SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Duke’s son Trumped in race for iconic stables
SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Duke’s son Trumped in race for iconic stables
Patronised by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Madonna, Pierce Brosnan and even Donald Trump, London’s famous Hyde Park Stables is galloping into a new future.
I can disclose that the London landmark, which was on the market for £1.75 million, now has a new owner, following the conclusion of a bidding war involving the Duke of Beaufort’s eldest son, the Marquess of Worcester, and a prospective overseas buyer.
In the end, the winning bid came not from 30-year-old Bobby Worcester, who was recruited to work for ebullient hedge fund tycoon Crispin Odey two years ago, or from any Gulf state potentate, but from equestrian Mandy Hall.
London’s famous Hyde Park Stables has been bought by equestrian Mandy Hall
Her daughter, Jodie Hall-McAteer, 19, is one of Team GB’s most promising young show-jumpers.
Built in 1835, the stables have been owned for the past 30 years by socialite Basia Briggs and her husband Dick, whose early years were spent in an orphanage in Bethnal Green, East London, but who, like his wife, has become a valued friend of Princess Michael and Fergie, both of whom have ridden out from the stables.
Basia, whose memoir, Mother Anguish, recounted how her first marriage ended when her husband was seduced by her Polish mother, is thrilled that the stables will still be used for sporting purposes.
‘I am just delighted to have sold to someone who loves horses,’ she tells me, though perfectly aware that she and Dick could have pocketed three times as much if the building had been sold for development.
As it is, the stables promise to continue to give pleasure to the capital’s equestrians — and those from overseas who fancy a ride, as Donald Trump did 20 years ago.
Basia recalls The Donald as ‘very charming’ and ‘a fabulous rider’. Perhaps he’ll find time to mount up again when he makes his state visit next month.
Pick of the parties: Star Trek’s Alice sets her wardrobe to stun
RED ALERT: Star Trek’s Alice Eve, who sported a £900 red Cushnie mini dress and £450 Nicholas Kirkwood heels, arrived fresh from work to the JW Marriott Grosvenor House 90th anniversary party. ‘I’m doing Julian Fellowes’s new show, Belgravia, which we’re filming in Reading,’ she tells me. ‘It’s really wonderful to be in the UK again.’
ON THE PROWL: Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton, who revealed she is being impersonated on dating app Tinder, dazzled in a black satin Christopher Kane dress complete with a glittering midriff, collar and cuffs. She stayed close to man-about-town Alistair Guy all night.
PLAYING IT SAFE: Prince Harry’s old flame, flirty TV presenter Caroline Flack, 39, who wore a £315 Rixo spotted silver and black frock, avoided the men and chatted to her girlfriends instead.
Alice Eve (left), Caroline Flack (centre), and Victoria Pendleton (right) were the eye-catching girls about town this week
Princess Margaret was among the fans of Sixties pop sensation Vince Hill — and his sternest critic.
‘She liked my singing,’ says Hill, whose hits include the No.2 Edelweiss.
‘I was asked to sing at the American ambassador’s house in London. Princess Margaret said: ‘What are you going to sing?’ And I said: ‘Well, Ma’am, I’d like to sing I Won’t Send Roses, from the musical Mack & Mabel.’
‘She just looked me straight in the face and exclaimed: ‘I hate it.’ I said: ‘It’s a lovely song, Ma’am.’ And she replied: ‘No — you know the one I want you to sing.’
So I sang You’re The Top — and eventually a good evening was had by all.’
Theodora Richards was feeling over-dressed
Nude Stone’s girl: Why I’m a Jumping Jack Flasher!
Rolling Stone Keith Richards’s model daughter Theodora, 34, admits she takes a laid-back approach to clothes.
‘It depends on the weather. I’m a naked person. I would never necessarily be in a nudist colony, but if I’m home and hanging out, I’m a naked nymph,’ she explains of her style.
‘In winter I’ll probably put on a piece of clothing that I’ve had forever.’
The statuesque blonde, whose mother is Patti Hansen, adds her 75-year-old father has shaped her taste in fashion.
‘He’s definitely influenced my style. I think I have a stage persona because of him, for sure.
‘He gave me this freedom and love of clothing. It’s given me a zest for life. I raid his closet all the time — he gets mad at me.’
Evergreen mum is my role model, says Joely
Two generations of the Redgrave acting dynasty turned out in style for lunch in London this week.
Mother and daughter Vanessa Redgrave, 82, and Joely Richardson, 54, attended the Women Filmmakers’ lunch at the Corinthia Hotel in London hosted by fashion designer Roland Mouret.
Sporting a monochrome mac, Joely, whose father was the late director Tony Richardson, recently spoke of hoping to emulate her mother’s long career.
‘Things have only got more interesting for me! And, if I’m lucky, I can keep going into my 80s like my mum.’
Mother and daughter Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson at the Women Filmmakers’ lunch in London
Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell has rebuffed an invitation from Strictly Come Dancing to appear on the show.
‘They’ve recently offered me a lot of money to do it and I’ll never ever do it,’ he tells me at the BT Sports Industry Awards.
‘I keep saying no to them because I cannot think of anything worse. I could not do it but fair play to Ed Balls to have done it.’
Wrong sort of spin, evidently.
He starred as novelist-turned-sleuth Jason King in two hit Seventies television series and inspired the Austin Powers spy spoofs, but Peter Wyngarde left just £62,000 when he died last year aged 90.
Probate documents reveal that he failed to leave a will.
The moustachioed actor led a fascinating life in which he was hospitalised after being mobbed by adoring female fans, judged Britain’s best-dressed man, was twice bankrupted and became a gay icon.
He claimed he had been married to the actress Dorinda Stevens before enjoying a long relationship with fellow actor Alan Bates.
Local Government Minister Kit Malthouse, whose Malthouse Compromise sought to break the Brexit impasse, bumped into Harriet Harman in the Commons car park.
‘I’ve been in politics for 37 years and I’ve not had anything named after me,’ she grumbled.
There’s still time for the doughty feminist campaigner.
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