As singer Tulisa hits out at her conviction for assault, we urge her instead to learn to respect the justice system
Tulisa Contostavlos is best known for trashy tracks about “living on the edge of life” and has also sung lines such as: “Forgive us for what we’ve done, cause we young, we young, we young”. Today, though, this lippy singer didn’t show any desire to express remorse for her conviction for the assault of a blogger and instead angrily expressed her “outrage” outside Stratford Magistrates’ Court. (more…)
20 questions with car dealer and Rolls-Royce specialist Richard Biddulph
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Service, service, service and more service.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Life is not a dress rehearsal” is one choice and my second is: “You never heard a man on his deathbed saying: ‘Gee, I wish I had spent more time at the office’”.
Parliament’s decision to recall Rupert Murdoch is just ludicrous
Parliament’s culture select committee has decided to recall Rupert Murdoch after revelations that he regretted co-operating in the inquiry into phone hacking. Frankly, this is just ludicrous and yet another fine example of pandering to the populist. (more…)
The Steeple Times asks Blue Boar Smokehouse chef Jon Ingram: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Seasonality, traceability and simplicity.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
Green peppers and bad personal hygiene. They both stink.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
My family.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
I don’t have any wealth. I’m a chef
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?
Overpaid people that gamble with our money and still get a bonus.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“Jambalaya”: I worked with a chef who had it on the menu. I think it is the worst dish I have ever seen or tasted.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I donate to Cancer Research every month.
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 love my phone. It goes everywhere I do, except for my days off. Then, it generally sits there until I go back to work.
Blue Boar Smokehouse & Bar chef Jon Ingram
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
It would be a real eclectic mix of people such as Tommy Cooper, Burt Bacharach, Marco Pierre White, Jonnie Boer, Dynamo, Lionel Richie, Frank Bruno, Russell Howard, my kids and most importantly my wife.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Blue Boar ribs to start and a huge roast beef dinner and chocolate
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
Pubs open at 11am.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
Tea: white peony.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I’m normally cooking for them, so anyones’.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My wife.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
A croissant stuffed with a Cumberland sausage.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
My motto: K.I.S.S.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Morgan: a small fish in a big pond.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I’ve got a 100-metre swimming badge.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
If I had one, I would put my 100-metre swimming badge on it along with a picture of my wife and kids. I would most definitely not put a carriage clock on it though.
Jon Ingram is the chef of the Blue Boar Smokehouse & Bar in Westminster.
The sale of the £20 million Bletchingdon Park, Oxfordshire
Bletchingdon Park House in Oxfordshire is one of those classic Palladian villas that would make the perfect setting for a period drama. Unlike vast Jacobean mansions like Highclere Castle, better known as Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey, however, Bletchingdon is of a far more manageable size.
The facade of Bletchingdon Park, Bletchingdon, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 3DWThe staircase hallA formal reception roomThe grounds of Bletchingdon Park
This Grade II* listed Georgian house, built for Lord Valentina in 1782, may be some 24,600 square foot in size, but it has a layout that makes it both practical for living and suitable for entertaining on a grand scale. The accommodation, which has been renovated by the renowned building company Symm, includes 9 bedrooms and suites, well-proportioned formal reception rooms and a garden floor with further reception rooms, a billiards room and a fitness room with spa.
Whilst the original stable block has been sold off and converted to residential accommodation, Bletchingdon Park includes 2 staff flats, a 2-bedroomed lodge cottage and a further 3-bedroomed cottage. With parkland and grounds extending to 127 acres, maintaining Bletchingdon’s plot is large, but easily maintained.
Dr Michael Peagram with Albert II, Prince of Monaco and Prince Andrew, The Duke of YorkThe former stables of Bletchingdon Park were sold off some years ago and have been converted into a number of homes
In the 20th century Bletchingdon was owned by Lord Astor and then Lord Rotherwick. The current owner, Dr Michael Peagram, purchased the estate in 1993. Peagram made his fortune in the chemicals industry after having led a management buyout of Huddersfield based Holliday Chemicals Holdings (HCH) in 1987. He revitalised the business, expanded into new markets and floated the company in 1993. The business was ultimately sold to Yule Catto for £225 million in 1997 and in 2001 Peagram sold another company for a reported £44 million.
At this point, this scientist turned tycoon moved to Monaco and saved himself, according to a 2009 Daily Mail article by Piers Morgan, some £13 million in capital gains tax. A wise businessman and a supporter of David Cameron, Peagram’s modus operandi is:
“Winning with honour and playing by the rules… And not cheating.”
In an interview with Monaco’s NeXt Generation Entrepreneur Forum, he states that he “did lots of work” to achieve his success but admits to “being a romantic at heart.” He has used much of his fortune to fund the philanthropic activities of Outward Bound Monaco with Prince Andrew, The Duke of York and Albert II, Prince of Moanco.
Peagram placed Bletchingdon Park on the market in May 2012 at a price of £20 million. Of why it hasn’t sold, one blogger commented that a footpath runs close to the house and that there is a lack of leisure facilities and outbuildings. Somehow neither seem insurmountable and whoever purchases this fine residence will be a very lucky man. If I were Dr Peagram, though, I’d keep it.
Bletchingdon Park, Bletchingdon, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 3DW is for sale through Knight Frank. For further details contact Damian Gray on +44 (0) 20 7629 8171 and to download a brochure go to: http://search.knightfrank.com/cho090098
