1972 The distinguished journalist Nicholas Tomalin reported for the Sunday Times on the lavish party held by the Burtons, to commemorate Elizabeth Taylor’s 40th birthday. She and Richard were joined at the time in one of their serial marriages. The event was held in Hungary, where Burton was making the monumental flop (as it turned out) Bluebeard’s Castle.
Everyone who was anyone (Brando, Frankie Howerd, Michael Caine) was invited – the Burtons picking up travel and hotel expenses. Stephen Spender knew Richard Burton through mutual Oxford University friends (notably Nevill Coghill). On meeting the actor in 1982, at the Gritti Palace, Venice, Spender found him as ‘friendly, quiet, curiously assured, as I’ve always found him – so much in contrast with his drunken public image’.
For the 1972 birthday party, only one air ticket was provided per guest. Stephen found himself a little lonely, but struck up conversation with Ringo Starr. As Tomalin records:
They chatted for 10 minutes and, as they drifted apart, Spender suggested it might be nice to meet again in London. ‘What did yous [sic] say your name was?’ Ringo asked. ‘Stephen Spender,’ said Stephen Spender. ‘Yes, well, Stephen, just you telephone the Apple recording company in London and tell them we’ve met, that your name is Stephen Spender and I said you should ring. And do make it clear it was at Elizabeth’s party we met.’
The anecdote must, of course, have originated with Spender and indicates why, throughout his life, he was regarded as one of the most amusing dinner-party guests in literary London.