Tag: London

A Kinky Car

1960 Bentley S2 currently owned by musician Sir Ray Davies to be auctioned; he wrote the hit song ‘Apeman’ on its back seat

A 1960 Bentley S2 owned but rarely used by Sir Ray Davies CBE – best known for hits with The Kinks that included You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night – is to be sold at auction in May.

Presented in unrestored condition after having been left in storage since 1991, the 6.2-litre car was purchased by the musician in 1970 and previously belonged to George Greenfield – agent to Enid Blyton, John le Carré, Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, Sir Rex Harrison, Sir Stirling Moss and David Niven.

Of the black with red leather interior car, the musician once remarked:

After success the success of ‘Lola’ I was persuaded by my family to invest in a big car, which was unusual for me because I did not drive. However, I succumbed to the pressure and purchased a second-hand Bentley from Hadleigh Green Garage in Barnet… My (then) wife drove it on my behalf because as I previously mentioned I was unable to drive.

We lived in a little semi in Muswell Hill and the neighbours were in shock and awe when they saw this huge black Bentley drive up along the narrow shingle path to the house. We subsequently went on a family holiday in the Bentley to Cornwall. While on our holiday in Mullion I sat in the back seat of the Bentley and wrote a follow up to Lola called ‘Apeman’ on the Spanish guitar which I carried in the back.

The Kinks used it in a photo shoot for the ‘Preservation’ album and it still exists in some old black and white footage of us posing as gangsters outside KONK studios.

When I moved to Surrey in the 1970s the car came down with me, I still could not drive and I was forty-four before I tried for my licence. It was occasionally taken out for special events like weddings and family outings. The Kinks took it on the road in England but the fans started writing on the car with lipstick and our (then) manager Ken Jones promptly retired my car to the garage.

Silverstone Auctions have placed an estimate of £25,000 to £30,000 ($32,000 to $39,000, €29,000 to €35,000 or درهم118,000 to درهم142,000) on the vehicle. They will sell it at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire on 13^th May.

Of the classic car, Arwel Richards of Silverstone Auctions told ClassicCars.com: “It is rare to auction a car direct from rock royalty, and this Bentley offers an incredible opportunity for rock ‘n roll fans and Bentley aficionados alike”.

May 4, 2017
The Commerce of Selfies

A review of the showcase of vanity that is the Saatchi Gallery’s ‘Selfie to Self-Expression’ exhibition

The first ever ‘selfie’ was supposedly taken on the roof of the Marceau studio on Fifth Avenue in New York. Featuring a photographer named Joseph Byron and his colleagues, the image was captured in December 1920 and now, an exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery examines the story of what has become a modern day social phenomenon.

The first ever selfie

Aside from images of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 American election and lookalikes of the British royal family by Alison Jackson, this exhibition – sponsored rather appropriately by a mobile phone manufacturer plainly desperate to get its product into the public eye in England named Huawei – features everything from selfies taken with selfie sticks to selfies taken underwater. It is an array of ridiculousness and most definitely a display of extreme vanity that is present here, but with opportunities for visitors to participate, it is also something that anyone except a true killjoy will have a little fun with.

The word ‘selfie’ was announced as the Oxford English Dictionary “word of the year” in 2013 and subsequently, Business Insider, published a story that referenced selfies of groups as “usies”. Huawei Technologies, it transpires, trademarked the word “groufie” around the same time and thus it’s no wonder they managed to cut a deal with the ever-so-commercial Charles Saatchi.

‘Selfie to Self-Expression’ is on display at the Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s Headquarters, Kings Road, London, SW3 4RY until 30^th May. The exhibition is free and open seven days a week, 10am to 6pm.

#SaatchiSelfie

May 4, 2017
Dastardly Diane

Diane Abbott MP, a woman unable to grasp numbers, revealed to be perfectly capable of grabbing as much as she can for her very own pocket

Quite capable of whining about supposedly being unfairly targeted by so-called trolls in spite of being in the pay of and thus accountable to the public, Britain’s most hypocritical Member of Parliament, Diane Abbott, has pocketed over £110,000 in licence payers’ money from the BBC since 2003.

Ms Abbott, it was revealed Thursday by the Mail Online, has been paid £700 each and every time she appeared on BBC One’s This Week and in addition has also raked in cash from conferences, corporate events and literary festivals.

As well as getting £2,000 for turning up to a Citywealth Power Women lunch in 2014, this Socialist horror commanded £2,500 for a speech in Jersey and £2,000 for a talk at a BNP Paribas sponsored event later that year. Aside from this, there have been many other additional payments and on this basis, we ask one thing: “How can a self-motivated money grabber like Diane Abbott claim to speak for ordinary people?”

The answer is simple: This numerically challenged woman cannot. Just like we said of Nigel Farage some months ago, Abbott is no longer a woman of the people. She is a woman of the elite.

May 4, 2017
Jack Turner – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with English born, Los Angeles based actor and musician Jack Turner

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

Treat people well. Try and learn your blind spots.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

Be nice, but don’t get shat on.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?

Everything seems to be acceptable. People are being absolutely despicable because of messaging they see from those in power. Perhaps the only unacceptable thing is calm and clear discourse.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

My family and Weymouth Beach.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

Everyone having some.

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?

That, and the political system (similar principles), make me most unhappy to be an atheist.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

“Reach out”. The word I maybe most love is “tosspot”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

I think there’s a threshold of financial and social safety below which there is no hope to ascend, and that people below that threshold need help. What we have in the UK and US would be considered a ludicrous luxury in many places. I personally just donated a pretty solid sum to Syria and Somalia.

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?

I wish my phone would blow me up. These devices are ruining people’s presence, empathy, and ability to talk. I just read a great summary of the evidence linking socialization and our neurobiology. When you consider socialisation is being replaced by phones, I fear sociopathy will rise massively. Put the fucking phone away, or on silent if you just can’t be without it, you tosspot.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

People without phones, who can like each other even if they disagree. I pick my girlfriend and my mate Monte. Anyone else is welcome. That should ignite some fun.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

Curry from Mirch Masala in Tooting, and bitter. Followed by red velvet cake and some Law Estates Cab.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

Not so much a case of “Is this acceptable?” as: “Will my body reject this now?”

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

I don’t know what a Negroni is. Martinis are frightening. So I’ll go for some tea, please.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

Those I curate carefully to avoid tosspots. Because I loathe tosspots.

Who is the most positive person you know?

My girlfriend. I’m lucky enough that this is a pretty competitive decision, but she takes the cake.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Aforementioned red velvet cake. And guitars.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

I don’t like tattoos, which I think sums me up.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

Public transport or a bicycle. I now realise both sound dirty.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

To my shame I didn’t know what an incredible singer she was. I thought she was just a host. That surprised me. I’m a terrible singer. Which maybe makes it surprising that I was in a great band and continue to make music. Check out our old stuff if you’re interested – Cable Car on Spotify, iTunes, etc.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

Our place isn’t fancy enough to have a mantlepiece. However, we do have a cupboard, upon which we put meaningful things. My mum potted me an Oscar statue, which we call ‘Oscar’. Probably unoriginal, but, I think it’s very sweet, and I’ll take what I can get.

Jack Turner grew up in Weymouth, Dorset, where he was a dubiously-skilled mackerel fishing tour guide. He studied psychology at Oxford before working for Google in London and San Francisco. He’s now an actor in Hollywood and has starred in Netflix’s ‘The 10 Year Plan’ and Hallmark’s ‘My Summer Prince’.

Follow him on Twitter at @jackoturner and Instagram at @jaxonturner.

May 4, 2017
Viscount St Davids

A statement from Matthew Steeples about the man who, in a London courtroom, called him a “wanker”

Yesterday, in London, in a stained tweed gilet more appropriate to Wiltshire than Westminster, Viscount St Davids – amusingly referenced in court as plain old ‘Mr St Davids’ much to the disgust of him and his and his somewhat pointless American barrister chum, Andrew Rinker – called me a “wanker”.

According to much of the mainstream press – including The Guardian and The Sun – Viscount St Davids has now been banned from using social media and prohibited to contact me. I have yet to be informed of exactly what this means and have not seen any transcript of the court’s decision, but, in view of the fact that this thrice bankrupt individual decided to allegedly “laugh” as he was told of the conditions of granting him bail, I hereby record that I am proud to be the individual who first reported this intolerant individual to the police last year.

I will be very happy to give evidence on 10^th July and look forward to witnessing justice run its course. What is posted on social media, in my terribly humble opinion, does not stay on social media.

Comments on this article will be moderated for legal reasons.

May 3, 2017
Breaking with Boris

Breaking News – Rachel Johnson explains why she ditched the party of her Foreign Secretary brother Boris and defected to the Lib Dems

On this morning’s Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, Rachel Johnson was interviewed about her decision to defect to the Liberal Democrat Party.

Explaining her rationale for ditching the Tories and the party of her Brexit supporting Foreign Secretary brother, Boris Johnson, Rachel Johnson commented:

“This is single issue election. We could be going over a cliff on a hard Brexit… Everything on the table from last June is now off the table. Business needs to stay in the Single Market. It’s all lose, lose, lose… A second referendum gives the country another go”.

Answering a question about whether she plans to stand as a candidate herself, Johnson, a columnist for the Mail on Sunday, remarked:

“This is my paper making mischief to embarrass me… [But I am] not ruling anything out”.

Later, in the segment, she tempered this further by adding:

“I am very tempted to campaign in my constituency of Kensington and Chelsea”.

Given her comments, The Steeple Times urges Rachel Johnson to join with us to support Gina Miller’s Best for Britain tactical voting campaign and suggests she also throws her campaigning efforts behind the Liberal Democrats’ Annabel Mullin for Kensington and Louise Rowntree for Chelsea & Fulham.

#BritainDeservesBetter #MakeJuneEndOfMay

Louise Rowntree (left) pictured with Matthew Steeples of The Steeple Times and Annabel Mullin in Chelsea last week

The Johnson clan – Stanley Johnson (far left) with his children: Rachel, Boris and Jo

April 30, 2017
Miriam Margolyes OBE

In April 2017, esteemed actress Miriam Margolyes described Theresa May as “that awful woman” and hinted that she had little-to-any enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn’s “hell of a mess” also. In the same interview, in her “distinctive voice”, she added: “It is the job of the arts to engage in life… That’s what I care about”. She is best known for having won a BAFTA for her role in Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence in 1993 but is famous to younger audiences for having appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. A dual British-Australian citizen and humanitarian advocate, Oxford born Margolyes also played the self-made cosmetics billionairess Helena Rubinstein in 2017 and lives with her partner, Heather Sutherland, in London, Tuscany and New South Wales.

April 30, 2017
Advertorial – City Relay

Matthew Steeples takes a look at the services offered by City Relay, a hassle free short-term rental management company

Established three years ago and based in Earl’s Court, City Relay offer the very best guest and host management services for over two hundred apartments and houses in Central and West London.

Primarily focused on taking away the hassle of managing bookings through marketing services such as Airbnb, City Relay’s 5-star hospitality team deal with check-ins, key holding and guest support. The firm also have their own property maintenance team to ensure properties are kept in immaculate condition between change-overs and can organise housekeeping services and supply fresh hotel quality linens also.

Of the firm’s services to those with apartments and houses to rent, the company’s Mathilde Le Bault comments:

“Brexit has brought a bonus for landlords and has encouraged many to opt for short-term rentals to tourists and business people rather than leaving their properties empty in a declining long-term market. Higher yields follow and with the ease and convenience of dealing with just City Relay’s team, we make it much easier to navigate the Airbnb process”.

“City Relay’s reception desk is located at 62 Kenway Road, London, SW5 0RD and the many international, mostly European clients we deal with find that having someone they can actually speak to and meet in person most useful”.

For further details about City Relay’s services, click here. Alternatively, telephone: +44 (0) 20 7993 5693.

April 30, 2017
Gilded Glory

New York’s “last intact Gilded Age mansion” for sale for £38.75 million; it comes with a room that cannot be wiretapped

An Upper East Side “Beaux Arts palace on a small scale” described as “Manhattan’s last intact Gilded Age mansion” has gone on sale for £38.75 million ($50 million, €45.96 million or درهم183.65 million) with Douglas Elliman.

854 Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side, New York, NY 10065, United States of America

Offering 20,000 square foot of accommodation over nine floors, 854 Fifth Avenue stands opposite Central Park and between 66^th and 67^th Streets. It was built in 1905 for a stockbroker named Robert Livingston Beeckman and constructed by architects Warren & Wetmore at a cost of $60,000 (the equivalent of $1.6 million, £1.2 million, €1.5 million or درهم5.9 million today). The residence was landmarked by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission as a “superb example of the French classic style of Louis XV” in 1966 and to this day, the 32-room property retains original features including hand-carved balustrades of white marble, ceiling frescoes of angels and clouds, an original working stove and two of the city’s first private elevators.

Robert Livingston Beeckman (1866 – 1935), Emily Thorn Vanderbilt Sloane White (1852 – 1946) and Henry White (1850 – 1927)

Sold next to George Grant in 1912 after Beeckman – later 52^nd Governor of Rhode Island – abandoned New York to spend more time at his Newport estate, Lands End, for a then record sum of $725,000 (the equivalent of $18.3 million, £14.1 million, €16.8 million or درهم67.2 million today), 854 Fifth Avenue was then offloaded to Henry White and his heiress wife Emily Thorn Vanderbilt Sloane White for the much lower sum of $450,000 in 1925 (the equivalent of $6.3 million, £4.9 million, €5.8 million or درهم23.1 million today).

Twice married financier of New York’s Sloane Hospital for Women Thorn Vanderbilt Sloane White and her ambassador husband are said to have “added their own touches” to the mansion and after she died, 854 Fifth Avenue was sold to the then nation of Yugoslavia. It has served as a government building since and was most recently used as the Permanent Mission of Serbia and Mission of Serbia to the UN.

Bombed on 11^th July 1968 but thankfully subject to little damage in that attack, the mansion still to this day features a ‘Faraday Cage’ – a secret metal-padded room where officials could meet without the fear of being wiretapped – as well as bulletproof windows to its Central Park elevation.

Last week, of the property, Tristan Harper of Douglas Elliman told The Real Deal:

“Everything is virtually intact. Whoever buys it will own a piece of New York history. [The six individuals who have already expressed interest in purchasing 854 Fifth Avenue are] all extremely high-net-worth individuals of different backgrounds”.

Once bordered by houses of a similar scale, 854 Fifth Avenue is now adjoined by two behemoth-like apartment complexes. It stands sturdy and represents a little reminder of the glorious era of Carnegies, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Whitneys.

April 28, 2017
A Big Priced Basement

Cadogan Square flat for sale for a sum that, if achieved, could make it the most expensive subterranean home in London; it is offered at a price that equates to £2,130 per square foot

Created from the merger of two flats, one of which was marketed for £3 million ($3.8 million, €3.5 million or درهم14.1 million) in 2013, a basement apartment in Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge has gone on sale for the staggering sum of £6.25 million ($8.01 million, €7.35 million or درهم29.42 million).

Possibly one of the most expensive subterranean homes in London, if not the world, the 2,933 square foot remodeled apartment comes with a Moroccan themed courtyard garden and includes not only 2 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, but also a coffee bar, a television room and a steam room. It is described as providing a “flexible living” space.

The share of freehold property is offered by Strutt & Parker and situated within a Grade II* listed building designed by the Scottish architect Richard Norman Shaw (1831 – 1912) in 1883.

April 26, 2017