A life and work inspired by dad, a barber's chair and fifties music icon

PERFORMANCE artist Gerry King talks quickly — and he has a lot to say.

One of his earliest memories is of his dad, Paul, being caught up in the notorious Torquay casino shootings nearly 40 years ago.

The welterweight boxer was working as a doorman at the Carlton Club Casino on the night in which four people died.

Gerry was just a boy when his mum woke him up in the early hours of December 21, 1973, and told him: "Your dad was in a shooting at the club."

"I said to her: 'Has he been shot?' — and then I rolled over and went back to sleep."

Now those memories of his dad and the seedier side of Torbay are material for a book which is winning reviews from some of the top names in the literary world.

Gerry admits to having an 'unconventional relationship' with his dad. "At times it was difficult, but as you get older you realise that life isn't easy," he observed.

Now aged 50, Gerry carves a living as a performance artist — a 'cyber flaneur', a kind of modern-day observer who presents his observations through vivid prose and pictures.

He has taken Torquay's tarnished glamour and repackaged it in a book. Sometimes explicit, other times abstract, it tells the story of his past, his dad's past and of others who moved around the Bay's street scene to tell things as they really were.

His short stories, entitled Lubin Tales, have been presented to the art world and top-name literati in a series of nationwide performances.

The series of surreal, playful and romantic 'micro-fictions' have even attracted the eye of provocative author and commentator Will Self, who even volunteered to give a quote for the book's dust-jacket.

Self wrote of the 'absurdism of a Lear or a Lewis Carroll refracted through the noir novels of Derek Raymond. Great stuff.'

But more importantly Gerry's dad, now aged 78, likes it as well.

Paul puffs on a cigar and sips brandy from a small water bottle as Gerry reads to him the stories that he inspired, at the nursing home where he now lives in Wellswood.

Gerry readily admits his dad was 'a bit of a lad' with a colourful past — as a successful boxer, through his friendship with 50s pop singer Ruby Murray and as a shaker on the Bay's social scene.

Paul was rated fifth best nationally in the welterweight division in 1955.

A career highlight was knocking out Scottish welterweight champion Jimmy Croll in 90 seconds that same year.

Gerry said: "My dad was earning his money taking on all-comers at boxing booths. He was following his dreams to be a contender, not quite getting there but giving it his best shot.

"I write about him because I respect him. He did what I was not tough enough to do, and that was to stick at things."

Gerry's vision of 'small town debauchery' was presented at last month's book launch at Bristol's Arnofini Gallery.

He will also perform at the ICA, London, and the capital's Whitechapel Gallery.

Two bright red chairs, the epitome of Cadillac Cool, are part of the performance.

And older Herald Express readers may even remember sitting in these head-turning chairs, when they were part of the furniture at Paul's English and Continental barber shop on The Terrace in Torquay.

Gerry said: "How great is that? Those chairs are now being shown at Bristol's Arnolfini Gallery, the South West's number one arts venue, and in London.

"I haven't told Paul yet. He'd probably just say: 'You crazy boy, Gerry.'"

Gerry's story about this second Paul in his life, 'Something for the Weekend' tells the tale of the relocation of Continental Paul's barber shop from The Terrace to Market Street.

When the business closed, Gerry bought the La Reine Restocrat barber's chairs.

Gerry explained: "My dad would take me to Paul's as a kid. I remember all the doormen from the Carlton Club, taxi drivers and characters from the restaurant and entertainment scene went to Paul's.

"The chairs are special as they are part of these memories. I believe objects retain energy. These chairs represent Paul and how he earned his living, the stories he told and the stories he heard.

"They represent Paul, a Paul with pride who presented you with a mirror view of your neck — the Boston square back.

"Paul means so much to me as a man. Coming to this country, learning a new language, building his business up from renting a chair in a shop in London, to having his own shop with two chairs."

It is this strength of character which has inspired Gerry to pursue his arts career.

He continues to work as a visiting lecturer and has designed a series of greetings cards which incorporate the Lubin Tales.

As a qualified teacher, Gerry was an education outreach worker in Torquay. He's also had plenty of other jobs to get by.

"I have worked on the roads, building sites, as an ice cream man, kitchen porter and antiques dealer — whatever I needed to do," he said.

But he credits some Torquay characters for giving him early opportunities.

Gerry worked for casino owner and businessman John Tsigarides, who is understood to have been killer gunman Martin Fenton's intended victim at the casino shootings.

Fenton had a bitter feud with the businessman.

But Gerry praises the help Tsigarides gave him.

The casino man even supplied a reference for Gerry when he applied for his course at Dartington College of Arts.

He said: "He is a good man and not just from my perspective. He has helped a lot of people in Torquay, regardless of 'the bland' who besmirch him."

Gerry's stories are in part romantic, affectionate and funny.

And they are honest enough to embrace flaws.

Characters like Murray, the 1950s icon who retired to Torquay, feature in Gerry's extensive knowledge of the past.

He recalls: "I first made Ruby's acquaintance when I was a barman at Pontin's. She would sing her set in the bar that I worked in. My dad introduced me to her and her manager Ray Lamar, who she later married.

"Dad knew Ruby from the 1950s because both were at the top of their game then. Ruby moved to Torquay in the 1970s and lived with Ray.

"Dad and Ruby would have met up again during the Carlton Club years. I remember Ruby and Ray coming round to our house for meals occasionally. But the socialising was more around The Strand, taking in the Queens, Gibbons, Hole in the Wall and the Royal Vic."

He adds: "It was Ruby who introduced me to the work of the American comedian Lenny Bruce and the music of Edith Piaf — and this was mid-70s.

"Ruby was a lovely lady. She very much enjoyed the 'craic' as the Irish vernacular has it."

Gerry explains: "This is all about coming to terms with things. As you get older you begin to see things differently and this is me addressing that in a creative way."

He credits his partner, graphic designer Louise Burston, as a stabilising influence in his life.

Since moving to Bristol, Gerry has had a chance to reflect on the past.

"I will always remember the Bay fondly. I think Lubin Tales captures Torquay and some of the places and characters.

"I have always held the resort in my affections and the environment continues to influence my work. The cultural diversity of the town always finds its way into what I write."

The book is neatly packaged and designed to be dipped in and out of.

"You may be on the bus or the train, and you can still read a story here and there," suggested Gerry and with a twinkle in his eye added: "Settle down in the plush red upholstery of the La Reine Restocrat barber's chair and prepare to be indulged and entertained!"