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Motoring, Sports

Motor enthusiasts descended on Hampton Court Palace in their thousands to admire what some people called “the most expensive car park in the world”. Enjoying some September sun, around 12,500 people flocked to the Concours of Elegance, now in its sixth year, to see around 1,000 cars around the spectacular gardens.

More than 60 of the world’s rarest cars were in the running for the honour of Best in Show which went to the Lancia Astura Aerodinamico Castagna. The quality of cars this year was such that even be invited was an achievement in itself. Among the star attractions was the first car ever to emerge from coachbuilders, Frua, the Fiat 1100 Frua Spider and the Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Rollback.

The Royal Automobile Club presented HRH Prince Michael of Kent with the Spirit of Motoring Award for all he has done for the world of classic cars and motorsport, including his role as patron of Concours of Elegance. Winner of the ‘Spirit of the Tour’ – contested by cars on the pre-Concours Tour of Wessex – was Peter Briggs and the Bentley 3-Litre Le Mans, the first ever Bentley to race at Le Mans in 1923.

Outside of the main Concours of Elegance cars, nearly 1000 other models were there, including some of the finest examples from the UK’s most prestigious car clubs. A panel of expert judges, including Prince Michael, chose a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Taj Mahal, originally owned by the Maharaja of Nabha, as winner of the RAC Club Trophy.

Nearly 80 historic Jaguars were on display on the Saturday, competing for the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Trophy. Led by Jaguar Land Rover Classic Director Tim Hannig, a panel of judges overwhelmingly decided the car they would most want to take home was a 1938 SS Jaguar 2.5-litre Drophead Coupe.

On the Sunday more than 60 Bentleys arrived in the gardens, ranging from the pre-war grand prix cars to some of Bentley’s very latest Continental models. A judging team of Bentley experts carefully assessed every model before awarding the Bentley Trophy to a Bentley Mk6 James Young, recently the subject of a full restoration.

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Motor enthusiasts descended on Hampton Court Palace

News

A successful management buyout has taken place at Savile Row tailoring house Davies & Son where, after an illustrious career and 21 years as the owner and head cutter,  Alan Bennett has stepped down and the ownership of the company has passed to longstanding staff members, Graham Lawless, Patrick Murphy and Mark Broadfield.

Alan, who will continue to work alongside the rest of the team for the foreseeable future and remain as chairman, said: “I am happy to pass Davies & Son on to three members of staff who I have worked with for a long time and whose company I have enjoyed so much over the years. I am particularly proud to see Patrick’s association with the company as he began with me as an apprentice and is now part owner of the firm.”

The new owners are particularly pleased to have organised an internal buyout as, in recent years, many tailoring houses have been bought by overseas companies or external hedge funds. As sales director Graham explained: “Having worked at Davies and Son for 10 years and in bespoke tailoring for more than 30, the opportunity to own this fine historic company alongside two exceptional colleagues is a dream come true.

“Our aim is to take the company forward on a new and exciting journey while not forgetting over two centuries of tradition. I cannot thank Alan enough for putting his trust in us and to enable us to continue as an independently owned company on one of the world’s most prestigious streets. The investment was a logical step for the three of us. Our individual relationships with the company each differ, but our collective vision and passion for Davies & Son shared over many years meant that joining forces to buy the company was a logical step and a realisation of long standing ambition.”

Head cutter Patrick Murphy, who returned to Davies & Son two years ago after a long tenure at Huntsman, said:  “I started my career at Davies & Son. The company has long been a standard bearer of traditional bespoke tailoring and is one of the oldest houses in the world. To be at the helm of such an eponymous business is an honour and I look forward to the challenge of taking Davies & Son onto the next level.”

Financial controller Mark Broadfield has worked for the firm for 20 years and said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working here and love the whole bespoke tailoring world. Travelling in from Leigh on Sea in Essex has never been an issue for me. As Dr Johnson once said, ‘He who is tired of London is tired of life’. I think that sums up my attitude to Savile Row equally well.”

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A successful management buyout has taken place

Wine

Introduction to Greyfriars

Greyfriars was one of the first vineyards in England to plant the classic Champagne grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) in 1989. The original planting was on a ‘hobby’ scale of one and a half acres on the south facing chalk slopes of the Hog’s Back (the North Downs) located a few miles outside Guildford in Surrey. Mike and Hilary Wagstaff, the current owners, took over Greyfriars in 2010 with the aim of expanding the vineyard to become a commercial scale producer of quality sparkling wine reflecting the unique local geology, climate and heritage of the Surrey North Downs.

Since then they have expanded the business to a total of 50 acres under vines on three sites. The 2017 harvest produced 120 tonnes of grapes and they bottled over 70,000 bottles last year. Greyfriars also now has a state of the art winery and has just completed digging a 3,500 sq. ft storage ‘cave’ in the chalk slopes of the Hog’s Back.

The company released tiny volumes of its two first ‘signature’ wines in 2013 and 2014 (Sparkling Rose Reserve and Blanc de Blancs) from the 2011 and 2012 vintages. The 2013 vintage represented the first crop from new plantings which has allowed them to expand our range of wines in 2016 as well as give sufficient volume of wine to expand distribution. The wines are now available from an ever increasing number of stockists or direct from the Greyfriars shop or online via www.greyfriarsvineyard.co.uk

What Others Have Said About Us

Oz Clarke. (Oz’s Wines for Easter 11th April 2017) “Greyfriars Blanc de Blancs, Brut, England. Greyfriars Vineyard makes several sparklers, but this fizz, in particular is a cracker. It comes from the estate’s Chardonnay grapes and is fuller, rounder and creamier and nuttier than most English fizz because they ferment and age the wine in oak barrels before giving the wine its bubbles. You still get the mouthwatering, crisp acidity of England, but it is married with a rich softness like lemon curd smeared on a warm brioche.” 

Decanter Worldwide Wine Awards (July 2017) 95 Points. Gold Medal. Greyfriars Blanc de Blancs Brut, Surrey 2013. Intense note of ripe lemon, toast and yeasty notes. Fresh palate with defined flavours of lovely ripe apple fruit. Chewy texture and an excellent fruit filled length. 

Julia Harding (Jancis Robinson Website June 2017) ‘The variety that stood out for me as offering real potential was Pinot Gris. The example from Greyfriars managed to achieve impressive depth of fruit and flavour even at a modest alcohol level, supported by fermentation in old oak.” 17/20 the highest rated English still wine.

Susie Barrie (Decanter Magazine August 2017) Greyfriars, Rose Reserve Brut, Surrey 2013. 94 Points. “Made from 100% Pinot Noir with a third of the blend fermented in old oak this antique gold-coloured rose is full of spiced plum fruit and creamy, roasted nut flavours. A rich-textured and toasty style that’s a great match for food.”

Tom Stevenson (World of Fine Wine Q3 2017) Greyfriars Blanc de Blancs Brut, Surrey 2013. Absolutely Gorgeous. Lovely lemony-toasty fruit aroma. Classy, long great intensity and finesse (98 points). His top rated English sparkling wine; Greyfriars, Rose Reserve Brut, Surrey 2013. Very pale peach-cum-apricot colour, hints of oak and Pinot, delicate fruit, fine mousse. Exemplary (92 points).

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Introduction to Greyfriars Greyfriars was one of the