HI All ,
was reading a facebook post by the author Robert Rankin about these link
Fairy Fellers masterstroke boots.
What is interesting is that Mr Rankin was at Ealing with freddie and claims : -
"Robert Rankin I gave Freddie the idea, he'd never heard of the painting."
"Robert Rankin yes, I introduced Freddie to the painting while at college."
"Robert Rankin I introduced him to the painting at college, I had a print of it above my desk."
Did you know that Brian Aldiss wrote a Sci Fi novel in which this painting featured largely? In fact it was the first time I heard of it so I went to the Tate to see it and it became one of my favourites too. The novel is called "Report on Probabiliy A".
I met and spoke to Robert Rankin at a SF con many years ago. He tells various stories about Fred, none of which are entirely believable. There was one about Fred's trousers being so tight he had to unbutton them to sit down. I can believe that. Another one was about accidentally hitting Fred in the mouth with his head. Apparently Rankin was crouching down looking at a painting and Fred came up behind him. Rankin stood up and the back of his head hit Fred in the mouth. It sounds dumb enough to be true, but who knows. He's an author. He needs stories to tell to interviewers and at Cons. Having some connection with Fred is one of those good stories.
Holly2003, re:
>Another one was about accidentally hitting Fred in the mouth with his head. Apparently Rankin was crouching down looking at a painting and Fred came up behind him. Rankin stood up and the back of his head hit Fred in the mouth
More believable would be if it happened as Fred was "entering" him and he hit his head.
.....never had FM down as a recipient.