33 Hamilton Terrace

In the 1980s this large house on the west side of Hamilton Terrace was  the residence of the Senegal Ambassador and in 1981 the President, Abdou Diouf, was to pay a visit to London.

The house was to be checked out beforehand  by British Security who were nervous because of trouble in an adjacent country. We lived opposite and before the visit we received a visit from British Security who asked if they could place a man on our roof. I suggested that he would have a better view from the house next to us which was directly opposite, and in any case I  did not fancy his being on our roof.  Whilst discussing this with him, a helicopter appeared and hovered overhead. When I showed concern the Security chap said “don’t worry, it’s one of ours”.

In due course the President arrived – in a stretched limousine, stretched vertically as he was a very tall man. Other guests arrived, the ladies in colourful costumes.