Excusive : John Rendall

Come back soon for our exclusive story on the life of John Rendall..perhaps better known as the Christian The Lion man.

Chelsea pad for sale

News reaches us via our London realtor that star of the Christian The Lion frenzy John Rendall is selling his Chelsea apartment with the amazing view above, down the River Thames.

During the 1960s, Rendall who hails from country Bathurst was a regular on the Sydney social circuit usually on the arm of Penfold wine heiress Rebel Penfold Russell.
He then decamped to London's Kings Road and set up home with Sydney Indigenous art dealer Ace Bourke, a descendant of the legendary NSW Governor Bourke.
When they bought a lion cub at Harrods- you could do that sort of thing then - the pair were often spotted tooling up the Kings Road in a Rolls Royce Corniche convertible with Christian, as the lion was named, hanging out in the back seat.

John was also once married to British publicist Liz Brewer who featured in the TV reality series Ladette to Lady where Liz attempted to refine and introduce Bogan style young lasses to the cream of British society like Lady Georgia Campbell, a few Hooray Henries and the occasional Used Car dealer.

Fast forward to 2008 and someone attached a song to a grainy film of Rendall & Bourke in Africa where they had deposited Christian to live as he had become too big. Christian recognizes the pair and a Group Hug ensues and is seen around the world.

Rendall's apartment is in World's End and a building Whispers knows well. We visited the infamous / famous courtesan Christine Keller twice to research a book. She lives on the lower floors but John's studio penthouse is right at the top and is yours for the measly sum of £675,000 or $A1169021
We've provided some snaps of the apartment and below, that famous film of Christian and that hug.
Rendall currently hosts Safari style tours to Africa while Bourke lives at remote Bundeena in southern Sydney.

Martin Sharp Honoured

He was an invited guest to last week's autobiography launch for the late film-maker Albie Thoms but illness prevented him from attending : artist Martin Sharp whose work was featured in Thoms' book.

Earlier in the week Sharp had received a long overdue award at the University of Sydney- an Honorary Doctorate of Visual Arts.
Martin joined a host of names when he received his award from Governor Marie Bashir in her last official act before she retires . They include Cate Blanchett, former NSW Art Gallery head honcho Edmund Capon, fashion designer Peter Weiss and musician and singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.

Martin Sharp & Nevile Wran

Sharp was part of the infamous Oz Magazine trio of Richard Nevile and Richard Walsh who were busted for obscenity in the 1960s in Sydney and again in London. They were found innocent in both trials-defended in Sydney by a young barrister Nevile Wran who later went on to become NSW premier for 10 years.

His colourful works are now hung in galleries worldwide and he designed album covers for some of the 1960s major rock groups including Cream and wrote songs with Eric Clapton whilst living in Chelsea's famous Pheasantry building. Other residents at The Pheasantry included Clapton, Germain Greer and the film director Anthony Haden Guest. In the early 80s he campaigned to preserve Luna Park and redesigned the famous entrance.

During the last 10 years of his life, the unique performer Tiny Tim found a huge fan in Sharp who financed Tim's career and records and made a film of the eccentric singer's life. The movie still hasn't been screened.
Below is Tiny Tim's Tiptoe Through The Tulips:

Grown Up Children

Shari-Lea & Paula

Socialite Shari-Lea Hitchcock took the opportunity to introduce her daughter Paula to Sydney at the Billich Gallery last week.

Paula is now 15 and is the daughter of the late billionaire Dick Pratt who left a $5.6B fortune. Polish born Pratt emigrated to Australia in 1938 and became the biggest supplier of cardboard in the world.
Spreading his fortune around he was an avid patron of the arts and medical research, hosting charity bashes at the Melbourne mansion Raheen  where he lived with wife Jeanne.

Jeanne & Dick at Raheen

The existence of Paula became known during a court appearance when a lawyer mistook a journalist for a solicitor and revealed details of a large payment that was to go to Shari-Lea to care for her daughter. When Dick Pratt died in 2009 he left a legacy to Paula who he adored and Shari-Lea estimated at around $40M plus a sensational beach-side house in snooty Watson's Bay and a NSW farm.
Good mum that she is, Shari-lea whisked Paula away for dinner before the arrival of some nude models at the party.
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Meanwhile at the launch of the 2012 Kings Cross Festival a young man was entertaining the guests including the Shuttle with some amazing card tricks.

Max Rendall

Ace, Christian & Rendall

 Max Rendall placed a packet of cards in our hand and requested we hold them firmly while he did a few tricks to a wide-eyed audience. Upon asking for the cards back, they had turned into a block of perspex?. How did he do it ?.

Max is the son of ex-pat London resident John Rendall who found amazing fame when he and Christian The Lion became a mega YouTube hit as a videoed reunion was set to music.

Rendall and his business partner Anthony 'Ace' Bourke purchased Christian in Harrods in 1969 and kept him in their Kings Road antique store, eventually delivering him to the conservationist George Adamson in Africa.

The grainy film  of the pair re-uniting with Christian in 1971 shot to fame in 2008 and along came book and film rights and a tour of TV chat shows around the world including the Oprah Winfrey show.
Rendall lives in Chelsea and lectures about conservation and keeps a vintage Rolls Royce in Sydney for visits.
 Max Rendall has just finished his studies at Sydney University and is entertaining at corporate events while he contemplates the future.