Poirot actor gifts precious bow tie

Photo: BEN WATSON

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: From left: Police Ten 7 presenter Graham Bell, Denise Ganley from Muscular Dystrophy Northern and Judy Bailey

A bow tie which belonged to Agatha Christie’s Poirot actor David Suchet was gifted to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand to auction off during its appeal week.

Former detective inspector Graham Bell, of TVNZ’s Police Ten 7 fame, joined Muscular Dystrophy Association patron and former news anchor Judy Bailey and others at the presentation, which took place at the North Shore Policing Centre.

The bow tie was donated because Leigh Gleeson of Muscular Dystrophy Northern wrote to the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, of which David Suchet is vice-president.

Ms Gleeson’s appeal was for one of Mr Suchet’s bow ties to help raise the profile of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s February campaign.

Mr Suchet seemed the perfect person to ask.

"I think Poirot must be the most famous fictitious bow tie wearer in history.

"He has a matching bow tie for every suit and dressing gown," says Ms Gleeson.

She says her message was passed on to Mr Suchet’s agent, and the next day the trust received the bow tie.

Then, a month later, restoration trust member David Dixon replied to Ms Gleeson saying he had the requested bow tie and would deliver it in October, she says.

Ms Gleeson is thrilled that the Muscular Dystrophy Association has been given one of Mr Suchet’s iconic bow ties.

"A Poirot bow tie has a lot of symbolism with it."

It will be auctioned during Bow Tie Week in February.

- © Fairfax NZ News