INTERVIEW
to get away from all that, and here
I am talking to you… but that’s OK,
because I like your magazine.
William and I simply want a
peaceful life, so we can enjoy
Westover as a family, which doesn’t
seem much to ask. We do sometimes
wander up the road to the local pub
as a family and have a drink and
something to eat, and we also love
going to Spencers (M&S) for a Latte
and slice of cake,”
I found Susie to be a very caring
and happy person, it was nice to
see that even though she has had
a privileged up-bringing, there was
still a naughty streak in there. As
she showed me into the sauna/gym
area she commented: “This will be
good for my girlie nights! I do like
to keep fit, and I used to run almost
every day and now I will have the
privilege of running round the
grounds in privacy - I can’t wait.”
During all this time there were
endless Peter Holbrook removal
vans rolling up the drive. I remarked
to Susie that it must be nice seeing
all her personal belongings coming
into the home.
“I love antiques, and I love buying
them,” she said. “I suppose I am a
bit of a Lovejoy - the only difference
being I don’t sell them, so we have
built quite a collection over the
years.”
By this time William arrived, and
before he could even say hello, Susie
commented “Darling, you are not
wearing that scruffy old jumper,
please go and change”.
A few minutes later, William
duly re-joined us wearing a smart
waistcoat.
William has a very distinguished
look - one of those looks that you
could never re-create no matter how
hard you tried. If I wore the same
clothes he had on that day I would
simply look like a scruffy urchin.
William, for some reason, can carry
this look and still come across as
supremely distinguished.
With all that William has, he is
still very much down to earth, with
no falseness about him. I liked that
very much. He has the knack of
making you comfortable and at ease
in his presence – and let’s be honest,
a lot of people in his position would
be unapproachable and most likely
difficult, but not William.
After five minutes talking to him,
you can tell he is a man who has the
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ability to get things done – and I
think it’s more a case of ‘You will do
that’, rather than, ‘Can you do that’.
He comes across as very caring,
and is well aware that with money
comes responsibility - and he takes
these responsibilities seriously.
Again, like Susie, he cares very
much about the Island and the local
community.
“I really want to see the Island
prosper, it’s such a lovely place,”
he says. “I think that the Island
deserves better. I would like to see
more affordable housing so the
younger generation can get a foot on
the property ladder. This is crucial
in order to keep the chain going.
Perhaps we also need a subsidised
ferry - after all, every other Island
in the UK has subsidised ferries,
why can’t the Isle of Wight? I also
feel that we should encourage more
businesses onto the Island, which
will create better-paid jobs and play
a big part in the regeneration of the
Island. “
William says he’s a great believer
in using local suppliers whenever
he can, and walking through the
house I saw endless Miele products
and a number of holes and wires in
walls for TFT Flatscreen TV’s, so I
asked where all this equipment was
bought.
Susie replied: “Buywise in Newport
- they are really good. They’re
friendly, and offer a fantastic service.
It’s important we all support local
shops whenever we can