Louis Michael

In the early 1960’s I was busily combining the work of an antiques dealer with a membership on the local council. At that time I was running three shops in Bournemouth.

I have always had a great love of the town and had felt it was unfortunate that local politics had to be attached to political parties, so with the encouragement of several friends, six of us decided to contest some of the most popular wards with the slogan 'No Politics in Local Government'.

Most of my friends were both lucid and enthusiastic and we were able to tip out some of the elderly die-hards that had been perched in the council chamber since Noah had been in his Ark.

After a tough contest I scraped in the Central Ward with an eight vote majority. I was at that time 41 years old and felt able and willing to give time and effort to this town I loved. At that time councillors were without remunerative rewards yet our usual monthly council meetings often finished after 1 a.m.

I had been a councillor for four years and with all humility, felt that I had done a fairly good job. I was completely uninterested about greasing up any political pole. I cared not for any creed or colour and I was unencumbered by any affiliation to a political party. Therefore I could get straight to the problem, in a speedy time. I am sure that I did a fairly reasonable job during my entree into Bournemouth politics.

I had however, very little time for myself, and was considering resigning from the council for that reason.

I had served for four years and new elections were being prepared for the following term, when I noticed in the local paper, The Daily Echo, that a Mr Michaels informed the readers that he would be the new member of the Central Ward (my ward) reclaimed for the Conservative majority party.

I thought that it was a bit of a cheek as he would have to beat me before he could attain that honour. So I geared myself up for a tough fight, knowing that Mr Michaels was a highly motivated individual who owned most of the important stores in the town centre.

I then started canvassing for the coming election and I was surprised to find out how popular I was. I had 100 volunteers with their cars and the satisfying result was a 650 majority.

After the election we became firm friends. He would telephone me at the early hours of the morning, pleading for me to go to his hotel room, to play a Polish card game called 'Clubiashe'. Only two people could play it and it took at least two hours to finish! He often complained that he could not sleep as he had so many business problems to deal with.

He was known as a man that always made a success in every enterprise he owned. One of the most prodigious of his 'Empire' was Cavendish House, a large and luxurious departmental store in Cheltenham. He was also very involved in the theatrical business in London.

In the mid 1970’s having helped to get Louis Michaels elected on the Bournemouth Council, as a Conservative candidate, he and I really got to be great friends. He even forgave me for beating him in the last election.

He told me that he wanted me to become one of his associates and offered to buy my two antiques shops in Bournemouth, both of which were doing well. After the purchase, I was to open six of his properties in Knightsbridge, London as top grade antiques shops. He offered me a large salary as well as 3% of the turnover.

The offer he made was very financially tempting and I told him I would consider this during the next few months. At that time England was awash with superb antiques. Auction houses would sell treasures each week that now only appear every three months. All at a fraction of the prices they command now.

Although he offered me a high salary, I felt I would be pressurised to perform enormous figures to pay for the expenses and the proposed high salary he had offered. So, I suggested to Louis that I would open a shop for him in Cheltenham, so that he could experience how I would operate.

He thought that it was a good idea and told me to go buy antiques. No spending limit. In the meanwhile he would redecorate one of his best shops in the parade.

I then asked him, how can I pay for the goods I had to purchase? He told me to apply to the Financial Director of J.J.Allen - a large department store in Bournemouth - and they would pay. I told him that most antiques dealers would not wait for their money and as far as I was concerned I always paid immediately otherwise I would lose the deal.

He told me that he would arrange for me to receive a company cheque book and that I was to go right ahead and purchase some good antiques for the opening in three weeks time.

The cheque books arrived two days later, with a note from the Financial Director, informing me that no-one in the company has ever been given that privilege; not even the other Directors. But as Mr Michaels had given the permission, he had no option but to comply.

I spent the next few weeks in the London auction houses as well as visiting my many antique dealer friends. In all I spent £50,000 on some of the most superb antiques. Louis was delighted. He took me around to all his associates and proudly introduced me as his prodigy.

I ran the shop for two years and it prospered greatly. The only problem I had was that the local manager of the shop originally worked at Cavendish House while his wife was running an antiques shop for herself.

Usually, most antique dealers are able to buy from their customers.

Of course one cannot work for two masters, so when I asked the local manager of the Cheltenham shop have you purchased any antiques from your many clients, he always told me that he had not been offered any goods! I suggested to Louis that he change the manager. But he was so loyal to his staff, he refused. So I had an excuse to tender my resignation, especially as I was getting a peppercorn salary, and I needed time to attend to my own businesses.

Louis was still interested in buying my own business and told me that the original offer was still on.

However, a few days later, he changed his mind. He informed me that as I was a war disabled ex serviceman. As I could possibly suddenly depart this world, he could not take the risk as he knew no one that could possibly replace me.

Ironically, six months later it was Louis Michaels who died of a stroke!