George Freeman MP denies he wants to create a Tory version of Glastonbury; imagining Theresa May boozing with Liam Gallagher definitely would be hard
Theresa May, Dizzee Rascal and Liam Gallagher would certainly make for unlikely bedfellows but now a Conservative MP, George Freeman, wishes to replicate Jeremy Corbyn’s success in such company at Glastonbury and in September will host his own festival in Norfolk.
Former biotechnology entrepreneur Mr Freeman, chairman of Mrs May’s policy board, asked: “Why is it just the left who have all the fun in politics?” and has received support for what he calls a “friends and family event” and a “cross between Hay-on-Wye and the Latitude festival” from a number of sponsors and venues.
Expected to be called the “Conservative Ideas Festival,” the event was remarked on by one unnamed fellow MP as: “Very trendy” but needing “a lot of expensive booze” for him to attend. One might argue seeing Mrs May drunk in one of her beloved wheat fields might amuse many, but in reality this idea sounds nearly as bad as when the party put William Hague in a baseball cap at a theme park in 1997. Theresa, a word of advice: Don’t do it.
Billionaire founder of Netscape has failed to sell his Palm Beach mansion in a year; it remains on the market for £105 million (or 754% more than he paid for it in 1999)
Four times married, a father of four and a collector of rather large gin palaces, Texan James H. Clark founded Netscape in 1994 and earnt $2 billion (the equivalent of $3 billion, £2.3 billion, €2.6 billion or درهم11 billion today) from that project when it was sold to AOL in 1998.
Clark paid just $11 million for a Palm Beach mansion named ‘Il Palmetto’ in 1999 (the equivalent of $16.2 million, £12.3 million €13.8 million or درهم59.5 million today) and spent four years renovating the 5.46-acre property. He placed it for sale for $137 million (£105 million, €117 million or درهم503 million) last August but has plainly failed to attract a buyer.
Built to the designs of the Swiss architect Maurice Fatio (1897 – 1943) as an “Italian Renaissance-style palazzo” in 1930, the house – which is also known as 1500 South Ocean Boulevard – is described by selling agents Sotheby’s International Realty as “without peer in Palm Beach.” The building was subjected to a four year renovation by Mr Clark, reportedly extends to around 44,200 square foot and aside from including 10 bedrooms, 14 full-bathrooms and 12 partial-bathrooms, also comes with a 20,000 bottle wine cellar and a second cellar for an additional 1,000 crates.
Architecturally “a series of pavilions connected by cloisters,” the main house is dominated by formal entertaining areas with 16th century carved ceilings and accessed from a private tunnel underneath the road is a 2-bedroom beach house with an infinity pool that “blends into the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean.” To the other boundary, on Lake Worth, is a boathouse with motorised launches for two vessels and a 2-bedroom apartment above.
Influential business leaders from green sector back Lib Dems in Thursday’s General Election in a letter to ‘The Steeple Times’
Sir
The environment has been shut out of this election.
Economic growth has provided the world with abundant food, medicine, energy and raw materials. However, unmanaged it is destroying the ecosystem, wiping out fauna, flora, forests and seas. An ecological meltdown will cause economic ruin, political turmoil and threaten the very existence of human civilisation.
Air pollution causes 40,000 premature deaths in the UK each year. With greenhouse gases and habitat depletion, together, they are having a catastrophic effect on our environment, contributing to global climate change, wildlife, crop and forest damage, rising sea levels, floods and haze. Whole countries could drown under water or starve under drought, driving migration and climate wars.
The path to a sustainable future requires the creative power of our best scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs, backed by the courage of politicians to think long term.
Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris accords is an act of environmental vandalism on a global scale. And by refusing to condemn him, Theresa May is aiding and abetting him.
Only the Lib Dems combine the ambition to bring forward climate change targets and support for the Paris agreement, with an entrepreneurial approach to investing in cutting edge clean technologies, and commitment to international institutions to enable Britain to be a world leader in protecting the global environment.
Britain has been part of the cause. By supporting the Lib Dems on 8th June, Britain can also be part of the solution.
Yours faithfully
Simon Blakey, managing director, SAB Global Energy
A 20-question interview with self-made businessman and star of ‘My Fat Gypsy Fortune’ Alfie Best
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
For a man to know where he is going, he must remember where he is from.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Life is a light, it is your job to make it shine brighter.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?
Internet trolls who are brave behind keyboards.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Time.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
More time.
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 state of the financial system?
If you treat the bank as a bank, they will treat you as a customer but if you treat the banks as a partner within your business and build your relationship with the management of the bank, they will consider you as a partner and offer much more insight and help which it is own way, is free to you as a business.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“We have a problem”; one man’s problem is another man’s opportunity.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I do believe charity begins at home but I also believe giving is not as good as teaching. If you give a man a fish, he will feed his family for a night, show the man how to fish and he will feed his family for a lifetime.
We’re actually setting up own charity – Wyldecrest Parks Charity – which hopefully we’ll be able to help vulnerable people in need.
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?
Connection is unbelievable and the forward bounds it has given us a society is unprecedented but we have to remember not to become disconnected from society.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
I would fill the carriage with my family and friends and invite Tracy Chapman and the musical artist Rodriguez; I would look for them to enjoy the ride and party whilst it lasted.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Pie, mash and liquor at the White House with the President to try and get a reprieve whilst eating my last meal.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
6:30am with a nice cup of lemon tea.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A cup of tea.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I enjoy my son’s parties because the charisma he brings to the room is like a ray of sunshine on the beach.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Me.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Chocolate.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
If I were to have a tattoo, it would state ‘BEST’ across my back because it would mean the best is behind me and there is even better to come.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A black Lamborghini.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
After becoming a millionaire at 20, I nearly went bust and slept in my car for 3 months.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A backward clock – it confuses everyone!
Alfie Best is a successful entrepreneur driven by tenacity. With humble origins, born and raised in a Romany Gypsy family, this self-made man started his professional path totally from scratch. Alongside Wyldecrest Parks, Alfie Best also owns other very successful businesses within the hospitality and leisure, events, trading and finance industries including Vinyl Bar, Kyoto Furniture, Axiom Uno and Wylde Event Management.
A 20-question interview with Paris based fashion designer Martin Raffa
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
The search beauty and harmony. From an early age, I understood the importance of both in my entourage.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Beauty is interior”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?
The mediatic terrorism of the Kardashian family.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Palm trees and tropical rainforest vegetation.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
For God to grant me an obedient heart.
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 state of the financial system?
I don’t understand much about finance, but I think the worst thing of all is that there is a lack of help to help small entrepreneurs since they are the true wealth creators.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“It’s impossible to achieve”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Personally, I work with friends to create an association protect animals. I especially like protecting dogs.
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?
Being connected is great, but do not be connected for too long.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
I would invite Andy Warhol so we could have great pictures, Truman Capote to enjoy great conversations, Marvin Gaye for the music, Ferran Adrià to have great meals and my French bulldog, Batman.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Soy risotto with oysters and black truffles at Le Sur Mesure by Thierry Marx at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
It depends on the city. In Paris, it would be 6pm with my team at the office at the end of a long, productive day.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A martini, always.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I enjoy my own pool parties the best.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Milagros Schmoll, my muse. She is an Argentinian artist and international model.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
To stay in bed in the morning playing with my dog Batman when I have a thousand things to do.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
A very fine line on my arm that could only be read with a magnifying glass. It would say: “The beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” (Oscar Wilde).
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A black Aston Martin DB4 Zagato.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
When I was young, I spent three years in the navy. I was honoured as a submariner.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Books about the photographer Steichen, a candle by Cire Trudon, lithospheres from Bernardaud and a big bottle of Sycomore by Chanel.
Martin Raffa was born in Argentina of Italian origin. He was the first Argentinian designer to present a collection during the haute couture shows in Paris. He now works for private clients around the world. Contact him at [email protected]
A tenacious Romany Gypsy turned multi-millionaire businessman, Mayfair and Hertfordshire based Alfie Best overcame “many obstacles and prejudices” to make his fortune in cars, mobile phone stores and mobile home parks. The owner of Wyldecrest Parks also produces his own gin and claims his life philosophy is “90% perspiration and 10% inspiration”. His equally entrepreneurial son, Alfie Best III, appeared with him on Channel 4’s My Big Fat Gypsy Fortune.
Historic Battersea mansion for sale for the same sum it was marketed for in 2011; it has been mostly empty throughout the intervening period and was renovated by the late billionaire Malcolm Forbes
Billionaire publisher Malcolm Forbes was a man who liked to live large. He had a huge yacht named The Highlander, threw lavish parties across the globe and counted Gianni Agnelli, Gordon Getty, Calvin Klein, Robert Maxwell, Rupert Murdoch, Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump as friends. This “mysterious collector” also owned numerous residences and one of these, Old Battersea House in London, is for sale for the same sum as it was marketed for in 2011.
Often seen with Elizabeth Taylor at his side and described as “living life in the fabulous”, Forbes purchased Old Battersea House in 1971. It had previously been home to and saved from demolition by Battersea Council by the eccentric author and ghost hunter Wilhemina Stirling. She took up a lifetime tenancy on the building in 1931 and used it to house artworks by her sister, Evelyn de Morgan (1855 – 1919).
Grade II* listed since 1954 and adapted during Forbes and subsequently his son Kip’s ownership to showcase a vast collection of Victorian art and antiques, Old Battersea House was built on Tudor foundations in 1699 and was at first known as ‘Terrace House’. It originally had gardens extending down to the River Thames and is rumoured to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1632 – 1723).
Featuring “handsome classical proportions throughout” and standing within a 110-foot wide walled garden, the 10,100 square foot house includes 4 reception rooms, 10 double bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. It has off-street parking and a garden store but it is sadly overlooked by the adjoining housing estate that was built in its grounds in the 1930s.
The impressive hallway of Old Battersea HouseAnother entertaining spaceElizabeth Taylor and her then husband Larry Fortensky at Old Battersea House in 1992Images of the house as it was furnished during the ownership of the Forbes family
Born in 1983 in Alnwick, Northumberland, Nick Bell is amongst the few youngsters who genuinely deserve the accolade “entrepreneur”. A former pupil of The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, Bell sold his first company, Tennfront.com, for £1 million at the age of 16 and has been vice president of content at Snapchat since 2013. Meeting him has been described as being like a “golden ticket” to success. He has over 5,000 followers on Twitter.
