interview
Island Life - June/July 2010
Photo: Chris pictured
in his Tiger Moth
aeroplane he
purchased in 1962
Right: Chris pictured
landing the Tigermoth
at home.
Inset: Young
Christopher at
Brooklands Race track,
Weybridge, 1939
The same old wonderful life
Christopher Bland has long been one of the Island’s movers and shakers.
But, as Roz Whistance finds, he’s also a man who loves to have fun
‘I’M Mr Boring,” says the man who
years”. It’s the sort of boring we could
has just landed his Tiger Moth in the
all get used to.
private airfield behind his beautiful
home.
In fact after spending a little time with
If the house, the car and the plane
CB, as he is known to his friends, you
house, and, having removed his Biggles
paint a picture of an ostentatious life, it
realise that he is far from ostentatious.
helmet and goggles, hops in his classic
is misleading. “I t is just a consequence
His imposing presence – he is 6ft4
Aston Martin for the benefit of our
of having been around for a long time,”
– is diffused by a great warmth and
photographer.
he says. “If you added up the cost of
friendliness: and the sense that he’s
the house, the car and the plane at the
a man who loves to have fun. He is
Sheriff of the Isle of Wight and later
time, they totalled under £40,000.”
delighted by the beauty of his Tiger
Lord Lieutenant. The ’boring’ claim is
Looking at the towering house, which
Moth – stunning in its immaculately
on the basis that he has owned the
he shares with his wife Judith and dog
restored red and silver livery – and also
same aeroplane and the same car for
Mottistone, set among trees and lawns
by its history: it was made for the RAF
40-odd years, “and the same wife
in the out-of-the way tranquillity of
at Morris Motors in 1941, when car
tolerant and supportive wife for 48
Yafford, the true nature of inflation hits
production was halted for the War. “I
This is Christopher Bland, former High
46
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