A few years ago, browsing eBay’s ending auctions. I came across some Abstract Expressionist Watercolors by a Captain Conrad O'Brien Ffrench being sold from Loveland Colorado. Ffrench had written a book "Delicate Mission" the seller Debra had quoted the flysheet in her description.

           He had been a Mountie at 17, a Soldier at 20, a Prisoner of war by 21 Captured at Mons. Here the tale gets more interesting. He proceeded to gather strategic information from newly arrived prisoners and by the simple device of invisible ink forwarded these reports to a fictitious Aunt in London. The aunt was one Stuart Menzies, that is to say the M of the Fleming books. He was assistant to “C” the real designation for the head of M.I.6. Menzies himself became C just prior to the second world war and remained in the post until the fifties.  Conrad was officially recruited into the secret service by Mansfield Smith-Cumming the original C. He was given the post of Assistant Military Attaché to the British Legation in Stockholm. Once he smuggled the Soviet, Krassin to the West for secret talks with Lloyd George. His most secret mission began in Austria in the thirties. He played the part of an aristocratic playboy and sportsman in his role as Secret Agent. He was friends to Peter Fleming and also his younger brother Ian. Peter Fleming lists him as number 23 on the Nazi's most wanted list in his 1957 book "Invasion 1940" about the Nazi plans for Britain after occupation, and the resistance plans of Britain in that event . "Ian" Conrad had remarked was a frequent guest at his numerous Parties and "Came for the Pretty Girls that always attended." Conrad's day to day battle of wits with the Nazi's is said to be the source of inspiration for his character of 007.

          I was hooked. I quickly snapped up the four pieces remaining of the twelve that had been up. As soon as I got the confirmation email I contacted Debra and told her if she has more I would be interested in buying all she had. She had a whole portfolio full. I closed my eyes and bought the lot. I have two portfolios of my own now filled with 200 or so pieces, for the most part Abstract Expressionist pieces and sketches some of which seem to date back to the twenties when 00Brien was OHMSS. I set to seeing how far I could research him over the internet and sought out more of his art. Two more portfolios’s turned up. My collection now stands at 007.  

                   I have endeavored to research Conrad’s story and on this website it is told. There is of course no one inspiration for the Bond character. Ian Fleming included aspects of other men too. Not least himself, the devil may care womanizing character that earns 007 the “Kiss kiss. Bang bang” reputation we all know is pure Ian. But I believe I can show that his meeting with Conrad was the spark that lit the fuse which 25 years later exploded onto cinema screens as 007. The hero all men secretly aspire to be, and the lover all women dream of having. So read on. His story in itself is worth reading without the Fleming connection. But that connection is strong and you will believe as I do that 007’s original name is, Ffrench, Conrad Ffrench.