Child beater speaks at Liberal Democrat conference
At the Liberal Democrat conference on Monday, Vince Cable complained that the Conservatives are “like UKIP without the beer” whilst Guido Fawkes shared pictures of delegates sleeping. Worse still – and also highlighted by Mr Fawkes – was news that the conference was addressed by a convicted child beater. (more…)
Credited with bringing French cooking to Americans, Julia Child was a lady who once stated: “I believe in cooking with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food”. A female equivalent of Keith Floyd and born in Pasadena, California, Child was too tall to enlist in the Women’s Army Corps in the Second World War but found work in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). She was sent to Ceylon to register, catalogue and channel “a great deal of highly classified communications” and after the war moved to France with her husband (who had also worked for the OSS). Having attended the renowned Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, cookery became Child’s love, life and vocation and a whole series of books and television series followed. Her kitchen is now on display in the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. and her legacy lives on in the form of The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts.
My last article focused on Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl provides a natural sequel. Like Fleming, Dahl’s work continues to film and television from beyond his grave. (more…)
The late Joan Rivers on success
Yesterday’s news that the comedienne Joan Rivers passed away is sad but she’ll long be remembered for her wit and acerbic comments. (more…)
Britain’s Prime Minister needs to get a grip
Parliament is back in session and we’re now in September. The ‘Silly Season’ should be well and truly over but in fact we’re sinking into a quagmire that can only be described as ‘stupid’ and ‘irresponsible’. (more…)
Meghan McCain on marriage
Last week, Senator John McCain’s daughter, Meghan, took to Twitter to share her views on marriage. In announcing her views on marriage, she showed herself to be a wise and grounded young lady. (more…)
20 questions with Gieves & Hawkes’ flagship store manager Jolyon Evatt Bexon
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
I always feel that if my head hits the pillow and I’m out cold in under a minute then I’ve done a good day’s work. An honest day’s hard work is the answer.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
I once heard someone say: “He made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”. I think it was a cricket commentator. I don’t like cricket but the saying stuck.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2014?
Kerry Katona.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Getting a full night’s sleep. I have a 17-month old child.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
Well I don’t have much wealth and I’m pretty content so I would have to say not much. Ask me in 20 years when I’m super rich.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
Swings and roundabouts.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“I’ll be honest with you”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I agree. I think self-support is key. Then you can ensure those around you are safe, fed and warm. It’s all about building foundations.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
They are very anti-social. My favourite pub is The French House where mobiles are strictly prohibited. They will literally throw you out if you persist. I like that.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Just my wife. A boring answer but she would kill me if I said the Manchester United starting XI.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Steak and Black Velvet flown in from Scott’s of Mount Street. I had this recently and made a point of telling the waiter this would be my death row meal. I’m glad there was a question relating to this so I could mention it again.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
Don’t know. Google it.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
No answer.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
The sophisticated kind that generally involve food and conversation. I don’t do the crazy ones these days.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My mum is extremely positive. It’s a good trait to have and one I admire.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Pretty obsessed with WW2 documentaries. I seem to also have become trapped by Instagram also as I don’t get out much these days. #followme
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
Spiderweb on the face is a tattoo I’ve seen a lot in South London. There is a Millwall fan I see who has a really good one. Not sure if I would get away with it in my role though.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
Don’t know what this means. The highest I suppose and painted red with “go faster stripes”.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I grew up on a bee farm in the middle of the Kent countryside far from the trappings of my career in London luxury retailing.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
I don’t have a mantelpiece so I will have to say this is N/A.
Jolyon Evatt Bexon is the flagship store manager of Gieves & Hawkes at 1 Savile Row, London, W1.
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20 questions with photographer Giacomo Brunelli
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Adrenaline.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“If you are going through hell, keep going” – Winston Churchill.
Charles Mitford Cust tells the tale of a Steiff bear with a fascinating past
I was routing around in the family safe one rainy day recently when I spotted an unusual object hidden behind a pile of ancient documents right at the back, it turned out to be a near mint condition 1908 Steiff teddy bear which following some simple arithmetic I soon realised had been hiding there for over one hundred years. (more…)
