Offered to benefit The Opportunity Network, a non-profit which counts not only Daniel Craig on its board but also Rachel Weisz as well, the customised left-hand, automatic car has a top speed of 183 mph. It features an interior personally crafted by Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s creative officer, that was guided by “Daniel Craig’s preference of denim and dark colours.”
Of selling the 6.0-litre V12 vehicle, Daniel Craig commented:
“This Aston Martin Vanquish is a tour-de-force of automobile engineering and a distinct pleasure to drive. While I will miss it, I am keen to further the very important work of The Opportunity Network with its sale.”
Christie’s will sell the left-hand drive, midnight blue with deep blue interior car on 20th April at their ‘Exceptional Sale’ and offer it with an estimate of £285,000 to £428,000 ($400,000 to $600,000, €322,000 to €483,000 or درهم1.5 million to درهم2.2 million). As a bonus, the winning bidder will also get an opportunity to visit the Aston Martin headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England for a behind-the-scenes tour with Marek Reichman.
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Offered without reserve, the fully UK road legal vehicle – which was one of ten such models specially adapted by Belper, Derbyshire based Bowler Motorsport for the £186 million ($245 million, €208 million or درهم900 million) film starring Daniel Craig – has been driven just 145 miles and unlike its counterparts was only used in drive-by scenes.
Described as “worthy of a Bond villain” and upgraded from 120 bhp to 185 bhp and 500 Nm of torque, the ‘Spectre Defender’ offered also features huge 37-inch tyres, a full roll cage, rose joints and Bilstein rally dampers.
RM Sotheby’s will sell the Land Rover at their Battersea Park sale on 6th September.
John Stoddart and Claire Rubinstein at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills yesterday
A whole array of guests are expected at the event and amongst them will be a bevvy of Brits including Lady Victoria Hervey and occasional contributor to The Steeple Times, Claire Rubinstein. Liverpool born Stoddart, no doubt dressed to the nines and surrounded by American beauties, will showcase the finest of his images of Hollywood greats and amongst those on display will be Daniel Craig, Anthony Hopkins, Martin Scorsese, Tilda Swinton and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The exhibition will remain on display at the hotel for several months and part of the proceeds from all works sold will be donated to the Caterina’s Club charity.
‘Photographer to the Stars’ John Stoddart branches out to sell limited edition postcard sets – but rush to buy to buy them, the edition is limited to just 100 and priced at just £25(more…)
This Jersey born actor was educated at Stowe and has appeared in everything from Midsomer Murders to The Tudors. Henry Cavill didn’t quite beat Daniel Craig to play James Bond but as Superman he’s claimed plaudits galore. As a child he was nicknamed “Fat Cavill” but now he’s the one having the last laugh. He claims he could not live without a brown leather jacket he owns and has an interest in Egyptology.
James Murphy examines his romantic heroes, Ian Fleming and James Bond
I was privileged to attend the recent Masterpiece art and antiques fair in Chelsea. For me, the undoubted highlight was coming face to face with the letters of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, on Peter Harrington’s stand. (more…)
Tomorrow, 26th March 2013 at 7.30pm EDT, the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport will be unveiled at the 113th New York Motor Show. In a departure from the traditional way in which cars are launched, Land Rover have drafted in James Bond star Daniel Craig to star in a video advertising campaign that will accompany this. It will conclude with a live-stream movie shot in “secret locations” around Manhattan.
Undoubtedly best known as one of the greatest actresses of the post-war period, Yorkshire born Dench briefly played Pru Forrest in the BBC’s The Archers. She’s an advocate for “more progressive drug policies” and only took the role of Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride & Prejudice after director Joe Wright wrote to her and said: “I love it when you play a bitch. Please come and be a bitch for me.” There’s barely a role she hasn’t conquered.
In the blog that preceded “The Steeple Times,” Matthew Steeples took a look at The Manor House at Stoke Poges in March 2012. It’s still on the market at £13,500,000 and though the price has yet to be cut, there has been uproar about revelations that the former owners, South Buckinghamshire District Council, sold the freehold and a sculpture by John Deare for just £300,000. A link to the May 2012 “Bucks Free Press” article about this is included at the end of this article. What a Carry On!
The Manor House, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Slough, Buckinghamshire, SL2 4PGAn image of The Manor House sometime between 1910 and 1929
Estate agents particulars are funny things. Normally gushing with nonsense such as “prestigious,” “luxurious” and “architect designed,” property agents rarely miss a trick when it comes to selling historical and personality related peculiarities.
Sidney James as The Reverend Flasher AKA “Big Dick” Turpin with Barbara Windsor as Harriett in a scene filmed in The Great Hall at The Manor House, Stoke Poges for the film Carry on DickThe Great Hall at The Manor House today
I was therefore somewhat perplexed that the brochure for The Manor House at Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire didn’t contain reference to its appearance in the 1974 classic Carry on Dick.
Agents Savills instead opted to gush about the house’s previous owners, who numbered Francis Hastings, second Earl of Huntingdon, Sir Edward Coke and Thomas Penn, son of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. The brochure also goes to the lengths of describing visitors who have included Queen Elizabeth I, Charles I and Sir Thomas Gray and points out that Sir Edwin Landseer used The Manor House as a studio whilst painting his most famous work, The Monarch of the Glen, in 1851. The filming of For Your Eyes Only and Bridget Jones’ Diary in the adjoining Stoke Park also get mention but Savills utterly neglect the starring role of the building as the home of the Reverend Flasher, played by Sid James, in Carry on Dick. Plainly “Big Dick” is not someone they wish this £13,500,000 house to be associated with.
The Manor House is now a quarter of its original size as, on his return from America, Thomas Penn decided the house too dilapidated for his own occupation. He commissioned James Wyatt to build him the new mansion that is now Stoke Park Club in the 1790s and demolished the majority of The Manor House.
Stoke Park as the backdrop to a golf match between James Bond (Sean Connery) and Auric Goldfinger (Gert Froebe) in For Your Eyes Only (1981). Oddjob (Toshiyuki Harold Sakata) caddies.
In 1911, shortly after the Stoke Park golf course was laid out, further refurbishments were carried out that included the creation of the current Great Hall from the former kitchen, the introduction of bay windows and a new grand staircase.
In 2010, Comer Homes acquired The Manor House and brought it into the 21st century. The 11,227 square foot main house and 7,966 square foot of guest and leisure accommodation were completely renovated and such things as multi-zoned, multi-sourced entertainment systems, CAT5 cabling and underfloor heating installed.
The extremely neutral style of decoration is perhaps a reason that a buyer has yet to biteThe uninspired theme continues in the kitchenWhilst this bedroom could be located, well, erm, just about anywhere
Just 35 minutes drive from Mayfair and now looking somewhat like a hotel out of the Mr & Mrs Smith guide, The Manor House is an extremely manageable country home as it stands in just 10 acres of grounds. It will no doubt have huge appeal to a popstar, Euromillions winner or Russian oligarch. When viewing, however, they just better not mention “Big Dick” as no doubt soon the agent will have had “enough of it!”
For more information on The Manor House, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Slough, Buckinghamshire, SL2 4PG contact Nick Ingle of Savills Beaconsfield on +44 (0) 1494 73152 or download a PDF brochure from:http://residentialsearch.savills.co.uk/property-detail/311852
