Why the Queen may watch MTV
That old saying, no good turn goes
unpunished, has a spectacular resonance for silver-haired Giorgio Burlo,
whose Chelsea nightclub had the pleasure of hosting Prince Harry.
On the night of his visit, the paparazzi were on Harry’s tail and Giorgio suggested the Prince might escape their attention by slipping out of 151, his King’s Road club, via a fire exit at the back.
The ruse certainly worked for Harry, but Giorgio’s thoughtful gesture had an unintended consequence.
The following day, a health and safety official from Kensington and Chelsea council arrived at the club to check his rear exit.
And to his dismay, Giorgio was ordered to re-surface the whole area at a cost of £1,200.
‘Apparently, there were concerns Prince Harry might trip up and hurt himself next time,’ Giorgio tells me.
‘I couldn’t believe it — not least because it was not long afterwards that Harry was sent to Afghanistan where, of course, there was a bit more chance of him really getting hurt!’
Giorgio, however, remains philosophical. He says the 90ft backyard that runs behind several shops at the back of the club is now lovely and smooth.
‘I’m not blaming the council,’ he says. ‘The [health and safety] man was very nice and polite and he has a job to do. I agreed with him that the exit was a little bit uneven. But it was quite a surprise when he turned up the very next day after it was reported that Harry had left by the back exit. I assume they saw a report of it and just came round.
‘I re-surfaced the whole area, although we hardly ever use the back exit because it’s a fire escape really. But I just thought the Prince and his friends would appreciate leaving that way because there were four paparazzi photographers waiting outside at the front.
‘ Of course, I can see the irony in it all. I did him a favour and ended up having to pay for the repairs. I don’t mind but I haven’t seen him since.’
The 151 Club has welcomed several royal customers since it opened 30 years ago, including Prince William and Prince Edward. Princess Diana’s former love James Hewitt also used to be a regular.
In the unlikely event that the Queen
ever gets bored with Miss Marple and Poirot, her Buckingham Palace
accountant Sir John Parsons might possibly suggest she braves the
noisier airwaves of music channel MTV.
Sir John, 66, the Deputy Keeper of the Privy Purse, and his wife Anne, who is sister of retired MI5 chief Baroness Manningham-Buller, have been proudly watching MTV ever since their comely daughter, Lilah, landed a job there. Lilah, 24, has just become the latest pretty face to join MTV’s Chart Show, where she interviews all the new names in the music business.
She is also due to present coverage of the Snow Bombing Festival from Mayrhofen in Austria this April for the channel.
‘We are very proud of her,’ says Sir John, whose job means he is jointly responsible for the financial management of the Queen’s royal household and the Civil List.
Lilah, who was discovered at 16 by a fashion scout and has modelled for Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Swatch, describes herself as a ‘total adrenaline freak’.
She says: ‘I’m a trained ski instructor and I recently took up indoor rock climbing again. I also used to be in the Territorial Army.
‘Ask me to jump out of a plane and I’ll jump. I’ll try anything once.’
With a beautiful girlfriend and
a successful business — not to mention his jet-set lifestyle — one
could be forgiven for thinking millionaire entrepreneur Peter Bonham
Christie has it made.
A scion of old money — his family used to own Brownsea Island in Dorset, where Baden-Powell founded the Scout movement — he co-owns Fine Arts Sails with property developer Michael Ross.
On Saturday Peter, 32, and his girlfriend Mel Hatton were given an award by the Royal Yachting Association for breaking the offshore powerboat world speed record. But behind the fast boats and playboy image there is sadness. For I learn that Bonham Christie is estranged from his father Richard, with whom he is feuding over a family trust.
Says a friend: ‘Their relationship is at rock bottom. Peter’s father refuses to meet with him and the only way they now communicate is through family lawyers. Needless to say, it’s all about money. It’s all very sad.’
One of racing’s favourite watering holes, the Pheasant at Lambourn, will be closed for refurbishment following its forced sale.
Among the casualties is popular long-time landlord and joint owner Johnny ‘The Fish’ Ferrand who has now lost his job in addition to the money he invested in the pub.
His partner Robin Young, father of singer Will, has taken an even bigger hit after they failed to meet loan repayments. Fish is still coming to terms with the news that he is surplus to requirements when the Pheasant re-opens in March.
The Berkshire pub is now owned by Rupert Fowler and two partners who run other hostelries near Andover.
Says Johnny: ‘This has all come as a bit of shock. Initially I was asked to continue by the management company handling the sale. But the new owners have now told me they don’t need me.
‘It’s rather depressing, the Pheasant has been my life for a long time.’
On the night of his visit, the paparazzi were on Harry’s tail and Giorgio suggested the Prince might escape their attention by slipping out of 151, his King’s Road club, via a fire exit at the back.
The ruse certainly worked for Harry, but Giorgio’s thoughtful gesture had an unintended consequence.
The following day, a health and safety official from Kensington and Chelsea council arrived at the club to check his rear exit.
And to his dismay, Giorgio was ordered to re-surface the whole area at a cost of £1,200.
‘Apparently, there were concerns Prince Harry might trip up and hurt himself next time,’ Giorgio tells me.
‘I couldn’t believe it — not least because it was not long afterwards that Harry was sent to Afghanistan where, of course, there was a bit more chance of him really getting hurt!’
Giorgio, however, remains philosophical. He says the 90ft backyard that runs behind several shops at the back of the club is now lovely and smooth.
‘I’m not blaming the council,’ he says. ‘The [health and safety] man was very nice and polite and he has a job to do. I agreed with him that the exit was a little bit uneven. But it was quite a surprise when he turned up the very next day after it was reported that Harry had left by the back exit. I assume they saw a report of it and just came round.
‘I re-surfaced the whole area, although we hardly ever use the back exit because it’s a fire escape really. But I just thought the Prince and his friends would appreciate leaving that way because there were four paparazzi photographers waiting outside at the front.
‘ Of course, I can see the irony in it all. I did him a favour and ended up having to pay for the repairs. I don’t mind but I haven’t seen him since.’
The 151 Club has welcomed several royal customers since it opened 30 years ago, including Prince William and Prince Edward. Princess Diana’s former love James Hewitt also used to be a regular.
Why the Queen may watch MTV
Lilah Parsons
Sir John, 66, the Deputy Keeper of the Privy Purse, and his wife Anne, who is sister of retired MI5 chief Baroness Manningham-Buller, have been proudly watching MTV ever since their comely daughter, Lilah, landed a job there. Lilah, 24, has just become the latest pretty face to join MTV’s Chart Show, where she interviews all the new names in the music business.
She is also due to present coverage of the Snow Bombing Festival from Mayrhofen in Austria this April for the channel.
‘We are very proud of her,’ says Sir John, whose job means he is jointly responsible for the financial management of the Queen’s royal household and the Civil List.
Lilah, who was discovered at 16 by a fashion scout and has modelled for Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Swatch, describes herself as a ‘total adrenaline freak’.
She says: ‘I’m a trained ski instructor and I recently took up indoor rock climbing again. I also used to be in the Territorial Army.
‘Ask me to jump out of a plane and I’ll jump. I’ll try anything once.’
Millionaire Peter's family at war
Beautiful couple: Peter Bonham Christie and Mel Hatton
A scion of old money — his family used to own Brownsea Island in Dorset, where Baden-Powell founded the Scout movement — he co-owns Fine Arts Sails with property developer Michael Ross.
On Saturday Peter, 32, and his girlfriend Mel Hatton were given an award by the Royal Yachting Association for breaking the offshore powerboat world speed record. But behind the fast boats and playboy image there is sadness. For I learn that Bonham Christie is estranged from his father Richard, with whom he is feuding over a family trust.
Says a friend: ‘Their relationship is at rock bottom. Peter’s father refuses to meet with him and the only way they now communicate is through family lawyers. Needless to say, it’s all about money. It’s all very sad.’
Among the casualties is popular long-time landlord and joint owner Johnny ‘The Fish’ Ferrand who has now lost his job in addition to the money he invested in the pub.
His partner Robin Young, father of singer Will, has taken an even bigger hit after they failed to meet loan repayments. Fish is still coming to terms with the news that he is surplus to requirements when the Pheasant re-opens in March.
The Berkshire pub is now owned by Rupert Fowler and two partners who run other hostelries near Andover.
Says Johnny: ‘This has all come as a bit of shock. Initially I was asked to continue by the management company handling the sale. But the new owners have now told me they don’t need me.
‘It’s rather depressing, the Pheasant has been my life for a long time.’
Apropos
the BBC’s dilemma over whether former director-general George Entwistle
should fulfil tradition and have a commemorative portrait, Professor
Jean Seaton, the official historian of the BBC, tells me how another DG,
Alasdair Milne, who died last month aged 82, also presented the
Corporation with a problem when his painting was commissioned. ‘Sir
Michael Checkland, who succeeded Alasdair, thought Alasdair’s portrait
was costing too much so he negotiated a lower payment for it. That’s why
only part of the kilt which Alasdair is wearing in the portrait can be
seen. But of all the official portraits, Alasdair’s is one of the best.
Some of the others are dire.’
For a decade, it has housed work created by the cream of the modern art world.
But London’s trendiest gallery — the Haunch Of Venison in New Bond Street — will open its doors for the last time next month.
The gallery will become a permanent exhibition and sales space for auction house Christie’s. Art fans, though, will mourn its loss.
Emilio Steinberger, the gallery’s senior international director, says: ‘Private sales at Christie’s have been growing exponentially and the decision was made that’s where the focus should be.’
But London’s trendiest gallery — the Haunch Of Venison in New Bond Street — will open its doors for the last time next month.
The gallery will become a permanent exhibition and sales space for auction house Christie’s. Art fans, though, will mourn its loss.
Emilio Steinberger, the gallery’s senior international director, says: ‘Private sales at Christie’s have been growing exponentially and the decision was made that’s where the focus should be.’
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