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Spring 2017 What a Team! It was inevitable that they should go on Tony Laithwaite started in the wine 'special offer' to their readers. Thus, the to have their own vineyards and now industry in 1969 but it is working in UK’s most successful wine mail-order have them in France, Australia, in partnership with his wife, Barbara, that service was born. Windsor, as tenants of the Crown Estate has brought about the phenomenal As the more organised of the two, and, of course, Wyfold. Tony is happy to success of their company. Tony claims Barbara took on the role of Managing share his wealth of knowledge of wine that it was he who had the bright ideas but Director, with Tony as Chairman. Shops growing: he will explain the impact of it was always Barbara who put them into and concessions followed and their different soils and climates on vines, action. expansion continued even further with even the impact on grapes of bush fires in Australia. He also believes that climate Back in 1965, he went off to Bordeaux in the advent of internet shopping. Their France for a student holiday job working turnover grew to £17 million in the first change is most definitely occurring – he in a vineyard. The owners, an elderly 15 years – it is now a staggering £350 says that wine growers are the experts as they have always kept records of couple, took a shine to Tony. They million with a large staff and buyers all ‘adopted’ him and proceeded to teach him over the world. temperatures and harvests. all about wine as well as making While Tony travelled the world, him improve his schoolboy Barbara not only ran the company French. In 1969, taking the name but also brought up their three sons. from a road sign, he set up All three, Henry, Will and Tom, Bordeaux Direct and started went to Peppard Primary school bringing wine back to the UK. and, with Henry’s two children as This was a time when wine was the latest family additions, they all now live reasonably near to their only sold by wine merchants and was not commonly consumed in parents in Peppard. During most households; wine discussions about the future, the boys, as teenagers used to tease merchants, and even wine waiters, were perceived as rather their parents: ‘One day we’ll just intimidating. There was simply sell up and buy a Ferrari each!’ not the choice available and Tony Happily, they have changed their views and are now all involved, one helped to change this. At the same time, Tony & Barbara Laithwaite in Wyfold way or other, in the industry. When, or British people started to travel and experi- Tony’s search for wines to bring to the ence wine drinking in casual, friendly indeed if, their parents do retire then all UK market has taken him much further three sons have stated that they wish to environments and wanted to imitate this afield. His travels have taken him at home. carry on with the family business. virtually all over the world in pursuit of Barbara is equally passionate about the In 1971 he re-met Barbara who he had good wine – to the US, Australia, New Wyfold vineyard and is rightly very known at university. Subsequently, he Zealand, South America, even India. proud of its award-winning sparkling lured her away from a very good job to Before the break-up of the Soviet Union, wines. According to Tony, she is help run his fledgling company and, of it also meant dealing with Eastern extremely rigorous in pruning the vines course, married her. They celebrated European governments to buy their in order to obtain the best possible grapes their ruby wedding anniversary two wines. With this expansion, it became – and will sacrifice the quantity produced summers ago. very apparent that the name Bordeaux to achieve this. First came a ‘lock-up’ under the railway Direct was no longer appropriate – and arches in Windsor. Then, fortuitously, 'Direct' became used by so many Now 70, Tony says that eventually the Tony spotted an item on wine fraud in the internet/mail order companies: it was ‘Old Man’ will have to learn to pull back Sunday Times that he very much agreed time for a change. With an unusual and from work a bit but in the meantime he with. He shot off a letter to the editor memorable name, it wasn’t difficult to says ‘Wine? Why would I want to give it up? I love it’. which generated a full mailbag of choose the company’s new name – enquiries, and was, in turn, invited to do a Laithwaite’s Wine. Rita Hadgkiss Peppard News is a quarterly community newspaper published by Peppard News Publications with financial support from Rotherfield Peppard Parish Council, and is distributed free within the parish of Peppard. Views expressed are not necessarily those of Peppard News Publications or of the RPPC unless stated as such. e-mail: [email protected] www.PeppardNews.co.uk Contributions accepted via e-mail or post to Jennifer Smith, Molehouse, Church Lane, RG9 5JN Advertising: Ian Fraser - phone: 01491 629631 Printed by Herald Graphics Page 2 www.peppardnews.co.uk Our Schools Both new governors have daughters at the Peppard C of E Primary School Peppard Primary School school, Ruby Turner in Year 2 and Peppard Common RG9 5JU Work on our boundary is now very nearly Harriet Bowcott in Year 1, and both have Phone: 01491 628354 complete. Many thanks to Mr and Mrs a second child joining the school in Cuthbert for all their hard work Headteacher September. Mrs Turner also has an old demolishing the old fractured wall and Nick Steele connection to the school; her uncle was replacing it with new fencing. the Bishop of Oxford when Peppard Chairman of the Governors th Our Worship Council have worked very Christine Bradbury School celebrated its 125 anniversary in hard and have, with the help of Mrs Annie 1996. He presented the celebratory plaque Byron and Rev Stickings, put together our The school has swimming galas and that can be seen on the wall of the main Church Services, choosing hymns, read- cross country on the horizon and will be building. ings and writing their own prayers. Many sending teams of our best swimmers and When we asked them what they are most thanks to Ian Fraser and his team who athletes to take part. We have some looking forward to in the rest of the school arrange the refreshments in the Parish excellent young sportsmen and women year, Mr Bowcott said, ‘I’m looking for- Room after each service. This term, the so are hoping for success in both areas. ward to Sports Day the most. Last year school focus has been on Integrity with all We are also very pleased to announce was so much fun with so many races. This assemblies and Church services support- that we will be running another six week year some of the Dads are off on a 50 mile ing our thoughts. Next term we will be Kayaking course beginning in May with walk to raise some money for the school. focussing on Courage. At the end of last the help of Sabine Kirschstein Smith. More details to come!’ Mrs Turner said, ‘I term we were visited by Mr Richard Future trips will include the Natural love Sports Day and the Easter egg roll, Walker who came and gave a talk to the History Museum, The River & Rowing but it’s got to be the water fight on the children about The Home of Hope, a char- Museum and a trip to Oxford. common at the end of term!’ ity that supports an orphanage in Malawi. Fiona Hilton Finally, we always ask our interviewees To support it, the School Council held a New Governors what their favourite type of sandwich is. book sale in the playground last week and Mrs Turner said, ‘a cheddar and home- raised £50. The idea was for children to This year we have two new made chilli chutney sandwich!’ Mr bring in one book of their own which they governors at Peppard: Mrs Emma Bowcott said, ‘a club sandwich’. would like to donate for someone else to Turner and Mr Richard Bowcott. We enjoy…for the small price of 50p! interviewed them about their reasons for With people as passionate and committed becoming school governors. as these two as our governors, Peppard has We continue with our weekly trips to a bright future! Both new governors want to help our Sonning Common Library, each Year The Junior Peppard News Editors group taking a turn. It’s a fantastic local school to be the best it can be. Mrs resource that we should all use. The Turner said, ‘I was really keen to get Kidmore End Pre-School children are also enjoying their weekly more involved in the school This term we are going to read and ukulele lessons with our new teacher, community.’ Mr Bowcott said that he discuss the lovely book Owl Babies Darren Hillier, who is very impressed wants to ‘ensure its continued success.’ before moving on to The Three Little with their efforts. Mr Bowcott is a co-opted governor, Pigs. We continue to use Kennylands Gymnas- responsible, along with the rest of the It’s a term full of other celebrations too tics on a weekly basis. Our aim is to have board, for providing strategic leadership and we have things planned for Burn’s the most flexible children in Oxfordshire! and accountability for the school.

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