 years old
and schooled privately in France ) enjoying holidays on sandy beaches and intermingled
there-in are guilt framed photos of her much loved pets. Two of which, Tum Tum a Springer Spaniel and her
daughter Popsie Miranda are the
subject of her most current novel, With
Love from Pet Heaven (Dynasty Press-London).
“My boys,
Dima and Misha enjoy coming home with
me, studies permitting,” Georgie says speaking with pride of her handsome sons
and of her home, Jamaica, with a definite fondness. “You know, not a lot of
people realise just how sophisticated Kingston is. I go back as often as I can.
I consider myself to be very, very fortunate to be born and brought up in such
a wonderful, vibrant country as Jamaica is...especially at the time I was. I am
a product of Jamaica’s heyday, a swan-song time of the Colonial era. That world
of my childhood no longer exists,” Georgie says wistfully but not sadly, quite
the contrary. “When I’m there with my
boys or on my own, whatever, there is the modernity of the culture that still
holds some lustre of the old days...nice homes, social gatherings and so
forth. The Colonial-ness and rigidity of certain social ceremonies or structures as it
were have been replaced with more mobility, options and societal movement for
many. I think that above all else the
biggest change is the positivity the black population have developed in
themselves and their self image. They
now take a pride in their heritage in a way that I don’t feel they could when I
was a child. In the Caribbean as a whole I think our undeniable state of
multicultural background is to be celebrated.
Jamaica and all her sister countries of the region have become
infinitely richer in this way and well it should be the case as globally
multicultural societies are on the rise.”
Georgie left
Jamaica in her late teens for studies abroad, in New York City. With her exotic
looks and enriching confidence it was not long until she found herself in the
giddy-making world of fashion and modelling. In America she was befriended by Prince
Serge Obolensky, the former husband to Russian Czar Alexander II’s daughter,
Princess Catherine Yourievsky. From there Georgie’s entree to famed east coast WASP society and eventually New York’s
celebrated cafe and showbiz society followed easily and with that came
introductions to the shakers, movers and further members of Europe royalty.
“You know, “Georgie says, settling into a series of easy poses for our
photographer Tristan Gilinski “when I was running from set to set and shoot to
shoot back in the New York of the 70’s I really disliked the whole process of
posing and having my picture taken. It was a crashing bore! But now,” she
purrs, twinkling at her handsome photographer, “I don’t mind it one little
bit.”
Lady Colin Campbell has a wonderful and refreshing wickedness and
playfulness for a woman happy to claim her 62nd year of a marvellous
life. “In fact darling...go ahead and write that I’m really 97 years old!” she
insisted, throwing her head back, roaring with laughter and breaking her pose.
“Georgie!” the photographer growled and
she collected herself. “Oh...so sorry.”
IMAGE TRISTAN GALINSKI
Georgie’s
studies in Manhattan in the 70’s were at the renowned Fashion Institute of
Technology (FIT) which was and still is famous for igniting the talents and
careers of many of the industry’s leading designers. She immersed herself
naturally in her major of Apparel Design.
More than familiar with the sumptuousness of her mother’s couture
collection it was the more home spun handiwork of West Indian cutwork
embroidery that carried her design spirit at first.
“This craftsmanship was
exquisite to behold. I shudder to think
what such attention to detail in a couture garment would cost today! The
detail, colour and the feel of the garments...or in fact anything thing that it
was applied to...even soft furnishings, was fabulous to behold. As I grew more
and more appreciative of high fashion I acquired my own collection of
delightful couture. I have many, many pieces that I would never dispose of that
I have amassed over the decades of fashion. My darling, I have them
all...Lanvin, Guy Laroche, Givenchy, Valentino, Murray Arbeid...all genius
creatives but my most cherished piece to
this day and one I still trot out for special events is by the Jamaican
designer Joyce Delisser.”
Not at all
worried as to the number of times a creation can make a public appearance
Georgie more than proudly declares, “I’ve worn it to the Royal Enclosure at
Royal Ascot 3 times!”
I ask if Her
Majesty has seen it and whether she made comment. “My dear, Her Majesty see’s
EVERYTHING and comments on NOTHING.”
Staying on the subject of clothes she says
that, “My time at FIT instilled me with a confidence in the knowledge of the
many aspects of fashion. I learned to discern the ‘fabric’ of garments, the
construction entailed in making quality pieces but the truly, truly useful
knowledge I am forever grateful for is the ability I developed to mix and
match. As happy as I am in gowns worth an arm and a leg I can feel just as
luxurious in a well spotted item for five pounds. 44 years of couture fill my
wardrobes but a nice pair of trousers or a simple skirt, an easy blouse,
sweater or T-shirt and a smart jacket is what I require to fill my busy
day-to-day life. These are the real clothes for a woman, what we are really
seen in for most of the time and they are far more current and versatile than
any yardage of slick organza that you see traipsing down an international
catwalk!”
Georgie is
instructed by the photographer to change for another shoot in something more
casual. This will be her second change for the afternoon and she positively
bounds up the circular stair case of her turret to her upstairs quarters on the
third level of her home. Her modelling days have equipped her with the
knowledge that time is money and photographers can be notorious task masters.
Her hair and make-up touched up in record time by her own hand she sprints back
down.
“How many shoes would you say you own Georgie?” I ask.
“Shoes? “ she
repeats breaking into a wide grin. Her eyes sparkle. “Aren’t they just the most
glorious things?” I ask if she thinks she may have as many as, or more than,
Carrie Bradshaw.
“My dear, who?”
She turns looking at me cocking her head
as she is led to her next ‘spot’ of natural light by the photographer. Her downtime is obviously not spent in front
of any TV’s in any of her homes. She has spoken of her love of classical music,
the great composers, pianists and conductors, of the ballet, especially the Kirov
Russian Ballet of St. Petersburg. She has been lost in brief reverie today in
thoughts of the gods of dance, Igor Zelinsky and Diana Vishnava in particular.
She
has giggled about her need to make and bottle her own fruit jams from her south
of France property, damson, yellow Mirabel plum and red plum jams. “I have to
darling. Otherwise the fruit just falls and rots on the ground!”
I explain
just what a Carrie Bradshaw is. “Well she sounds delightful. But I think she
must buy far too many shoes. What does this city girl do?” I explain that the
character is a writer, a novelist. “Well so am I!” Georgie says warming to the
idea of Carrie.
Georgie has some 7 or 8 bestselling titles to her name, that
being her professional and esteemed title of Lady Colin Campbell. Her 1992 book
about Diana Princess of Wales Diana in
Private was a runaway international bestseller as was a subsequent
biography of the late Princess The Real
Diana (2004). Her own Autobiography A
Life Worth Living (1998) was also
serialised in the UK’s Daily Mail. Her controversial novel Empress Bianca (2005) wrapt both the US and the UK society watchers
with insider intrigue. Lady Colin Campbell’s most recent novel (besides With Love From Pet Heaven-that has been
written playfully under the name of the book’s protagonist, her Springer
Spaniel Tum Tum), is the revealing story of her own relationship with her
mother in Daughter of Narcissus(2009).
“Shoes? Well, oh dear. I think I must have
about 200 pairs but I only wear my favourite four or five pairs. Is that
naughty? I just can’t resist buying them. They really are so inspiring! I think
that on the basis that a writer can never write too many books and a woman can
never have too many shoes both Carrie and I can easily be forgiven.”
It was in
New York where Lady Colin Campbell met her husband-to-be Lord Colin Ivar
Campbell, the son of Ian Campbell the 11th Duke of Argyll. They were
married quickly in 1974 and divorced a year later. For Georgie that year was a
traumatic time and one best consigned to its own corner of history. Having said
that, this brief union cemented Georgie Ziadie on the international circuit and
like her meteoric entry to modelling it didn’t take more than two beats before
she was enjoying a sensational arrival to the literary and social worlds that
drive the celebrity and personality fuelled machine of media.
The fact too that
Georgie was already connected to British royalty through common ancestors, most
notably William the Conqueror and Emperor Charlemagne, wouldn’t have hampered
her stratospheric mobility. As Lady Colin Campbell she has been moving in rarefied
company for most of her life now and even her sons have enjoyed the attentions
of both Prince William and Prince Harry when as youngsters they were
entertained for an afternoon by the two ‘older boys’ while the adults enjoyed a
day watching the polo. “My boys hadn’t a clue who their playmates were!”
Georgie says and adds “the Princes were happy to entertain my two younger boys
and I knew then that they were young men with great spontaneity, generosity and
candidness showing strength of character.”And none of the folie de grandeur that she feels Diana and Sarah Fergusson suffered
from.
The lives of Europe’s royal
families during the late 70’s, 80’s and 90’s is best known to Georgie as she
truly found her place amongst them
during this period. Of course Great Britain’s royals were best known to
her. “That time has moved on, our royals’ values have changed as have their
roles in society by and large. My books at that time documented precisely what sorts
of powerplay and mind games were
employed behind the scenes. I explored the psyche of the main players of the
day. They were very interesting times.” And Lady Colin Campbell’s take on the
modern royals...on Wills and Kate?
“Well today
of course we have a new generation of royals who have set about their lives in
more real terms. I have great hopes for Kate Middleton’s arrival to the Windsor
clan. Her parents and her sister handled themselves impeccably throughout the
run up to and the day of the wedding.”
IMAGE: TRISTAN GALINSKI
In her much called upon role as royal
pundit Lady Colin Campbell appeared, as she has done off and on over the years,
on CNN and a variety of world channels throwing light on the events involved in
the making of a royal wedding and what backstage manoeuvrings would inevitably
be unfolding. Of Queen Elizabeth II she says “I have always and will always
admire her decency, integrity, dedication, tenacity and her wonderful sense of
humour.”
As ‘Lady
Colin Campbell’ the next project, already being penned, will be another international
and without a doubt, groundbreaking book on a senior member of the English
royal family that already has eager attention from both of the powerful spheres
of publishing in NYC and London. But in the personal life of the down-to-earth,
affable and always laughing Georgie there are homes to run and growing sons to
oversee. “My boys like to eat when they are at home from studies and I have a
secret recipe for homemade Bolognese that drives both them and me mad! I’d tell
you my secret but then I’d rather prepare it for you! I am a whiz at Spaghetti Vongole too and I’m
a mean Jamaican cook. My jerk chicken is legendary!”
IMAGE: MELISSA BUCHANAN
Our globetrotting writer
and author also swears by lean meats and fish which obviously agree with her
trim frame and I ask what her sin food is? “Tambrin balls!! A friend just
carried me two packs from home this week and I gobbled them up in bed at 2AM
after returning from dinner!” As we
begin to wrap up our long and entertaining afternoon with this treasure chest
of a personality I ask quickly about her beauty secrets, regime and favourite
products.
“Darling,
beauty comes most definitely from within, I have no regime. I drink gallons of
water. I drink Champagne, lager, diet coke and diet ginger beer...and it has to be D&G from Jamaica. It’s the
best! Perhaps when they read this they will kindly send me a few crates? My
busy life is my exercise and beauty
products? Well for me anything cheap! I use a sun factor 50 cream as my face
moisturiser and for my body? When I’m in the UK I simply buy Tesco’s (the UK
supermarket chain) body moisturiser.
I’ve never had a facial. My night cream is
Ponds or Boots (the UK chemist chain) own. I maintain my own hair colour. I do wear
make-up everyday regardless if I’m in or out. I believe that it protects the
skin from the elements.” I ask quickly,
“Scent?”
“My dear, Khus
Khus by Benjamin! I adored it as a girl growing up. Oh, it’s gorgeous! Why,
just recently as I flew out of Jamaica I bought six bottles at the
airport...it’s so hard to find nowadays...and the counter girl said ‘But why
you want that? That scent is only for servant girls?’ Well! I had to laugh! I
replied...’That’s very snobby of you!’ It’s a wonderful scent and I will
forever embrace it.”
As I leave I
note the collection of magazines and books on Lady Colin Campbell’s reception
table. It displays tidy piles of fashion and society glossies, some of which
she’s appeared in; Tatler, Vanity Fair, Vogue and beside them hardback books on
Jamaican art, cooking and interior design. Lady Colin Campbell or 'Georgie Girl', it is more than obvious, straddles
cultures, societies and lifestyles as effortlessly as she strides the globe.
With Love from Pet Heaven (Dynasty Press Ltd) & all of Georgie's books are available on Amazon
PETER JARRETTE IS AN ARTIST AND INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED AUTHOR OF SEVERAL FICTION, NON-FICTION AND MEMOIR ADULT TITLES AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS. HE IS A COLUMNIST AND CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER.
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