£3 million castle once owned by the Wedgewood family comes to the market
Robin MacDonald, the current owner of Caverswall Castle in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire is a man once described as “having it all”. He’s also a man who plainly attracts drama and with the sale of his castle, a new chapter looms for his Grade I listed, moated home. (more…)
The head of MI5 between 2002 and 2007 was once nearly thrown out of a pub after being mistaken for a prostitute whilst training to be a spy. In December 2013, Manningham-Buller guest presented Radio 4’s Today programme and interviewed an the actress who has played her fictional counterpart, Dame Judi Dench. Northampton born and the daughter of Viscount Dilhorne, the surname of this expert intelligence analyst’s husband has only ever been revealed as “David”. Spooky.
A country seat with a prodigious history
Historic Brereton Hall in Brereton, Cheshire is a fine Elizabethan country house but one that has been sadly separated from much of its original estate. (more…)
Original Scotland Yard site to become hotel ‘of the quality of Chateau Marmont’
An Edwardian building on the site of the original Scotland Yard is to be converted into a 92,000 square foot, 235-bedroom 5-star hotel of the “world class… quality of The Mercer or the Chateau Marmont” (more…)
The term “bonfire of the bankers” truly applies to the life of this divorced Frenchman who has variously been based in London and New York. Back in 2009, he told Bloomberg: “I haven’t cried yet” after being made redundant by Credit Suisse in 2009 and then in October 2013, party loving Assoun informed a London court: “I don’t have any money… Yes I own a $3.3 million New York apartment — it doesn’t mean I’m rich”. This managing partner of the MYD Markets trade execution firm is plainly a man in need of a better publicist.
Bernie Madoff’s boat on the market at a reduced price
Previously marketed at £2.7 million, Bernie Madoff’s Arno Leopard yacht, Bull, is again on the market. Priced this time at £1.6 million, the 27-metre boat is still in the hands of the joint liquidators of Madoff Securities and cost £5.1 million when built in 2007. (more…)
Stonebrook Court Manor: The sale of a Californian mansion where it’s more about patience than price
Stonebrook Court Manor in California’s Los Altos Hills has been on and off the market since January 2008. Its owner, a “television executive turned Internet investor” and investment banker named Kelly Porter, though said to be “in no hurry to sell”, has reduced his asking price from £28.1 million ($45 million) to £16.8 million ($27 million) through Arthur Sharif & Associates. (more…)
Sarah Tucker recounts an interview with Sir David Frost
I was once lucky enough to interview Sir David Frost. He was one of my interviewees for a show I devised for Sky called Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed? Others in the series included Lord Menuhin and Anita Roddick. (more…)
Portland, Oregon born Cassidy is best known for his role as Zach Stevens in The O.C. He has subsequently appeared in Smallville, Hidden Palms, Argo and Scandal and is one of the main characters in Men at Work. If Cassidy weren’t an actor, he’d like to have been a novelist or professional tennis player and of how he started his career, he once commented: “Move to Los Angeles and cash in on your looks or move to New York and get real training”.
Rolls-Royce shooting brake commissioned by John Entwistle of The Who goes to auction
In the manner typical of a rock star, The Who’s John Entwistle never learnt to drive. Instead, the legendary bass player bought cars because he liked to “drink in them”. One – specially adapted to suit an Irish Wolfhound named Fits Perfectly and several Rottweilers – is due at auction on 7th September. (more…)