Haywards Heath writer recalls meeting with gentleman David Bowie

Rock star Bowie has died aged 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer.

Arnie Wilson, who lives in Haywards Heath, met Bowie and wife Iman in a London restaurant.

Arnie, who worked as a freelance showbiz writer and a ski writer, approached the couple and was astonished by their kindness.

He said: “I was very impressed and touched that he even bothered to speak to me, let alone give me a story!

“And he and Iman were really incredibly polite and welcoming to this intruder who was disturbing their lunch.”

Arnie had joined fellow ski writers for a brochure launch when he spotted the famous pair.

Writing in his book ‘Big Name Hunting’, he said: “I resisted the urge to introduce myself for at least half an hour. And then I could refrain no longer – even though I was fully aware that the eyes of my peers were on me, no doubt disapprovingly, as I made my way across to the Bowie table.

“To their great credit, both of them took my arrival in their stride. I did my usual grovelling apology, and explained that I was a ski writer attending a brochure launch.

“A little dishonest, that, but I felt if I asked them only about skiing I would have more success with getting at least a skiing story than if I said I was diary writer (I certainly would never have called myself a gossip writer.)

“To my amazement both Bowie and Iman leapt to their feet – as if the meeting had been scheduled – and shook hands with me.

“David Bowie served up what to me is the perfect story – a ‘gossip’ paragraph about skiing, which duly appeared in Nigel Dempster’s column in the Daily Mail.

“He said his son Duncan (then known as Zowie) and he had put together some music for a new album, based on ski pistes. Such runs are graded green or blue (easy), red (intermediate) and black (difficult).

“The music for each ski run reflected the degree of difficulty.

“Clever idea. Nice little story. Graciously delivered.”

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