Spring 2015 Issue No. 3

PETER MCKAY PRITI PATEL THE STATE OF CUBA MAHATMA GHANDI AN EVENING WITH TOM PARKER-BOWLES ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER ON GASTRO-EVANGELISTS BATMAN & ROBIN STANLEY JOHNSON DRIVE THE BMW I8 POPULATION POLICY MY PASSIONS THE PUTIN QUESTION JOOLS HOLLAND BRUCE ANDERSON

£4.95 $7.40 €6.70 ¥880

Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

EDITOR’S LETTER

Tuesday 7th April WELCOME TO SPRING

Ranald Macdonald, Editor & Chief, Boisdale Life Magazine

elcome to the third issue of of national population control proposed he hates most about restaurants. Jools Boisdale Life, with which we by Stanley Johnson – Boisdale Life Holland goes one better though, with an celebrate the arrival of Harry resonates with robust opinion. Sajid unprintable “C” word in his touching, Owen as my partner in crime. You will Javid is banking upon culture, Mark amusing and inspiring conversation be the judge of this issue, so please enter Littlewood and Jonathon Isaby focus our about his principal passion. your verdict at www.boisdalelife.com. attention on taxing issues, Roger Bootle The best comment for each article will defends London, Peter McKay provides We have not even gone on to the receive a magnum of utterly delicious insight into the State of Cuba, and Priti Lifestyle section yet, in which Nick Pommery Champagne! Patel reminds us that statues do have an Hammond selects his top ten cigars; the But before sentencing please take the important role in the 21st century. latest Bentley Continental GT V8 S is time to consider all the circumstantial On a more serious note Nigel Farage shaken on ice; the BMW I8 is involved evidence laid before you. Whilst I do not tells us what “makes him laugh”, in a caper; Timothy Barber foresees a necessarily agree with all of the comment while Harry Cole passionately calls to new devastating watch fashion; Charlie in this magazine, I have complete respect arms the Boisdale campaign to legalise Miller invites speculation in Bordeaux; for the views represented, even if they haggis in the USA and Nigel Mansell Doug McIvor explores the whisky market do not correspond with mine. I believe it reveals his magic. On the subject of and Boisdale Executive Head Chef Andy is important to consider arguments that food, Bill Knott bemoans the diet of Rose inspires us with seasonal recipes. challenge one’s own orthodoxy. That’s our leading politicians with grudging As I am now exhausted I will rest my why I occasionally read The Guardian. respect for the French, whilst Tom case…! No one is wrong all the time! Parker Bowles reflects on Michelin star From Baroness Trumpington’s vision restaurants which inspire him with all of a world ruled by one exceptional the fun of a crematorium. Meanwhile a woman; to a considered and an inspired ranting William Sitwell, who we must view on our relationship with Putin’s thank incidentally for providing our Russia by the legend that is Bruce first opportunity to print the “F” word, Anderson; to the controversial subject ensures we finally understand what www.vacheron-constantin.com

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COMMENT PEOPLE

THE STATE OF CUBA IF I RULED Peter McKay THE WORLD 16 Baroness Trumpington 37 WHY BRITAIN NEEDS A POPULATION POLICY MY PASSIONS Stanley Johnson A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT Jools Holland 20 Mark Littlewood 38 28 IS LONDON'S SUPREMACY MY NIGHT WITH UNDER THREAT? WHAT THIS BANKER KNOWS NINA SIMONE Roger Bootle ABOUT CULTURE Michael Gelardi 22 Sajid Javid MP 41 29 MAHATMA GHANDI LUNCH WITH Priti Patel MP RUSSIA AND PUTIN "MR KURT" 25 Bruce Anderson Sarah Ross 29 44 FIVE YEARS OF BIG-SPENDING POLITICIANS? SHARES AND OPTIONS NIGEL MANSELL Jonathan Isaby Andrew Ball Sarah Edworthy 26 35 47

LIFESTYLE FOOD & DRINK

ABOUT THE ODE TO SIZE OF IT A LONG LUNCH Timothy Barber Tom Parker Bowles 51 67

HUNTSMAN THE JOY OF SIN Sam Kessler William Hartston 54 68

A GENTLEMAN'S CHOOSE A TABLE BRIEFCASE NEAR A WAITER Charles Edwards Freshwater William Sitwell 56 71

BENTLEY ON ICE FOOD AND POLITICS Ryan Borroff TRAVEL Bill Knott WHISKY 58 Sarah Heron 73 Doug McIvor 62 77 BATMAN & ROBIN BORDEAUX IN THE BMW I8 SMOKIN' HOT! INVESTMENT 2015 BOISDALE RECIPES Harry Owen Nick Hammond Charlie Miller Andy Rose 60 66 75 78

Editor & Chief Subscribe to Boisdale Life Any facts stated or opinions expressed Ranald Macdonald Group Events Manager anywhere in the magazine are the [email protected] Mark Shelton Boisdale of Belgravia responsibility of the individual AVAILABLE AT: writers and contributors. All material [email protected] 15 Eccleston Street omitted intentionally is the sole 19 SAVILE ROW HARVEY NICHOLS Managing Director London responsibility of the individual Harry Owen Design SW1W 9LX contributors. Boisdale Life and LONDON - 020 7439 6079 KNIGHTSBRIDGE - 020 7235 5000 [email protected] bevanhoward.co.uk the Editor are not responsible for Telephone: 0207 259 1261 any injury or loss relative to such HOUSE OF FRASER AUSTIN REED Publishing Director Digital material. All material is compiled by sources believed to be reliable, CITY - 020 7444 4300 REGENT STREET - 020 7734 6789 Barbara Widera vitaminlondon.com BPA Audited circulation but published without responsibility [email protected] of 161,152 for errors or omissions.

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DIARY THE SPECTATOR CIGAR SMOKER AWARDS FOUNDED BY BOISDALE Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kelsey Grammer join Boisdale for a decadent celebration of the hand-rolled cigar

Clockwise from top left: entrepreneur & media personality Nancy Dell'Olio; Arnold Schwarzenegger & Kelsey Grammer enjoying after dinner cigars; Lifetime Achievement Award 2014 Baroness Trumpington with Jeremy Clarke of the Spectator; Cigar Smoker of the Year 2014 Runner-up Kelsey Grammer with sponsor Giles Rees of JEANRICHARD watches. Cigar Smoker of the Year 2014 Arnold Schwarzenegger, host Tom Parker Bowles (left), principal sponsor Mehmet Kurt of Kingwood Stud & co-host Ranald Macdonald of Boisdale (right).

he 16 November 2014 saw cigar became Governor of the great state of mother: “I was at an event at the White aficionados and celebrity cigar California and they said “now you have House and I felt a tight squeeze on my smokers from around the world to stop smoking cigars within twenty right buttock, I turned to a woman who gather at Boisdale of Canary Wharf for feet from the Capitol Building” so I built I knew to be Camilla and she said to me The Spectator Cigar Awards Dinner 2014, a smoking tent in the atrium just over in an impish way, ‘nice to finally meet sponsored by Mehmet Kurt of Kingwood twenty feet away and I kept smoking you… in the flesh…!” Stud and founded by Boisdale. cigars! This place was where we did Guests gathered on the covered Arnold Schwarzenegger was crowned most of our work - it brought together the terrace to enjoy Champagne Barons The Spectator Cigar Smoker of the Year Democrats and Republicans and Liberals, de Rothschild Brut NV, Chivas Regal 2014. His reaction the win was, "When we all had something in common… our Negronis and canapés followed by a you've been a body building champion, shared passion for the great cigar.” dinner of expertly sourced Hebridean and you've done movies and you've done British Conservative member of the shellfish and Aberdeenshire beef fillet all the various things which I have done, House of Lords and once a code-breaker that Boisdale is famed for, cooked you receive a lot of trophies and a lot of at Bletchley Park during the Second by Executive Head Chef, Andy Rose. awards. But I can tell you one thing, this World War, Baroness Trumpington was Throughout the evening guests enjoyed one tonight is really the most... recent!" honoured with The Spectator Cigar fine hand-rolled cigars provided by the Governor Schwarzenegger was duly Lifetime Achievement Award 2014. UK’s Leading Cigar Merchant C.Gars Ltd. presented the award by lead sponsor Baroness Trumpington said of her win, Boisdale owner, awards founder and Mehmet Kurt and awarded a beautiful “I am delighted to have been invited to cigar connoisseur Ranald Macdonald JEANRICHARD 1681 18 carat pink gold such a thrilling evening. This beautiful commented, “Tonight has been a truly wristwatch, a bottle of Château Mouton restaurant is certainly a long way from wonderful celebration of the cigar. In Rothschild 1999 and a Frederic Saint the pigsties of East Kent where I smoked this era when so many irritating and Romain designed limited edition ST my first cigar.” self-righteous governments around the Dupont lighter. Kelsey Grammer, Hollywood star, world obsess themselves with interfering Governor Schwarzenegger tugged at was a runner-up for the Spectator Cigar in our lives and legislate to remove Kelsey Grammer’s beard upon meeting Smoker of the Year 2014. Kelsey said of our rights to enjoy the sublime and both enjoyed the charming company his win, “It has been a fantastic evening pleasure of smoking hand-made cigars, of Baroness Trumpington. full of fantastic people and I am very we join together to do homage to The Governor said of his win, “I honoured to be here. I would also like to those accomplished and charismatic never dreamed in the 1970s when I add that Nancy Del O’llio has done more individuals, who through their highly was crowned Mr Universe, that I’d be for red lace than anyone in history.” visible and unbridled passion for cigars, receiving The Spectator Cigar Smoker Kelsey told the assembled company of elevate the beleaguered status of the of the Year Award. I remember when I an encounter with Tom Parker Bowles’s cigar enthusiast the world over.”

11 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

DIARY HAGGIS IS NOT TERRORISM WORDS BY HARRY COLE

Burns Night dinner 2015 at Boisdale of Bishopsgate. Lord McColl of Dulwich (left), Boisdale Managing Director Ranald Macdonald & Stanley Phillips - Councillor for Agricultural Affairs at the US Embassy.

umping into Lord Forsyth in a Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps: “It Westminster elevator recently, is quite literally a criminal offence, for I commented on his recent a British farmer to sell certain products interjection in the House of Lords debate to the largest economy on Earth, even about the lifting of the 1971 US import if American diners want to enjoy ban on haggis. A somewhat grumpy these dishes”, adding “Haggis is not former Scottish Secretary harrumphed terrorism.” that in his illustrious career he had A source at the Department for the given many speeches on great matters Environment and Rural Affairs whispers of state, yet “all anyone talks about that a noticeable amount of civil service these days is haggis!” manpower has been spent recently dealing And he’s not wrong. Even Alex with the “the f**king haggis thing”. This Salmond has something to say on the would not have happened without the matter: “Now that the Tories have finally growing pressure to “ban the ban”. come round to the idea of haggis, perhaps Comrades, the tide is turning and they will come round to the notion slowly the battle is being won. There is a of self-determination.” Throwing his long way to go, but one thing's for sure: Harry Cole is contributing Editor to support behind the Boisdale campaign, Haggis is on the agenda in London. The Spectator, News Editor of Guido the former First Minister of Scotland Now this campaign needs to be taken Fawkes Blog and Sunday Columnist chortled to me: ‘It’s time for American global: specifically to the White House. in The Sun. citizens to claim their inalienable right As the Liberal peer Lord Purvis of Tweed @MrHarryCole to eat haggis.’ told the Upper Chamber when the issue In just a few short months, the US was debated in the Upper Chamber in Join our Haggis Campaign at: import ban on haggis has gone from a January, it’s time for the Prime Minister to facebook.com/BoisdaleRestaurants quirk lamented late at night over scotch, have “a private word with the President to being mentioned in pre-election to make sure that the ban is now lifted.” speeches by Cabinet Ministers, such as Over to you Prime Minister...!

12 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

DIARY BOISDALE BOOGIE WOOGIE DINNER IN AID OF THE JOE STRUMMER FOUNDATION FEATURING JOOLS HOLLAND, MICK JONES, CHRISSIE HYNDE & SUGGS

Clockwise from top left: Chrissie Hyde (Pretenders) performing on stage; Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream); Actress Jaime Winstone with Pam Hogg, fashion designer & DJ; Ranald Macdonald (Boisdale) and Jools Holland; Suggs (Madness, microphone), Gem Archer (Oasis, guitar), Martin Chambers (Pretenders, drums); Jools Holland, Eliza Garland (Joe Strummer’s daughter), singer Zoe Devlin, Chrissie Hyde, Mick Jones (The Clash).

n March 19 Boisdale of Canary Wharf saw an outstanding line up of musical talent gather for the Boisdale Boogie Woogie Dinner and rock’n’roll memorabilia auction in aid of the Foundation of The Clash front- man Joe Strummer sponsored by The Hippodrome Casino.

More photos of the night are available at: facebook.com/BoisdaleRestaurants

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COMMENT

On the entrance ramp to a modern heroes – Nobel Prize-winning US author, with readers, publishers and the THE STATE OF CUBA motorway, on which the creaking, Yankee Ernest Hemingway, who wrote inter alia public at large? Tough guy Hemingway motors are flogged along at unfeasibly A Farewell to Arms and The Old Man succumbed to the pressure. Two years Fearless columnist Peter McKay tackles the big questions on Cuba high speeds, I spot a sign depicting a and The Sea. later, at the new home he bought in horse and cart with a diagonal red line Every US president since Dwight Ketchum, Idaho, he put a shotgun to WORDS BY BY PETER MCKAY through them. A sensible warning, it is Eisenhower, in the 1950s, has viewed his head and ended his life. Boatman observed in theory if not in practice. Cuba’s revolutionary leader, Fidel Carrera is convinced that Hemingway Next thing to notice is the crumbling, Castro, as America’s arch-enemy. blew his brains out because he thought once elegant buildings downtown But Right winger Hemingway and he could never return to Cuba. near the waterside Malecon, where Communist Castro were friends. Now Cuban lovers meet at dusk. After the President Barack Obama attempts to lift, THE FIDEL DICHOTOMY revolution, their occupants fled, to be or ease, the crushing US embargo which replaced by poor Cuban squatters from has helped keep Cuba poor for over half Fidel Castro is still in charge, 56 rural areas. “Some of the best buildings a century. He’s still resisted on Capitol years later, although he approved, will survive but whole blocks like the Hill by Castro-hating zealots. during a period of ill health in 2008, the ones we’re looking at now will have Where would Hemingway stand if he appointment of his brother, Raul, as to be demolished”, says a local cigar was alive today? As an early casualty president. While I was there, Fidel was executive, indicating at an area the size of the US’s bitter enmity towards the visited by Venezuela’s president Nicolas of London’s Soho. middle class revolutionaries of Cuba, Maduro. Quoted in officially-sanctioned As an occasional visitor over the past Fidel and Che Guevara, he’d have mixed English-language paper, Granma 15 years, I’ve noticed the gradual thaw feelings about Cuba’s gradual emergence International, Maduro said they’d talked in the Marxist ice. There are more small from the diplomatic permafrost. He’d about “the world, about peace, about private businesses, shops, restaurants be angry about the intransigence on climate change, about many issues.” As and an increasing readiness of Cubans to both sides which kept Cuba in a coma, an afterthought, the report added: “… engage with Western visitors. In 2000, marooned in the 1950s while men went during his stay in Havana, Madura also for mysterious reasons to do with what to the moon, communism collapsed in met with President Raul Castro.” was and wasn’t allowed, the carcass of Russia and Europe, and the Internet Fidel is a winner who rested on his a roast pig we’d ordered for a party had to driven clear across Havana in the boot of a car and manhandled up four flights of stairs to the apartment we were using overlooking the harbor. Now there are good (and a few very good) restaurants Saddam Hussein would send cases of fig jam, while and I’ve even stumbled upon a local shipments of red wine arrived from Algeria. shopping mall with an abundant supply of ‘white goods.’ While poor in terms of money - (£5 a month is the average income; a For the chance to win a Magnum of Pommery Champagne give us your views at BoisdaleLife.com doctor might earn £20) - Cubans are well provided for by developing world wired up the world. laurels. Cubans have had a hard struggle standards with excellent, free education A US businessman in our party, in the 50 plus years he has been their en hours out of London, five Accused by America of exporting reconciliation mean to Cuba’s 11 million and health (Their medical teams sent to Moscow-based John Rose, from Boston, presidente and commander. He by miles above Miami Beach, Communism to South America, Cuba citizens, the majority of them still dirt- recent Ebola outbreaks in Africa put the says: “Castro should have called for free contrast, has lived in the lap of luxury, Florida, it’s a perfect, blue skies has been a pariah state in Washington poor? Not to mention the European patchy-to-nil efforts of some developed elections the morning after his victory. with a $4 billion fortune according to flying day as the Boisdale Jazz and Cigar power circles ever since – their number visitors who stuck with them during their world countries to shame). He’d had won by a mile and having international financial experts at Forbes. Club’s Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 settles one bogeyman until Castro was replaced 50-plus years of US-imposed purdah? You can’t visit Cuba without done so, the US could not have justified One of his haciendas is on the secluded into its demure descent towards Havana’s by Osama bin Laden, of al Qaeda, and wondering about the failures of its embargo of Cuba.” A macho man of tropical island of Caya Piedra. According José Martí International Airport. now ‘Jihadi John’ of Islamic State. HAVANA diplomacy and politics which led to action, Hemingway loved life at Finca to a recent visitor, “It’s surrounded by Minutes later, we’re over the Straits of Castro’s attacks on U.S. companies and its pariah status. Did Castro have to Vigia, which he’d bought for about warm, turquoise waters, with a picture- Florida. Where, according to the CIA’s interests in Cuba, his anti-American First thing you notice outside Jose antagonize Washington by seizing US £12,000. He told the Cuban novelist postcard quota of coconut trees, white most recent figures, 1357 Cubans, some rhetoric and Cuba’s movement toward Marti International are the ancient, businesses and ramping up the anti- Cabrera Infante: “All I want is to stay sand beaches and unspoiled coral reefs.” on home-made rafts, were interdicted a closer relationship with the Soviet exhaust-belching American cars. “I American rhetoric? Couldn’t America here forever.” His old boatman, Oswald El Comandante, as locals call him, likes in 2013 while trying to reach America. Union led U.S. officials to conclude that love the smell of leaded fuel, in the have been a little more laid back about Carnero, speaking emotionally, told an to dock at Caya Piedra aboard his luxury Also in 2013, 14,251 Cuban migrants he was a threat to U.S. interests in the morning don’t you?” says a companion, the juvenile Marxist posturing of Fidel American magazine this year: “The day yacht, the Aquarama II, which is fitted presented themselves at various land Western Hemisphere. echoing Robert Duvall’s memorable line and Che – their bearded, narcissistic before he left he came to say goodbye. out with cream-colored leather and rare border ports of entry throughout the US, So, in April, 1961, the CIA trained about napalm in Apocalypse Now. Some Florida Straits neighbours? He said he had to go abroad. He never Angolan wood. Invariably attended by adds the CIA briefing. a force of Cuban counter revolutionary are more environmentally friendly now. came back.” an army of personal servants - kept on In December, 2014, the US announced mercenaries and landed them by sea in “Their old engines died and were replaced CASTRO & HEMINGWAY Hemingway was talked into quitting call 24/7 to serve chilled white wine its intention of restoring diplomatic Cuba’s Bay of Pigs. They were routed by Nissans”, advises my local guide. Cuba after three visits to his home by the and exotic shellfish - he and his friends relations with Cuba, severed in 1961 by Cuba’s military in an embarrassing Whatever happens with America, the old Behind chained-shut gates, two US ambassador. The State Department’s while away the days by reading, scuba after the Communist revolution led debacle, as farcical as the CIA plot to Cadillacs, Chevrolets and Chryslers will under-employed guards loiter in the argument was simple. How could diving, and fishing. by middle class Marxist, Fidel Castro. terminate Fidel up with an exploding survive in some form. Like New York’s shade near Finca Vigia, the crumbling America’s most celebrated literary Mohamed al Fayed, the former President Obama has already eliminated cigar. Now peace is in the air. Empire State and Paris’s Eiffel Tower, old mansion on the hill. It’s a sunny star be seen to condone the Cuban owner of Harrods, once flew to Cuba in some trade and travel restrictions but Can America be reconciled with they’ve become emblematic of Cuba, a Sunday in suburban Havana, Cuba. No revolution, which involved the seizure his private jet to negotiate a cigar deal faced tough opposition from Castro- the nuisance neighbour ninety miles sad homage Cubans paid to their rich visitors are permitted today at the old of American companies and properties? with Fidel personally. He told me he’d hating US members of Congress. off the Florida coast? And what might oppressors across the Florida Straits. home of one of Communist Cuba’s great Would it affect adversely his relationship been entertained royally by Castro,

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nine children. His lovers One – in Trinidad – roped in members allegedly included Italian of the restaurant staff, including the actress Gina Lollobrigida. chef – inconvenient for other waiting An under-age nightclub diners, perhaps, if not for the BJCC dancer told Sanchez El revelers cutting nifty moves on the Commandant liked to smoke floor. Cubans love music. No dinner was during intercourse. As he unaccompanied by live music. Local aged, he was a regular user musicians are brilliant and inventive. of Viagra. Fewer than five minutes on the beach Sanchez, who is now 65, near Havana and we were joined by a spent 17 years working for raffish combo. Some of the trombones, Castro before getting bored double basses and guitars I saw might with the job and asking to for all I know have been fashioned from be allowed to resign. Castro the discarded superstructure of 1949 responded by accusing him Dodge motor cars. But all were played of disloyalty and jailing him with zest and skill. With you on for two years between 1994 What is it about the Cuban character and 1996. Sanchez admits which is so friendly and accommodating? Hemingway and Castro viewing Castro as “a god” saying: “I Having had nothing much in the way of would have died for him.” Castro now personal freedom and treats for the past your journey otherwise leads a relatively uneventful half a century, they seem able to obtain “even though I’m a capitalist and he’s life, his joie de vivre curtailed by ill- pleasure from little things and laugh a communist.” Mohamed was equally health and age. easily. We must seem absurd to them impressed by Fidel’s female security with our fussy needs and preferences which, he said, wore “designer uniforms WITHER THE CIGAR! but, if so, they’re too well-mannered and with short skirts and carried Hechler cheerful to show it. I hope the coming and Koch machine guns”. Wistfully he Native American Indians of the easing of restrictions – and, hopefully added: “He f****d them all!” Yucatan peninsula (Mexico) cultivated increased prosperity – doesn’t spoil Now 87, Castro has spent decades and smoked intertwined tobacco leaves. them, but I don’t think it will. They cultivating his public image as an Columbus, in 1492, reported meeting retained their sense of humor and fun in unassuming, hard-working man of the natives “with a little lighted brand dark times. Why lose them when the sun people. Still, 11 million Cubans mostly made from a kind of plant whose aroma comes out? live in poverty, while Fidel enjoys the it was their custom to inhale.” “Cigar” lifestyle of a capitalist magnate. derives from the Mayan-Indian word As we go to Press, the news from Havana This was set out in a recent memoir “sikar,” meaning smoking. This became is of ‘a glimmer of glasnost,’ after the by his former bodyguard Juan Reinaldo “cigarro” in Spanish. Cigar smoking government opened for public discussion the Sanchez. He says Castro rose at midday. became widespread in Europe after once-taboo subject of the electoral system. Kneeling flunkeys would dress him in the Peninsula War (1808-14), when scuba-diving gear, before accompanying returning soldiers brought back the him to a gleaming motor boat. There habit. As the demand for quality cigars manservants would be on hand to attend emerged, Spanish settlers in Cuba began to his every whim, whether it was to producing higher quality cigars. pour his preferred iced whisky (12-year- If the US import ban is lifted, Habano old Chivas Regal), or prepare his favorite SA – the 50-50 venture between Cuba snack, a whole toasted langoustine. To and Imperial Tobacco – estimates that get to the most sinister of all Castro’s 70 to 90 million Havana cigars will be properties, you must drive west out of sucked into the US by Uncle Sam. Is this Throughout your life we can guide Havana to a former fishing village called to the detriment of European consumers? Jaimanitas. Sanchez says every drop of “No, we can increase production easily, water he drank came from garden wells, without affecting quality,” I am assured and support you. Our taxation and financial while vegetables had to be organic. by a Habano executive. So there you have Saddam Hussein would send cases of fig it. Remember Kipling’s wise words. ‘A jam, while shipments of red wine arrived woman is a woman, but a cigar is a smoke.’ planning advisers can help you protect and from Algeria. The boot of Castro’s Peter McKay is a Daily Mail diarist, armored Mercedes-Benz limousine A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE features writer and past Editor of grow your wealth and provide you with peace always contained emergency supplies Punch magazine. Tatler Magazine of these high-end foodstuffs, along with Visiting Cuba – especially with described him as the 'the most a small stash of weapons, to add to the the Boisdale Jazz & Cigar Club – is a dangerous man in England.' Kalashnikov kept at Castro’s feet when he rigorous test of character. Are we always of mind now and in the future. travelled, and by his bed when he slept. destined to end up drinking margaritas To learn more about the Boisdale Jazz Castro has five sons with his second and smoking Cohiba Espendidos at & Cigar Club Havana Jaunt email: wife, Dalia, but regularly met up with breakfast? Dancing is obligatory, too. I [email protected] mistresses in a property close to Unit 160, danced more in one week in Cuba than I Contact Andrew Ball by calling haysmacintyre is proud to says Sanchez. In his younger days, he is have in the previous 10 years in London. believed to have had hundreds of secret I don’t think there was a single BJCC 020 7969 5530 or email provide audit, tax and business lovers and produced a total of at least dinner which didn’t end in a conga line. [email protected] advisory services to Boisdale.

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COMMENT

any longer, on the grounds that is ‘too The Department of Communities out that it is not necessary to know the WHY BRITAIN NEEDS A POPULATION POLICY controversial’ or whatever. and Local Government recently ‘optimum population’ for Britain, to Let’s look at the facts. The published its household projections seek population stability now. It may not Author, former MEP and father of six (!) ‘population explosion’ in Britain began for England out to 2037 in which they in fact be practical politics to define an campaigns for a national population policy somewhere around 1750. A decline in state that future increases in households ‘optimum population’. It may be enough mortality occurred – probably through will come overwhelmingly from to know that we have already exceeded WORDS BY STANLEY JOHNSON improvements in nutrition and clothing, population growth, with an extra 5.2 the optimum and that once stability has better sanitation, cleaner water supplies, million households by 2037; an increase been achieved (the first step), achieving improvement of medical services etc. of 4,000 households per week. a reduction in absolute terms (social From 10 million in 1802, the population 5.2 million more households by incentives and disincentives?) may even rose to 37 million in 1900, and over 2037! What does that mean in terms of be on the cards. 54 million by the beginning of the demand for food and housing, health Those who argue that population 1970’s. The last UK census was carried and welfare, transport, energy, and growth is the driver of economic growth out in 2011, showing a population education? What are the implications in often surprisingly, fail to do their sums. of 63,181,775, increased from 2001’s terms of pollution, waste and the general Even assuming that economic growth census figure of 58,789,194. impact on the environment? What does is the be-all and end-all of policy The current estimate for 2014 is 63.7 that imply for our already strained (something which I would strongly million, making the UK the world’s efforts to protect the landscape and the dispute), population growth can of itself 22nd largest country by population. countryside, and the wild places which hold back the rise in per capita income. At the end of February 2015, only mean so much to us? In April last year the Office for National weeks after the Office for National This is manifesto season. The Prime Statistics reported that Britain had Statistics (ONS) predicted that the UK Minister, David Cameron, is already recovered little of the ground lost during will have 10 million more people within desperately seeking ways to redeem his the deep recession of 2008-09 once a the next 25 years, it published new ‘no ifs and buts’ pledge to reduce the rate rising population is taken into account. estimates showing that the true figure of net immigration (currently running Setting up a Special Office on could be four million higher. at 300,000 a year). If that involves a Population, reporting direct to the Prime Minister, may not get us very far on a road we should have taken over forty years ago. But at least it would be a start. Another good move would A decline in Britain’s be for the government to reassert its mortality rates has I remember once suggesting to Reggie Maudling... commitment to the massively important occurred over the last decennial census. The first one was held 250 years through that the Conservatives ought to campaign strongly in 1801. The next is due in 2021. I can’t improvements in favour of a ‘national population policy’. Reggie put in nutrition, help feeling that the main reason they better sanitation an arm round my shoulder and replied: “Not one for now want to scrap it is that the results, and progress in next time round, may be politically too medicine and the the hustings, my dear chap!” explosive. Never miss a chance to bury pharmaceutical industry. bad news!

n 1949 the Report of the Royal The Select Committee saw fit to quality of the environment should be The dramatic upward revision suggests rupture with the EU over the ‘freedom of Commission on Population was quote, with evident approbation, the immediately and thoroughly examined, the population of Britain could rise from movement issue’, then – in my view – that published. The Commission Conservation Society’s statement: ‘We the Conservatives still during the course its current record level of 63.7 million is a price which must be paid as we seek considered that a replacement size of have to ask ourselves: is Britain likely of the 1970 election campaign placed to just under 78 million by 2037. On the to stabilize the UK’s population at or near family was desirable in Britain at that to be a better place to live in with a little stress on the need to deal with same projection it could reach as much current levels. As far as immigration from time. It recommended that the Lord steadily growing population or will it Britain’s own demographic issues. as 132 million by this time next century! third countries is concerned, here too – I President of the Council, who had be worse? Does life somehow become I was actually working on these Office of National Statistics findings would argue – we have to look carefully responsibility for population matters, better when there are more people to and related issues in the Conservative suggest that natural growth in the UK is at the burdens laid on us under treaties should be responsible for a continuous experience it or not? The Conservation Research Department (CRD) Government currently at its highest level since the so which were signed and ratified before the watch over population movements and Society believes that the quality of life in the run-up to the June 1970 General called ‘baby boom’ years of the 1960’s. era of mass migration of refugees began. their bearing on national policies. is crucially dependent on the amount Election. I remember once suggesting This natural change, the difference The place to solve the refugee crisis is More than twenty-one years later, the of land and the pressures upon it, that to Reggie Maudling, who had overall between the current birth rate and death in the countries where the potential House of Commons Select Committee on this criterion Britain is already responsibility for the CRD, that the rate, is also reported to be responsible for refugees originate. on Science and Technology, in their first overcrowded and additional numbers Conservatives ought to campaign over 52% of the UK population’s growth. I go back to that First Report of the The second volume of Stanley Johnson's Report of 5th May 1971 – noted that the can only diminish the quality of life.” strongly in favour of a ‘national But that is not the end of the story. House of Commons Select Committee on memoir, 'Stanley I Resume' is out now. Lord President of the Council had not In spite of the fact that the Campaign population policy’. Reggie put an arm Net migration also has played its part Science and Technology, of May 1971. therobsonpress.com assumed the duties proposed by the Guide of 1970, published by the round my shoulder and replied: “Not with a two-pronged contribution to the The Conservatives had been returned Royal Commission, nor had any specific Conservative Central Office, stated the one for the hustings, my dear chap!” estimate’s findings. Under the thirteen to power the previous year with Mr Give us your views at BoisdaleLife.com allocation of such duties been made to Conservative belief that the ‘question of Forty-five years later, with the next years of Labour (1997-2010) net inward Heath as Prime Minister. Though Reggie The best response will win a bottle of Ministers. The Select Committee went continued population growth in Britain election less than two months away migration totalled a staggering 3.6 million. Maudling had said population policy Pommery Champagne on to conclude that ‘the government is central to all other issues’ and that (May 7, 2015), I strongly believe that the There has also there been a significant was ‘not one for the hustings’, the Select must act to prevent the consequences of the implications of population trends time has come for political parties of all introduction of women born overseas who Committee called for a ‘Special Office on population growth becoming intolerable for economic and social policy and for persuasions to revisit this issue. This were of child-bearing age, and inclined in Population’ reporting direct to the Prime for the everyday conditions of life.’ efforts to maintain and improve the is not something that can be ducked any case to favour large families. Minister. The Select Committee pointed

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COMMENT

a comparison between our wonderful especially poor. We now have what is move if a certain political party wins IS LONDON’S SUPREMACY UNDER THREAT? gleaming St Pancras and the ghastly surely one of the best restaurant scenes in power and implements large increases Gare du Nord! And quite apart from the world. Again it is the same theme – the in personal taxation. This is a serious Roger Bootle examines London's global pre-eminence – and asks could it all go wrong? the stations, Paris seems downbeat by best available from wherever it comes. risk – which I am choosing to ignore. comparison with London. Of course, When it comes to wine, the contrast Even if the worst were to befall us, I feel the central bit is wonderful – as it has with France is startling. On a recent visit sure that we would bounce back, just as WORDS BY ROGER BOOTLE always been. But it has about it the smell to the swish French resort of Deauville – we did after the awful mid-1970s. of a museum. And as you move out from in what is its best hotel – I querulously On the other side of the political the centre, things quickly become rather asked the barman what he had by way divide, the biggest risk is thought to be an grim. Of course, parts of London are grim of wine by the glass. “Blanc ou rouge” exit from the EU. Most importantly if the as well but, more or less everywhere, the came the reply. Not even some wretched UK leaves, London risks losing a good city is vibrant and dynamic. rosé! Quite apart from the splendours of part of its financial services business to Frankfurt and Paris. More generally, the worriers fear outside the EU, the UK would start to struggle economically and this would take its toll on London. We can never be sure of such things but I must say that my fears are exactly Could we blow it now? the opposite. Many of the regulations There are Cassandras from both left and right. that stifle business emanate from Brussels. If we leave the EU then we will have to strike out on our own and will need to be obviously competitive. I suspect that, just like Singapore when it left the Malaysian Federation, this would act as a spur and an incentive. We What is at the root of the change Boisdale, my local pub (admittedly in would be more likely to make ourselves in London’s comparative standing? I Chelsea) has two types of champagne competitive by keeping tax rates low hesitate to irritate some of Boisdale’s by the glass, about six different types and regulations light. clientele with a point that might be of white, and six red. Nor is French Given our existing advantages, if construed as political, but I think Lady inferiority restricted only to glasses. It we struck out on our own, while still Thatcher must take some of the credit. is not even that they don’t readily stock maintaining very close trading relations Faced with the obvious inferiority of non-French wines – although, as a rule, with Europe, many of our plus points many areas of the British economy, her they don’t. Try asking for a bottle of would look even stronger. I believe that, response could have been to protect Burgundy if you are in Bordeaux – or despite the stormclouds on the horizon, them. But it wasn’t. Instead, she opened Bordeaux if you are in Burgundy. London will continue to get better and them up. The most notable aspect of Enough about food and drink! The better. this openness was financial services. twin forces of globalisation and the The so-called Big Bang of 1986 saw increasing dominance of the English umpteen foreign banks and financial language, spurred on by the internet, are services companies setting up shop here other factors in London’s advance. When – and even taking over many venerable I started my business career, at meetings British institutions. In the 19th century, on the continent, it was normal to have the City was the financial capital of the simultaneous translation. Indeed, the world. But in the first few decades after French would insist on it. Now, it is the Second World War, with exchange presumed that everyone speaks English. controls in place and the Empire either Of course, London could have blown gone or going, it became a shadow of its its advantages. Instead, there have been former self. After the Thatcher reforms, notable improvements. The tubes run it grew back to its former status, later and soon some will run all night. rivalling or even surpassing New York Bars and restaurants are open much later in many respects. – not to mention the clubs. The buses But it would be wrong to see London’s are better – as are London’s car services, Roger Bootle is executive chairman of success as simply the result of the both taxis and minicabs. Capital Economics, Europe’s largest Is London's position under threat - For the chance to win a Magnum of Pommery Champagne give us your views at BoisdaleLife.com financial services sector. There are links Could we blow it now? There are macro-economic consultancy, whose between them, of course, but London is Cassandras from both left and right. London offices are perilously close also a huge supplier of business services– From the right comes the view that to Boisdales. His recent book, “The e live in the global capital. 1970s in its northern suburbs, London London seem pathetic by comparison. from accountancy and legal advice to increasing regulation, coupled with the Trouble with Europe” has been widely What’s more, with every seemed anything but the capital of That is far from being my feeling today. actuarial and business consultancy and, mansion tax and high personal taxation acclaimed and is available from all the passing year London seems to the world. For a start, it was distinctly Admittedly, I hardly ever fly to Paris dare I say it, even the odd bit of economic will ruin it all. Many businesses will usual sources. get better. You might easily think that dowdy. (And I don’t just mean the now, but a recent encounter with Charles consultancy. London is the world centre leave and many of those that stay will [email protected] this is inevitable, but it isn’t. London northern suburbs.) Empire had gone de Gaulle shocked me. It looked exactly for business services. wither and die. Wealthy people from hasn’t always been this good. And there but its replacements had not yet the same – but without having at all the On a different tack entirely, one of my abroad will not be attracted and those Give us your views at BoisdaleLife.com are now threats on the horizon which arrived. I remember flying to Paris and same effect on me. favourite examples of British openness already here may leave. I certainly know could yet see it return to its former state. thinking that Charles de Gaulle airport Nowadays, of course, I glide from concerns food and drink. In the dowdy large numbers of successful British When I was growing up during the was tremendously advanced, making one capital to the next by train. What 1970s, British food and drink was people who are looking seriously at a

22 23 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

COMMENT MAHATMA GANDHI With the recent unveiling of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, we asked the first ever UK India Diaspora Champion, Priti Patel, how significant this moment was?

WORDS BY PRITI PATEL MP

he unveiling ceremony for the date, it is right that he is being properly significance and is a testament of the Gandhi statue in Parliament honoured in the UK with the placing strength of the relationship between our Square on 14th March 2015 of his statue in Parliament Square. The two nations. By celebrating our past and not only honoured a great man, it father of the world’s largest democracy ensuring that its legacy lives on, we can demonstrated the extent to which the now stands next to the mother of ensure that our relationship with India UK-India relationship has evolved over Parliaments, in the capital of one of the remains stronger than ever. the decades. In particular our shared world’s oldest democracies. history and ties, the strength of the Throughout this project there has Indian diaspora and the importance been no doubt that the statue would be Britain places on India going forward. fitting tribute to Gandhi and the values In July 2014, I had the privilege of he embodied. It is especially fitting that joining our then Foreign Secretary, we pay tribute to Gandhi this year, which William Hague and the Chancellor George marks one hundred years since Gandhi Osborne on a visit to India where they left South Africa to begin the struggle announced plans for a statue of Mahatma for self-rule in India. The recognition of Gandhi in Parliament Square. Having Gandhi’s significance to both the UK and overseen this project in my capacity as a India holds historical resonance in both member of the Gandhi Statue Memorial our nations. Advisory Committee we worked on all Within the British Indian diaspora aspects of the development of the statue, community, Gandhi was a respected right through from fundraising to the figure, who alongside Neru and Sardar actual unveiling in Parliament Square. Patel paved the way for India’s epic Priti Patel is the Conservative MP for It was humbling to work alongside the journey of independence. As we watch Witham and Exchequer Secretary to renowned sculptor Philip Jackson and to India today embark upon her historic the Treasury. work with the Gandhi Statue Memorial economic reforms that seek to empower pritipatelmp.com Trust the charity set up by Lord & Lady its young and vibrant population we @pritipatelmp Desai for this great initiative. should continue to celebrate our shared Mahatma Gandhi is a hero and an heritage with India which has created For the chance to win a Magnum of inspiration to millions across the world, strong and lasting bonds between our two Pommery Champagne give us your both within his lifetime, but also to this nations. To now see standing among the views at BoisdaleLife.com day. As the father of non-violence, an statues of Presidents and Prime Ministers advocate of democracy, and arguably the in Parliament Square a memorial to a most influential political campaigner to humble lawyer from Gujarat is of great

25 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

COMMENT

it need be spending that cash at all: is ethereal thing. Depending on the definition F Kennedy rightly said in 1962: "An WE CAN’T AFFORD ANOTHER FIVE YEARS the state doing things which could be used, there are anywhere between 700 and economy hampered by restrictive tax delivered by the private sector? And in 1,000 of them, led by unelected officials rates will never produce enough revenue OF BIG-SPENDING POLITICIANS what areas of government spending are many of whom have spent their entire to balance our budget... the soundest we taxpayers who are footing the bills lives moving from one unaccountable way to raise the revenues in the long run Is the UK’s current tax system a load of rubbish? currently getting a raw deal? government agency to another. They is to cut the rates now". It was with these questions in mind hide in plain sight in expensive offices Where politicians do need to look WORDS BY JONATHAN ISABY that the TPA recently published 'The in London, and yet many of them have at taxes, however, is in respect of the Spending Plan', in the hope that we'd names and 'terms of reference' so obscure overall tax system. With all the tweaking, be able to inject a little honesty into the it's challenging to work out what they do. meddling and tinkering that successive to be found to plug the gap, which is debates about future spending. While I And they are not poor organisations - they governments have done over the decades, where the borrowing comes in. welcome the fact that politicians from receive around £80 billion in taxpayer we are now hampered with a 17,000- Because every year the government across the spectrum have pledged to funding and, last time we checked, spend page tax code - making it one of the most runs a deficit, however large or small, it complex and opaque in the world. has to borrow money which gets added Hardly a week goes by without more to the national debt. And just like when media reports of celebrities or well- you or I borrow money, the government The quango is a shadowy, almost ethereal thing... known companies avoiding tax. But you has to pay interest on it until they are in can't blame anyone for reducing their The Arts Council a position to pay it back. They hide in plain sight in and around expensive tax liability if politicians have created spent £95,000 of The debt mountain which politicians office space in London. perfectly legal means of doing so. taxpayer-funded have allowed to pile up over the last What we need is wholesale grant on artist David Batchelor’s decade or so now stands at a truly simplification and reform of the entire art installation Skip staggering £1.4 trillion. That's £22,000 system, as envisaged by the final report to 'make people stop for every man, woman and child in the of the 2020 Tax Commission, which was and think’. United Kingdom today - or the equivalent balance the nation's books once again, more than £100 billion. established by the TPA in association of £52,000 for each and every household. they have been reluctant to give a candid The very fact we don’t have firm with the Institute of Directors. And it is because of those interest assessment of how they would do it. details on how many there are of these That programme for tax reform, ow many times have you heard earplugs that were not fit for purpose and payments that the scale of the debt So how should they go about it? bodies is indicative of the fact that taken together with our proposals to cut politicians boasting that they have had to be thrown out; or how the Arts should be such a major concern. This We make numerous suggestions they are thoroughly out of control. The spending, offers whoever takes office at secured "government money" to Council squandered £95,000 on an art year, they amount to nearly £50 billion in 'The Spending Plan' but, for a start, Forestry Commission, for instance, has this general election an oven-ready plan fund their latest grand projet? Or bragging installation, Skip, which was just that: an of the government's budget. Again, to put they need to get a grip on the welfare at least twelve separate quangos attached to balance the books and start reducing about having been granted "EU funding" industrial skip. that into context, that's effectively a sum budget which has been increasing at to it - Forest Enterprise England, that massive debt while easing the for the new scheme they've dreamt up? Waste of this order is outrageous and of £800 for every single person in the an unsustainable pace. The welfare cap Forest Research, and nine Forestry burden on taxpayers. Or a minister trumpeting the fact that it is essential that those responsible are country to cover the interest payments. should be reduced to £20,000 (equivalent and Woodlands Advisory Committees. No change is not an option: the the Chancellor has ring-fenced, or even named and shamed and held to account. That's more than the entire Defence to a pre-tax income of £25,180), benefits Why do need so much duplicated country can’t afford another five years of increased their budget for the following But it's not even that the government budget, and nearly half what is frozen for two years and uprated administration – and duplicated senior prevarication by politicians. year? is just wasting hefty chunks of the earmarked for Education, just being thereafter in line with the Consumer salaries, which invariably run into Regrettably, far too many of our money it has collected in tax. For far too spent on servicing that debt. Or to put it Prices Index, while unaffordable baubles six figures and occasionally pip even politicians - and standard bearers from long governments of all parties have another way: virtually every penny the directed at pensioners such as the winter the salary of the Prime Minister. One all parties are guilty of this - they seem demonstrably failed to live within their government took from us in tax through fuel payment and free TV licences and celebrated case saw a lifetime Civil to judge their own importance or success means and financed their spending binges fuel, alcohol, tobacco and air passenger bus passes should be scrapped. Instead Servant enjoying a salary of just over on the quantity and size of the cheques through borrowing. duties combined simply went on those this kind of help needs to be targeted £700,000 at the top of a quango. The they can sign. This is where some stark truths about debt interest payments. at those who genuinely need it. In the possible savings from salaries alone are But there's no such thing as the state of the public finances are required; And remember that we have current economic climate, it is ludicrous worth pursuing. "government money" or "EU cash" or and if you find yourself getting bamboozled historically low interest rates right that well-off pensioners are still having 'The Spending Plan' has far more "local authority funding": there is only by politicians talking about how they are now: if those rates went up, the cost of all manner of goodies thrown at them. detail on these and other measures we taxpayers' money, whether we're talking "paying down the debt" or "dealing with servicing that debt would soar. Then there's the excessively generous would recommend. about spending by your local council, the deficit", then you are not alone - and it's In any case, the national debt and the grant sent by the Treasury every year Of course there are those who say that the government in Westminster or the worth spelling out the facts so that we can cost of the interest is going to keep rising to Edinburgh. Cutting that to match in order to balance the books once again bureaucrats in Brussels. comprehend the gravity of the situation. until the day that we have a government Scotland's relative prosperity to Wales we should increase taxes to raise revenue, Every pound spent by politicians or Five years ago, when the Coalition which balances the nation's books once would save billions every year. Rather but I would give them short shrift. those working in the public sector is a Government took office, there was a budget again. Only once spending is outstripped than patronisingly doling out vast Firstly, the economic evidence is pound that they have taken from the rest deficit of £153 billion: in other words, the by the revenue raised by the government amounts to Scotland, the system should overwhelming that the prospects for Jonathan Isaby is chief executive of the of us in taxation - money which they are government was spending £153 billion will they be in a position to start paying encourage Scots to stand proudly on sustainable growth and prosperity are far Taxpayers Alliance. He was a political effectively saying they know how to spend more than it was raising in revenue. off the colossal debt. their own two feet and foster a sense greater when state spending is at a lower analyst in the BBC's Westminster better than we do, and which we have no Granted, this situation was one which This certainly suggests to me that of enterprise that will promote growth level than today (rather than higher). newsroom until 2003 and has option but to cough up, unless a stretch at Cameron, Osborne, Clegg et al. inherited whoever finds themselves in office in north of the border. Secondly, higher taxes will alter written monthly columns for GQ Her Majesty's pleasure appeals. from Gordon Brown's regime, but they told the wake of the general election needs There are whole departments in behaviour - for example, by discouraging magazine and The Telegraph. Yet far too few of our politicians take us when they entered government that they to get serious about reining in spending. Whitehall that are ripe for abolition, those currently investing in the UK - and @isaby seriously the duty to provide best value would balance the books and eradicate that No arm of government should be namely the Departments for Business, lead to some existing revenue streams whenever they are spending our money. deficit by now. Yet this year the government immune from having to find ways of Innovation and Skills; Culture, Media disappearing entirely, thereby reducing For the chance to win a bottle of Barely a day goes by when we at the is still spending an eye-watering £91 billion cutting down the amount of money and Sport; Energy and Climate Change; overall revenue. Pommery Champagne give us your TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) are not alerted more than has been raised in revenue. it is getting through; and a thorough and International Development - along Thirdly, and conversely, as has often views at BoisdaleLife.com to yet another example of taxpayers' So while the annual shortfall may review should take place of every with numerous other quangos and been demonstrated over the decades, cash being squandered - like when the have decreased year by year, in each of area in which government is spending unaccountable public bodies. it is lower taxes that can in fact lead Ministry of Defence spent £6 million on those last five years money has still had money in order to establish whether The quango is a shadowy, almost to higher overall revenues. As John

26 27 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

COMMENT COMMENT

The irritation for politicians is that When I say “cultural philanthropy” A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT when they change various tax rates, the “WHAT DOES THIS BANKER people usually think of the Getty’s and the pesky voters tend to change the way they Rothschild’s, pumping huge sums into An examination of the staggering figures behind government spending behave. If, to take an extreme example, new concert halls and galleries. But you the government decided to double KNOW ABOUT CULTURE” don’t have to be a billionaire to support WORDS BY MARK LITTLEWOOD income tax rates, the public would start The Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport reflects on five years in office British culture. Every donation makes a to radically alter their working lives. So, difference, and I’ve seen plenty of people if the British government can only tax WORDS BY SAJID JAVID MP helping out in all kinds of different ways. conomists, like politicians, are repaying it – is eye-watering and runs into at a total rate of around 35% of national That’s why we established the often treated by the general public tens of billions. As interest rates return income, this goes some considerable way Cultural Gifts Scheme, which offers tax with a measurable degree of towards normal historical levels, this cost to capping what it can spend. Five years arry Potter, James Bond and One grew three times faster than the rest of incentives to people who gift cultural scepticism or even cynicism. They don’t will swell not shrink. ago, the British government was spending Direction. Not a group you’re the economy and provided work for 1.7 objects to museums. That’s why we’re understand why economists disagree so Once you consider all the promises around 50% of Gross Domestic Product likely to see dining together million people. investing £100 million in schemes passionately and advocate such a wide that have been made – particularly very (GDP) and is still spending considerably at Boisdale – though it would be an Our success isn’t only measured in that help organisations attract private array of different policy prescriptions. expensive commitments in the area of more than 40%. Just like a household, entertaining evening if you were on their pounds and pence. You just need to look funding. That’s why you can now As the old adage goes, if you lined up all state and public sector pensions – our you can overspend in any given year – table. But they are the world’s biggest- at the number of Oscars, Grammies and settle inheritance tax bills by donating the economists on the planet, you still true national debt is probably somewhere but you’ll need to make up the difference selling series of books, the world’s other international awards collected by cultural items to the nation. And that’s wouldn’t reach a conclusion. There is also around £6 trillion, about £100,000 for by finding savings in future years. most successful film franchise, and the British actors, artists and filmmakers why we’ve introduced a reduced rate perhaps a suspicion that economists tend every man, woman and child in Britain. A At a household level, we know that world’s most popular boy band. And in recent years, to see that our creative of inheritance tax for people who leave to use statistics in much the same way private company that arranged its affairs our earnings are likely to peak sometime they’re all British. industries are about quality as well as more than 10 per cent of their estate to a that a drunkard uses a lamppost – more in this way would have been liquidated a in the middle of our lives and we need That’s the kind of thing that makes quantity. And when you ask foreign cultural body. for support than illumination. very long time ago and the directors of that to save for our old age when we don’t you inordinately proud when you’re in tourists why they’re visiting Britain, at An organisation called Legacy 10 Economists disagree vigorously about company would very likely be spending expect to be raking in as much income. charge of the Department for Culture, the top of their list – by quite some way is asking people to pledge to leave at the optimal level of government spending, their time behind bars. Such discipline Governments needn’t be quite as cautious. Media and Sport – the best job in – is our incredible culture. least 10 per cent of their estate to such a the impact and consequences of raising – or punishment – does not apply to our They can reasonably expect the economy Government, and one I’ve been lucky As I said, I was no stranger to our charity. Everyone from Richard Branson or lowering different taxes and what sort political establishment, of course. to continue to grow over the long term. enough to call my own for the past 12 theatres, museums and galleries before to Nick Clegg has already signed up. I’m of government spending is productive Those who want to continue with a The UK as a whole is likely to be much months. With campaigning underway I got this job. But in the past I’d always proud to say I have too, and I’d urge you and what kind of government spending wide range of very expensive government richer in ten years than it is today and in and the general election almost upon concentrated on what was happening on to do the same. just isn’t. Put two economists in a room spending programmes are trying to find thirty years’ time it is a fair bet that our us, I can’t help but think back to how stage, or on the exhibit in front of me. Donating to support culture might not together and you can expect to hear at ever more ways to tax us. If NHS budgets economy will have about doubled in size. different my life was when I entered first As Secretary of State I’ve had a unique sound like the kind of thing you do. But least three contradictory opinions. must go up and up forever, if pensioners But such confidence can often lead Parliament just five years ago. opportunity to look more closely at as my appointment to Culture Secretary Perhaps, on occasion, we need need to receive more and more money as to hubris. As the American business Back then I’d recently left the financial what can be achieved through culture. showed, sometimes we exceed our own to rely more on good old fashioned every year goes by and if we want to find magnate Warren Buffett once said, sector after nearly two (mostly) happy From the GCSE students who were expectations and find ourselves in new, common sense rather than the highly more and more money for schools and “When the tide goes out, you see who is decades, first with Chase Manhattan and absolutely enraptured by the Young Vic’s rewarding places. If I can make the complex models and hypothesises of colleges, can’t we just bite the bullet and swimming naked”. The financial crash then Deutsche Bank. And as I arrived for production of A View From the Bridge, transition from banker to culture vulture, our economists. There are obviously big collect more in taxation, particularly from showed us that assuming things can my first day as an MP, I had an unusual to the visitors from around the world there’s no reason you can’t either. differences between running a household the more affluent in society? only ever get better and better can be a sensation – I was the only person there who were fascinated by the British budget and running a national economy – The answer to this question appears rash prediction indeed. moving into a profession that was more Museum’s Vikings exhibition. And I’ve very few households are able to print their to be no. Over the last fifty years, the So next time you hear economists popular with the public! had the privilege of meeting with many own currency, for example! UK government has experimented arguing about taxes, government spending, Since then it’s been quite a ride. This of the incredible people who work in Across much of the Western world, with virtually every range of tax deficits and debts, bear in mind one simple time last year I got a phone call from the what I sometimes call “the inspiration governments are facing up to the need to rates imaginable. We have had left- truth. At some point, our government, like Prime Minister asking me to join the business” – people who have dedicated tackle substantial budget deficits. In short, leaning governments and right-leaning the rest of us, needs to start living within Cabinet as Secretary of State for Culture, their lives to educating, entertaining and the state has been living beyond its means. governments. We’ve had minority its means. We're already being taxed to the Media and Sport. engaging children and adults from right Not only has spending been substantially governments, majority governments and maximum, so we must get used to a state I wouldn’t be exaggerating to say across the country. greater than tax receipts, but huge long coalition governments. Top income tax that does less, spends less and becomes a my appointment was not greeted with But this incredible work doesn’t come term debts have been built up and long- rates have sometimes been above 80% smaller part of our day-to-day lives. universal acclaim. “What does this cheap. For all the financial success of term promises made – for example, to and sometimes as low as 40%. We’ve tried banker know about culture?”, came the headline-grabbing film and TV stars, pensioners – that might not cost a total luxury goods taxes. A wide variety of VAT the cry from certain circles. At least it there are thousands of people soldiering fortune today but are certain to lead to rates – nearly always edging upwards – sounded like “banker”… away at the grassroots. Thanks to the very major financial outlays in the future. have been imposed. Anything a British Contrary to popular belief I was all success of this government’s long-term The truth is that the UK government government might consider doing in tax too aware of Britain’s incredible cultural economic plan, Britain is growing has not run its financial affairs in the policy has almost certainly been tried at sector – I actually made my first trip to again and we’ve been able to channel Sajid Javid MP is the Member of sort of manner one would expect from some point in the last few decades. Shakespeare’s Globe thanks to Deutsche investment into the arts and culture. Parliament for Bromsgrove and the a remotely prudent household. Year on But there is an obstinate and Bank’s sponsorship of the theatre. But I’ve also been pleased to see growth in Secretary of State for Culture, Media year, going back to just after the turn of the uncomfortable truth for those who favour what I hadn’t always appreciated was the amount of funding that comes from & Sport. millennium, the British state has spent ever greater amounts of government the sheer size of our creative industries, private individuals and companies. more than it's managed to generate in spending. The government seems to be and the contribution they make in all In 2012/13, the major cultural sajidjavid.com @sajidjavid tax receipts. The government is currently incapable of raking in more than about Mark Littlewood is Director General sorts of different ways. institutions that are funded by my overspending by a staggering £10m an 35% of national income in taxation. In of the Institute of Economic Affairs For starters there’s the economic Department – places like the National For the chance to win a bottle of hour. This means that the overall official a really good year for the government, (IEA) impact. There’s a bit of a lag on official Gallery – received almost half a billion Pommery Champagne give us your national debt – currently standing at £1.4 they might be able to get their hands iea.org.uk statistics so the latest figures we have are in charitable contributions, an increase views at BoisdaleLife.com trillion - is continuing to rise. Rather like on somewhere around 38% of national @MarkJLittlewood for 2013. But that year Britain’s creative of 56 per cent on 2008/09. It shows a household that has maxed out its credit income. But no mixture of tax policies industries were worth £76.9 billion to that people in this country can be card, the cost of merely servicing this seems to get the government to a much the UK economy – that’s £8.8 million exceptionally generous, and I want to debt – before any effort at all is made at higher tax yield than this. an hour. In the same time frame they encourage more of the same.

28 29 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

COMMENT RUSSIA & PUTIN: THE SOLUTION The Putin question continues to confound Western Europe. Bruce Anderson offers an unexpected solution. THE WORDS BY BRUCE ANDERSON POWER TO

Russian President OPTIMISE Vladimir Putin confirms NSA leaker Edward Snowden YOUR is in a transit zone at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport INSTINCTS on 25 June 25. ake your mind back thirty with us, and will be for the indefinite which broke Hitler in the Great Patriotic years. Imagine if someone had future. The same is true of the British War (their teachers gloss over the little predicted that within a couple of Empire. After 1945, broke, exhausted and matter of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact). decades, the Soviet Empire would have under pressure from the Americans, we We then formed NATO as a defensive disintegrated. Germany would be free and abandoned our imperial responsibilities, alliance, to keep the Russians out of united. Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and problems. Consider just two of Western Europe. They can understand the Baltic States, Romania and Bulgaria those, Pakistan and Palestine. If mankind why, but we have now expanded NATO would all be members of the EU and suffers a devastating nuclear war in the well beyond its original defensive remit. NATO. Russia itself would be a sort course of this Century, either or both of To them, that seems like provocation. of democracy. Thirty years ago, such them could provide the catalyst. They think that a lot of Westerners have UNRIVALED DATA RESEARCH ANALYTICS a prophecy would almost have been In comparison, the end of the Russian an anti-Russian mind-set and would like grounds for free accommodation - in a Empire has been surprisingly harmonious. the Cold War to continue. lunatic asylum. Admittedly, there is a difference. One can understand why they talk So there is an obvious first point. We Throughout much of the British Empire, like that, and the West must take some should rejoice that the West won the Cold we liberated primitive peoples from of the blame. At the beginning of the War, at no cost in blood. It was possibly barbarism. In Eastern Europe, the Russians Nineties, we ought to have scrapped our the greatest and cheapest victory in the imposed barbarism upon advanced concepts and kept our weapons systems. whole of history, and mankind is vastly nations. But the captive states were able Instead, we virtually did the opposite. better off as a result. That should underlie to regain their freedom; the Russians There was no willingness to think hard all our strategic assessments. insist that they have never been given about developments within Russia – no When Empires fall, the earth trembles. sufficient credit for abandoning the Iron effort to see the world through Russian It took Western Europe hundreds of Curtain. They also believe that the West eyes. The Russians have always feared spcapitaliq.com years to recover the stability and living has exploited their generosity. encirclement. Their vast land mass, standards which it had enjoyed at the If we in the West are to understand the which to us appears overawing, is to height of the Roman Empire. More Russians, we must begin by recognising them a source of vulnerability: such long recently, the geopolitical consequences that they have their own version of history. frontiers to defend, so many potential S&P Capital IQ is a division of McGraw Hill Financial. of the disintegration of the Austro- Russian children are taught that it was enemies. Stalin protected Russia by The analyses, including ratings, of Standard & Poor’s and its affiliates are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations Hungarian and Ottoman Empires are still their forebears' heroism and sacrifices occupying Eastern Europe. Now, the to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or make any investment decisions. Users of ratings or other analyses should not rely on them in making any investment decision. Standard & Poor’s opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security. Standard & Poor’s does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor except where registered as such. Copyright © 2015 by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P), a part of McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. STANDARD & POOR’S and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC. CAPITAL IQ is a registered trademark of Capital IQ. 31 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

Russia would be a much easier neighbour than an embittered country with chronic economic problems - and huge military resources. HIGH NET WORTH Rather than megaphone diplomacy, we ought to rise above recent events and try to create a new system HOME INSURANCE of collective security in Europe, which would supplement NATO without MADE TO MEASURE replacing it. This could be launched at a congress; Prague would be a good central setting. There would be lots of old-fashioned diplomacy. The Russians would have a prominent and honoured role. Treated with such respect, Putin Pro-Europe manifestation in Ukraine on 21 January. Many protesters wore gas masks as tear gas and might relax and be in a mood to find smoke bombs clouded Kiev during violent clashes. compromises in the Eastern Ukraine while avoiding trouble in the Baltic States. As Europe grew calmer, we could devote our energies to the really He also felt increasingly antagonistic towards intractable problems - in the Middle the West, like a truculent teenager who thinks East. There, we are back in the midst of post-imperial stresses, with no that he has “been dissed”. easy solutions. Cameron, Hollande - inasmuch as he matters – Merkel and Obama: the probability is that Putin will outlast them all. As we have no basic West is pressing hard against Russian markets, he accepted that they were one strategic quarrel with him or his country, territory. To us the Ukraine is a free reason for the West's success, which he it is time to renounce futile gestures and nation. To them, it is part of the Russian wished to emulate. move towards realpolitik. heritage; Kiev was the capital of the first Then everything gradually went Russia. What would the English feel if wrong. He was corrupted by power and Canterbury was in another country? money. An insecure man, he underrated Then there is the Putin question. To his own democratic appeal and felt begin with, there seemed no reason to threatened by his political opponents. worry. Even his KGB background should Even if he did not order Nemtsov's not have aroused anxiety. Those who death, there have been plenty of worked for the KGB had one asset denied murky episodes. Moreover, the tasks of to most other Russians: information. reforming the Russian state and bringing They could see that Western societies about economic progress would have were far more successful. A KGB daunted a far greater figure. He fell back To discuss your insurances, contact: operative, tasked with extolling the on corruption, self-pity and commodity superiority of the Soviet system, must prices, which just about enabled the have felt like a member of the Flat Earth Russian treasury to pay the bills. He also Greg Tighe society who found himself on a round- felt increasingly antagonistic towards the-world cruise. the West, like a truculent teenager who 020 7543 2835 Bruce Anderson is a political Early on, Putin looked like a man we thinks that he has “been dissed”. columnist. Formerly a political [email protected] could do business with. For a start, he How, therefore, do we cope? First, by editor at The Spectator and appeared to be a modern bureaucratic remaining calm and relating the ends to contributor to the Daily Mail, he also politician. Yeltsin had a warm heart, the means. There is no point in provoking wrote for the The Independent and a remarkable liver - and a chaotic the Russians when we have absolutely Conservative Home. personality. Putin was orderly. If the no intention of finding ourselves in lights in his office were on late at night, an armed confrontation. Reluctance to Give us your views for the chance to he would be shifting paper, not vodka. He pledge ourselves to spend as little as 2% win a Magnum of Russian Standard was popular with Russian female voters, of national income on defence while Platinum vodka at BoisdaleLife.com because he did not remind them of their almost adopting a threatening posture husbands. He knew that old Soviet towards Russia; that does not add up. methods had not worked. Although he Sanctions? Be careful what you wish for. did not understand democracy and free A strong, prosperous and self-confident WWW.LARKINSURANCE.CO.UK @larkinsurance

32 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

COMMENT

qualify for the special rate afforded by KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN! Entrepreneurs’ Relief at 10% of the gain, regardless of the percentage of the Andrew Ball explains the difference between company held. Share Options and Enterprise Management Incentives There are a number of conditions associated with EMI share option schemes. The company may not have WORDS BY ANDREW BALL more than 250 employees or £30m gross assets at the date of grant of the option, at which time the total value of the options may not exceed £3,000,000. The scheme has a maximum life cycle of ten years and the company cannot be controlled by another company, which means in a group situation, options will have to be given in the parent company rather than the subsidiary. Finally, EMI options are only available to employees or directors of the company who spend 75% of their working time employed by the company and at all times own less than 30% of the share capital. As with standard share options, EMI schemes are completely flexible with the terms of grant and exercise being set at the Board’s discretion. However, unlike standard share options, the valuation of the options can be agreed with HMRC in advance, who are likely to accept significant valuation discounts for minority shareholders. So I encourage you not to forget your key employees, and consider where your business ooking at the balance sheet of a hands of the employee as income, with would be without them. company what is the most important the employer also paying 13.8% National asset? Property? Stock? Cash? These Insurance, and as importantly it is very are all important, but ignore the key asset difficult to get the shares back if the of employees at your peril. I have seen employee later leaves. time and again that companies without On the other hand, share options have friendly, hardworking, incentivised all the economic benefits of shares but and motivated employees find it very crucially they are not shares until they difficult to survive. This only gets more are exercised. Unlike shares, the options challenging as the company grows and are flexible and can be granted subject as concentration on the more strategic to relevant metrics such as performance, elements of the business increases, length of service, margins achieved etc. the Directors’ day-to-day operational They are also non-binary which allows Before making any big decisions, it is always wise to get advice from experts. involvement diminishes. As a result, for some of the options to be granted quality management and supervisors rather than all of them. If you’re thinking about buying a new home or investment, Chestertons become some of the most important The disadvantage of standard share people in the company. options is once again tax, as an option can advise you on some of the factors that may influence your decision. Although there is a huge range of non- exercised on exit it is effectively a financial incentives, I have focussed on terminal bonus and once again subject Andrew Ball is a partner and head the financial incentives available to help to income tax and National Insurance. Make the right choice. Contact Chestertons. of hospitality at Haysmacintyre motivate and retain key staff: Shares, More importantly, in my opinion there chartered accountants and tax T: 020 3040 8240 E: [email protected] Share Options and EMI Options. can be an added level of confusion for advisers. As well as audit and tax Looking at the first, a company can another looking to purchase the company compliance work, Andrew sits on issue shares directly to an employee at and could thus reduce the price. These the operational board of a number any time as part of their employment to drawbacks may act as a disincentive to of his clients to provide consultancy give a participation in capital growth. The both employee and employer. and structuring advice, including Chestertons Stamp Duty Calculator shares can be issued as a different class EMI share options are more tax corporate strategic planning and from the majority of the shareholders to efficient than both the issue of shares financial benchmarking. App now available for download allow different voting rights and dividend and standard share options. There is haysmacintyre.com policies. However, it is important to note no tax charge on grant and no income that instant issue of shares has two major tax or National Insurance charge on disadvantages. Namely, the value of the exercise. Instead, the employee will be shares will be taxed immediately in the subject to Capital Gains Tax and should

35 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

PEOPLE IF I RULED THE WORLD We ask Baroness Trumpington to be Ruler of the World

WORDS BY SARAH EDWORTHY

can't imagine why they have roads. I spent a very happy four years in change the nuts sticking out next to chosen me for the job. I am apt to New York in the 1950s, being a terrible the ladies' lavatory. I had laddered my say what I think, which can get me secretary in an advertising agency. But I tights on them. In my new job as Ruler into trouble. And I like to make people certainly did not enjoy my taxi rides. I will build a third runway at Heathrow laugh, which can cause bad behavior As Mayor of Cambridge, in 1971, to improve access to the UK. I will also too. I have met a lot of formidable and one of my proudest achievements was enlarge Manston Airport in my beloved fascinating people including every resurrecting the town market in the Kent, linking it up with the Dover to post-war Prime Minister, but I consider ancient centre of the city. This beautiful London trains. This will allow me to myself rather dull. square that had hosted markets since reopen Folkestone Racecourse, where I I will try not to get distracted the Middle Ages had become a car park. was a Steward for many happy years. wondering why I am here. I have always Everything to do with parking provokes I served as a Minister for ten years, and been lucky with jobs, from Bletchley to outrage so I expect this will make me I have sat in the House of Lords for nearly the House of Lords. I will just do thirty five years, thanks to Mrs what I've been asked and try to Thatcher. do it well. In a project close to my heart, I won't say 'World Peace'. I will provide a residence for We must have sorted all the big the Leader of the Opposition, things out already or I wouldn't comparable to Chequers, for be here. So my plans are more official functions. My friend mundane. And now that I am in Sir Hamilton Kerr offered his my tenth decade, I suppose they house many years ago but the tax might have chosen me because system made it impossible. of everything I've done. So I will The process of government draw on my experiences. needs to be simplified: important I have never taken an exam and straightforward decisions - not even a driving test. But I take too long. I will reduce the did learn two languages, first number of departments, which French from my governess and should help. then at finishing school in Paris. Since my husband died the That got me a job on the team House of Lords has been like devoted to German Naval Codes a second family to me. I adore during the war, and then in it, but it is going to need some Paris rebuilding Europe's inland changes. I certainly wouldn't transport system. Forty years make it an elected chamber: later it was still helping me when we would lose the wonderful I was the UK's delegate to the experts who sit there now, and it UN Commission on the Status would become a direct challenge of Women. Not everyone can go to the Commons. I would reduce to finishing school but as Ruler I the numbers though (exempting will mandate that everyone learn myself of course). And I would at least one foreign language. make it possible for taxis to drive I would ensure that the UK right up to the Peers' Entrance. remained part of Europe by freeing Finally, there has been a lot of our banking system from Eurocrats in Coservative Member of the House of Lords, publicity recently about Bletchley. The Brussels. I would monitor carefully who The Right Honourable, The Baroness Trumpington work we did was eventually acknowledged could become a permanent resident. with badges - I cannot call them medals I have strong views about transport - saying 'I Also Served'. To say I was not that probably date back to 1940s Paris. more unpopular than anything else, impressed would be an understatement! I am terribly loving of London taxi but as Ruler I will protect the world's As Ruler I will ensure total equality of drivers. They know what is going on in historic places from being turned into medals between men and women. the world, they are terrifically kind, and car parks. Goodness knows why I am Ruler of I couldn't manage my life without them. I also need to make some the World. But making people laugh Unfortunately, the same cannot be said improvements to the UK's air transport has its uses. Once you've made people for their New York equivalents, and I am system. I had seats on Concorde's first laugh, they keep listening, in case you going to require a complete overhaul of and last flights from Heathrow. Utterly say something funny again. And I do the New York system. Taxis will be tested thrilling! My main contribution at the firmly believe you have to say what you for cleanliness, and drivers will be tested time, as the only woman on that first think. Anyone who can't has no right on basic English and knowledge of the flight into Beirut, was to get them to being Ruler of the World at all.

37 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

PEOPLE

thrust of that film I think? Also the A CONVERSATION WITH JOOLS HOLLAND music hall songs are funny and kind of moving… they make you cry. This article is a small part of an hour long conversation between Ranald Macdonald and Jools Holland RM: And quite a lot of humour too – I – to see the full transcript go to BoisdaleLife.com bet they didn’t have so much humour in French and German music halls! It’s all about the British Spirit and turning life in all its adversity, into a joke. JH: That’s right and when you hear it again, the funnier it becomes each time. They are really good jokes. You know he’s going to sing this song or do this gesture, and when he does it, it’s even funnier because you’re waiting for it! Also there is something about everyone joining in together. Incidentally I think it was Roy Hudd, president of the British Music Hall society – he’s also the doyen of early British pop music, in that Dennis Potter used to get Roy Hudd to be in things just so he could ask him about 1930’s pop songs – who explained to me the origin of the expression “Bring the House Down”. It was a Music Hall term that meant when you put an act on, you’d have an interval and everyone would go to the bar – so the music Hall would make a load of money out of the bar, which was at the top – and then after The first iconic pop the interval you would put on act on to star, Al Jolson - who bring everyone out of the bar to come sold a million records in the US alone with down to see you. So the expression was "Sonny Boy" to “bring the house down” to the theatre. I’ve got a tape here of Leslie Sarony - who did, “Ain’t it grand to be blooming is about taking a philosophical view JH: Well that’s actually originally well dead” – which does make me laugh on things that are happening that are a Bessie Smith song – she saw Bessie still when I hear it. But I’ve also got him bad. Bessie Smith, who is another great Smith as a child and loved her. That’s Jools Holland, Boisdale Patron of Music, at Boisdale of Canary Wharf reciting this rather rude poem, which favourite of mine – may be my favourite right, “he drills me when he kills me”! was “I’m the only c… at the party”. It is singer ever actually – she had a whole It’s one element – the Blues is about more funny… they have such a charm. batch of songs, not all like this but you than that – but that’s a shared element I RM: I assume after family that music Boisdale Life! Popular music artists were – and that was a nice idea. That stayed RM: There were some very bawdy know, “I need a little sugar in my bowl” think… the play with language. is your predominating passion, is that not in the foreground in the centuries with us so you could have a little body songs weren’t there, with undisguised and “He’s got me going”. In fact there RM: What advice would you have for correct? before the 20th century, really. Because of work. And now we have gone back to people going into the music business? JH: Yes, the first and chief passion. before then great classical composers, people just buying a single song. JH: Be really true to the music and Music was really the starting point of amazing people like Bach or Mozart or RM: The first real iconic pop star keep playing. The other thing is, listen my life and has been my life ever since. whatever, would write for the church or was probably Al Jolson – who was to hard to the people you really like and It’s something I am plugged into all the for the court or great state occasions and jazz what Elvis was to rock’n’roll – he learn from that all the time. The key to time, sometimes you’re on stage doing things. So the music was written down was the first to sell a million records in There were more pianos than there were cars it is play what you love, and love what it, sometimes you’re at home playing and people could play it. America alone with Sonny Boy in 1928. you play. You also have to be a bit of a here on this piano (pointing at a Yamaha The equivalent of the pop stars of the JH: Al Jolson was great – Rod in London in the 1930s! show-off. Some people are really great Grand piano in the corner of the room), day, were the folk singers – but apart Stewart’s a huge fan of Al Jolson. I think at playing but they just do it in their or sometimes you’d be in the studio or from the people at the time, nobody knew people suddenly became iconic – Louis bedrooms. If you don’t have that desire to sometimes you might EVEN be at The what they sounded like. Once the 20th Armstrong became iconic. Also the show it off, that will hold you back. The Boisdale doing it! century comes and they start recording likes of Marie Lloyd and the British other thing is to enjoy it and not concern The thing I’ve realised more and more music, then everything changes and music hall people were very popular yourself with fashions. You want to about my passion is that what it leads the popular folk musicians are the ones and often had huge houses in Belgravia. play what you mean and mean what me to do is have quite a lot of dialogues selling millions of records and are thrust They were the first stars and they were innuendo like the 1930s song “My girls was an answer record to “I need a little you play – so it becomes an extension with the dead. It doesn’t matter if a piece into the limelight. They are the ones who popular with the yobs and nobs. All pussy” which was all about an adorable sugar in my bowl” and I can’t remember of you. Whatever it is, whether you play of music is 100 or 500 years old, you’re are remembered, because you can hear classes loved them and of course Toffs cat with a voracious appetite… the name of the blues artist who did it, the saxophone, or the piano or you write still tuning into it and then it becomes what they sounded like and the classical went to the music hall as well. JH: Exactly and if I see a bit of but she did an answer record called “Get songs, by playing all the time with all alive again – because the music keeps musicians trailed off. That was a big thing RM: And would often enough, fall in innuendo in this interview I will whip up off your knees daddy, you won’t win sorts of different people you find your going. People’s conversations from 500 – then people bought singles of music love with the leading girl on stage who it out immediately!!! The thing is an me back that way”. So I think a lot of own voice. Ray Charles said to me once years ago are harder to capture, but with hall artists, cylinder discs and then in the is then suddenly escalated into another enormous amount of British popular those early Blues artists were similar. sometimes I write songs, or play other music you sort of can. late 30s people bought albums. And then world, like Lilly Langtry… music has some sort of humour in it. RM: Yes like the Diana Washington peoples songs but it doesn’t matter… it’s A quick summary of the history of after the war the LP came in where you JH: Like the film Champagne Charlie Although in a way I see it as rather song about the Dentist who is filling her all part of me. popular music if I may for the readers of could actually have many tracks on a side – you ever seen that film? – that’s the similar to the Blues. Because the blues cavity… RM: When do you remember first

38 39 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

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the windows all went in and the whole room had been burnt out. So when I was MY NIGHT WITH NINA SIMONE small, by about 1965… I was born in 1958… sometime in the late-60’s when WORDS BY MICHAEL GELARDI pop-culture was at its height, I was still MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BOISDALE ENTERTAINMENT sitting on my grandmothers knee and she was showing me the blackened, charred piano and she lifted up the lid n the 1980s, I had the rare privilege society, was London’s most prestigious thing, Nina got restless and somewhat and inside it was all a perfect shiny of producing several legendary cabaret and fine dining room, with five garrulous. She started talking to me interior. She said the “Nazis did that, stars in music and entertainment, Crown Heads of State once dining there in her voluminous voice, eventually but they haven’t stopped me playing”! I from Sammy Davis Jr. and Bob Hope to in one night, and it was also reputedly announcing to the room ‘I’m hungry!’ remember by the time I was about eight Nana Mouskouri and Charles Aznavour. the only public venue in London that HM I whispered quietly that we could eat or nine my uncle, who was younger However, one of the great performers The Queen had ever attended privately. directly after the show. ‘No, I’m hungry than my mother and my mother was I most wanted to work with was the I had produced all the shows at this NOW’ she shouted loudly. This was only twenty-one when she had me. So amazingly enigmatic and talented great establishment for some years and heard by all the VIP’s in the room, and my uncle was young, probably sixteen American artiste, Nina Simone, whom I tonight we had international star of stage again also by Mr Moody, who came or seventeen when I was nine… he knew was now living in Europe, having and screen, Ron Moody, opening in his over to our table and said ‘madam can had learnt from my mother some apparently moved to escape the long first cabaret performance in London for I help you – we are doing a show here Boogie Woogie piano. I went into my arm of the IRS. many years, a massive occasion packed tonight you know?’ ‘WHAT are you?’ grandmothers one day and heard him Now, as Nina was renowned for with assorted media and dignitaries. she shouted. Pondering the question for playing this Boogie Woogie and when I changing managers as often as most of I did my best to explain and make a second, Ron replied ‘I’m sober madam heard this noise I thought what is this? us changed our underwear, finding her our excuses to Miss Simone but, to – WHAT are YOU?!’ The room exploded It’s so fantastic… you had the left hand was a challenge, but after some weeks of my surprise, she answered ‘Oh, Ron in laughter and I had the manager escort contrasting with the right…all at once… investigation, we eventually tracked her Moody - he’s a friend of my great Miss Simone out of the room to get and all the rhythms in it, the major down to a rented apartment in Harley friend Georgia Brown – I’m coming something to eat and on with the show minor, it really was like the chaos of Street, where she told me she was – we went to a standing ovation! the universe had become ordered at that recovering from an attack from a To my horror Nina then moment. I thought this is just the best man who had struck her on the reappeared at our table and by thing I have ever heard! It made you just head with a Champagne bottle! this time Caroline’s handsome want to jump around and dance really! I told her that I wanted to do a Lebanese boyfriend had joined I said what’s that you’re playing there? show with her at the Grosvenor us. When Nina realised that Now he only really knew this one piece, House Hotel and she, after some Caroline had a boyfriend, she but he did know it quite well and it had a haggling, agreed to consider this. suddenly lost all control and particular left-hand. He showed me this Nina then kindly invited me to became incredibly abusive to left-hand and showed me the piece, so I her birthday party the following him, to the point where I had just spent the next year playing this one day, to be held at her apartment. I to intervene and have security piece – really just copying what he did. was quite flattered and intrigued contacted as I feared that violence So I found I had a gift for doing that and so went along with my PA, a very would break out any moment. just became obsessed… just played this pretty girl called Caroline. Sure enough the hot blooded one tune on the piano in the front room. The apartment was spacious boyfriend, who could stand her Which must have been very annoying and modern on two floors with a loud insults no longer, took a for the neighbours really, in this tiny spiral staircase. There were about bottle from the table and lunged little house? fifty guests but no Nina. The at her, just as security arrived, Later on in life I’ve been lucky guests did not seem put out and fortunately in time to stop the Jools Holland left Squeeze in 1980 to pursue a full-time solo career and went on enough to meet Ray Charles, Dr John… we all carried on partying politely, onslaught. So it turned out, I to present the genre-busting show The Tube alongside Paula Yates. the people I’d admired who had all had being told by her butler that ‘Miss Simone American singer, songwriter, pianist & civil rights realised, that the whole evening’s events more-or-less the same experience. Dr would be down when she is ready’. activist Nina Simone (Feb 1933 - Apr 2003) had not been about me or business but John with his Aunt Mimi had shown Eventually, over an one hour later, all about Nina’s passionate, lesbian being touched by music, was there of furniture and a friend in the corner him the “Texas boogie”, which was the Nina Simone made her grand appearance attraction to my PA! I had Miss Simone always music at home and when did of the living room, it’s also of course a same thing. Ray Charles said an old at the top of the staircase, in an amazing, with you!’ A bit alarmed, I retorted duly escorted to a chauffeured car, just music first take hold of your imagination musical instrument and it’s also the one man in his village had shown him the flowing chiffon blue gown. Everybody ‘what about your guests here – it’s your relieved that she wasn’t going back to and thereafter your life? thing you buy for life. You buy one and Boogie Woogie piano. So that’s why applauded and sang a quick chorus party? ‘Oh fuck them’ she exclaimed Harley Street with yet another hole in JH: Well I can answer that relatively you are likely to give it to your children, I have literally been playing the blues of Happy Birthday as she descended well within everyone’s earshot, ‘I’m her head! That fortunately was the last quickly! In that, my parents have lots all the other stuff like fridges you chuck since I was a child. That was the music majestically into the room. Nina just going up to freshen up and I’m I saw of her and I did not pursue the of jazz and classical records, they like away – it’s like a life-long purchase. I really liked. I liked other music and mingled awhile but her eyes seemed to coming with you.’ Half an hour later show engagement. Much as I adored her that… and my grandmother had in her RM: Well pre-radio, pre-gramophone, I loved listening to the Beatles on the be continually on me. Eventually she she returned and we shot off in a frantic wonderful extraordinary talent, nothing front room a wedding present given pre-television it was the entertainment! radio – and I remember dancing around sauntered up to me and I introduced hurry very late. We arrived just after the would have been worth the nightmare to her by her mother in 1938 which JH: Well that’s it… you are going back to twist and shout in the garden thinking myself and wished her many happy opening of the show. My usual table was and sleepless nights I imagined that was a piano! There were more pianos quite a bit pre-radio of course, but that’s this is great. I think often your childlike returns. She was very charming at first waiting, embarrassingly at the front of working with her would have produced! than there were cars in London in the right. So my grandmother was in this instinct of liking something is a good and we spoke at length about everything the intimate showroom, and we crept 1930’s! People now, who would be tiny terraced house in Greenwich and one to trust with music. from her music to her American IRS tax in between numbers, but Nina being Michael Gelardi is Managing Director of Boisdale happy to spend thousands on a computer she was given a piano, which went in problems – she talked incessantly until I a statuesque 6 foot plus in a brightly Entertainment. Sound, Vision & Experience: or a flat-screen television or something, the front room saved for “best”, which Jools Holland is the Boisdale Patron of Music. finally managed to interject that Caroline coloured flowing gown, could hardly be the one stop shop for all your entertainment would never spend that sort of money on lots of people had then. Anyway in the For more information about music visit: and I had to leave as I had a big opening missed by all including the artiste. requirements. boisdaleentertainment.co.uk a piano. But in those days they all had war during the blitz, the end of the street joolsholland.com night at Quaglino’s later that evening. After a couple of numbers, as I feared, a piano. The piano was not only a piece all got flattened – her house wasn’t, but At the time ‘Quag’s’ as it was known in a variety style show clearly not being her

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PEOPLE

operated three factories and diversified in 2011, and began to plan an equestrian the heart rate exceeds a certain level at LUNCH WITH “MR KURT” into textiles and confectionery. Then, centre based on his training methods. 35kph, the Kurtsystems is alerted and he began to chafe at small-town life. In Kingwood now hosts 75 horses. the horse's training programme adapted We meet the Turkish businessman changing the future 1970, Mr Kurt moved to the bright lights How did he become inspired to accordingly. Being jockey-free, it is the of the British Horse Racing Industry of Istanbul. develop the Kurtsystems? The answer safest way of breaking in a horse. One Here, Mr Kurt had free reign to is a story of passion about the wellbeing vet in Australia says that 70 per cent WORDS BY SARAH ROSS indulge his passion for horses, and of the thoroughbred. In 1996 he bought of racehorses are lost to injury at this saddled up two Turkish Derby winners. Tambilot, a 'very valuable' racehorse, and early stage of their lives. My system 'We all have early childhood memories,' shipped him from London to Istanbul. reduces this risk almost to zero. We will he says. 'Mine were walking between Under an inexperienced jockey, Tambilot refine the Kurtsystems by research and the legs of horses as a toddler. I have was injured on his very first outing, and development using data gleaned from ridden for pleasure ever since. I grew had to be retired. 'I thought of either our methods.' up with horses. I was inspired by mares quitting the horse business or finding a Where did this drive and vision struggling to keep alive her new-born solution to the problem of human error spring from? Was it Mr Kurt's father, twin foals. I believe a horse can tell if when training horses,' says Mr Kurt. So or something in Mr Kurt's upbringing, you are a good person or not; a horse he set about devising his system. or both? 'I am not sure what my father can gauge your intentions. That is why Mr Kurt is at pains to point out that the or environment contributed,' he says. certain people can communicate with Kurtsystems is a 'pre-training' method, 'Where I come from, boys go through a horses, and why some jockeys are better tried and tested in Turkey. 'It is not natural strict education. They learn to be strong, than others. Horses have intuition. My for a horse to carry a human being,' he tough and to fight against difficulties. My method of training respects this.' says. 'If a jockey takes a corner at speed, father was one of the first industrialists in Back to business. In Istanbul, Mr the horse will balance itself. But if the Turkey. I wasn't born when he founded Kurt diversified still further, moving jockey fails to act in harmony by bending his first factory, but I learnt these things into media, energy, chemicals, defence to left or right, the resultant imbalance by implication; I learnt them without and medical sectors. He bought the 130-year-old Chocolate Royale brand, and invested in land and construction. As his wealth mushroomed, he never forgot his roots. He built three schools in Ceyhan and converted one of his houses into a public library. He transformed the local football club from amateurs into a professional unit fit for the Turkish national league. In 1985, he planned a development in central Istanbul, the Marmara Sea Development Project comprising a hotel, residential block and shopping The "Kurtsystem" in action - horses are trained on a monorail as they become accustomed to carrying the weight of a jockey mall. Despite raising finance, the project failed because 'people were jealous' and because the Government was 'unwilling ehmet Kurt is a businessman things of life, good conversation, cigars the business was underperforming. to support it'. (Mr Kurt points out that whose 'revolutionary' method of and cognac and thus a natural fit to be the Productivity was low. Working Istanbul today is bursting with the training racehorses could transform proud sponsor of the Boisdale Spectator conditions were harsh. Cotton fields lay very type of mall that he envisaged.) the world's bloodstock industry. Cigar Awards, whose guests last year idle. Kurt Jnr. decided to act. Casting Undaunted, he bought a cement Under the so-called Kurtsystems – included Arnold Schwarzenegger and abroad, he travelled to Georgia, Atlanta, business dating from the 1920s. Its which reduces the risk of injury to Kelsey Grammar. 'I was extremely the cotton belt of the United States. land, once fringing Istanbul but recently thoroughbreds by removing potential impressed,' he enthuses. 'It was very What could America teach Turkey about engulfed by the city's expansion, had jockey error in early training - young well organised. I may have to become a cotton? became valuable. 'Unfortunately, some "Mr Kurt" at his equestrian centre at Kingswood Stud horses undergo screening to determine regular at Boisdale Canary Wharf. Ha-ha, 'My guiding principle in business of the land, although private property, their physiological capacity and proceed life sometimes demands that you to take is to avoid the mainstream and ignore was illegally confiscated either by to be trained in harness on a mono-rail risks!' Mr Kurt also loves London, his the fashion of the day,' says Mr Kurt, 'If Istanbul city government or by the affects the pressure on the horse's legs. knowing how I learnt them.' system. Gradually, and safely, they adopted home, and has been awarded you follow fashion, you get an ordinary Turkish government,' says Mr Kurt. 'The Just one centimetre out, and the horse's Mr Kurt intends to turn the Kurtsystems become accustomed to carrying the the Freedom of the City. 'Peaceful return. I have always made extraordinary Turkish government was acting against tendons can be irreparably damaged.' into a business. Horses trained by him equivalent 'bulk' of a jockey by having and stable,' is how he describes it. 'I choices and decisions which seemed the fundamental principles of a liberal Before the horse can be ridden, it is in Turkey have become champions. 'If small weights placed incrementally on appreciate that Londoners value people risky at the time but which have paid off economy. This marked the beginning of gently loaded it with silicon weights, we can produce champions in Britain, their back. 'Mr Kurt', as he is known, as human beings and individuals.' more than any ordinary decision could my…problems.' beginning with 10kg rising to 60kg, and we will have no trouble persuading the claims that in Turkey, his prototype How can Mr Kurt afford to invest ever bring about. Hence my going to These 'problems' peaked when the harnessed to a special 'car' which runs horse community to adopt my system,' system is a proven winner. Now, the millions in the Turf, and why is he living Georgia.' Turkish municipality demolished on rails alongside an all-weather track. he says. 'Overcoming the initial hurdles Kurtsystems is being introduced to in Britain? Mr Kurt shipped home several his stud in Istanbul. He quit Turkey This exercise is designed to strengthen of acceptance by the British horse Lambourn, where Mr Kurt is building In 1968, as a young man of 22, he machines built to mechanise parts of for Britain, intending to write his muscles and acclimatise the horse to racing industry is the first step. Today his own equestrian centre at Kingwood inherited his family's cotton business in the cotton-producing process. Once autobiography. Working title: 'Exile'. the heft of a rider while maintaining Lambourn, tomorrow the world.' Stud. The British racing industry awaits his home town of Ceyhan (pronounced installed in Ceyhan, the machines Settling into life in Britain, where, balance. 'During this phase, we learn Tambilot, who has enjoyed a long with interest. Jay-Han) in southern Turkey. His father, soon produced results. Productivity 'Private property is respected, and where the horse's potential by measuring retirement munching grass, would Mr Kurt, however, is a man of parts. also Mehmet, was the pre-eminent local soared and Ceyhan prospered. Mr Kurt's my ideas will be appreciated', Mr Kurt vital signs, heart rate, blood levels and probably agree. Besides, horses, he adores the finer landowner and community-leader. But workforce swelled from 400 to 3,300. He bought Kingwood Stud near Lambourn respiratory system,' says Mr Kurt. 'If

44 45 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

PEOPLE NIGEL MANSELL From Monaco to the Magic Circle

WORDS BY SARAH EDWORTHY

1992 F1 World Champion and 1993 IndyCar Champion, Nigel Mansell - @nigelmansell

ore like Bagpuss than Il Leone the 1993 CART IndyCar World Series - No other driver combined such poor of yore, Nigel Mansell ambles remains unchallenged; no other driver luck with such vulcanised resilience as into Boisdale feeling a little has held both gongs. well as sheer guts and determination. jet-lagged. He has just touched down Equally, one remembers Mansell's Mansell was the despair of mechanics, the from Colorado after a two-week extensive back-catalogue of mechanical anguish of commentators, a conundrum golf tournament, the Senior World gremlins: the blown engines, for his rivals and the source of bafflement Championships in Albuquerque, New disintegrating gearboxes, exploding of doctors. But the crowds loved him, Mexico, where he became the first tyres, transmission calamities and brake- and still do. player ever to win both the stroke play pad meltdowns. Let's not also forget the His body's toll of broken vertebrae, and match play world titles. Now in collisions, the crashes and the spins, to a broken neck, concussion and spinal London, he packs a hectic schedule. 'I'm say nothing of the feuds and fallings- injuries reached a climax when, racing in fading in and fading out,' he laughs. 'If out. A race wasn't a race without a major Le Mans in 2010, he crashed out on lap I stare vacantly, I do apologise'. After a Mansell mishap. Of all his records, the 5 with a puncture. He struck his head. few sips of green tea, Mansell is firing on one that captures his driving style is the Badly. Speech-slurred, he retreated for all cylinders again, and at the age of 61 Highest Speed Crash in Formula One six months. 'I couldn't communicate looks much the same as when he retired History: 200 mph on the Paul Ricard properly,' he says. 'I couldn't put from top-flight motor sport in 1995, circuit during practice for the 1985 thoughts into words. It was so bad I minus the spiv's moustache. French Grand Prix. didn't even know who Roseanne [his Ah, memories of Mansell mania! His But then the world fastened its seat- wife] was for a period of time. I didn't fearless hard-charging style and animal belts for the sensational Mansell bounce- even know who I was. I withdrew.' instincts behind the wheel won him the back, the thrilling return to form, racing Diagnosing blood on the brain, hearts of the Tifosi when he drove for wheel-to-wheel with Ayrton Senna doctors advised that Mansell needed to Ferrari in 1989 and 1990, hence his Il down the straight at Barcelona, climbing challenge the grey matter, do something Leone sobriquet. His world title-double all over the back of Senna at Monaco to trick the mind into thinking differently. - the 1992 F1 Drivers Championship and while trying to overtake him... But what? Roseanne persuaded Nigel

47 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

to get out of his pyjamas, and attend a pack of cards. 'They worked a treat. In education and knowledge to make better charity function. Reluctantly, he agreed. ten minutes, the President spoke perfect choices, to nurture aspiration, to show Keeping a low profile at the fund-raiser English. For two hours we had a blast that working hard can make a difference, to avoid engagement, Mansell spotted a like there was no tomorrow.' Magic! and to let people realise their dreams. It magician performing card tricks. Card tricks also ease Mansell's charity is truly remarkable the amount of things work with children. 'Children can't that UK Youth does. We run all sorts of 'Hey, can you show me what you just did?' relate to who I might, or might not, have programmes for everything. been in my previous life. But if you ask 'We helped one girl of 16. She 'Why?' them what their favourite card is and had three children by three different do a couple of tricks, you've got them. partners. She was living on the streets. 'I'm just really interested.' They start talking to you and they want She turned her life around with UK to know how to do certain things. It's Youth. She found out she didn't have 'Sorry mate, no.' engagement. It's fun.' to be on the street, and that she could What else has Nigel Mansell CBE support her three children-from-three- 'Why not?' been up to? He 'puts back', as they say, different-partners. Partners who had all by working as an FIA steward at F1 left, of course. Now she has become a 'It's magic. If I showed you, it wouldn't Grands Prix, and is an ambassador at the spokesperson. She made everyone cry. be magic. And then I'd have to saw Suzuka circuit in Japan. Before a recent She was ab-solute-ly fantastic. you in half, and that wouldn't be magic PR visit to Japan, his hosts emailed him 'We have had many people like either. I'm part of the Magic Circle. We with, 'We'll be selling Nigel Mansell that, people who have been under the don't show people what we do. It's a moustaches so you'll either have to re- influence of drugs or drink and who special elite club.' grow yours or stick one on.' 'Oh no!' have terrible home lives. We have had groaned Mansell. 'When I arrived in huge success stories with people in 'How do you become a member?' Japan, there were thousands of these prison where we run programmes for things on sale. It was a bit of fun at my rehabilitation. They are not guaranteed 'You have to be invited.' expense but - ha-ha! - that's fine.' jobs but they are guaranteed job But what Mansell is here to talk about interviews.' 'You're not being very helpful.' is UK Youth, one of Britain's largest In the year before UK Youth's youth work charities, of which he is a centenary in 2010, Mansell did an 'epic' Mansell pleaded his case, his injury passionate and committed President. UK cycle ride from John O'Groats to Paris. and quest for a fresh challenge, mental not physical. 'Long story short, the magician got permission from the President of the Magic Circle to mentor me,' he says. 'The great thing with magic is that you No other driver combined such poor luck with have to learn the fundamentals and then practice the tricks yourself.' such vulcanised resilience as well as sheer guts and Bloody-minded in every sense, determination. Mansell was the despair of mechanics, Mansell set about becoming a magician. the anguish of commentators, a conundrum for his 'In hospital for another operation, I was doing loads of magic while I was rivals and the source of bafflement of doctors. recuperating,' he says. 'It challenged my But the crowds loved him, and still do. mind to work differently and rethink a load of stuff. It helped me be coherent, so that people wouldn't know I'd had a pretty big bang on the head.' Mansell's repertoire of tricks runs to two hours - about enough to endure Youth's last three annual dinners have 'We covered 1,300 miles in 11 days and a Formula one race. He has swapped taken place at Boisdale Canary Wharf to visited as many youth clubs as possible. cars for cards, exploding engines great acclaim. That was gruelling. No one had joined for exploding wallets, chicanes for 'UK Youth is 104 years old, amazing up as many clubs, from London up to legerdemain, mania for magic. I bet he for a charity,' says Mansell. 'At any one Wales, Wales to Scotland, and Scotland wishes he could retrospectively make time we have 46,000 volunteers. So back down to London. A number of new Nelson Piquet, his arch rival from that's just terrific. We reach more than sponsors joined, including UPS and Formula One, vanish. And Alain Prost. 1 million children and young people Barclays.' Has magic helped Mansell's brain? a year, between the ages of three and Finally, I ask Mansell what wisdom His condition exacerbates jet-lag, hence twenty-six.' he gleaned from motor-racing to take his grogginess. But magic gets him out Mansell offers a glimpse of the into the next phases of his life. 'It is of the house, and breaks the ice. At a dystopian mountain that UK Youth never over until you have crossed that glacial dinner in Bucharest with the climbs: 'In any one year, 50,000 children finish line. Anything can go wrong at President of Romania and his charming, get expelled from school, but 30,000 any time,' he says. 'It is always best to beautiful wife, 'The President made out of those never go back to school. The be empowered with plans A, B, C and D he didn't speak a word of English, and Government admits that there are 1 just in case.' clearly didn't want to be there,' says million children out of school and And try to avoid hitting your head; Mansell. Instead of making the President work. The real figure is probably closer that's another no-brainer, especially for disappear, Mansell thought, 'In for a to 2 million. The biggest thing we offer Mansell. 'Ha-ha! Yes, another bang on penny, in for a pound' and produced a is empowering young people with the head would be lights out probably.'

48 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

LIFESTYLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT Why are modern wristwatches so big? Timothy Barber takes a look at the ever-changing dimensions of Swiss watches, and finds hope for the slimmer of wrist.

WORDS BY TIMOTHY BARBER

Our Grant’s 25 year old If you want blame figures blends twenty five of the (or figureheads, at least) for the big watch phenomena, world’s most highly prized I give you Sylvester Stallone malt and grain whiskies, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. including irreplaceable rare malt whiskies from now extinct distilleries.

IWC's Portugeiser Perpetual n my watch collection, my favourite the lolly to acquire any of them, I’d be Grant’s 25 year old is a fabulous Calendar Digital Date-Month, piece is also the most humble: an unable to wear. They’re massive. 45mm in diameter IWC Schaffhausen number made in On a 6’7 colleague of mine, with tree- blend with notes of fragrant summer Price: £46,900 (Platinum) the late 1950s, which I bought for £400 in trunk forearms – surely not the largest an auction a few years ago. It’s a time-only constituency to market to – the new peach blossom and polished leather @IWC watch with a self-winding movement, Portugiesers look about right. On me, with a handsome Art Deco dial. That the lugs stick out over the edge of the that transform into tastes of alone isn’t why I find myself wearing it wrist and the case hangs heavily against so often though – it’s the size. In a drawer my hand – it looks silly. And it means, cinnamon and ginger with fresh full of mostly modern wristwatches, this if I’m ever to achieve ownership of such sweetness and rich spices. elegant 50s piece looks like a relative a timepiece, I’ve got to become expert at pigmy. But on my scrawny (but not that wrist curls as well as investing. I’m not scrawny) wrist, I have to admit at it’s sure which is less likely. the only one of my watches that actually In modern watchmaking, though, really fits. big watches are par for the course, and I was wearing it back in January the IWCs were by no means the largest while surveying IWC’s latest offerings watches I saw at the SIHH (that honor at the Geneva watch industry showcase, goes, as it must every year, to Panerai, the Salon Internationale de la Haute which produced a 52mm behemoth, the Horlogerie (SIHH). The brand has Mare Nostrum Titanio). If you want blame produced a series of zingy new additions figures (or figureheads, at least) for the big to its smartest range of watches, the watch phenomena, I give you Sylvester Portugieser family. There’s a gleaming Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In annual calendar; a retro-cool time- the mid-‘90s Stallone was instrumental only based on the look of a first-gen in popularizing Panerai, a hitherto Portugieser from 1940; a variety of top- obscure Italian maker of huge – but very end perpetual calendar models. Sleek, stylish – retro diving watches, when beautiful, desirable watches that ooze he wore one in a pretty dismal film, luxurious quality – and which, had I Daylight, and bought a few more for Patiently crafted for you to enjoy resPonsibly

51 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

In the 1920s, after the wristwatch had usurped the pocket watch on the battlefields of World War I, small was seen as cutting edge.

Panerai’s Mare Nostrum Titanio, inspired by a military diving watch Cartier's downsized Rotonde from World War II, de CartierAnnual Calendar, and 52mm in diameter now 40mm Price £29,700 Price: £25,200 (Pink Gold)

@PaneraiOfficial @Cartier his friends. The Florentine firm, then It’s worth point out just how far a The magic threshold is the 40mm line. known only for having supplied diving cry this was from the early days. In the For instance A Lange & Sohne, German watches to Italian military frogmen, 1920s, after the wristwatch had usurped makers of truly gorgeous high-luxe pieces, Jaeger-LeCoultre's Geophysic 1958 became suddenly fashionable, was soon the pocket watch on the battlefields of has just reduced its core Saxonia line – in Pink Gold, snapped up by luxury conglomerate World War I, small was seen as cutting already exquisitely understated – from 38.5 mm in diameter Richemont and became elevated to edge. The first wartime models were 40mm to 38.5mm. A minimal change, but Price: £13,900 (Pink Gold) super-luxe status. pocket watches adapted for wearing on significant. You wouldn’t have dreamed Meanwhile, the family-owned top- the wrist, but as the fashion took hold, of launching a new range of watches at @jaegerlecoultre end marque Audemars Piguet had there was serious prestige attached to the anything less than 41mm a few years ago, launched its own beefed-up, sporty technology and skill required to reduce but Jaeger-LeCoultre did just that with version of its iconic octagonal Royal Oak a complex mechanical object down to its highly refreshing Geophysic line last watch, named the Royal Oak Offshore. In something that could be worn discreetly year, a revival of a legendary 50s model 1997 it launched the Royal Oak Offshore and elegantly on Civvie Street. Watches that also comes in at 38.5mm. Two years Arnold Schwarzenegger, a chunky black of just 27-28mm in diameter became The Graham Chronofighter 1695 ago Cartier launched its Rotonde annual limited edition for the star’s (equally commonplace, and anything bigger was 18ct Rose Gold calendar, a brilliantly clever watch duff) movie, End of Days. This unleashed seen as uncouth. It wasn’t until the end is 42mm in diameter that, at 45mm across, was pretty much a torrent of celebrity collaborations and of World War II, and the advent of self- Price £16,900 unwearable; this year it’s redesigned it to ever bigger, more lavish Offshores. winding watches like the Rolex Datejust, a svelte 40mm, and it looks smaller still. During this period Switzerland’s that a larger diameter of around 35mm @GRAHAM1695 Bulgari, whose Octo watch used to appear traditional watch industry was still re- became standard. That’s now a women’s in extravagant forms that were about the emerging from the rubble of the 1970s watch size – and happens to be the size of a fag packet strapped to the wrist, and 1980s, when cheap Japanese quartz diameter of my IWC. has finally turned this ugly duckling into watches had come within a hair’s breadth However, things are looking up for a thing of suave, intriguing beauty at a of killing it stone dead. From a quibbling my slim-wristed brethren and me – the The Vacheron Constantin slimline 39mm. And so it goes on. wreck in the mid-‘80s it reinvented Great Downsizing is afoot. Or rather, Historiques Ultra-Fine 1955 Right now, there’s divergence: there’s itself as a lifestyle choice for the rich the Almost Imperceptible Downsizing – is 36mm in diameter & 1.64mm thick a ready market for both the bigger and stylish. As a result, the big, bravura we’re talking mere millimeters here – but Price £22,850 watches and the ever-so-slightly smaller watch was in. City boys, Wall Street in the context of the watch marketplace ones. Interestingly, the biggest company Timothy Barber is the Editor of traders, estate agents, entrepreneurs at large it’s significant: a reflection of @Vacheron1755 in the world appears to have noticed QP Magazine – people who’d previously measured changing attitudes, changing economic the same thing: the Apple Watch is their success in Rolex acquisitions – had times and, to an extent, a changing due to be released in both 38mm and salonQP.com other brands and bigger watches to aim audience. The enormous Chinese 42mm versions. Among other things, @TimTomato for, competing to out-do each other in market, for instance, is noticeably Switzerland may well be studying hard their “wrist game”. Smaller watches just slimmer of wrist, and more conservative which size sells more. weren’t going to impress. of taste, than its Western counterpart.

52 53 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

LIFESTYLE HUNTSMAN We interview creative director Roubi l’Roubi of iconic Savile Row tailor, Huntsman on house, heritage, and the hands-on approach

WORDS BY SAM KESSLER

of the main reasons for the tailor’s and bring a real sense of the change of enduring appeal, even sixty years on seasons with them.” from its first appearance. From the Roubi himself is renowned for taking unusual one button fastening and firm control of every new collection from solid shoulders, to the longer skirt and start to finish, a hands-on approach equestrian overtones, it’s arguably one of that’s undoubtedly demanding, but one the most elegant cuts on the row. which gives a cohesion and solidity to “Many have mimicked our style of the range. The secret to success however the years,” admits Roubi, “but few have isn’t some creative lightning strike, an succeeded in getting the perfect balance. epiphytical revelation visible to Roubi’s The end result is incredibly flattering. eyes only. It’s refreshingly much simpler Once customers try our coats, they than that. hile each of Savile Row’s Roubi’s take on the essence of bespoke “The company needed some TLC seldom go anywhere else.” “I approach each collection from both incumbents can boast no small is pretty much everything a man could which we have applied across the board, So Roubi has had a lot to work with the perspective of the customer and the skill in tailoring, only one can long for in his tailor. “Your cutter from improving the shop’s appearance since the assumption of Huntsman’s designer,” explains Roubi. “I want to lay claim to a pair of wonderfully fine understands your body shape and and facilities, through to taking on more creative direction. Both the incredibly ensure that cloth, fit and comfort are examples of taxidermy. Granted, there’s posture; trust in him for a coat that feels apprentices and broadening our range of well-documented archive and graceful always at the forefront. Being involved far more to Huntsman than their iconic like a second skin.” exclusive house products” house cut give the tailor an ineffable at every stage brings wonderful rewards stag heads, yet the pair that stare beadily It goes without saying that the Of course, when you have over a identity that, as he says, has met every and keeps me in touch with what our down on visitors to No. 11 Savile Row Creative Director of Huntsman would century and a half of history to work attempt at mimicry with condescension. customers want and wear. I’m confident show that the tailor’s idiosyncratic laud the merits of his cutters, yet there with, the cloth cutting books, orders and It permeates each bespoke commission I help them fulfil this brief – with some traditionalism is still thriving 166 years is no bigger critic than Roubi himself. customer details that clutter every tailor, and ready to wear collection with that added flair of course.” Bespoke Huntsman suits start at after their founding. A degree in engineering from Imperial it forms an enviable archive and a source unmistakable Huntsman touch, one With Roubi at its head, Huntsman £4,970, with ready to wear from That said, ‘traditional’ might be a bit College and a technical knowledge of of inspiration in itself. prevalent in the tailor’s latest spring / has re-emerged as one of the most £2,200. of a misnomer. For the past few years tailoring to rival the best the Row has to “We have an archive that dates back summer collection. vital forces on the Row, where vibrant, @11savilerow Huntsman has not stood still, its new offer, he’s as comfortable on the cutting over 150 years and since taking over “It takes its inspiration from the modern collections are suffused with the creative direction steering them away floor as styling a shoot. I have been meticulous in ensuring English Gentleman and Summer Travel.” house’s inimitable DNA and technically Sam Kessler is Online Editor at Lux Worldwide from the old school towards fresher, This technical approach and creative Huntsman’s iconic DNA is maintained. Says Roubi of the latest collection. “It flawless tailoring. To Roubi himself that luxworldwide.com more modern pastures. The past three eye has been driving Huntsman into new works in textured fabrics, half linings last point is particularly important. I have also looked back at seminal @LUXWorldwide years have revitalised the Savile Row realms, complementing their renowned moments in our history where details and patch pockets for a more informal “There is nothing more frustrating stalwart, a creative volte face brought bespoke with an ever-expanding collection such as the flair cut played a part.” look, with blues and oatmeals playing than seeing somebody in an ill-fitting about by one man: Roubi l’Roubi. of ready to wear. Although Roubi’s Speaking of the cut, Huntsman’s a dominant role. They are amongst my jacket!” “Great cut, great style, great comfort.” exacting standards don’t stop there. famous house silhouette has been one favourite colour bases to work with You have been warned.

54 55 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 LIFESTYLE A MODERN EDGE A GENTLEMAN’S BRIEFCASE Returning the ceremony to the workplace Bottega Veneta New Bronze Aubergine Edoardo Intrecciato Club Fumé Briefcase, £2,230 WORDS BY CHARLES EDWARDS-FRESHWATER ONLINE EDITOR OF LUX WORLDWIDE The name might be a bit of a mouthful, but Bottega Veneta’s more adventurous case is definitely worth twisting your tongue around. With their signature leather braiding, this briefcase takes a more n this age of long working hours and tiresome However, all is not lost. Many of the world's finest leather contemporary direction in a colour palette of aubergine and commutes, the noble briefcase has all but disappeared. artisans and fashion houses are still creating attractive shades of sandy brown. A slightly more laid-back silhouette and Satchels, rucksacks and messenger bags have taken the briefcases capturing the spirit of the golden days gone by and multiple pockets allow this briefcase an almost casual freedom, place of the sturdy briefcase, and although they are more some are adding a modern twist for a new age of professionals. however the slim design and the detachable shoulder strap make practical in some respects, one can’t help but feel a little We've picked out some of the best examples, both classic it well suited to a relaxed workplace in the city. bottegaveneta.com disappointed that the workplace is now devoid of what was and contemporary, to add some sophistication to your everyday one of the most iconic symbols of professionalism. working wardrobe.

THE CLASSICS

Louis Vuitton Porte Document Business, £1,340

Hermès Sac à Dépêches, £5,260 Although Louis Vuitton’s most emblematic design is a style classic in and of itself, for a more refreshing approach to business Hermès is a name synonymous with fine leather, and none of chic one could do far worse than considering their new Damier their pieces quite exemplifies their sheer attention to detail quite Cobalt designs. A chequerboard pattern in tones of royal blue and like the Sac à Dépêches. Crafted from the finest Togo calfskin and midnight black, the briefcase still withholds the refined nature of a finished with a sturdy silver fastening, the briefcase is a masculine work accessory but with a new, modern slant. Spacious, light and piece reminiscent of those from back in the day. The contemporary comfortable to carry, there are countless reasons Louis Vuitton is silhouette solidifies it as a perfect briefcase for the modern man - revered worldwide - this is one of them. louisvuitton.com sleek and stylish in every degree. hermes.com

William & Son Attache Case, £2,300 Cartier Louis Cartier Bag, £2,450

From their handmade rifles and shooting suits to the meticulous Smart, sharp and masculine, the Louis Cartier Bag is inspired by level of detail of their bags, William & Son can boast mastery Louis Cartier’s own passion for travel. The bag is structured and of their eclectic craft, aptly demonstrated in this conker- hand-detailed to perfection using some of the world’s finest leather. brown Attaché case. One for the traditionalist, the smooth Rich burgundy lining, sterling silver hardware and palladium hand stitched leather is second to none, and the heritage feel clasps elevate this piece to classic status. Room for a laptop, iPad, is epitomised by its rigid aesthetic and structure. Sharp and documents and daily essentials mean that this briefcase is as professional and yet filled with the classic romanticism, this is practical as a satchel – albeit far more refined. cartier.co.uk the perfect companion for work and travel. williamandson.com

Montblanc Meisterstück Selection Bally Navado Sapphire Briefcase, Double Gusset Briefcase, £1,265 £1,150

Lined with a jacquard print and completed with sturdy steel Brilliant blue isn’t exactly synonymous with business, yet the hardware, no detail is left to chance. Of course no Montblanc sleek sophistication of Bally’s Navado Sapphire Briefcase is creation bearing the Meisterstück name would be complete undeniable. Dazzling in shocking colour, the briefcase is crafted without a dedicated space for the famous writing instrument itself. out of incredibly soft leather and finished with polished metal With a special pen compartment, multiple document folders and fastenings for a more modern, refined aesthetic. A piece that shows additional pockets for a laptop or a tablet, this briefcase is suitably the vibrant and playful side of Bally to full effect, the briefcase equipped for every eventuality. montblanc.com proves that it pays to be noticed. bally.com

56 57 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

LIFESTYLE

moose appear big and stupid, though view is interrupted by the icy chaos thrown never considered myself uneducated in in actuality they may just be big. I am across the road by the numerous huge terms of coffee before. But I learn, like BENTLEY ON ICE momentarily terrified by the bulk of a logging trucks which pass by me. They are whiskey or a Boisdale cigar, experience seven-footer called Odin. No amount of so big they make even this Bentley driver educates the taste-buds, in the pursuit of WORDS BY RYAN BORROFF praying to the Norse Viking gods makes wary and so I stop for coffee. pure hedonism. any difference. Odin is coming after me Sweden is second only to Finland in Talking of the pursuit of pure and my bag of apples. terms of world coffee consumption. The hedonistic pleasure, it is time to call it Moose can move at disconcerting coffee shop of one of the world’s top a day. Tonight I’m staying at Copperhill speed to feed. This is something they baristas is situated in the middle of this Mountain Lodge design hotel before do enthusiastically as they are always empty, snowy countryside. driving home in the morning. Copperhill bloody starving. A moose can lose 40 Per Nordell and his wife Eva run a percent of its bodyweight in the winter coffee import and roasting business and and though I’ve no idea what the calorific coffee shop in the mountains here. Taking requirements are of a large male moose, me through a brisk, global tour of coffee

has made quite a stir amongst well- The Bentley Continental GT V8 S from £146,000 - BentleyMotors.com heeled skiers. Created by American architect Peter Bohlin – who also designed Apple’s New York store – its entleys have a reputation for National Museum, it is wonderfully little in these conditions but it turns I suggest it is many, many apples. In panic rooms and pool afford a 360-degree view being big, fast and brash. So cosy. As its minus five degrees outside, out this car is just as impressive and I put my palms in the air as if I’m being of the Jämtland Mountains from the top driving slowly through the snowy and far colder in the Baltic wind, the oak surprisingly gentle when driven much held up at gunpoint. It turns out this is of Mount Förberget. On the menu for wilderness of a country reputed to be as paneling, velvet sofas, chandeliers and more slowly. It’s also wise to drive at exactly to right thing to do to discourage dinner is Arctic Char – a similar fish reserved as Sweden, seems an unusual fireplaces are as welcoming as the food this speed when you’re in danger of a moose. Moose are not as silly as they to the brown trout, but with a fiery red decision. Swedes may not like to stand is irresistible. At dinner I eat oysters and colliding with a moose. look, Odin can see I’m out of apples. belly – served with whitefish roe and out from the crowd, yet driving a 512bhp seared mussels, then one of the best, and Moose have a bad reputation in this Anyway, it’s minus seven degrees mustard and dill. The main course is bright yellow Bentley Continental GT largest, entrecôte steaks I have ever eaten. part of the world, mostly because they Celsius and Odin isn’t the only one Norwegian cod with lobster vinaigrette. V8 S through this ice-white landscape, it It’s tempting to linger, but tomorrow I have a habit of strolling out in front of cars who is hungry. To serve moose steak at Both dishes are utterly delicious. is impossible to do anything else. have an early flight north to Åre, about on Swedish roads rather than walk in deep a moose farm committed to educating Sweden may not be the first country My trip will take me 100 miles through halfway up the Scandinavian Peninsula. snow. In Sweden they’ve been blamed tourists about this awkward, gangling you think of when you think of the Jämtland countryside along the From Åre-Ostelund airport I begin for 1 in 10 road deaths. Though at more and cartoonish beast seems a little cold- from Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia gastronomy but it turns out it is justifiably frozen lake of Storsjön to the mountain my drive west. It turns out that the all- than two tons the Bentley Continental hearted to say the least. The traditional and Rwanda. Nordell teaches me that proud of its food. My time here has been resort of Åre. It isn’t so far but it is very wheel drive Continental GT is ideal for GT Speed is one of the few cars I’d be ‘Royal Moose’ dish I eat tastes a lot coffee should be served between 92-96 unforgettable and I can’t think of a better cold and the roads are covered in ice driving around subarctic Sweden. I’m prepared to take on a moose with. like beef but with a quite different, less degrees Celsius and brewed for around way of getting around in this beautiful and snow, not the driving conditions I immediately grateful for the sumptuous Things feel very different when you’re fibrous texture. I drink a lingonberry four minutes before being allowed to Nordic landscape of red wooden barns, associate with driving a car as exotic as heated seat and steering wheel which standing next to one. While I wait for juice drink insensitively named ‘bloody cool for about ten minutes more. He white roofs and endless deep snow this Bentley. warm quickly and head out along some lunch at Millestgarden Moose Farm near moose’ which is packed with vitamins teaches me about acidity, flavor and than behind the wheel of a Bentley. The First I must overnight at the luxurious, of the iciest roads I’ve ever driven. Åre, I head out to meet some real, living and minerals including a natural aspirin. mouth feel, slurping each coffee, taking Continental GT may be a racer at heart achingly-cool boutique Lydmar Hotel in Under very different conditions this car moose. It turns out shouting is a waste After lunch, an hour passes as I drive in as much air as possible from each but it turns out it’s perfectly dependable Stockholm’s beautiful Old Town. Despite can move its significant mass to 60mph of time when trying to discourage a through Jämtland’s barren, snowy and tablespoon. The differences between at a much slower pace and it’s as well- being a former archive to the Swedish in just 4.3 seconds. These figure’s mean moose from knocking you over. Up close utterly beguiling countryside. Often, the them are genuinely surprising. I had mannered as Swedish culture.

58 59 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

LIFESTYLE BATMAN AND ROBIN TEST THE NEW BMW I8 WORDS BY HARRY OWEN

oisdale Life sent the enthusiastic team of Editor & Chief, Ranald Macdonald (RM) and Managing Director, Harry Owen (HO) to test drive the new BMW I8. BMW Park Lane kindly provided the vehicle and the route was charted from Boisdale of Belgravia to Boisdale of Canary Wharf, putting the I8 thought its paces along the way.

HO: “Well Ranald, first impressions?” the I8’s allure only increased. As we RM: “Very sexy!” parked outside the restaurant in Cabot HO: “You’re absolutely right, it’s the Square it was reminiscent of the time Batmobile… it looks incredible” Jeremy Clarkson & team had a competition RM: “…you’re Robin by the way Harry!” in Puerto Banus – namely, which supercar generates the most photographs. That day Five minutes after picking up the car they had out the McLaren MP4-12C Spider and before we had even set off, there was (£195,000), Ferrari 458 Spider (£200,000) already a sizable crowd forming. Let’s and the Audi R8 V10 (£121,000). From just clear this up immediately – this is a our experience the simply beautiful I8 car you will get noticed in! Throughout HO: “Let’s talk about the numbers for would outwit all these automotive beasts the journey there was a mixture of jaw a minute, 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds, and indeed don’t take our word for it. dropping, finger pointing, cheering 155 mph top speed, 3 cylinder 1.5 litre Clarkson himself chose recently to drive Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th June 2015 children, photographs, admiring smiles turbo-charged engine running the back home from Whitby in the BMW I8, over (from men and women alike) and general wheels and electric engine at the front, the new M3 – truly a turning point in the awe for this stunning car. it weighs 1 ½ tons, but I can tell you it hybrid evolution. It’s worth saying this because if you feels extraordinarily light” As if to illustrate the point, at this are considering purchasing an I8 you moment a metallic red Mercedes AMG would have to be comfortable with the At this moment we saw some clear GT appeared in our rear-view mirror. attention, it’s relentless. That said, the road on the Embankment and without BMW I8 makes people smile both inside warning I shifted the gear lever to engage HO: “Ranald we are now in our first and outside the car. It quite literally Sport mode and tested that emphatic supercar convoy” conjures up the same feelings we all acceleration. had, when Doc Brown introduced Marty RM: “Yes but look what he’s doing – he’s McFly to the DeLorean for the first time RM: (manically smiling) taking pictures of us on his iPhone” – rather fittingly 2015 was the year they HO: (manically smiling) travelled to in Back to the Future. RM: “I want one!” HO: “That sums it up for me, the AMG In a line-up of super-cars it would be has all the supercar credentials – but the the futuristic lines, the effervescent blue Approaching Canary Wharf, as one person driving it is thinking… those two LED running lights, the gull-wing doors might expect on an Estate where the are having more fun in the I8, than I am and the obvious pursuit of aerodynamics, BMW’s price-tag of £115,000 is obtainable, in my V8!” that make the I8 a car of the future. To add to that, this is a hybrid – a car that avoids the congestion charge and indeed Westminster Council even allows it to park for free, perhaps they weren’t expecting the likes of an I8 at that council vote! All of which collectively means BMW have created a thought-provoking prospect for supercar design.

HO: “Ranald, I didn’t know what to expect but the interior feels surprisingly comfortable, everything is where it should be… it’s intuitive and as long as you are sitting in the front, it’s pretty spacious?”

RM: “Purely for balance, it feels rather leathery and seems to only have one cup Book a test drive in the new BMW I8 - bmwparklane.com holder…!”

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LIFESTYLE Microbreweries are big in New England. EAST COAST There are literally hundreds of breweries to discover, and luckily Abercrombie TRAVEL ADVENTURES & Kent have done the hard work unearthing the most interesting, unusual From whisky tasting in the highlands to wining and dining on the high seas, IN BEER and seriously tasty beers. Their “Brew Sarah Heron discovers four far flung adventures in food and drink England Tour” is not only a great way of tasting the best local brews, it takes WORDS BY SARAH HERON in great restaurants and explores the mountains, coastline and quaint towns of this stunning part of America , most of which looks like it's been styled by He might be better known for his string smoked salmon and the curiously named Ralph Lauren. SCOTTISH of London night spots packed with rumble thumps plus comfort food staples The tour starts in Boston and takes in the glamorous A-listers, but Piers Adam's like burgers and steaks. SPLENDOUR Maine coast, Acadia national park, Cape latest venture is a flawlessly refurbished Cod and the Mohawk Trail. shooting lodge perched overlooking the However, downstairs in the Quaich Bar ON THE Spey promising hunting, shooting and is where things get serious. Here guests From £2,780 per person including flights fishing all washed down with a generous can sample some of Scotland's finest and car hire WHISKY TRAIL helping of single malt. whiskies (700, no less), all without getting abercrombiekent.com your boots wet. The love of whisky runs Smart, comfy, with a laid back, upmarket deep at Craigellachie; it's bang in the pub-with-rooms feel it boasts roaring fires middle of the Malt Whisky Trail and a to welcome you back after a hard day's great base to explore legendary names This June sees the opening of Six Senses' From £205 for bed and breakfast per couple fishing or stalking, and subtle touches of like Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, as well DETOX first foray into Europe. The spa and sixsenses.com tweed to set the highland tone. Food is key as smaller distilleries like Mortlach who wellness specialists are now bringing here - Adam has flown up his chef from have recently launched their acclaimed WHILE YOU their own brand of eastern promise to his Mayfair gastro-pub The Punchbowl, 'Beast of Dufftown', as full bodied and a meticulously restored, grand 19th ensuring The Copper Dog restaurant is robust as the name suggests. RETOX century Portuguese manor with its own suitably hearty, with a highland flavour. Wine Academy. Nestled in the heart of Think cullen skink, locally caught IN PORTUGAL the Douro Valley, the hotel overlooks the river as it wends its way through the hills and valleys on to the Atlantic, creating the perfect terroir for some of the oldest and finest wines in the world. Naturally, there's a gleaming and extensive spa where you can sample locally inspired treatments and vinotherapy. For guests that prefer therapy of a more liquid nature, their Wine Academy will showcase the leading local vintages, introduce you to their producers, and unearth little known local wines.

If a life of luxury on the ocean waves SET SAIL TO tempts you but the regular, mass market cruise scene doesn't appeal, Silversea's STELLENBOSCH small scale, deluxe ships and carefully thought out itineraries (not to mention excellent food) could be for you. Essentially floating boutique hotels, in November you can board their Silver Cloud for a 13 day tour of Africa's West Coast, taking in Bom Bom Island, Sao Tome and Principe, before arriving in Cape Town for a 3-day tour of its culinary delights, wildlife and the world- renowned wine estates of Stellenbosch After several years at Conde Nast with plentiful tasting opportunities. Traveller, Sarah Heron is now an Silver Cloud will depart from Accra on acclaimed freelance travel writer, 23 November 2015 for a 13–day cruise to currently contributing to Angels and Cape Town. Urchins and Conde Nast Johansens From £170 per night for bed and full Scottish breakfast From £4,450 per person craigellachiehotel.co.uk silversea.com

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LIFESTYLE SMOKIN’ HOT! Boisdale's own resident cigar writer continues his column on what's smoking' hot – and what's not – in the world of fine, handrolled cigars...

WORDS BY NICK HAMMOND

elcome back. I hope you’ve had the chance to enjoy some of the last edition’s recommended sticks. To jog your memory, I’m using a 100 Point system, with 10 points for appearance, 15 for construction, 10 for Trinidad Fundadores combustion, 60 for flavour and finish NB - 7 ½ ins x 40 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 90 and 5 points for value for money. I look RRP around £25 forward to saying hello at a forthcoming What a smoke this lanky chap turned out to Boisdale cigar event. be. I torched him while engrossed with Boris Johnson’s excellent Churchill biography, but in the end (and apologies to Boris) I had to put the book down to concentrate on the cigar. A Por Larranaga Petit Corona rich, white smoke offered tea and an interesting TOTAL PTS NB – 5 1/8ins x 42 Ring Gauge 90 vanilla tang. I just love this size. RRP around £9 One of the classiest smokes in the Habanos portfolio. Rich, sweet, satisfying and never lets Ashton VSG Robusto you down. This particular stick almost smokes NB - 5 ½ ins x 50 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 91 itself. Not to be missed. RRP around £13 Ding, dong. This one surprised me. It’s been around forever and a day, unchanging and a Bolivar Petit Belicosos firm favourite in the Ashton stable, but it rarely NB – 5ins x 52 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 85 gets a mention these days. And yet what a Limited Edition from 2009 smoke. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Sungrown RRP around £23 and is dark, toothy and deliciously rich. Sour, meaty flavours somewhat spoil this Limited Edition smoke - which I’ve enjoyed in the past - and it ends bitterly. Is it in a ‘trough Ramon Allones Petit Belicoso phase’ of its development and will it peak again NB – 5 ins x 52 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 90 given time? UK Regional Edition 2012 RRP around £17 Romeo y Julieta Wide The winner of The Spectator Cigar Awards Churchill TOTAL PTS 91 Cigar of the Year last year at Boisdale Canary NB - 4 1/4ins x 55 Ring Gauge Wharf continues to smoke well with great development throughout this small cigar. RRP around £18 Leaves one wishing it was bigger. An unusual ring gauge (especially big by my standards) but a wonderfully sweet, satisfying cigar. Smooth throughout, pure burn and blend. Partagas Serie D No. 2 NB – 6 5/8 ins x 48 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 95 Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale Only available at auction NB – 6 1/5ins x 42 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 90 RRP around £23 RRP around £23 Quite simply stunning. This 12-year-old cigar Another ‘Sleeper’ this one and a personal has morphed into everything you could possibly favourite. Find them with age – which is not want from a fine Havana. Smooth, deep and difficult to do as few smoke them these days – sweet to begin, it picks up peppery spice and and you’re in clover. An elegant smoke. amps up the strength to a barnstorming finale and a long, expressive finish. Best cigar of the year by far. Punch Punch NB – 5 5/8ins x 46 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 89 RRP around £15 Oliva Serie V Torpedo Ah, good old Punch Punch. When these are B – 6 ins x 56 Ring Gauge TOTAL PTS 89 good, they’re mighty fine indeed. I’ve had draw RRP around £14 problems with these in the past but this one A beautiful looking stick with a flawless, oily didn’t disappoint and burned beautifully with wrapper. It’s full bodied and bold with a strong a lightly toasty, cereal note. expresso ‘jump start.’

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FOOD AND DRINK ODE TO A LONG LUNCH Tom Parker Bowles kicks modern restaurants into the long grass

WORDS BY TOM PARKER BOWLES

hrist. Where did it all go food that actually consuming it. so wrong? The half baked And they come to pay tribute, to ‘concepts’, the half- worship, to lie prostate, rather witted ‘philosophies’, the ghastly than to enjoy. In the very worst ‘gastronomic journeys’. At what Michelin star offenders, there point did the long lunch, surely is no noise save the tinkle of one of the crowning glories of any tempered steel on wood, or gold serious civilisation, transform into or whatever else stands in for the sort of wretched lecture that a big round white plate these wouldn’t be allowed a minute’s days. My wife calls these places airtime in even the most fifth-rate ‘Clink Clink’ restaurants, as that’s of provincial Polytechnics? the only noise you ever here. First, the menus, once a simple Hushed reverence, awed silence. ‘Bill of Fayre’. Now, they are There’s more atmosphere in a stuffed full with more verbiage mausoleum. than the entire works of Trollope. There are of course, exceptions And are so pompously verbose to the rule. Places where eating, they make Henry James look talking, drinking and succour like Ernest Hemingway. Damn all meld into one magnificent you, purple prose of provenance. whole. And lunch often rolls ‘Johnny was a Belted Galloway straight into dinner. Boisdale (of who grew up in the rolling fields course), St John, Hereford Road, of South Somerset. He was blessed Green’s (owned by my uncle, with a sweet nature (thanks to but still an old school long- his bits being lopped off!!!) and lunching spot), The Walnut Tree, quite a naughty sense of humour! Riva, Quo Vadis, Hix Oyster and His favourite colour was blue, Chophouse, Assagi, Barrafina… and Howard was his favourite you’ll all have your chosen spots. member of Take That! He lived But these places mix fun and a fairy tale life, chewing the cud good food, made all the better and making doe eyes at the heifer by the joyous presence of family in the next door field! After shuffling off before. Before going on, in painstakingly and friends. So stop a moment, kneel, this mortal coil [i.e. stunned in some dreary detail, to instruct one exactly and nod your head in prayer. ‘Dear grey, grim slaughterhouse, before having how to eat the edible matter before us. God, we thank you for the munificence his throat sliced open, followed by his Food that is so artfully arranged upon and wonder of a proper old fashioned life bleeding away into the pain-stained some random piece of masonry. A slate, lunch. Or dinner. Or both, May the wine concrete], the blessed beef was hung a brick, a full size Grecian portico. flow, the food delight and the company for 25 years in a diamond encrusted Ok, so I’m not just shooting fish please. Amen.’ penthouse, then lovingly hewn into a in a barrel but nuking minnows in a thousand magical pieces etc etc etc’. puddle. I’ve banged on, at length, before, And there was me thinking that you about the Tyranny of the tasting menu. Tom Parker Bowles is a food writer, when you went to a decent restaurant, Whenever a ‘little gift’ arrives from Chef food critic and chef who was writes you did so trusting the chef. Fine, tell - unbidden, I hasten to add - I feel like a weekly column in The Mail on the punter about where the animal came Edward Woodward in The Wicker Man, Sunday, and has recently become Food from, and I don’t even mind the breed, as he realises that he’s providing virgin Editor at Esquire magazine after a and the hanging time, at a push. But fuel to the pagan fire. “No, No, dear stint as Contributing Editor at GQ. that’s it. Enough. Shut the hell up. God. No, Christ!” It’s not that I don’t He is also an Editor at Large of food Which is something many modern respect the immense technical skill, the magazine Four and luxury magazine front of house folk seem unable to do. whimsical flights of fancy, the sheer hard Pomp. In October 2014, he published Conversation, as fine a seasoning as toil involved in creating all this edible his fifth book 'Let's Eat Meat: Recipes salt and pepper, is no longer allowed to ephemera. I do. But whatever happened for Prime Cuts, Cheap Bits and Glorious Scraps of Meat.' flow. God no. Instead, some gleaming to fun? Sitting down, breaking bread eyed gastro-evangelist, having drunk with friends and family, ordering good @tomparkerbowles deep of the Modernist Molecular Kool food from a handsome menu? Making Aid, will stand by your table, command merry and all that jazz. silence, and tell you exactly what you These days, punters seem more had ordered. No more than 20 minutes interested in taking photographs of their

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FOOD AND DRINK

“Paulie was doing a year for contempt precision in omelette making and my over it all. “Stab your fork into that,” I and had a wonderful system for garlic,” own omelettes have benefitted hugely said to my wife. She didn't say a word Ray Liotta explains. “He used a razor from seeing how it was done. as she ate the meal while continuing to THE JOY OF SIN and sliced it so thin it would liquefy in Perhaps the most life-changing of read the book, but I could tell from her the pan with a little oil. It’s a very good all cooking tips I have picked up from expression that the food and the novel Author, newspaper columnist, chess champion and Gogglebox star on the joy of eating system.” Ever since seeing that film, I movies came from a delicious mug of went very well together. have tried to slice my garlic as thinly drinking chocolate made by the equally I went one better with Haruki WORDS BY WILLIAM HARTSTON as a Goodfella. I still lack Sorvino's delicious Juliette Binoche in Chocolat. Murakami's novel 1Q84 last year. I have meticulous slicing up skills, partly Before serving it, she sprinkled a little sushied and noodled my way through perhaps because I do not possess an old- chilli powder into the drink. I had never a number of his books, but the shrimp fashioned razor blade, but I still like to tried that, but Ms Binoche has such a with ginger, celery and edamame dish I feel that my pasta sauces have a touch of lovely smile that I feel she can do no found the hero eating in 1Q84 looked too mafia about them. wrong, so I tried it. And how right she good not to try. So overcoming my innate My earliest food preparation lesson was. Now even my chocolate biscuits prejudice against health food stores, I while watching a drama, however, and my chocolate ice-cream have a bought some frozen edamame beans and came not from a film but a television touch of chilli in them. did just what Murakami's character did play and featured not garlic but onions. My finest literary food creation came with them. When it was ready, I put on a CD of Janacek's Sinfonietta, which is mentioned several times in the book, and thoroughly enjoyed settling down with a pair of chopsticks to enjoy the An avowedly foodie film such as Babette's Feast, novel in its proper musical and culinary context. however, which culminates in the concoction of The only trouble with all this joy a truly magnificent, mouth-watering meal, is just of food and cooking is the danger of putting on weight, but once again Michelin starry-eyed gastroporn and offers little the Seven Deadly Sins come to my to the proud glutton. rescue. There are, after all, two energy- consuming sins in the list for anyone wanting to lose weight. I have never been prone to Wrath, but the other one suits me perfectly. Indeed, as a Gluttony, Pride and Lust man, I consider myself I have forgotten everything about the many years ago after I read a suspense perfectly balanced: I cook, I eat and play except for one line, in which an novel called The Analyst by John then (perhaps after a spot of Sloth) I can experienced chef with a Welsh accent Katzenbach. I lent the book to my wife work off the excess calories in the best was berating his new young assistant for and a day or two later, when I asked what possible way. his cack-handed attempts to chop up an she'd like for dinner, she said “Salmon onion. After his first slices were made with linguine”. in the wrong direction, the chef stopped “What?” I whatted, having never him and told him how to do it correctly: heard of salmon with linguine and “Utilise the geometry of the onion,” he amazed that she should have come up said, and I have been diligently utilising with anything so preposterous. the geometry of all the onions I have “Salmon with linguine,” she repeated chopped ever since. firmly. “They ate it in the book and Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta in a scene from the movie Goodfellas Good onion chopping also features there's some salmon in the fridge,” and in the Japanese foodie film Tampopo, she waved our copy of The Analyst at me. in which a scene featuring a gang of “Show me,” I said, and she did, luttony, I have always felt, is selfassembly instructions, draining so foodie film such as Babette's Feast, tramps finally taught me how to make pointing at a passage where the hero, a one of the most enjoyable of the much of the joy out of the meal. however, which culminates in the an omelette. Led by a man they call “the psychoanalyst, shares a restaurant meal Seven Deadly Sins, but getting As the American philosophical concoction of a truly magnificent, professor”, they break into the rooms at with a mysterious young lady who is the most out of it poses a dilemma humourist Fran Lebowitz once wisely mouth-watering meal, is just Michelin the back of a cinema to make themselves clearly in cahoots with the even more which can only be solved by further said, “Food is an essential part of a starry-eyed gastroporn and offers little a meal. With military precision, they mysterious crook. And the dish she sinfulness. Basically, it comes down to balanced diet,” but eating food is an to the proud glutton. The ingredients have timed the guard on his rounds and orders is salmon with linguine. a choice between Avarice and Pride: an essential part of enjoying it, and so is the and what Babette does with them are dash into the kitchen just after he has The only hint I could find to the avaricious glutton can afford to eat at the tactile pleasure of getting one's fingers simply beyond the dreams of mere passed it. Then, before he completes preparation of the dish was a line telling best restaurants, while a proud glutton sticky while preparing it. Indeed, I have culinary mortals. Works in which food his walk round the building, they heat me that he stabbed his fork into a slab of will learn how to cook his own food. often said that whatever one does, one plays a less dominant role, however, some oil, chop an onion, beat some salmon, but that was enough. I pan-fried Never having been rich enough cannot enjoy it to the full unless one gets may contain succulent tips that really eggs, prepare a delicious looking onion the salmon in butter while cooking the Best known for watching TV in front myself to be properly avaricious, I have one's fingers sticky, and recipe books can improve one's skills. omelette and eat it, just in time to dart linguine in fish stock. When they were of a pair of painted breasts - William therefore always taken pride in my generally make the mistake of separating Take Goodfellas, for example. In out of the cinema as the guard reappears almost ready, I poured some of the stock Hartston is the former British Chess cooking, but improving one's culinary the techniques of cooking from both its the midst of all the violence, there is a round the corner. He is utterly bemused into the pan with the salmon, added a Champion and current World Cluedo skills is not as easy as it ought to be. stickiness and the ultimate joy of eating. wonderful scene where the mobsters are by the smell of fried onion as he reaches squeeze of lemon, reduced it, threw the Champion. Recipe books are all very well, but That, I suppose, is why my cooking having a very privileged stay in jail and the kitchen, but the culprits are long linguini back in, stirred in some cream, their step-by-step procedural orders skills owe so much to films and novels their boss, Paulie Cicero, played by Paul gone. Forget the omelette challenge then served the hunk of salmon on top all too often read like Ikea flat-pack rather than cook books. An avowedly Sorvino, is cooking dinner for them. on Saturday Kitchen, this was true of the linguini and poured the sauce

68 69 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

FOOD AND DRINK FOOD AND DRINK MITSUBISHI MOTORS BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS 2015 IN A RESTAURANT CHOOSE A TABLE NEAR A WAITER Join Boisdale at the Outside Chance for the very best experience at Badminton! We ask William Sitwell what he really thinks about restaurants

WORDS BY WILLIAM SITWELL

eing a restaurant critic is not as to bring me stuff. Bring me water, for duty to protect it from me, so that’s ok. easy as you might think. I mean example. This is easy. Just pour cool tap Next up when the food comes, if you don’t just turn up somewhere water into some glasses. Bringing water, it’s a fancy dish with all manner clever eat, drink, leave and then write a review. which costs you nothing, shows you care. flurries, by all means tell me about it. But Oh no. It’s never that simple. For man / And it shuts me up for a bit. Because we do not move your finger within an inch of womankind likes to place obstacles in can just sip the water for a minute while the food and start pointing. It’s just gross. our way. Mysterious forces gather to vex thinking about what we might drink. I So the chef might have been fiddling with the critic. The diner must be subjected waited 38 minutes recently for a drink. it as he decorated the dish. But that was to mental torture. And it’s not just us Needless to say I didn’t wait around any behind closed doors. I didn’t see it, I don’t critics. Customers in restaurants around further to see what the food was like. So want to think about it. And I definitely the world are frequently made to suffer. bring me things. don’t want to look at your nails and think So it’s time to speak out. And if you’re a As to menus, keep the wording short about them in the same vicinity as stuff waiter, a chef, a restaurateur – all noble and precise. So dazzle me with your that’s about to go in my mouth. foot-soldiers surely in the battle to win bold and brief offerings with simple Then once we’ve started munching plaudits, stay afloat, or even make money descriptions. Just remember that what resist the temptation to constantly check – pay attention. Because while you might you promise on the menu must be whether everything is ok. If it’s not, don’t think your skills in hospitality are second- delivered on the plate. worry, we’ll tell you. to-none you may have been brainwashed. If you write apple crumble that is what But make sure you are around when I What you might think is great service for must come. Do not deceive me by later need the bill. This shouldn’t be too hard a mortal diners might in fact be akin to a bringing a deconstructed apple crumble. moment to judge. It’ll be around the time oisdale has teamed up with the spills of the 2014 Event, course designer good water-boarding. You know the horror: a rectangular plate we are finishing coffee. Don’t ever let Outside Chance who have been Giuseppe Della Chiesa will have his Let me walk you through an imaginary with, left to right, two thin strips of apple, customers wave around frantically when at Badminton for several years. first attempt at producing the ultimate restaurant from hell and hopefully you’ll then some currants, a tiny mound of they need to pay. It just makes the act of This year we welcome all the readers challenge, heading the opposite way soon see what I mean. granola and a dapple of vanilla ice cream. paying more painful and makes one look of Boisdale Life to join us for a unique round the Duke of Beaufort’s Park. His First there’s the greeting. Now some Many try deconstruction but few succeed. stupid in front of guests. entertainment experience and the best debut featured a flowing, big and bold restaurants do this extraordinarily Rabah Ourrad, chef of Notting Hill’s Otherwise throughout the whole seats in the house. The lakeside public track that certainly caught the attention well, and doubtless at vast and nutty Wormwood is allowed to deconstruct process, smile like you mean it. And if bar will serve great food all day and of riders and spectators alike, especially expense. Take The Chiltern Firehouse, hummus and pulled lamb’s shoulder you don’t mean it, you’re in the wrong Boisdale will add a touch of its usual in the difficult weather conditions. for example. From the be-hatted man because he is a rare culinary genius. It is job. Simples! flair to proceedings. in the street, to a doorman, to at least most likely that you are not, so keep the The reverse route presents different three girls behind one desk, to another crumble together, in a dish, bits piled up The trials take place at Badminton challenges over the terrain, so the 2015 by a cloakroom, to a gaggle more once in the appropriate and traditional order. House from the 6th – 10th May 2015, running will almost feel like a second inside the restaurant, the welcome is as Next, come and take the order. And the seat of the Duke of Beaufort in South ‘first time’ for the Italian designer. effusive as you could imagine. write down what we say. Do not attempt Gloucestershire. Preparations for the Entries are now in for the 2015 running And if you’re really lucky, they will to display some extraordinary feat of Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton just say ‘Good evening Mr/Ms Whoever memory. Firstly, remembering a small Trials always begin in the late summer Horse Trials and they include 9 previous You Are. You are the first to arrive. order is not that impressive so it’s not of the previous year. After the thrills and winners and riders from 12 nations. Would you like to wait at the bar or go worth doing. If you think you have a to your table?’ clever memory, memorise the St Luke’s This, please note, is what I call a gospel and declaim it in a small theatre greeting. Here is what is not a greeting: in a provincial town. People will pay you ‘Do you have reservation?’ You, the money and be impressed. The Outside Chance – the place to be seen gatekeeper of this establishment, must Now if you could kindly bring me at Europe’s premier three-day event realise this. Some of us eating out just some wine, I’ll start with a bottle of Daily Telegraph want to be loved. If you ask me simply white. If it needs an ice bucket, leave the 2014 Badminton Winner, Sam Griffiths, whether I have a reservation, while those ice bucket within my reach. I’m a grown celebrating with owners at The Outside Chance may be the precise words coming out of up. I want to pour my own wine. Do not William Sitwell is Editor of Waitrose your mouth, what I actually hear is: ‘Go hide it round the corner. I may glug fast Kitchen magazine. He is a judge on fuck yourself.’ so I don’t want to have to wave frantically MasterChef and also a regular judge The Outside Chance is a Public Bar open to all, with the option to So try this instead, ‘Good evening Sir/ each time I need a top-up. And I might on Britain’s Best Dish. His first book reserve VIP Hospitality or Private Tables Madam. May I take your name?’ Then think you’re starting to judge me: ‘all 'A History of Food in 100 Recipes' was there’s a chance we might get on like a those top ups for the loon on table nine!’ published by Harper Collins in 2012. For more information: (Chiltern Fire) house on fire. The only circumstance in which it @WilliamSitwell Once seated (not by the loos, please, is acceptable for you to keep the bottle 01488 649590 / 07770 605879 and not too close to another table – I away from me is if I am drinking it by don’t want to rub up against someone I the glass. During this process the wine is [email protected] didn’t invite for lunch) you should start yours until it’s in my glass. You have a

70 71 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

FOOD AND DRINK FOOD AND POLITICS It started with an Ortolan Bunting drowned in Armagnac and ended with a bacon sandwich!

WORDS BY BILL KNOTT

Clegg follows Arsenal, and Miliband claims allegiance to Leeds United, should you care). A ticket to a Premier League match will set you back as much as the price of a meal in a top restaurant, even before you've paid to park the car, bought a programme and forked out a fiver for a meat pie of dubious provenance. Restaurants are no more elitist than football stadiums: or, for that matter, Ed Miliband and the music venues, where paying upwards of now infamous bacon £100 to see the distant figure of a pop star sandwich belting out a few hits is hardly unusual. It is simply a question of priorities. Elections make our political leaders n the first week of January 1996, Escoffier to Bocuse are revered just as cowardly and desperate. Terrified of the dying President Mitterrand of much as scholars, poets and composers. being characterised as a bunch of public France sat down with family and Any politician who fails to respect the school-educated toffs out of touch friends to eat what would prove to be his amour propre that the French feel for with the common man, they embark last meal on Earth. gastronomy is liable to come a cropper, as on embarrassing stunts to bolster their The pièce de résistance that day was François Hollande discovered recently electoral "street cred". If focus groups a tiny songbird, the ortolan bunting. It is when he tried to sell some of the wines tell them that they should be playing one of the greatest delicacies in French in the Elysée Palace's superb cellar. And bingo in Bolton, or munching pasties in gastronomy: the birds are captured in even the teetotal Nicolas Sarkozy used Penzance, they'll palm off their tickets nets while still alive, kept in the dark the three-star Épicure restaurant in the to the opera on the au pair, cancel the and fed on millet until they are suitably Hotel Bristol as his works canteen. reservation at Le Gavroche, and do what plump, then drowned in Armagnac and Not so in Britain, alas. Questioned a their spin-doctors tell them to do. Woe roasted whole. few months ago about his restaurant-going betide them, too, if they don't know the They are eaten whole, too - bones habits, Prime Minister David Cameron price of a pint of milk or a loaf of bread. and all - and diners traditionally drape expressed a fondness for Nando's, a South Imagine what Sir Winston Churchill, towels or large napkins over their heads, African-owned global chain of chicken chosen in 2002 as the greatest ever either so that the full aroma of the roast shops. Nick Clegg, meanwhile, has a Briton in a BBC poll, would have to do bird can be properly savoured, or - penchant for Pret à Manger's Swedish these days if he wanted to be elected. according to another theory - to shield meatball wraps, Ed Balls likes nothing The trademark cigars? Far too elitist: in this thoroughly sinful act from the sight better than a meal at Little Chef, and Nigel any case, smoking has been a political of God: since God created the diners, the Farage is a fan of Harvester. Ed Miliband's no-no since Harold Wilson smoked his buntings and presumably the napkins, gastronomic preferences are unknown; last pipe. Pol Roger champagne? Ditto: a though, one suspects he wouldn't be so given his much-photographed tussle with pint of lager is so much more proletarian. easily fooled. a bacon sandwich last year, he would And those lavish game dinners at Rules Mitterrand ate two ortolans: they probably be best advised to avoid eating or The Savoy? Off to Nando's with you. were the last sustenance to pass his lips. in public altogether. But is this really what we want from He expired a few days later, and the What is wrong with these men? our leaders? Do we actually want to see nation mourned a hero of the Résistance, Britain can now boast some of the finest David "call me Dave" Cameron tucking a political colossus, and their longest- restaurants on the planet, supplied by into a jumbo peri-peri chicken platter or serving President. farmers and artisans with produce that is shopping in Tesco's? Or would we rather They were also mourning perhaps second to none, and yet our politicians, he ate and drank whatever he liked, and the greatest gourmet ever to hold high rather than encouraging the talented got on with running the country? political office: and, being French, producers, chefs and entrepreneurs The Prime Minister, apparently, has nobody saw the slightest contradiction behind one of Britain's great success a taste for good whisky - he chose Isle between his devoutly Left-wing ideals stories, instead profess to enjoy dreary of Jura Single Malt as his luxury on and his epicurean tastes. In France, for high-street mediocrity. Desert Island Discs - but, as the hustings a politician not to esteem les arts de la Is it simply the British puritan approach, we are far more likely to see table would be, frankly, unpatriotic. suspicion of anything that might be photo-opportunities of him supping Cuisine is a part of French culture in considered self-indulgent? These same a plebeian pint in the local. He might the same way as music, poetry, literature politicians, though, all boast - man-of- be wise to carry a hip flask with him, and philosophy: great chefs and the-people style - that they are football though, just in case he bumps into Nigel gourmets from Talleyrand to Carême and fans (Cameron supports Aston Villa, Farage in the snug.

73 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

FOOD AND DRINK FOOD AND DRINK CHIVAS & SAVILE ROW BORDEAUX INVESTMENT 2015 Having ridden a wave of demand for over a decade Bordeaux values caught something of a cold after 2011. This June, Chivas and the Tailors of the Savile Row Bespoke Association What is the outlook approaching the latest En Primeur release? have teamed up with Boisdale to offer all our readers a unique experience in modern craftsmanship WORDS BY CHARLIE MILLER, JUSTERINI & BROOKS

he long-held view of Bordeaux It is in this uncertain environment were certainly released at aggressively On the 3rd of June, Chivas deluxe Expect guided after-hours exploration as an alternative investment that Bordeaux has existed for the last high prices, which have softened in blended Scotch whisky and the Tailors of the Row and Chivas whisky tastings superstar has taken something few years. Those buyers who have had recent years, but these remain amongst of the Savile Row Bespoke Association where guests will discover the art of of a battering in recent years. The rule their fingers burnt by the drop in value the handful of greatest vintages of all are opening up London’s most stylish blending that has gone into every bottle that great wine improves with age and of their 2009s and '10s are naturally time, up there with 1870, 1961, 1982. street. Together, they are providing of Chivas since 1801. Plus many more desirability, whilst simultaneously cautious, and a succession of less than The 2009s are more opulent and more fashionistas and luxury aficionados with exclusive experiences that will be becoming scarcer, led to the widespread great vintages since has not helped, in the style of 1982 and will doubtless the opportunity to meet the masters of revealed closer to the date. belief that Bordeaux could ride out, or while the Chateaux themselves have have widest appeal (many are already both worlds after-hours. even shrug off the vagaries of economic struggled to gauge the correct pricing drinking well in their youth), the 2010s Several of the tailor houses in Savile Row cycles. to re-ignite demand. It is noticeable too are more classical and in our view the This small and exclusive event will allow will be hosting a unique presentation that When you consider that the 1st that other regions, especially Burgundy superior vintage of the two. Between guests to experience the Chivas and Savile showcases the history, workmanship and Growths were generally released at and increasingly Piedmont, have these two vintages there are 31 perfect Row Bespoke Association partnership in individual style of their house from pattern around £400 per dozen in 1990, a good stepped into the limelight with some 100 point scoring wines, of which some action as they come together to celebrate cutting workshops and style advice for the but not universally successful vintage, great vintages that are comparatively have held their value and a few even their shared values of heritage, modern modern gentleman, to talks from the men and that Latour 1990 now trades at £5100, fairly priced. gone up. Whilst many more have slid craftsmanship and style. and women behind the Row. you could say that the theory holds true, Spring 2015 will see the wine there can be little doubt that they will who could sniff at a 1175% appreciation trade make their annual pilgrimage come back in time, there will always over 25 years! However more recent to Bordeaux to taste and rate the most be great demand for these legendary

memories are a little less rose-tinted, recent harvest, the 2014 vintage that has vintages and prices are sure to pick up as a Bordeaux frenzy intensified in the just gone into barrel. Early reports are as they become increasingly scarce. Of 2000’s, and demand ratcheted up in new that the vintage is a step above anything the 1st Growths Mouton Rothschild markets, most notably the far east, so too seen since 2010, with decent volumes is definitely in the ascendancy, whilst did the release prices from the Chateaux, to boot, and the favourable currency Latour’s decision to remove themselves hitting a high water mark with the rate should all contribute to a real from the En Primeur system was bold outstanding, and much demanded 2009 opportunity to spark renewed interest in but possibly ill-conceived as it becomes and 2010 vintages. the region. As a further encouragement a little more obscure. Lafite is in a very That the 1st Growths were trading at the wine trading portal Livex has singular position as prices for this levels that few ordinary wine drinkers clocked up 6 consecutive months of Chateau rose dramatically faster than could stomach seemed secondary to gains until a slight blip in February. any other, and when the bubble burst the feverish demand from investors Things are picking up again, admittedly they had further to fall. It is noteworthy and from the insatiable Chinese market, cautiously, but as ever so much depends though that we are seeing prices firming Please register your interest in attending the peak arriving in June 2011. At that on the pricing from the Chateaux of the up again on physical stocks, painting a the event by emailing: time a clamp down on gifting of luxury new release. We wait with baited breath. more re-assuring picture. [email protected] goods in China didn’t so much put the With uncertainty surrounding the The outlook for Bordeaux leading brakes on Bordeaux prices, as put them true value of the 1st Growths merchants into the 2014 En Primeur campaign is Throughout the course of 2015, Chivas and into reverse. Lafite in particular was and collectors alike are ever on the still tentative, but quietly optimistic, Savile Row Bespoke will continue to create massively over-hyped and the bubble lookout for the next sensation. Calon ultimately the expectation is that after events and activities to inspire appreciation well and truly burst. With a one-way Segur, L’If (made by Jacques Thienpont three vintages of weak demand there for the art and heritage of tailoring, modern flow of these top wines entirely driven of Le Pin), Les Carmes Haut Brion, are will surely be gaps in collectors’ cellars luxury and the importance of masculine by the Chinese market, and suddenly all estates at which major improvements waiting to be filled by the next high style across the UK. grinding to a halt, prices needed to fall are bearing fruit and great things are quality vintage. Our teams descend on in order to allow the European and expected. As to the wines already in Bordeaux in early April and we will be American markets back in. collectors’ cellars the 2009s and 2010s reporting our findings soon after.

74 75 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

FOOD AND DRINK WHISKY Doug McIvor, of Berry Bros & Rudd, steps into the world of Whisky collecting

WORDS BY DOUG MCIVOR

n my book there are two types of venture with Haig Club is a case in Hart Davis Hart in Chicago, as well as collector, the completionist and point. Take a look at the duty free shops the familiar Scottish houses and many the investor. Often the former uses and in particular, airports such as Dubai, new on-line set-ups. investment as a veil for what is, in reality, Hong Kong and Changi in Singapore So, what should you look for if you a form of OCD. I know a bit about this as where exclusive editions are displayed decide to invest some cash in whisky? I’m an avid stamp collector, endlessly in much the way that an old master is Provenance is everything and official striving to complete sets but never hung in a gallery. These venues are the bottlings from the well known names are satisfied as there is always something showcases of the world for the distillers’ the safest bets. Macallan currently ranks else out there I want. Before I caught rarest gems and many of the price tags at number 1 in the auction rankings the bug I viewed whisky collectors as make the Black Bowmore’s £6,000 seem and Islay whiskies like Ardbeg and geeky anoraks. They, however, Bowmore do very well. It’s also are having the last laugh as the worth considering rare releases value of the rarest whiskies head from the less prolific brands for the stratosphere. And if they like The Glenrothes who focus ever get fed up with dusting on vintages such as the recent their bottles they can sell or 1968 single cask. Official labels drink the stuff. I can’t envisage from closed distilleries such as myself licking my way through Rosebank or Port Ellen have the thousands of little pieces of “unrepeatable” factor and carry paper backed with gum arabic. a premium because of this. I’ve had my chances to join Bottles that are numbered and the whisky collecting fraternity single cask releases are popular over the years having been and just as with toy cars the given some rare editions when packaging should always be launched by their distillers but in mint condition to maximize I did the “right thing”, opened returns when you go to sell. them and wrote the tasting I add a word of caution notes. One such bottle was a without scare-mongering first edition Black Bowmore because, as with the world of art 1964 which retailed at around and antiquities, fakes do exist. I £99 when released in the early have seen an attempted copy of 1990’s. I recently saw a bottle one of our own bottles and we of the second release with a take a very firm stance. If you £6000 price tag. That’s a pretty want us to verify that the bottle good return for an occasional is authentic send it to us. If we bit of careful dusting but it is an cannot guarantee authenticity extreme example. we will destroy it. The wine critic, Robert Parker recently According to Rare Whisky 101, a stated that first growth clarets should be Doug McIvor, Whisky specialist and Spirits Buyer company that compiles the Apex 1000 drunk (when ready) and not seen just as at Berry Bros & Rudd index of the 1000 best performing investment except that what you decide investment grade bottles of whisky there to sell should fund the portion you keep was an increase of 23.8% in value in to drink. Wine is a live product so he like an entry point product. Some of 2013 with 2014 expected to show 18%. may have a point from the perspective of the bottles released by well known Based on a relatively modest forecast of a purist. Ultimately, it’s up to the owner brands such as Balvenie, Macallan and 15% each year a bottle worth £1,000.00 to decide and wine has proved to be a Glenlivet fetch up to £18,000. would be worth over £16,000.00 in good investment for those in the know or It’s not only the legendary scotch 20 years. But, is this a boom that will served by a reputable merchant. Whisky whiskies that are causing a stir although, last? At present the market shows no oxidizes at a mere fraction of the rate of unsurprisingly, these remain the most sign of slowing and is fueled by new wine so can be viewed as a safe long term collected type of whisky by some generations of wealthy individuals in commodity as long as you keep it in a distance. One of the rising stars comes emerging markets, particularly in Asia. cool dry place away from the dangers of from Japan’s Karuizawa whilst the And just like stocks and shares prices sunlight and teenagers. American bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle can go down as well as up. The reality Whisky has been elevated in is a perenial favourite. Nowadays is that you need to know what you are perception from a fusty old man’s drink specialist whisky auctions around doing and be prepared to take a hit. You a few years ago to a fashion and status the world see bottles going under the will also need a lot more storage space statement. David Beckham’s recent hammer with Bonhams in Hong Kong, than I do for my blessed stamp albums!

77 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

FOOD AND DRINK

THE STARTER THE MAIN COURSE PREPARED BY ANDY ROSE PREPARED BY ANDREW DONOVAN EXECUTIVE CHEF, BOISDALE HEAD CHEF, BOISDALE OF CANARY WHARF LIME & CHILLI CURED SCOTTISH SCALLOPS ROAST CORNISH HAKE, SAFFRON RISOTTO WITH BULGUR WHEAT, GREEN LEAVES & HERBS WITH HEBRIDEAN CRAB & WILD CHERVIL POTTED PRAWN BUTTER

Its Spring and one of the most - if not the most - exciting seasons for me in the kitchen. With the sudden arrival of great British produce like young vegetables, lamb, wild INGREDIENTS (serves 4) shoots & morel mushrooms the kitchen takes on a whole new personality. Lighter and brighter foods, delicate young flavours, a genuine joy! 4 x 160g -170g hake portions, skin on 300g of saffron risotto 100g of white crab meat INGREDIENTS (serves 4) 10g wild chervil chopped

6 large scallops, raw sliced in half to make the saffron risotto 3 fresh limes, juiced 250ml vegetable stock Sea salt A pinch saffron threads 10g butter, plus 50g extra for frying for the salad 1 tbsp light olive oil 1 tbsp coriander leaves, picked 30g shallots, finely chopped 1 tbsp basil leaves 80g risotto rice 1 tbsp parsley leaves 50ml white wine (or Marsala) 1 tbsp picked dill 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese 1 tsp mint leaves Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tbsp lambs lettuce 1 tbsp rocket, torn To make potted prawn butter 300g butter for the seed mix zest and juice of one small lemon ½ tsp toasted sesame seeds 500g peeled prawns 1 tsp pumpkin seeds 2 pinches mace ½ tsp nigella seeds pinch nutmeg (also known as black onion seeds) pinch cayenne pepper Pinch chilli flakes 3 pinches sea salt 150g of cooked bulgur wheat pinch ground black pepper 1tbsp Worcestershire sauce for the dressing Extra virgin olive oil TO MAKE THE RISOTTO use all the liquid. 1 fresh lime juiced Heat the stock in a saucepan, add the Turn off the heat, stirring still, and beat Place the risotto in the centre of the plate, Salt and black pepper saffron threads and put over the lowest in the remaining tablespoon of butter with the fish on top, then add the warmed heat just to keep it warm. and the grated Parmesan, then season to potted shrimps. Melt 50g of butter and 1 tbsp of oil in a taste. Serve immediately, spooning the wide, shallow, heavy-based saucepan mixture into warmed bowls, with grated over a low to medium heat. Add the Parmesan. chopped shallots and cook for a couple of minutes or so, stirring frequently with a TO MAKE POTTED PRAWN BUTTER WHAT TO DO wooden spoon, until softened. Place all the ingredients into a small pan, Marinate the scallops with the lime juice and Add the risotto rice and keep stirring for a leaving 450g of the shrimps to one side. some sea salt and leave for 3 minutes to cure. minute or so, then turn up the heat and add Slowly warm through until the butter has Place all of the herbs and leaves in a large the wine, which will bubble up excitedly. melted and started to bubble. Remove bowl. Scatter over the seed mix by hand. Just Keep stirring until it is absorbed. from the heat and transfer contents to a before serving, pour over the olive oil and Start ladling in the saffron-infused stock, food processor. Blitz for 30 seconds. Mix lime juice to taste. Lightly toss all ingredients allowing each ladleful to absorb as you the flavoured butter with the remaining together. stir before even thinking of adding the shrimps, reserve until needed. Arrange three scallop halves around the plate next one. Stir and ladle the stock into with the leaves in the centre. the rice until it is cooked but still has a TO FINISH Finish off with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. slight bite to it. This should take about Warm a non-stick pan with a little olive 18 minutes, maybe a little less, by which oil, season the hake and place in the pan, time you should have used up all your skin side down, then place in the oven for stock. However, if you find the rice is 6-8 minutes until cooked. cooked to the texture you like before the Add the crab and chopped wild chervil stock has run out, don’t feel the need to to the risotto.

78 79 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

FOOD AND DRINK FOOD AND DRINK

THE DESSERT COCKTAILS PREPARED BY SAM NJUGUNA HEAD CHEF, BOISDALE OF BISHOPSGATE SIMPLE, REFRESHING SPRING SIPPING CHOICES FROM COFFEE CRÈME BRULÉE BOISDALE AWARD-WINNING MIXOLOGIST ERNEST REID WITH BLUBERRY CRIPS & CHERRY COMPOTE THE ULTIMATE CUBA LIBRE METHOD

Cuba Libre is traditionally served in Muddle the lime with the rum. Pour over INGREDIENTS (serves 4) a highball glass with Coca-Cola, lime crushed ice and add a splash of coca cola. for the brulée and white or dark rum. In the Boisdale Serve on the rocks in a whisky glass. 350ml double cream version we use a shorter (whisky) glass 125ml whole milk and cut the lime in a unique way creating 50ml double strength espresso coffee a more concentrated, citrusy drink. 1tbs Kahlua or Tia Maria 6 egg yolks INGREDIENTS 75g caster sugar 1tbsp Demerara sugar to caramelise 50mls Havana Club (3, 7 or 15 Year Old) 1/2 a lime, top & bottom cut off, then WHAT TO DO halved & latticed Preheat oven to 140 degrees Celsius Coca-Cola Put milk & cream in a heavy based pan and heat slowly to scalding point, then stir in the coffee and liqueur. Beat the egg yolks in a large bowl until pale & creamy. GIN GARDEN INGREDIENTS Pour the steaming hot coffee cream on to the yolks, a third at a time, whisking well. One of Ernest’s favourite gin cocktails. He had 1 thumb-sized piece of cucumber peeled Then whisk in the caster sugar. to “endure” multiple tasting sessions before 20mls egg white Strain through a fine sieve into a jug. achieving perfection in the glass! 20mls apple juice Pour the mix into desired ramekins, each 25mls Hendrick’s gin holding approximately 120ml of the mix. 25mls St-Germain elderflower liqueur Bake for 45 mins in a bain-marie until the 5mls sugar custards are very lightly set on top. Remove from oven and allow to cool. METHOD To serve, sprinkle a teaspoon of Demerara sugar evenly over the surface of each dish Muddle the cucumber in a shaker then and caramelise with a torch under a hot add all the ingredients with the egg at grill. Garnish with the blueberry crisps and the very end. Dry shake (without ice) cherry compote and serve immediately. then hard shake with ice. minute then using a ring cutter, cut into for the crisps desired size. Leave the cut out crisps on 100g icing sugar a cold kitchen counter or on a cold tray 25g plain flour to crisp up. Store in an airtight container 50 g blueberries until ready to serve. 80 g melted butter for the compote KIRSCH COSMO INGREDIENTS WHAT TO DO 100g tinned or frozen stoned cherries, or In a blender, thoroughly blend the fresh when in season Recipe created by Ernest’s predecessor at 40mls Kirsch Vieux blueberries until completely pureed. 70ml Sailor Jerry’s (or other spiced rum) Boisdale, Hannah Lanfear. This cocktail 20mls Cointreau Add the icing sugar, flour and lastly the 20g caster sugar was voted in top 101 cocktails of 2012 by 20mls fresh lime juice melted butter and blend until smooth. Half a vanilla pod, scraped The Bartender’s Bible. Hannah says: “I 20mls cranberry juice Pass the mixture through a sieve and store discovered this cocktail one night when in a fridge in a lidded container 30 minutes. WHAT TO DO I insisted on emptying my speed rail METHOD Preheat the oven to 180 degrees ºC. Take 20g of the cherries and place in a and replacing it with kirsch, determined On a silicone mat or non-stick rubber mat pan with the rum, sugar and vanilla seeds that it could improve or rival any white Shake over ice and fine strain into a chilled (you can use waxed baking paper), spread and gently bring to the boil. Once boiled, spirit cocktail; and many it does! But this cocktail glass. a thin even layer of the mix. Place the mat take off the heat, pass through a sieve and one was gift and transcends the original or paper onto a metal tray and bake in the add the rest of the cherries. Cosmopolitan by a country mile!” oven for 4 and a half minutes. Place in a small container and chill well. Remove from the oven and slide mat off the hot tray. Leave to cool for about one

80 81 Spring 2015 BOISDALELIFE.COM Issue no.3

THE BACK PAGE WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH WORDS BY NIGEL FARAGE

"They don't like it up 'em!"

he late Bill Deeds wrote, shortly The role reversal of the grammar It is discovered that in World War before he died, that the one school officer and the public school One, Godfrey was a conscientious television programme that sergeant continues to be the highlight of objector, which has him sent to Coventry he could sit and watch with his great each episode. by the rest of the men. Yet, as medical grandchildren, and that all generations Mainwaring’s incredible bravery and orderly, he helps Mainwaring out of a enjoy, was Dad’s Army. I too confess to patriotism shines through and Wilson smoke-filled room during an exercise being a fan. slightly world-weary cynicism is acted and is confined to bed as a result. Though I hardly watch any television, out in Le Mesurier’s performance. Our Walmington heroes go to visit the Dad’s Army is on BBC2 every Saturday Whenever Wilson dares to suggest that old boy and apologise for having been so evening at about 8:30pm. At this time perhaps victory might not be theirs, as unpleasant to him. I’m normally in the kitchen drinking gin the novelty rock emporium is defended Mainwaring notices a photograph of and preparing food. by a few pensioners with a Lewis gun, Godfrey above the bed. To the Captain’s And it doesn’t matter that I’ve seen the Mainwaring retort is “We don’t want shock Godfrey is in uniform. More many of the episodes several times, or any of that sort of talk Wilson”. It’s just astonishing still, he is wearing the could often quote the next line about to wonderful stuff. military medal. Sister Dolly explains: be uttered. There’s something gloriously But the series does more than make “Yes Charles was a stretcher bearer British about Dad’s Army that still me laugh. It occasionally really makes during the battle of the Somme, and works. me think. Perhaps my favourite episode went out many times into no man’s land It is the examination of our class is the one in which Private Godfrey to rescue wounded men.” system and our prejudices, which resigns from the platoon saying that he A programme that can make us laugh though they may have changed since wouldn’t have the heart to bayonet a and think, long may it endure. 1940, are still in some evidence today. German stormtrooper. @Nigel_Farage

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