SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: All I want’s a brew! Bryan Ferry digs deep to save his village café
He’s already worshipped as a god — by the remote Eleko tribe in the Congo, in the heart of Africa. But style icon Bryan Ferry doesn’t neglect those closer to home.
In welcome contrast to reality stars popping up in the Maldives or Mexico for ‘work purposes’, the Roxy Music legend has, I can reveal, stepped in to help save the solitary shop in Fittleworth, his local village in West Sussex, from closure.
‘Normally, it also has a cafe,’ a local tells me, ‘but that obviously had to close because of lockdown restrictions, which hit its income, so an appeal went out for donations.
‘Bryan Ferry went round and handed over a really generous amount — in the region of £10,000, I believe. It saved it.’
He’s already worshipped as a god — by the remote Eleko tribe in the Congo, in the heart of Africa. But style icon Bryan Ferry doesn’t neglect those closer to home
The unpaid volunteers who man Fittleworth Stores are appropriately grateful, but also immensely discreet. ‘We don’t speak about donations or contributions because it’s obviously all very confidential,’ one of them tells me.
Ferry’s staff acknowledge that he gave a helping hand, but insist that it wasn’t ‘as much as £10,000’. ‘He was just one of many supporters of the shop,’ one tells me, ‘but he was obviously happy to help.’
Fittleworth’s rector, the Rev Dr David Crook, says that it has been ‘a truly amazing story’. ‘Now the plan is to fundraise again and, subject to planning permission being granted, the cafe will expand.’
The unpaid volunteers who man Fittleworth Stores, above, are appropriately grateful, but also immensely discreet
No one would bet against Ferry putting his hand into his pocket once more. The son of a farm labourer from County Durham, he lives in a house which he describes as ‘big but not huge’, is unstintingly generous — especially with tips to those waiting at tables — and has a superb collection of 20th-century British art, with works by Wyndham Lewis and John Nash.
But he has remarked that he no longer buys much art, explaining: ‘I’ve run out of walls.’
Time, surely, for Fittleworth Stores to help out — by offering him the walls of the cafe whenever it’s re-opened and extended?
Singer James Blunt has been reunited with his prized ‘family heirlooms’ after police arrested the thieves suspected of ransacking his Ibiza villa. Blunt offered a reward last month after burglars stole a watch belonging to his grandfather and a bayonet from his time serving in the Kosovo war. ‘They also took all my T-shirts and shirts — so they must not have a very good sense of style,’ he had joked.
Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis is celebrating an extended period of sobriety this week.
‘With God’s grace and the support of many people, I’ve been able to stay sober, one day at a time, for 22 years,’ says the 62-year-old, who is married to screenwriter Lord Haden-Guest. ‘A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I was a young star at war with herself. I didn’t know it then. I chased everything. I kept it hidden. I was as sick as my secrets.’
All I want’s a brew! Ferry digs deep to save his village cafe
He’s already worshipped as a god — by the remote Eleko tribe in the Congo, in the heart of Africa. But style icon Bryan Ferry doesn’t neglect those closer to home.
In welcome contrast to reality stars popping up in the Maldives or Mexico for ‘work purposes’, the Roxy Music legend has, I can reveal, stepped in to help save the solitary shop in Fittleworth, his local village in West Sussex, from closure.
‘Normally, it also has a cafe,’ a local tells me, ‘but that obviously had to close because of lockdown restrictions, which hit its income, so an appeal went out for donations.
‘Bryan Ferry went round and handed over a really generous amount — in the region of £10,000, I believe. It saved it.’
The unpaid volunteers who man Fittleworth Stores are appropriately grateful, but also immensely discreet. ‘We don’t speak about donations or contributions because it’s obviously all very confidential,’ one of them tells me.
Ferry’s staff acknowledge that he gave a helping hand, but insist that it wasn’t ‘as much as £10,000’. ‘He was just one of many supporters of the shop,’ one tells me, ‘but he was obviously happy to help.’
Fittleworth’s rector, the Rev Dr David Crook, says that it has been ‘a truly amazing story’. ‘Now the plan is to fundraise again and, subject to planning permission being granted, the cafe will expand.’
No one would bet against Ferry putting his hand into his pocket once more. The son of a farm labourer from County Durham, he lives in a house which he describes as ‘big but not huge’, is unstintingly generous — especially with tips to those waiting at tables — and has a superb collection of 20th-century British art, with works by Wyndham Lewis and John Nash.
But he has remarked that he no longer buys much art, explaining: ‘I’ve run out of walls.’
Time, surely, for Fittleworth Stores to help out — by offering him the walls of the cafe whenever it’s re-opened and extended?
That’s flat out of order, says Frankie
Model Frankie Herbert, granddaughter of the Queen’s late racing manager Lord ‘Porchie’ Porchester, reveals she was left frightened in her own home recently after hiring two men to help with a broken washing machine.
‘You’re feeling really grateful because they’re carrying machines up and down three flights of stairs, so you offer them a coffee,’ she explains.
‘They say no, but tell you that you should be offering them breakfast in bed after sex!’
The Earl of Carnarvon’s niece, 25, who lives in West London and is dating artist Robbie Jeffcott, adds: ‘Got to laugh at how crazy that, in 2021, I require a man to be around my house to make me feel safe from other men.’
Model Frankie Herbert, granddaughter of the Queen’s late racing manager Lord ‘Porchie’ Porchester, reveals she was left frightened in her own home recently after hiring two men to help with a broken washing machine
What a well pampered kitty, Kate
Some pet owners treat their furry friends like offspring, and Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale is proud to be one of them.
The 47-year-old daughter of the late actor, Richard Beckinsale, has proved just how hands-on she is with her Persian cat, Clive, after sharing a picture of herself carrying him in a papoose designed for babies strapped to her chest.
Taken on a street in Los Angeles, where she lives, the shot received a mixed response — with one male critic assuming she didn’t have children.
Kate, who has a 22-year-old daughter, Lily, with actor Michael Sheen, responded sarcastically, with ‘Absolute zinger, bro.’
Some pet owners treat their furry friends like offspring, and Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale is proud to be one of them
Farewell, my lovelies, as Naim dies aged 89
He was renowned for his legendary parties, for his love of beautiful women and for employing well-connected young girls, giving Nigella Lawson her first job.
Sadly, that colourful chapter has come to a close with publisher Naim Attallah, chairman of Quartet books, dying aged 89.
Born in Palestine in 1931, Attallah came to the UK in 1949 to study. He rose to become chief executive of jeweller Asprey and eventually took over Quartet.
He was also a film producer (The Slipper And The Rose), a parfumier (he launched fragrances called Avant L’Amour and Apres L’Amour) and financed the Literary Review and the Oldie magazines.
Naim, who was often to be found dining at his favourite restaurant in Shepherd Market, was happily married. He said he enjoyed flirting with women but never had affairs with them.
‘Darling, you’re pretty, come work for me,’ was his usual chat-up line. And it worked.
Besides the future Domestic Goddess, his stable of employees — all fiercely loyal — included novelist Daisy Waugh, biographer Anna Pasternak and Emma Soames.
Meghan’s dress designer has a new creation…
She designed the £56,000 Ralph & Russo gown worn by Meghan Markle in her official engagement photo with Prince Harry.
Now Tamara Ralph is celebrating her own milestone after giving birth to her first child — a girl named Haliya.
amara Ralph is celebrating her own milestone after giving birth to her first child — a girl named Haliya
‘Never have I known a love like this,’ says Tamara, 39. ‘Our hearts are so full. Welcome to the world, our gorgeous baby girl.’
Her partner, the baby’s father, is 42-year-old businessman Bhanu Choudhrie (pictured), who was ordered to pay his ex-wife £60 million in their divorce settlement last year.
Among the first to congratulate Tamara yesterday was her ex, Michael Russo — co-founder of the fashion label.
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