'Jake the Fake' was an artist, an opera singer, a musician and a cabinet maker (so good that his replicas were often mistaken for the real deal!). He came to Camden Town, London in the 1960’s with a case full of dreams. He loved to live in the moment and would often be heard saying "vivere sul filo del rasoio!" He was a free spirit, an anarchist, a bohemian, and also my uncle. He took me under his (somewhat broken) wing when I arrived in London, fresh off the boat on a cool October morning. "Grab the bull by the horns" he said as he welcomed me in for a curry and a brandy at 9am.
His flat was a treasure trove of interesting bits and a nod to a life of an eccentric gentleman, albeit one who was a bit rough round the edges. Interesting characters came and went, with art, music and song filing his small flat by the canal. I watched Jake’s life deteriorate as his lifestyle choices took its toll, but his defiance was impressive. He tried sobriety many times, but it wasn’t for him. Life was always going to be lived on his terms, no matter how much myself or his son tried to intervene.
