Michael PROUDLOCK

After a gap of some 40 years. Rex (the co- owner of the notorious Foxtrot Oscar Restaurant the clientele would be the blue blood parents and grandparents of the stars of the current Made in Chelsea) tracked me down from a series of broadcasts and TV appearances in my current role as a broadcaster specialising in aviation security stories. down for a celebratory lunch at Brinkleys in Hollywood Road SW 10 during the Summer and promised a special guest would be there. Imagine my delight and surprise to find the guest was none other than Michael Proudlock! Michael was on top form and his dry sense of humour not diminished. We had agreed for a return match later in the year, but sadly it didn 't happen due to travel and finding diary time for a good five hour lunch... I knew Michael from the time of jakes restaurant which predated FO. I was in on the planning and the setting up of Foxtrot Oscar, my only contribution remarking the tables were too close together and why were they gluing cork floor tiles on the table tops? All too much to take in. T he shabby chic look long before it later became fashionable was a brilliant idea as Michael wanted it to be an endless dinner party with the entire restaurant table hopping and chatting to each other. From the amount of Bollinger uncorked over the years, it all fell into place. So farewell my friend, rest well your work here is done, you literally gave fun and pleasure to several generations who enjoyed that part of London when it still was a village!

How bizarre ,I have lived in Australia for 30 years and something made me look you up tonight !!! I am SO sorry that I have seen this news , I had the pleasure to call you Boss man in the days of Vantrunk along with Roger and Nigel at the Helm.

My memories of Michael was something special ,everything you gave me was needed last week , it was hurry, hurry, hurry ! I watched this then young , good looking , dynamic , so very very social , fast paced , epitomizing the English upper , so much fun, so witty , sadly taken away when no one was looking ! RIP Michael xx

Dearest Michael

I am absolutely shocked by your passing. We were due for lunch on the 14th so your phone has some strange messages....

You were a beacon of fun. From years eating at Foxtrot opposite, dating the waitresses that you missed and looking up to someone who my father and dear Uncle Rupert was so fond of to later years of fun lunches, interesting introductions and loads of laughter.

God rest you. You have lived a life that many of us aspire to and you leave many, many wonderful friends and memories in this world.

JD

Michael so regret not having asking you to our last boys little jolly. We had so very many laughs and good bottles of wine over the years. You will be much missed. Chelsea will not be the same without you. Hashbury.

Michael, so shocked and sad to hear you have left the party far earlier than expected. After spending so many amazing hours of laughter, comfort food and far too many glasses of wine, the memories and friendship will be with me forever. 30 years on we were still friends and planning that drink we never quite managed to organise, we always think there will be time and then you are gone, see you on the other side Michael we will meet again no doubt. My love to you and all those that will miss you.

Michael

You had more charm in your little finger than most of us have in our whole bodies.

Clever and sporting at School, a great cricketer and immense fun to be with. Years of playing monopoly, poker,backgammon,blackjack and bridge were just part of the fun

We shared flats in London, Paris and New York. We also shared a double date in New York once, you had the (very) pretty girl and I got her somewhat plain friend.

But you always had the prettiest girls back in the 1960's and always afterwards.

Like Groucho Marx you never found a club you wanted to belong to so you opened your own and it was called Foxtrot. And the prettiest girls came for lunch and dinner and sometime longer.

Your friends came and you had more and more fun with it.

What an epic life you had!

Our last dinner, November 7, and wine tasting was immense fun - it is the final one of so many great memories.

But you're not going to be forgotten by so many people that Laura and Ollie will go through life, probably for the next thirty years, being stopped and asked by strangers "Was Michael your father? You know we miss him."

They'll never be able to forget how extraordinary a person their father was.

You left behind such wonderful memories for all of us. You'll live on in so many of our minds that you cannot possibly imagine it. But you would love it.

If there is an after life, look after yourself old friend.

Piers

I only knew you for a short time, but what a pleasure!!!

I am so sorry to hear about the unexpected death of Michael Proudlock. Like many people I loved going to Foxtrot Oscar in its early days - it was unique and Michael was such a wonderful character - we all loved him! He will be sadly missed.