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Dorset’s Fiona Richmond

Julia Rosamund Harrison was the daughter of the Reverend John Harrison of Toller Porcorum, near Bridport and Julia attended the local village school. As a 17 year-old she won the title of Dorset Youth Clubs Hostess of the Year. For the offspring of a Dorset clergyman,  her career was to go off in an unexpected direction. One of her first jobs was working as an air hostess and then as a nanny for the actress, Diane Cilento - the first wife of James Bond actor, Sean Connery. She then became a Bunny Club croupier.

Julia met the Soho club owner and magazine publisher Paul Raymond and embarking on a new career as an actress and glamour model she decided to use the alias, Fiona Richmond. As a sex-symbol of the times, she appeared in stage plays and magazines and had a talent for self promotion.

Fiona Richmond was in the forefront of the sexual revolution in the 1970s and once rode naked Lady Godiva-like through the streets of Soho. She was fined twenty pounds. In 1976, a national newspaper published a picture of Fiona Richmond in a bath with Crystal Palace Football Club manager Malcolm Allison. This led to Allison being charged by the Football Association for bringing the game into disrepute. She drove a primrose yellow E-type Jaguar sports car with quite a rude number plate. This made her easily recognisable driving around the West End of London.

It is understood that Fiona Richmond maintained her links with West Dorset by owning an apartment at West Bay. A representative of Toller Fete committee wrote to her asking if she could donate an item that could be auctioned for the event’s funds. So Fiona sent them a pair of her knickers. Unfortunately for Toller Porcorum Fete finances there were no bidders. It seems no-one wanted to be seen doing so.

Fiona Richmond married television presenter James Montgomery but later divorced. She then became a hotelier and sculptress.

(Credit: West Bay Discovery Centre.)


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