In the Swinging 1960s she was an iconic model who broke the heart of Pink Floyd`s Syd Barrett.
Known only as Iggy, she is thought to have lived in Thornton Heath and was regular at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley between 1963 and 1967.
Then she vanished, and for the past three decades the former 1960s in-crowd has wondered where she went?
Former friends, director and artist Anthony Stern and DJ Jeff Stern, are both searching for the enigmathic model, who fetured naked on the cover of Barrett`s solo album Madcap Laughs.
She was nicknamed "the Eskimo" because it was thought that she was part Inuit.
DJ Jeff Dexter, who regularly played at the Orchid, vividly remembers the beautiful girl who used to talk to him while he played his set. He first noticed her in 1963.
He said: "Iggy was part of a group of very wonderful looking south London girls. She was very mysterious, she was unusual because she did not look like anyone else at the time. Since she dissappeared, ahe has become a bit of an enigma".
Dexter says that he met the director and artist Anthony Stern in 1967 and that Iggy became involved with him at about the same time. Anthony took many pictures of the model and also made a film her wich will be shown for the first time at the City Wakes festival this October (2008) in Cambridge.
Stern said: "Iggy was my muse. I met her at a Hendrix gig at the Speakeasy. She was a lovely inspiration and free spirit. I never knew her real name. We used to hang out together, occasionally dropping acid, staying up all night, going for walks at dawn in Battersea Park."
The artist said he recently discovered photographs that he took of Iggy on a houseboat near Lots Road in Chelsea.
"She entirely captures the spirit of the Sixties, living for the moment, completely carefree."
Photographer Mick Rock remembers turning up at Barrett`s to take photographs for his solo album cover. At an interview in 1999 he said: "Syd was still in his underpants when he opened the door. He`d totally forgotten about the session and fell about laughing. Iggy the Eskimo was naked in the kitchen making coffee. She didn`t mind either. They both laughed a lot and it was a magical session."
The most iconic images of her appear on the album, where she poses naked in the background.
After she broke up with Barrett she dissapeared. Felix Atagong, who has set up a website in her honour, said: "According to the painter Duggie Fields, she got married to a rich guy from Chelsea annd led a "decent" life after that".
Anthony and Jeff both admit they have spent time looking for her. "The truth is, if she has not come forward by now, she probably doesn`t want to de found," said Anthony.
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From croydonguardian.co.uk, September 17th 2008

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