Pamela Harlech: the Carabosse of British ballet - chairman of English National Ballet

Dance Magazine, Dec, 1994 by Christopher Bowen

By 1963, Harlech was ready to leave New York. "I wasn't anti-American or anything, they just didn't understand my humor; irony does not loom large in American society." And England, or a small comer of London at least, had begun to "swing." Vogue needed someone to run the London office, and Harlech jumped at the chance: "I had an incredible flat; it was perfect for entertaining."

She married the former British ambassador to Washington, David, the Fifth Baron Harlech, six years later, and the duties of a diplomat's wife--with two households to run--and a mother took precedence.

During her career as a journalist, as London editor of American Vogue and food editor of British Vogue, and throughout her marriage , Harlech maintained a busy portfolio of artistic and charitable interests. These have intensified since the death of her husband in 1985, and she is currently a trustee of V&A Enterprises, the money-making side of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and serves on the boards of the Women's Playhouse Trust, the South Bank Arts Centre, and Crusaid, Britain's high-profile AIDS charity.

The latter is of particular interest to her. "I feel passionately about it. I remember the early days when we tried to get a lot of straight men and women involved because, God knows, it is everyone's problem, and we wanted to get away from the 'gay plague' idea. You would be amazed at the number of people who wouldn't touch it--people who are now connected with the rather grand charity events and go swanning around festooned in red ribbons. They drive me mad."

Crusaid is the only charity Harlech is involved with--"You can't spread yourself too thin"--but all of these bodies speak glowingly of her tireless commitment and organizational skills. She is known to keep one of the best lists' in London, and the bulging Filofax on her desk is, she says, "one of about three." And it is widely recognized that her formidable fund-raising skills actually kept ENB afloat at a time when the company was in real danger of going under. She is clearly a very dynamic, very determined woman. But is it her very determination--interpreted as an abrasive manner--or the fact that she is a woman that rankles some people in the male-dominated British arts establishment?

Undoubtedly, Harlech has made enemies--with her background and her area of interests, it would be nothing less than a miracle if she hadn't--but there is great loyalty amoung her numerous friends, who paint a rather different picture from the one the British tabloids prefer. The Harlech they know is a caring friend, a generous and thoughtful hostess, and a great wit.

"I do think that men are still very wary of women in positions of power," she says, "and clearly my appearance does frighten some people. I remember when my daughter was at school--she was the one who christened me Cruella de Vil--she told me that people are, at first, frightened of me. I don't mean to be a frightening person, but I am what I am. If people want to judge me just by the way I walk into a room, too bad. I really couldn't care less, because anyone who really mattered would take the time to get to know me. Then if they didn't like me, fair enough."