20 years ago, the man in white passed away: a major outdoor exhibition on the life of Eddie Barclay, starting in June in Saint-Tropez

The meaning of celebration... This is not an empty phrase when speaking of Eddie Barclay. The City has not forgotten him, and as May 13 marks the twentieth anniversary of his death, the ^Mayor is unveiling the tribute reserved for this summer. The centerpiece will be a major off-site exhibition from June 6 to October 12, in partnership, as it has been for several years now, with Paris-Match, which has drawn from its vast collection to select fifty photos from the 1950s to the end.

Five themes were chosen: "The House of the Cape", "Intimate Eddie", "Barclay's Gang", "White Parties" (for Place Blanqui) and "The Jazzman" (Square de Lattre de Tassigny).

"We wanted to celebrate his values ​​of generosity and friendship," say Marc Brincourt, exhibition curator, and Gwenaëlle de Kerros, director of the Paris Match development department, who also worked to combine "the weight of words with the shock of photos."

"A text is provided each time with an anecdote or behind the scenes of the photo, told by the protagonists of the time," explains Gwenaëlle.

Childhood scent

Sylvie Siri also has a precise memory of the man in white.

"For me, he evokes the scent of my childhood and the memory of someone who mingled with the people of Saint-Tropez. On the Place des Lices, he was everyone's friend. Dad was a boules player and was therefore part of the famous Barclay gang!" says the ^mayor .

The official opening is set for July 11, bringing its share of surprises in its wake. "Everything is organized with simplicity and spontaneity. Caroline Barclay has kindly agreed to let us use her address book to invite a few personalities of the time. I'm thinking of Nicoletta, Mireille Mathieu, Cerrone, etc. We'll see... A game of boules will also be organized that day in front of the Café des Arts with the artists and we hope that everyone plays the game by showing up in white," concludes Sylvie Siri, who hasn't forgotten the invitation to Guillaume, her only son, who is also expected in this immaculate wave.

>Also read our special report on the Barclay years on Sunday.