Croydon-born brothel madam tells of adventures Down Under

9:50am Tuesday 25th November 2008

By Harry Miller

Croydon’s most notorious madam is releasing her memoirs of her adventures Down Under.

When Rachel Francis’s parents decided to leave Croydon for warmer climes she moved to New Zealand when she was an infant to start a new life.

Two years ago, after earning the dubious accolade of New Zealand’s most famous madam she went into retirement.

Francis said she wrote her book Laid Bare because there is a lack of literature on the subject from women who didn’t get into the industry because of drugs, addictions, bills, gangs or being forced to.

"Like most people wanted to be a nurse or own a cafe, I always wanted to be a prostitute and work in a brothel. The feather boas, the make-up, the stilettos, the hidden world - absolutely," she said.

Raised in a normal, loving, hard working family from Croydon, she always had the support of her mum, dad, sister and grandparents.

But, as she describes in Laid Bare, by the age of seven she became aware of her sexuality and the power her body held over men.

At 13 she lost her virginity to a boy who went to the same school, an experience she says was fabulous.

Francis spent time as a dominatrix and her clients included the strange, sometimes sadistic and sad. There was Worm Man, Dr Death, Mr Moo, Mr Cleopatra, Mr Balloon and Mr Baby.

These men include a diary farmer who owned a multi-million dollar property, a TV personality with a penchant for young girls who look like young boys.

She would dote on Mr Baby, changing his nappy and feeding him his bottle, lead Mr Moo around the house while he was on all fours, like a cow, eating alfalfa sprouts and drinking from a plastic bowl.

She would plaster her body in white paint, and lie at odd angles while Dr Death pretended to be having his way with a dead woman. But luckily for them no one in her book is named.

“I don't want to name and shame. But I wanted people to know it's not just working class guys that go to working ladies.

“It's business men, CEOs, celebrities and even government agencies that come to brothels.”

Francis added: “With the impending law changes in the UK what concerns me is that prostitution will be pushed underground and this is when it can become dangerous and men who have other agendas like rape and murder surface.

“That is okay but the media need to respect us as we cater to men that your female members of your family wouldn’t like to handle at 3am so it is best we do in our quiet and efficient manner.”

When asked whether she would consider returning to Britain she said: “My sister did the other year and felt a true kinship with Croydon and said I have to go back and see the house where I was born as its still standing.”