My father, the Rev. Canon Thomas Kindon Kay was a member of Dunfermline Rotary Club. At the time, Rotary International gave grants for the offspring of Rotarians to make educational visits and I was a fortunate recipient, enabling me to spend a fortnight with a Swedish Rotarian, Baron Lars Fleming. Baron Fleming also happened to be Silversmith to the King of Sweden, with swish premises and an extensive workshop in Sturegatan, Stockholm.
For two weeks, I lived with his family in their mansion on the outskirts of Stockholm, travelling daily into the workshop, where I was put under the wing of Richard Waterval, a young silversmith. I think his English improved over the time I was there. I learned the words 'snygg flicka', which I believe means 'pretty girl!'
One day, Lars called me into his office. He said, “Who is your favourite silversmith?”
At the time, in the design world, all things Scandinavian were seen to be at the pinnacle of perfection, and for me, the epitome was Stockholm-based Sigurd Persson. Amazingly, after a short phone call I was on my way to his workshop!
A mature man, with a world of experience, his watchword in 1969 was purity and simplicity. At the time, he was proud to show me his latest bowl. He asked me, if I didn't have a cup, how I would get a drink. I offered, “Cupped hands?” And there it was, a beautiful bowl based on the form of two cupped hands.
Where is my photo of the bowl, and Sigurd and me? I have no idea. Perhaps I was too much in awe to have asked, or simply had forgotten my camera. Whatever, even without the visual record, it was a magical moment.
Thank you Rotary!