The much-loved socialite, conservationist and HELLO!’s flamboyant former social editor John Rendall has died at the age of 77. The Australian native, whose generosity extended to all who knew him, oozed charisma, charm and a kindness that “personified the HELLO! philosophy”, former editor Ronnie Whelan says fondly of her friend and colleague.
He is perhaps most notably recognised, however, for purchasing a lion cub from Harrods in 1969 with fellow Aussie and flatmate Anthony “Ace” Bourke, who “had the crazy idea that if we bought him, we could offer him something better than his life at a department store, even if it were only for a few months”, John said in 2013.
The cat, who they named Christian, was kept in their Chelsea apartment and they were often seen parading…
