His life was short but he brought joy throughout it and wherever he went. He looked like Colonel Gadaffi, loved the voice of Radio 4’s Jenni Murray and was particularly partial to a visit to Chelsea’s Sette restaurant. He even liked travelling by bus. This boisterous Standard Poodle will be greatly missed.
Tag: Fulham
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Bubble (2012 – 2013)
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Derek Paravicini
This echolaliac prodigy has absolute pitch and has been described as “the human iPod.” His abilities as a musician are amazing given that he’s both blind and autistic. The cousin of The Duchess of Cornwall’s children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, Paravicini unexpectedly played Big Spender to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, in 2009 and made legal history when The Court of Protection was opened for the first time in 2010 to discuss his future care. He captivates audiences throughout the land. -
Boujis in the basement?
Matthew Steeples explores the story of an empty Kensington mansion
A multi-million pound 8-bedroomed house in Kensington isn’t anything unusual. In fact, rather, they’re ten a penny. In this, one of the wealthiest boroughs in the land, large, expensive homes are just the norm.
An image of the existing exterior of No. 1 Campden Hill, London, W8 7AD 
A rendered image of how the exterior of the renovated property might look 
The plans show a vast subterranean development that will vastly increase the size of No. 1 Campden Hill No. 1 Campden Hill, which is being marketed for an undisclosed eight-figure sum, is in a quite different league. Here is a detached Edwardian house in an acre of grounds just to the north of Kensington High Street. It’s an unrenovated property but it attracted much press attention in October 2011 because it was place on the market in October 2011 at a price of £75,000,000. Yes, you heard it right: £75 million for a fixer-upper. Last week, Radio 4 made a hell of a fuss about a derelict semi-detached house in Newcastle selling for just £14,000 so this truly must be something special.
Architect Edward P. Warren (1856 – 1937), far right, in the offices of Bodley & Garner, 14 South Square, Gray’s Inn, London The architect of the house Edward Prioleau Warren (1856 – 1937), a Bristol born architect and archaeologist, was best known for “Oxford colleges and minor country houses” but also designed the War Cemetery at Basra. He was a friend and adviser to the American novelist Henry James and in addition to building No. 1 Campden Hill in 1915, he also designed a house at 5 Palace Green in 1906 and another, Estcort House in Kensington Palace Gardens, in 1904. Warren’s guiding style is described as having been to recreate an “understated revival of English late 17th century” architecture and at No. 1 Campden Hill he created just that.
Colonel Edmond Grove-Hills (1864 – 1922), born Edmond Hills, and his wife, Juliet Spencer-Bell, were the architect’s clients. A plaque on the building bares their names and the following dedication:
This House I built for Me & Mine
May it be of Peace A Shrine
And no Enmity or Sin
Ever find its way therein
AD 1915
Sadly for the Grove-Hills, the following year, their son, Second Lieutenant Charles Herbert-Hills (1895 – 1916) was killed on the Somme aged just 21. His father, meanwhile, was awarded a CBE in 1918 after having served as the Assistant Chief Engineer of Eastern Command during the war.
Aside from his military exploits, Edmond Grove-Hills is best known for his role as president of the Royal Astronomical Society. He took part in observations of eclipse of the sun in Japan in 1896, India in 1898 and Russia in 1914 and contributed papers analysing both this and the causes of the irregular movements of the earth’s axis of rotation.
In 1951, No. 1 Campden Hill was purchased by the government of Uruguay and it became the residence of their ambassador to the United Kingdom. For the next fifty years the building was barely altered but when the lease from the Phillimore Kensington Estate came to an end, there were legal problems as the 1951 transfer had never been stamped. Of this, Sharon Mulroney of Forsters, the legal representatives of Phillimore, commented:
“It is highly unusual to be faced with complications of this kind when dealing with a registered London title, but this made the transaction all the more fascinating. Even the decision to allow ambassadorial staff to return to the property for security purposes after completion was fraught with potential problems about security of tenure, employment and tax.”
The proposed site plan shows the addition of a garden pavilion, staff/security cottage and a tennis court Eventually, without issue, the Phillimore Estate sold on the house in 2001 for a price of approximately £17,000,000. In the years since, the property was effectively mothballed as all the purchasers have done is to have obtained planning permission to redevelop the building into a mammoth mansion of epic proportions.
A computer rendered image of how the drawing room might look 
The “leisure area” is reminiscent of the entrance to The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel 
The private home cinema would be the envy of any movie buff 
The swimming pool 
The wine cellar is rather like a contemporary take on Berry Bros. & Rudd’s flagship store in St. James’s Street 
And to complete it all… The plans include your own version of Boujis in the basement The approved plans show designs for something quite remarkable. Warren’s “understated” residence will be replaced with 8 vast bedroom suites, grand entertaining spaces, a lift and even bedrooms for 5 staff. In addition to a full-scale renovation of the original freehold house, there is scope to provide a total of 30,000 square feet of accommodation by adding a huge subterranean complex that will include a 25-metre swimming pool, court, squash court, gym, sauna, steam room, function room, entertainment room, home cinema, wine tasting room and even a nightclub to rival any of Kensington’s trendiest haunts.
On that basis alone, No. 1 Campden Hill is surely the ideal residence for Prince Harry: “Who needs Boujis?” we hear him cry.
No. 1 Campden Hill, London, W8 7AD is for sale through Knight Frank. For more details contact Roddy Craggs on +44 (0) 20 7938 4311 or go to: http://search.knightfrank.com/ken100161 to download a brochure.
For more information about The Phillimore Estate, go to: http://www.phillimore-kensington-estate.co.uk
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Robin Sheppard: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times asks hotelier and chairman of Bespoke Hotels Robin Sheppard: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force?
Hunger.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“While I breath, I hope.”
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2012?
Piers Morgan.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
The ability to fit into non-elasticated trousers.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
I might swap it for anything. However, I would swap it for nothing.
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?
I think it’s a great shame that people no longer consider their bank manager to be a friend. We’ve lost the trust. It’s very different now to how it once was.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“At this moment in time”: What a waste of words.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home.” What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I am affiliated with the Guillan-Barre Syndrome Support Group.
The judge in “Law Abiding Citizen” states: “I can pretty do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
Turn them off when you’re on the loo. Or at least try not to use them.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Are we murdering or sightseeing? Either way, the answer’s probably family.
Hotelier Robin Sheppard If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Presumably I’d have to eat it in the prison I doubt they’d let me go on a picnic. I think I’d have spaghetti bolognaise with a robust Chianti.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
Immediately after you finish work. Whichever time that may be.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
Cup of tea.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
If I remembered them, they can’t have been that much fun, can they?
Who is the most positive person you know?
My golf instructor. He’s always laughing whenever I take a shot.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Pork scratchings.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
That festival in Edinburgh.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A monster truck.
Cilla Black presented “Surprise, Surprise.” Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I’m an only child.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A handful of birthday cards.
Robin Sheppard is a classically trained hotelier and chairman of Bespoke Hotels. He is also managing director of Alfresco, designed the iconic bottle for Ty-Nant mineral water and is the author of A Solitary Confinement (2007).
To purchase a copy of Sheppard’s book, A Solitary Confinement, go to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Solitary-Confinement-Robin-Sheppard/dp/1905823258. Watch a video interview with him about Guillan-Barre Syndrome at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9SQKayEQEo
For more information about Bespoke Hotels, go to: http://www.bespokehotels.com and for information on Alfresco: http://www.alfresco.co.uk
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Nooror Somany: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times asks the Blue Elephant Group’s Nooror Somany: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force?
“Nothing is impossible…. But make sure you feel passionate about what you do.”
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Whatever you do, love what you do.”
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2012?
‘Octomom’ Nadya Suleman. My children are so important to me and I could never exploit them in the way she has done.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
I miss not being able to see enough of my youngest son, Kris. He is away at boarding school in Belgium at the moment.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
Youth.
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?
I’d rather not spend time thinking about it. I believe that everyone has played some part in the current situation.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“I can’t do it.”
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home.” What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I feel that everyone you should do what they can to help those less fortunate. I personally support the Thai Breast Cancer Institute, the Thai Elephant Foundation and the Pattaya Orphanage.
The judge in “Law Abiding Citizen” states: “I can pretty do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
I’m a lover not a fighter. Life is too short for war.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Jennifer Lopez, Gianni Versace, Liza Minnelli, John Denver and Jimmy Choo.
Blue Elephant chef and co-founder Nooror Somany If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Thai chili dip – with a sea view.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
At any time.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
None of the above. A Bellini is my drink of choice.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
The parties held in Mumbai by my friend Cynthia. The food is outstanding while the warmth and hospitality of the people and the local culture are all second to none.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My best friend Cynthia.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
A pain au chocolat.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
The motto Carpe Diem.
If you were a car, what marquee would you be?
I’d be a classic Range Rover.
Cilla Black presented “Surprise, Surprise.” Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I love Bollywood movies.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Photos of my family and friends.
Nooror Somany founded the Blue Elephant Group with her husband Karl Steppé in 1980. For more information, go to: http://blueelephant.co.th
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Jeweltastic
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
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The rise of the rucksack
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 dog 
A 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 jute 
A manbag in miniature -
April Ashley MBE (born Toni Jamieson)
This Liverpudlian sex-swap pioneer was the first British person to be outed as a transsexual in 1961. Ashley endured electric shock treatment and painful surgery but this didn’t stop her becoming a successful fashion model who appeared in such titles as Vogue. A marriage to the Hon. Arthur Corbett was brief but alleged affairs with Michael Hutchene, Sir Peter O’Toole, Grayson Perry and Omar Sharif are well documented. A true wildcard, Ashley now spends her time campaigning for social equality and lives in Fulham. -
Claire Rubinstein
A Bentley driving graduate of the London School of Economics. This mother of three cruises the Kings Road with her poodle, Bubble, and is the hostess with the mostess when it comes to barbecuing. -
William Cookson
An “urban abstract” artist who also paints a superb portrait. His family founded the renowned CV Travel empire that turned Corfu into “Kensington-on-Sea.” George Osborne rented his mother’s home in Corfu 2008 and whilst there controversially met with the billionaire financier Nat Rothschild and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. One of four brothers, he’s exhibited at Elistano, Bistro K and Brinkley’s. Another showcase is deservedly imminent.