A former London boutique owner from the 1960's,Danny Benjamin recalls his soiree with a semi-naked well-known beauty of the time.

There I was dancing the old year away with a most beautiful girl in the world in my arms, while one hundred men at least, envying, and watching our every move.

Unfortunately, my wife, my mother-in-law and most of her family were also watching most intently. Maybe I should rename this piece, 'My most embarrassing moment!!

The girl was Françoise Pascal, the lovely film star,just returned from filming with Pete Sellers: 'There's a girl in my soup'; but everyone knew her as the pretty French student in 'Mind YourLanguage'.

All of a sudden I noticed she was topless! Should I run,should I stop dancing and try and be the perfect gentlemanwhilst she made herself decent once again.

I couldn't help notice she was smiling brightly, and to make things worse, obviously noting my embarrassment,she came close and kissed my neck.... Now I was embarrassed.....

I had no idea what to do. All I could do was to continuedancing. I had
purchased ten seats at this gala in aid of a Jewish ex-servicemen'scharity. Every other table was taken up with ex-servicemen,at least ten
or more years older than our table.

I had invited Françoise and her beau, the famous actor Richard Johnson no less to this 'New Years' gala....For no good reason I could fathom, she'd been flirting with me! All evening.

Was she trying to make Richard jealous? For it appeared he was finding it all a great laugh. We had all had a fair amount of drink so what was I to do, hoping she would stopjust long enough to pull up the dress as quickly as she had pulled it down.

For I suddenly realised I had seen her pull it down. She had a wonderful body. We were celebrating 'New Year' so let's share our luck. We carried on...

It could be she was bored. In hindsight I could have taken them somewhere more exciting. I had bought the tickets from my wife's uncle. Possibly she was trying to wake up the party ---- for she had certainly done that!!

But for years to come she had shot my reputation to the heavens. For with all my gift of the gab how was I going to explain this away!! I never could.

But now I'm bald, pot bellied and seventy, and seeing Françoise on TV a few months back, she has grown big and buxom. But nobody can ever deny she was really lovely to behold. For I treasure my memories of Françoise. She was a fine actress in the Marylyn Munro set, and had she had the breaks she could have made it to the very top.

Danny Benjamin, 2002