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Dare to Wear

This is the story of 4 ordinary people who had one extraordinary day courtesy of Swatch UK. I was extremely fortunate to be one of the 4 lucky winners of a competition to appear in publicity for the Dare to Wear campaign. This is my story of that day:

It was an early start as Rob (friend and fellow winner) and I had to catch the 06.29 train from our hometown of Chippenham to London. Luckily, the train was on time and we ‘enjoyed’ the game of sardines on the tube (underground) to the Holborn studios where the shoot was to take place. We made it on time despite some very dodgy directions and a few detours.

We were the first to arrive and made base camp in the restaurant very nicely situated on the banks of a canal. Others started to arrive including James (Swatch UK Trade Marketing Manager), David (Swatch UK Marketing Manager), Paul and Zoe (Merchant Design International Ltd) and John Higginson the photographer. Our fellow models Peter and Karl arrived and James and Paul gave us details of the day’s activities. There were to be 4 separate items photographed:

Jungle scene with model stoking the head of a fierce lion.
Sea scene with model swimming with killer whale
James Bond lookalike coolly falling from a high building
Knife thrower with model handcuffed to target, dressed in leather bondage gear.

Peter got the plum James Bond job (typecast), Karl was to be the big game hunter, Rob had the dodgy leather gear and I was to be the scuba diver (should I reveal that I am a non-swimmer?). Luckily for us we were told that we would be photographed against a blank background with all the action put in later.

Rob and Zoe were sent shopping for suitable gear in a certain area of London. I have threatened to post further details on www.squeezemymelons.com unless certain negatives of me asleep on the train are destroyed.

Karl was first on and really looked the part in his safari outfit and his Tarzan hair. In fact, when his taxi driver phoned later in they day he asked to speak to Tarzan. Each shoot was to take up to 2 hours, and it was quite hot under the studio lights, but Karl looked cool and relaxed. I was next on and after first putting on the wetsuit the wrong way round (well how was I to know that you zip at the back – what if you want a pee? perhaps that’s why its called a wetsuit!) the shoot began. Luckily for the great British public, children and horses, my face was covered by mask and snorkel. I then had to assume various positions that I have not been in since that office party way back in 1988. Luckily both Paul and John were very patient and really made it easy. Thanks guys.

The suave and sophisticated Peter was on next and there then followed a wild and thrilling search for a suitable pair of shoes, size 11. Peter at this point became the centre of attraction with all the ladies, who were either James Bond fans or believed what they had read at www.squeezemymelons.com. Peter performed all his own stunts and then it was Rob’s turn. Zoe and Rob had managed to get something black and shiny from a fancy dress shop and it was time for the handcuffs! The lad done well.

James very kindly presented us with a goodie bag full of Swatch treats and also the Swatch from the Fall/Winter range that we each wore during the shoot. He also showed us the prototype packing for the London special, which is issued shortly. We were all impressed with it, Swatch UK have done a marvellous job. There is a possibility that the artist who produced the artwork will be able to autograph a few packages for collectors.

All too soon the shoot was over. Although there were periods of time when we were waiting around, the time never dragged. It was great to talk to friends and collectors, all the Swatch people and see the professionals in action. We were treated royally with lashings of food and drink kindly supplied by Swatch. Unfortunately, Karl had to leave at this point to catch his plane back to Manchester. We were all sorry to see him go, as he was the life and soul of the party. Great guy and he’ll be soooo embarrassed when he reads this.

Unfortunately, the London Eye was fully booked but we were treated to a river cruise on the Thames. This is something I had not done before but it is the way to see the City at its best. The river is really the only way to get a real impression of the history and grandeur of the place and I thoroughly recommend it. I was not a fan of London before, but this trip changed my mind – it is a Great City

Then it was off to a superb dinner at an Italian restaurant in the former County Hall. A lovely ending to a quite excellent day, a day I will remember for a very long time to come. Many, many thanks to all those who made it possible.

I could say that Rob, David, James and myself then made a frantic high speed journey through the dark streets of the Capital in a black cab, ran to the station and jumped on the train as it was pulling away from the platform. If you do not believe that, you could always check out the alternative version on www.sqeezemymelons.com.

The following morning was quite a late start; I tried to tell my wife that as I was now a supermodel I was not supposed to get out of bed unless I was paid large sums of money. I cannot repeat what she said, as I did not know she knew such language!

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