Category: MOVERS & SHAKERS

The snakes and ladders of society.

A chronicle of drama, scandal and success in London, Paris, New York and elsewhere

  • Bill Martin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Bill Martin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks thrice Ivor Novello Award winning songwriter Bill Martin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Sir Winston Churchill and all he stood for and to win an Oscar for the best “song” as a songwriter.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    Immediately forget timewasters.

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  • The truth's stranger than fiction

    The “Devil’s Advocate” is jailed for 14 years

     

    Bogus lawyer Giovanni di Stefano was jailed for 14 years yesterday after being found guilty of nine counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception, eight counts of fraud, three counts of acquiring criminal property, two counts of using a false instrument, one count of attempting to obtain a money transfer by deception, one count of obtaining property by deception and one count of using criminal property.

     

    Giovanni di Stefano
    Giovanni di Stefano

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  • Jackie Branston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Jackie Branston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks concierge Jackie Branston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Inner strength.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    Fair play.

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  • “Where are they now?” – Monica Lewinsky

    “Where are they now?” – Monica Lewinsky

    What has become of the world’s most famous intern Monica Lewinsky?

     

    Monica Lewinsky, it seems, is making a return to public life. The world’s most famous intern was spotted at the birthday party of Heather Kerzner at the Downton Mayfair restaurant last Tuesday night. In the company of amongst others the Duchess of York, Princess Eugenie and her former Admiral Codrington barman boyfriend Jack Brooksbank, Donna Air and the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother, James Middleton, the Daily Mail described her as wearing “dark layers with gem-laden accessories”.

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  • Alan Miller: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Alan Miller: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks fund manager Alan Miller: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    It’s a four letter word. It’s Gina, not the four letter word you were thinking about.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    Believe in what you do and have fun whilst you are doing it.

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  • Pass the Chablis

    Pass the Chablis

    ASmallWorld gets even more small minded

     

    When it started in the same month in 2004 as Facebook, the social network ASmallWorld was ahead of the game. Founded by Erik Wachtmeister with the help of such people as Rob Hersov, it fast found favour with the so-called “elite” of London, New York and Paris. It was a place where people made fun of one another but also a place where people trusted the advice they were given.

    ASmallWorld FI

    Such esteemed (and not so esteemed) people as Michael Ezra, Uri Schneider, Emma Gibbs (now Farah), Emma Louise Hill (now West), D’Arcy Wyvill, Anthony Mamo, Timmy Grech, William Aitken, Emma Rogers, David Reuben Jr, Jakob Eltz, Payam Ghamsari, Gabriele von Lutzau, the Ceveli sisters and Antonine Sorice quickly became the flavor of the site’s forums and others such as a woman who wore sunglasses and furs in all seasons [who since has demanded her name be removed otherwise she’ll report us to the police] talked about camels, chocolate and basements. A man named Eddy Chabli even went so far as to recount an encounter with “The Donald” (Trump) and much to the mirth of the membership was met with only: “Just have another glass… [of Chablis]”.

     

    The likes of Robert Bell hosted parties in honour of the website and at some oddballs turned up. I remember an “up the skirt” photographer harassing my friend Kerri Moss (now Beaumont) at one but we laughed like drains the day after.

     

    ASmallWorld, in fact, to the majority of the membership back then, was just another link in our already interlinked worlds. Then, with new ownership, as one could only expect, it went south. In came people who talked about what to do about the prostitutes who frequented the corridors of the buildings where they lived (I do not make this up) and a man named, if I recall correctly, Bruno, who worried about which private aviation firm would be able to let his dog aboard. Bruno later asked if anyone wanted to share his “ride” with him. I suspect this freak deservedly flew solo.

     

    Friends renamed ASmallWorld “the small minded world” and we all turned off. I was, therefore, as someone who’d quit several years ago, surprised to receive the following yesterday:

     

    Dear Valued Member

     

    Trust is important to us. How important? Well, as part of our ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of our membership, we have decided to terminate the accounts of anyone who undermines the unique spirit of openness that serves as the cornerstone of ASW—and sets our community apart. Obviously you are not one of those people! You’re receiving this email because we value your contributions to the community, and we hope you always feel comfortable here at ASW, online and off. The reality is simply that our growth has inadvertently allowed certain members to degrade this trust, and those are the people we’re exiling, effective immediately.

It is our hope that this will help you feel even more at ease in sharing your life with the rest of the ASW community.

     

    Warm Regards and Happy Travels,

     

    The ASW Team

     

    P.S. Should you wish to review the conduct expected of an ASW member, feel free to read our rules. In the event that you feel a member is in clear violation of our Rules, please email [email protected].

     

    The team at ASW have not only lost the battle to Facebook, they’ve lost the plot. Not only is their grammar appalling and not only is their use of capital letters awful, they have yet again illustrated all that is wrong about their “world”.

     

    It’s simply time for another world. Next!

  • Alex Preston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Alex Preston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks author Alex Preston: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Books, cooks and good looks.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “Do no harm; or if you do, make sure it’s beautiful harm”.

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  • Reader offer: Free tickets to Comedy Punch

    Reader offer: Free tickets to Comedy Punch

    Ten free pairs of tickets to Comedy Punch

     

    Terina Denny, the MC and organiser of the popular Fulham comedy night, Comedy Punch, is offering ten pairs of tickets (worth £14 a pair) to readers of The Steeple Times.

     Brasa Flyer Front 23 Feb 13

    The bi-weekly Wednesday night gigs are held at the Broadway House at Fulham Broadway. Doors open at 6pm and food and drinks are available.

     

    The successful winners of the tickets will be able to attend on their choice from the following dates:

     

    • Wednesday 20th March: Prince Abdi, Tom Hayward and Bryan Lacey.
    • Wednesday 3rd April: Rob Hitchmouth, Josephine Lacey and Tom Williams.
    • Wednesday 17th April: Don Biswas, Russ Powell and Luke Toulson.
    • Wednesday 1st May: Suzy Bennett, Paul Ricketts and Fredrik Anderson.
    • Wednesday 15th May: Mark Dolan, Tom Deacon and Jason Patterson.
    • Wednesday 29th May: Nick Dixon, Shelley Bridgman and Jimmy James Jones.

     

    To enter, email your contact details to [email protected] before 12 noon on Friday 29th March.

     

    For more details about Comedy Punch go to: http://www.comedypunch.co.uk

     

  • David Reuben Jr: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    David Reuben Jr: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks emerging market investor David Reuben Jr: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    I try to follow the “Golden Rule”. Treat others the way you would prefer that they treat you. Be careful how you are with people on your way up, you just might meet them on the way down.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.

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  • Jessica Fellowes: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Jessica Fellowes: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks journalist and author Jessica Fellowes: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    To learn from history – in all senses of the word – but listen to the needs of the present.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “No man lives by bread alone – he needs his bit of crumpet”.

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