Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton...

So difficult to describe this man's life and accomplishments in one Post.  To quote an introduction by Hugo Vickers "He was a man of many parts, photographer, artist, writer, designer for screen and theatre and arbiter of style".
Diane Vreeland the Editor of Vogue, told David Bailey that Cecil "realized that there's only one very good life and that's the life you know you want and you make it yourself".
He was my third cousin once removed. I am related through his Mother's bloodline.   A bloodline Cecil would have much preferred not to own up to.  He was shocked when he learned in later years that his maternal Grandfather   Joseph Sisson was a Blacksmith.
As a child he grew up believing his mother and his aunt Jessie were society ladies.  When it became obvious to him his family were not the cream of society he set about to change that.
After an education in several different private schools his talents started to emerge.  He loved the theatre and photography and taking pictures of beautiful women.