The Ne'er-do-well

[V.C. Brunswick]

If the description of Ne'er-do-well includes that of being a professional house guest, then I believe David Niven spent a year in that occupation between resigning his commission in the HLI and arriving in Hollywood. Obviously not a long time career.

When I think of professional house guest, Kato Kaelin comes to mind. :doh:

 

[Miss Sis]

The wartime spivs of Britain were rather glamorous fellows, with their pencil moustaches, spectator shoes, and loud ties.

Lizzie, I would say this a great fallacy - real Wartime spivs were nasty creatures who didn't want to draw attention to themselves and risk getting 'done' by the Police. None of the 'cheeky chappie' seen at WW2 're-enactments' or in Dad's Army, more like knuckledusters down a dark alleyway.

There were some pictures taken by the Police of real spivs trying to sell to American GIs at somewhere like Piccadilly Circus during WW2 and they are ordinary looking people, trying to blend in with the crowd. I can't find the images right now though.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Jelly Roll Morton. I did read a cool Rober Crumb comic about him. He told the end of his career was caused by a voodoo curse. Cool story, bro.

 

[Atomic Age]

The wartime spivs of Britain were rather glamorous fellows, with their pencil moustaches, spectator shoes, and loud ties.

I wonder if Ian Flemming himself might be one that falls into that category?

Doug

 

[Haversack]

Up until 1939, Ian Fleming was employed as a stockbroker in the City. In the spring of that year, he was informed while at lunch with Rear Admiral Godfrey, that he was now a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Admiral Godfrey was Director of Naval Intelligence and Ian's sudden career change was probably due to his older brother Peter's influence as a member of SOE. Hardly fits the description of a spiv. In fact Ian Fleming's nickname at the MOD was 'the chocolate sailor' because of his clean-cut, square-jawed appearance.