The second in our series of videos of the week for The Steeple Times comes from Rex Leyland who filmed it whilst on Kew Bridge on Friday evening.
A steam train at Kew Bridge
In a week when great change was announced on the West Coast Mainline and with further revelations in this morning’s Sunday Telegraph that FirstGroup will also bid for the Great Western, Essex Thameside and Thameslink franchises, which will be decided in January, trains have most definitely been a theme.
Here, though, Leyland’s video takes us back to the days of steam and times when train travel was truly glamorous. The luxury of the Orient Express and the elegance of rail travel has, in the main, long gone but those of you who have been lucky enough to enjoy it will truly enjoy this short clip.
Edward Kay tells readers of The Steeple Times about Vava II: The biggest private yacht ever to come out of an English yard
Britian’s richest woman (and ex-Miss UK) Kirsty Bertarelli and husband pharmaceutical tycoon and America’s Cup winner, Ernesto Bertarelli have recently taken delivery of their magnificent £100 million yacht Vava II.
The stern of Vava II
The superyacht world is dominated by the Dutch, Germans and Italians so it was quite a coup for the Bertarelli’s to give the build to the Devonport Yacht yard in Plymouth, since the launch the yard has been sold to the Pendennis group and operations moved to Falmouth.
Vava II
At 96 metres not only is Vava II the largest private yacht ever to come out of an English yard, she is also the 30th largest private yacht in the world.
The interiors are minimalist and feature bleached teak floors and woven leather carpets. There’s a glass lift serving all 6 decks and even a casino. She features a futuristic design, variable depth swimming pool, helicopter landing pad and her 2 Vaudrey Miller custom tenders are rumoured to have cost £1 million each.
Despite her massive 4,000 gross tonnage, her 4 engines take her to speeds of 19 knots and her 523 metric tonne fuel tanks give her a range of 5,000 nautical miles.
This particular Miss UK hasn’t done too badly. Unlike most of us in the UK, she most definitely doesn’t need to “batten down the hatches.”
This morning a Rolls-Royce that belonged to Sir Jimmy Savile will be sold by auctioneers Dreweatts.
Sir Jimmy Savile OBE, KCSG’s Rolls Royce Corniche
The car, a 2002 last-of-line Corniche, was purchased by Savile in 2007 and is finished in Silver Ghost with Cotswold cream leather seating with blue piping. Savile personalised the car with a gold Spirit of Ecstasy and the numberplate JS 247. The number relates to the former frequency of Radio 1. A guide price of £60,000 to £90,000 has been set.
Of the auction, Roger Perkins of JCT600, who sold the vehicle to Savile, commented:
“As a flamboyant show business personality, Sir Jimmy is known for his love of stylish cars and we hope that this rare vehicle with its colourful history will make a significant contribution to the funds raised for his charitable trust when it goes under the hammer. This is a really special car, not only because of its famous owner, but also because it is one of the last of the Crewe-made Rolls-Royces – we may even be tempted to put in a bid ourselves!”
Other lots include a 1965 BMW Isetta 300 Plus bubble car (£5,000 to £8,000) that Savile once used to transport The Duke of Edinburgh from Aylesbury station and a Ford Fiesta van (guide £3,000 to £5,000). At the lower end of the scale, bidders could purchase a tea service for £30 to £50 or a combined record turntable, CD burner, cassette player and radio by Neostar for £50 to £80.
Jim fixed it that all proceeds will go to charity. Even in death, this top dollar gent continues to do good.
A private view of handcrafted pieces by Arianna Cerrito
By Claire Rubinstein
Tomorrow, Wednesday 4th July, sees the leading-edge jewellery and fashion designer Arianna Cerrito host an exclusive private sale event at her beautiful London home.
Readers of The Steeples Times are invited to attend and offered a sneak peek at some of Arianna’s pieces on sale at very special prices. The event will also feature some of Cerrito’s latest pieces for spring/summer 2013 and her autumn/winter collections.
Arianna Cerrito’s invitation
The touch of voluptuous, silky fabrics on the skin and the embrace of dramatic jewellery are the essence of Arianna Cerrito’s designs. JEWELWEAR is a unique concept that is developed around creating luxury dresses and jewellery alongside each other as one statement. No longer does one have to search for the right jewellery to accessorise that Little Black Dress, the two are created and designed to complement each other with perfect Italian flair. The result is a sophisticated and extremely versatile look for the modern woman.
Cerrito has recently exhibited at Paris Fashion Week 2012 and was also selected to showcase her designs at Treasure London at Somerset House where she was celebrated along with other up-and-coming designers.
Come and meet the lady herself at this unmissable event from 10am until 7pm tomorrow and get ahead of the trend for next season’s parties.
Arianna Cerrito JEWELWEAR, 45 Moore Park Road, London, SW6 2HP. RSVP to[email protected]. Examples of Cerrito’s works can be viewed at http://www.ariannacerrito.com
Yesterday, at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale at Goodwood, near Chichester, a 1912 Rolls Royce Double Pullman Limousine achieved over double the estimate when it sold for £4,705,500.
Considered to be one of the rarest Rolls-Royce cars in existence, this 100-year old vehicle acquired the “Corgi” name in the 1960s when toymakers Corgi® copied it as part of their range. Undoubtedly the most recognisable Rolls-Royce “Silver Ghost” produced, it now is thought to be the only car of its type left in the world.
The 1912 Rolls-Royce Double Pullman Silver Ghost Limousine, registration “1912 RR”A Corgi® model of the 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Designed in the style of a Pullman railway carriage, this 40/50hp 7.3 litre masterpiece was delivered new to John M. Stephens of South Croydon, a known connoisseur of Silver Ghosts, and then passed through the ownership of John C. Sword and Denis de Ferranti in the UK and Richard Solove and most recently John M. O’Quinn in the USA. The vehicle came to auction following the death of Mr O’Quinn, a lawyer who also owned the 1975 Ford Escort GL once owned by Pope John Paul II and John F. Kennedy’s 1962 Lincoln Continental Bubble Top Limo, in a car crash in Houston, Texas.
Of the “Corgi,” James Knight of Bonhams commented:
“Back in those days, customers would buy the engine and chassis and would employ coach builders to do the bodywork. The first owner of this car hired the best coach builders of the day and the car epitomizes the upper echelons of Edwardian society.”
What makes this vehicle especially rare is that it is in perfect condition. Most similar vehicles were converted into ambulances during the First World War and suffered inglorious fates. Whoever purchased this car has undoubtedly added a treasure to their collection.
At Masterpiece yesterday, a painting immediately caught my eye on Martyn Gregory’s stand but what intrigued me further was the title attached to it.
Steeple Rock, signed and dated 1873, attracted my interest firstly because of its outstanding quality but equally, as I’d never heard of this rock, I was interested enough to ask more about this painting by Edward William Cooke, R.A., F.R.S.
Steeple Rock, Kynance Cove, Lizard, Cornwall, low water, 90.5cm by 139cm, oil on canvasEdward William Cooke, R.A., F.R.S. (1811 – 1880)
Steeple Rock, it turns out, is located at Kynance Cove in Cornwall and is considered to be a spectacular rock formation. It has been painted by many well-known artists and one watercolour of it features in the National Trust’s collection.
Cooke, a noted marine artist who was also a geologist and gardener, documents painting Steeple Rock in his diaries with a note: “Put in the wreck” and exhibited the work at the Royal Academy in 1873. It was sold first to one Mr. Bolckow and then subsequently to Lord Michelham.
£58,000 is sought for this true masterpiece.
For more information contact Martyn Gregory, 34 Bury Street, St. James’s, London, SW1Y 6AU. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7839 3731. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://martyngregory.com
Stowe Opera’s ‘Marriage of Figaro’ at Winslow Hall
In July 2012, the Stowe Opera Company will perform Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro in the grounds of Winslow Hall in Buckinghamshire.
The Stowe Opera Company was founded in 1995 by the renowned musician and conductor Robert Secret and originally performed in the grounds of Stowe School. The company’s repertoire has included Don Giovanni, Figaro, Don Carlos and Madam Butterfly and The Times described their musical standards as being: “A bit of a miracle.”
Winslow Hall, Winslow, Buckinghamshire, MK18 3HL
Winslow Hall itself is a perfect backdrop for such a performance and here the company will perform on six dates:
Saturday 21st July at 6.00 pm
Sunday 22nd July at 3.00 pm
Wednesday 25th July at 6.00 pm
Thursday 26th July at 6.00 pm
Saturday 28th July at 6.00 pm
Sunday 29th July at 3.00 pm
Each evening performance will have a 90-minute supper interval whilst the Sunday matinees will have a 30-minute interval. Tickets are £60 per person. For the comfort of the audience, the stage and auditorium will be covered by a performance marquee and seating will be tiered for optimum viewing.
Winslow Hall itself is a fascinating Grade I listed house that the architectural commentator Marcus Binney described as being: “A trophy without rival… The Rolls-Royce of English domestic architecture.” Built to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren, the property has variously been a school, an office for RAF Bomber Command and an antiques showroom.
Restored as a private house by Sir Edward Tomkins, the former British ambassador to the Netherlands, and his wife following their purchase of it in 1959, Winslow Hall was offered for sale in May 2007. It was rumoured that the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie, were to buy the house but ultimately it was sold to the former restaurateur Christopher Gilmour and his delightful Australian wife, Mardi.
The Gilmours, like previous custodians, generously allow the annual Winslow Show to take place each August opposite Winslow Hall and now with the arrival of the Stowe Opera Company, the building really is making it’s mark culturally also.
As Steven Berkoff once commented:
“A great opera house isn’t run by a director, but by a great administrator.”
Christopher Gilmour is indeed such a man and do I suspect that this will be a festival that should not be missed.
The accessory of choice for fashion agnostics or a healthy two fingers to style? By Claire Rubinstein
London is in the midst of an epidemic. So widespread is the affliction that it seems no area has escaped its advances. From St James’s to the Square Mile, from Notting Hill to Belgravia, the normally stylish urban gent is gripped by rucksack ruin. Precise tailoring – check, bespoke shoes – check, luxury timepiece – check, get a little closer and inhale the Creed Aventus. So far, so stylish until the aesthetic is shattered – Ninja Turtle style it’s a hero in a half shell, namely on his back is a Millets rucksack.
The archetypal rucksack look
Once the domain of terrorists, one glimpse was enough to induce fear on such a scale that instant vacation of a tube carriage or any public place was guaranteed. Now rucksacks are commonplace. Want proof? Look no further than the cluttered window space at Cecconi’s or under the tables at The Wolseley. Rucksacks are everywhere.
Once upon a time the only bulge a man was politely allowed to have in his suit was his wallet, and so the classic briefcase or attaché case reigned supreme. But now a man is required to carry more than just his wallet and a few documents, likewise the resistance to carrying bags has become a thing of the past. Attitudes are changing and so are the bags. There is a huge variety of personal styles and even influential designers are embracing the trend with satchels, messenger bags, organiser bags and of course the controversial rucksack all in a range of materials from classic leather, fabric, canvas and even vegan-friendly hemp for the fashion conscious with a moral conscience.
Matching jackets deserve matching bags and even a matching dogA casually discarded satchel
But our obsession with bags is nothing new. Men once carried coin purses, with the oldest known purse dating back more than 5000 years, it was worn by a man known as Ötzi the Iceman. It can only be a matter of time before ‘The Ötzi’ becomes a coveted waiting-list only piece of male arm candy.
So what lies behind this devil-may-care attitude to accessorising? Chatting to the culprits, I found that it is nothing more than simple practicality. One Mayfair “hedgie” told me he eschewed his very stylish new Mulberry briefcase in favour of the rucksack as the offending item was much more practical when riding a scooter. A health-conscious West End property tycoon used a similar excuse reasoning that a briefcase made cycling impossible and was also not spacious enough for the extra grooming essentials needed for his daily sessions at The Royal Automobile Club’s pool.
But out of everyone I asked, there was one over-riding factor – the weather. So it seems that just as the iconic British Mackintosh has evolved for our rainy climate so too has the rucksack. And perhaps there is something rather charming about this stealth wealth with the cherished rucksack off-setting the traditional trappings of elegance.
As all that glitters is not gold, indeed the only man I knew who ticked every style box possible and never to be seen with a rucksack would proudly dress up in 3-piece suit and briefcase for ‘meetings’. This big-talking small-fry’s important appointments turned out to be meetings for one with the nearest bottle of house red and his briefcase contained nothing more than an Oyster Card and a clutch of court summonses for non-payment of bills.
I rest my case.
The author, Claire Rubinstein, with a gentleman who prefers a Harrods bag in juteA manbag in miniature
The Manor, Bucklebury: a house that shortly may become home to Carole and Michael Middleton
First reported by The Daily Telegraph’s “Mandrake” columnist Richard Eden in May, the talk of today is that The Duchess of Cambridge’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, have just purchased a Georgian manor house at Bucklebury in West Berkshire.
The exterior of The Manor, Bucklebury, Reading, West Berkshire, RG7 6RPThe eastern side of the house includes a steel framed garden room
The property’s formal gardens with parkland beyond
Currently owned by a Morgan Stanley banker named Justin Mason and his landscape artist wife, Jill, The Manor was subject to a bidding war featuring four parties and has now been taken off the market. Agents Savills have refused to confirm the name of the winning bid but this morning’s Mail Online claims the Middletons, who are said to be worth some £30 million from their Party Pieces empire, have “triumphed” and are paying some £4.7 million for the property. It was last sold in 2001 for circa £1.8 million.
The house’s formal drawing room
The family kitchen complete with full sized AGA
Featuring 7 bedrooms, 5 reception rooms, a swimming pool and tennis court, The Manor is set in 18.9 acres and situated 8.8 miles from Newbury. The Grade II listed house merges “contemporary and traditional styles” of décor and a main feature is a large kitchen that the agents describe as being “the heart of the house.” One could, indeed, imagine Mrs Middleton cooking up a feast fit for a future King in this vast room.
The current Middleton family residence: Oak Acre, The Avenue, Bucklebury, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 6NS
Carole and Michael Middleton on the driveway of their current home
Whilst many and most especially the Daily Mail mock this family, and if indeed they are the purchasers of The Manor, it is most certainly a most fitting residence for them. Their next step on the Monopoly board is much deserved.
For more information on The Manor, Bucklebury contact Michael Gatehouse of the Newbury office of Savills on +44 (0) 1635 277700 or email [email protected]
Ibstone House at Ibstone in Buckinghamshire has recently come to the market at a price of offers in excess of £15 million. Now owned by Ariadne “Ari” Getty Williams, the daughter of Paul Getty and Abigail Harris, Ibstone has also been home to Sun City tycoon Sol Kerzner, who is currently divorcing his wife Heather. This Grade II listed house is situated in the Chiltern Hills and was originally built in the late 18th century.
Ibstone House, Ibstone, Near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 3YAA reception room at Ibstone HouseThe house’s swimming poolAn aerial view of the estate
Arranged over three floors and including an extensive leisure and entertaining complex, the property includes 6 principal reception rooms, 7 bedrooms and an indoor pool. A 2-bedroom lodge cottage and large barn stand in the 79-acre grounds that also include gardens designed by Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd.
Dame Rebecca West, described by TIME Magazine as being “indisputably the world’s number one writer” in 1947, purchased Ibstone House in the late 1930s and lived there with her banker husband Henry Maxwell Andrews.
Dame Rebecca West DBE (1892 – 1983)
West, who had affairs with H. G. Wells, Charlie Chaplin and Lord Beaverbrook, used the grounds of the house as a small dairy farm and also housed Yugoslav refugees in the blacked out spare rooms of the manor during the Second World War. After the death of her husband, she sold up and moved to an apartment next to the Iranian Embassy in Prince’s Gate, London. During the 1980 siege there, aged 87, she had to be evacuated.
Solomon “Sol” and Heather Kerzner
Kerzner, who has been married four times to Kerzner and tragically lost his son, Butch, in a helicopter crash, has homes around the world and both he and his wife blamed the breakdown of their marriage on his workaholic lifestyle.
Of divorcing her husband, Heather Kerzner commented:
“He’s a hugely important person to myself and my children. I have only positive things to say about him. He’s the most influential person in my life – and that’s worth a lot. He’s one of the world’s most incredible men, he has shown me a different world and we had an incredible life together but sometimes I guess it just doesn’t work out.”
Some time ago the Kerzners sold Ibstone House to Ms. Getty but now she too has decided to sell up. Though best known because of her family name, Aridane Getty has run the Fuserna Foundation since 2005 and is considered a great philanthropist in her own right.
It’ll be fascinating to see what chapter opens next for this magnificent house.
For more information contact Stephen Christie-Miller of Savills on +44 (0) 1491 843000. To download a brochure for Ibstone House go to: http://residentialsearch.savills.co.uk/property-detail/333522/list
For more details on the Fuserna Foundation, go to: http://fusernafoundation.org
