This larger than life character loved distinctively coloured clothing, crocodile skin shoes and luxury cars. Romford born David West was a businessman who made his fortune selling tobacco and alcohol to British “booze cruisers” and then bought nightclubs and restaurants in the Jermyn Street area of St James’s. He unsuccessfully hired Cherie Blair to fight the smoking ban in 2007 and took his then girlfriend Joanna Dudzik to court in 2006 to attempt to curb her spending. His son – also named David West – was arrested and charged with his murder in December 2014. “The man in the pink suit” will be greatly missed by many.
Two stories to keep beside you
Alice de Janzé (nee Alice Silverthorne and also known as Alice de Trafford and Comtesse de Janzé, 1899 – 1941)
A wild socialite and daughter of an American textile industrialist, de Janzé is one of the best known members of Kenya’s notorious Happy Valley set and was one of those suspected of the 1941 murder of Lord Errol. This hedonist shot herself and her lover, Raymond de Trafford, in the Garde du Nord railway station […]
David Patrick Columbia
This gentleman giant is the editor-in-chief of Quest magazine and the founder of the New York Social Diary. A revered social chronicler, “DPC” as he is widely known, previously collaborated with Debbie Reynolds on her autobiography and has also variously been an actor and stockbroker. He is seen at all of New York’s best events […]
Readers have their say
9 comments
He looks like a jolly man who plainly enjoyed life. Why would his son do such a thing?
God, you are so vacuous
Did he support the Find Madeleine campaign? Instead of buying those cars, he should have donated the money to help dear Gerry and Kate McCann find their beloved daughter Madeleine. Why are you not supporting them also?
I remember Lord David West from parties with him and Lord Brian Davidson hosted by Sally Farmiloe-Neville and the likes of Lady Jacqueline Killearn. He was a bit loud and brash but always generous to the core and surrounded by young nubile things. For him to die at the hands of his own son is just awful. May David West rest in peace.
RIP you legend.
If he is guilty, may his son pay heavily for his crimes. If he’s innocent, the media have a lot to answer for.
He liked young girls and fast cars. Nothing wrong with that!!!!!! Wish I’d had his life.
Hiring Cherie Blair to fight a smoking ban, he must have been very high on illicit drugs, it is obvious that Cherie had a conflict of interest, but a Blair will do anything for hard cash. Some mothers do have them. Thank you, to all those still smoking, we have rights too…..
I will miss him. RIP Dave.