My dear fellow Flynn fans,
there is news about our Hollywood hero on the waterfront! I came across a German nautic magazine called Mare (“sea”), which was published in december of 2006. It features an article on Errol titled “Within the storm that was his life”. While there are little unknown facts for real fans, it finishes with an interview of Patrice Wymore- Flynn about their lives and times in Jamaica. Pat states, that she will never forget the humid air, even though already at nighttime, when stepping out of the airplane in Kingston for the very first time. Inappropriately dressed in a long dress and hat, she was supposed to be met by Errol. Unfortunately he was nowhere in sight. She told a cabby to drive her to Port Antonio and after a few hours drive through the jungle, feared to have been taken hostage. When she finally arrived on Navy Island, she learned that Errol had arranged for a welcome dinner in her honor with 50 guests. (…or maybe was merely throwing a party!?: this author) She remembered the Jamaican people as very friendly and carrying themselves with “barefoot elegance”. Americans loved to come to Jamaica during wintertime and staying at the “Frenchman`s Cove”, which according to Pat was the best hotel in the world at least in the 60s. When asked, if Errol had fled Hollywood because of his reputation after his rape trial, she said that her husband at that time was more desillusioned and not willing to meet the obvious obligations of the movie industry any more. However she added that the acquittal fueled his believe in a sort of “licence to excess”. Eventhough she said that many stories were grandly exaggerated. They had friends over now and than, but mostly stayed home and enjoyed each others company. “Errol was always very nice to me”. When in Jamaica they used to float on a raft on the Rio Grande. When in Europe the stayed in Palma de Mallorca an on the French Riviera lodging on the Zaca. She said to it was her choice to settle permanently in Port Antonio, because it provided her with a job on their farm instead of retiring a frustrated reminicing actress. “It was a though time first and I made some terrible mistakes, but I feel I succeeded in the end.”
I hope you enjoyed this and if so you will hear back from me,
— shangheinz
timerider
September 27, 2013 at 5:18 pm
As I sit here sipping my coffee from an Old Spice shaving mug I just purchased from a thrift store for $1.00, I’m in the right mood for this article! thinking of the Zaca and Port Antonio in the days of Flynn and a more peaceful Jamaica.
Things have changed there even since Marley. I guess the Flynn island paradise is up for sale. Maybe to much for Pat at her age. Wish the family could acquire it, but times are tuff.
Luke may need to be there from time to time……..
shangheinz
September 28, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Hi timerider,
while taking in a breeze of Old Spice is like travelling back in time, sipping from its mug may catapult you in another dimension altogether. May it lead you to Errol in Jamaica! Here`s another statement from him of the article:”I built me a stone house for my 50th birthday, from where I can see nine miles across the Caribbean sea, that is my idea of happiness. Unfortunately after an hour of bliss, it can very well be, that it doesn`t satisfy me any longer. Mostly I am alone with my 4 dogs. When all is calm, I know to have the sea as my sister, brother, father and mother.”
timerider
September 30, 2013 at 4:44 pm
My most favorite EF quote…..My dream of happiness: A quiet spot by the Jamaican seashore looking out at the activity in the ocean, hearing the wind sob with the beauty and the tragedy of everything. Looking out over nine miles of ocean, hearing some happy laughter near-by. Sitting under an almond tree, with the leaf spread over me like an umbrella.
Tim
September 27, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Thanks, shangheinz. Cool info!
Here’s a fascinating history of Frenchman’s Cove, which Poems of Passion poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox called “The most exquisite port on earth”.*
Would love to see the Flynn’s keep a big presence in Port Antonio! Perhaps with a “Flynn’s Inn”, for all his fans to visit and pay tribute!!
www.frenchmanscove.com…
*Coincidently, Errol adapted Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s “One Ship Sails East” for both the Zaca and My Wicked, Wicked Ways.
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/_photos/EF%20Titchfield.jpg[/img]
shangheinz
September 28, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Hi Tim,
here a little poetry from the article on Errol`s behalf. It is an ode of joy to the Jamaican female:”The Jamaican Queen is half Chinese and half black. She is rare and astonishingly beautiful.The predominant type wears a bronze tan, but there are girls with skin like ebony and of course the white ones of English descent.”
Tim
September 29, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Thanks for that poetic reply, shangheinz! It certainly rhymes with some of my experiences meeting Jamaicans in Great Britain and the States. Here is a photo of one famous part-Black, part-Chinese Jamaican – the bronze, ebony, and rare, astonishing beauty all there:
[img]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01921/naomi-campbell-fas_1921624i.jpg[/img]
Unfortunately, I believe that much of the Chinese population has dissipated since Jamaican independence.