In the fall of 1991, after months and months of mounting speculation, the fact that the Icon Queen was seriously ill could no longer be hidden. The man who had seemed larger than life for many years retreated to his own sanctuary, surrounded by his nearest and dearest. One Garden Lodge was found in Kensington by his ex-girlfriend Mary Austin, and there he created not only a refuge but a place of great beauty. In his final weeks and days it was more precious than ever, and with his strength finally failing, he made a single personal request on November 20, just four days before his death.
Freddy accepted the end was near and stopped taking his HIV medication, though he continued to take absolutely necessary painkillers.
He was tended around the clock by Mary, who visited every day, as well as his partner Jim Hutton and former partner (and chef) Joe Fanelli, both of whom live with him, and close friend Dave Clark, a longtime PA. friend of Peter Friston.
Peter spoke exclusively to the Express and described one special moment, just four days before his death, that meant a lot to Freddie as he said goodbye to a home that was filled with so much love and laughter.
Peter said: “Freddie was downstairs at the Garden Lodge on the 20th of November, wanting to see some of his artwork one last time.
“Terry carried him up the stairs, but he wandered into the sitting room and the Japanese room, one of us backing him up. He commented on how and when he got some of the pieces. Of course, there was a quiet atmosphere in the house during those last days, but Freddy remained the Freddy we knew till the end.”
Terry Giddings was Freddie’s bodyguard and chauffeur.
Of course, Freddie first studied graphic art and design before he joined the band. Once he had money and access to a whole new world, his love of art blossomed.
He moved into One Garden Lodge in 1985 and soon began filling it with priceless and precious artwork and furnishings.
He later said, “I’m swinging over my Lalique and Galle vases—I’m on my toes now. I mean, a lot of people used to say my house used to be a museum, but now I’m starting to agree with them. It gets pretty ridiculous.”
He joked how he shared the problem with his friend Elton John.
Freddie said, “I love those stories about Elton, where he had this problem where people were staying at his house on the weekends, in his spare rooms…
“They would look under the bed and there would be Rembrandts and other masters. That’s right. With me, it’s my Japanese prints that get ridiculous.”
Elton himself described one of his last visits to see Freddie at home, only to find him still buying more art over the phone. Of course, he later found out emotionally what exactly Freddy was doing.
Elton said, “Freddie loved collecting Japanese art and collecting them at auction. So while he was dying he would still buy things at auction. He would be curled up on a bed and there would be medicine all around him. Medicine cabinets, pills and auction catalogs.”
“It was amazing. I thought, This is wonderful. This man has such a love of life. He doesn’t think about death at all. He still thinks about art. He showed me no fear of death. No fear, no sadness.”
In fact, some of these purchases were actually gifts for the upcoming Christmas that Freddy knew he would never see.
And on Christmas Day, Elton John answered his doorbell to find delivery of a painting by Henry Scott Tuck who was one of his favorite artists.
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