Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2006/January 2007 | Page 22
PROPERTY
Philip Hoare
Victorian Island Christmas
That special time is here again
when we celebrate Christmas
and reward our family and
friends with gifts to show our
love and esteem for them. It
is thanks to the Victorians,
particularly Queen Victoria and
Prince Albert, that the tradition
we accept as normality today
was created. Prince Albert
brought many customs with
him from Germany, particularly
encouraging
elaborate
decorating of the Xmas tree
and the lavish distribution of
gifts amongst the children,
other members of the family
and the Royal Household.
There were over 300 staff and
not one was overlooked!
Christmas was of great significance
to the Royal Couple, indeed, Queen
Victoria said of the Festival that it
was ‘A most dear and happy time’
and she loved the handpicked
gifts that Albert chose for her.
Victoria and Alberts love of the
ritual of Christmas created a trend
throughout the land, people of every
class followed suit creating what we
now call ‘The Traditional Victorian
Christmas’ where we exchange our
gifts.
In the mid 19th Century wealth
and opportunity were becoming
far more evenly distributed due
to the Industrial Revolution and
the creation of mass production.
Goods were much cheaper and,
therefore, affordable to the masses.
Decorative objects and works of
Art were being imported from
throughout the world. Interest in
these had been created by Albert
through the Great Exhibition of
1851, which proclaimed the benefits
of World Free Trade as it brou ght
in Artefacts, decorative objects and
advancements in technology from
across the globe.
The Victorians became great
acquisitors rapidly accumulating
as much as they could in order
to reflect their wealth and social
positions. There are remarkable
parallels in Victorian Society with
22
what is happening in our culture
today; vast quantities of Decorative
goods flooding in from the Far East
- some of good quality, some not
so good - but most of all, it is very
affordable.
Tastes, however, are gradually
moving away from the blandness
of minimalism. Now, in my
opinion, is the time to buy 19th
Century Antiques and particularly
Victoriana. The quality and skill,
which went into their creation, can
never be paralleled. So, when you
are looking for that Special gift this
Christmas remember that Quality
will out! So whether you choose to
buy an Antique or a contemporary
piece combine aesthetic beauty with
quality and you cannot go wrong.
I have had over forty years
experience as a Fine Arts Valuer
and Consultant, If you are looking
for anything to embellish or
enhance your home I can source
the finest pieces specially for you.
Alternatively if you are curious
about a family heirloom or would
like some information on a curious
piece you have always wondered
about please do not hesitate to call
me.
Have a very Merry Christmas and
spare a thought for Victoria and
Albert while you are munching your
mince pie!
* For advice on antique valuations,
restorationorresearch,contactPhilip
on 01983 568614 or 0777 3877242,
email [email protected] or
www.victorianislandproducts.com
Financial
care
for the
elderly
Looking after the interests
of elderly people means
more than just taking care
of their basic care and
attention needs – it is also
important to protect their
financial well-being.
The assets of an elderly person can
be extensive in terms of property,
investment savings, pensions and
personal effects and, in situations
where members of the family are at
a distance from the Isle of Wight or
not available at all, it can be difficult
to properly manage or monitor
things.
This is why for the last 15 years
Island lawyer Terence Willey has
developed a dedicated department
within his law practice, expressly
headed and undertaken by himself,
to deal with management of the
affairs of the elderly.
He says that elderly people can be
placed in residential homes with
insufficient support to them in
terms of protecting their financial
position to the fullest.
“Whilst I consider that here on
the Isle of Wight we enjoy a very
high standard of care and financial
status checking via Social Services
and appointed Care workers”, he
says, “there are limits as to the
degree of involvement that they can
reasonably take on”.
“As a Practice we not only take
on full management and care of
our clients, but where necessary
can assist with preparing and
completing Powers of Attorney in
various forms, dealing with mental
capacity issues and accountability
to the Court of Protection and Public
Guardianship Office, including a full
accounting service in this regard.
We have a department dedicated to
this work and supported by lawyers
specialising in the field of elderly
client affairs”.
Mr Willey adds that the elderly
can be extremely vulnerable in
circumstances where support is not
available, and relatives at distance
are only too pleased to ensure that
their mother or father are protected
and regularly monitored in this way
and with professional representation
when needed.
The service can extend to
reviewing nursing home contracts,
terms and conditions, reviewing
standards of accommodation as
and when complaints are received,
and where possible, ensuring that
all aspects of the elderly person’s
estate and affairs are in order in
terms of reviewing wills, registering
Enduring Powers of Attorney with
the Court of Protection in cases
of mental incapacity, or any other
incapacitation which prevents the
individual from being able to have
both mental and physical capacity
to maintain their affairs.
It can also arrange attendances to
private homes or residential care
homes as and when necessary, and
without any surcharge for visiting
clients out of the office.
For more information on the
service contact Terence Willey at his
Bembridge Law Practice in Grove
Mews, Sherbourne Street. Tel 01983
875859.
Island Life - www.isleofwight.net