My Great Uncle Fred Swinbourne was an interesting and multifaceted human being. One of the four the 'Fighting Swinbourne Family' of four professional boxers, based in Kent during the early to middle part of the last century.
Fred was also an amazing card sharp and street magician. When I was a young lad, I used to be quite intrigued and a little frightened by this man, who would at the drop of a hat, demonstrate how to chew razor blades and eat light bulbs. Clearly kids, do not try either of these at home.
He fought in WW2 and was blown up and thrown from a jeep by the blast. His health was affected by this experience for the remainder of his life
My partner, being a teacher and historian, more latterly discovered, that Fred had been a male model for the life drawing classes at Camberwell College of Art.
The drawing of Fred above was created by the artist and college lecturer, John Minton.
Another male model at the College and a contemporary of Fred, was Quentin Crisp.
