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Times
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Times
The favourite supercar of Formula 1 drivers
Unlike the glitzier Swiss mountain resorts of St Moritz and Gstaad, the village of Adelboden, west of the Bernese Oberland, is rarely troubled by the peace-shattering roar of Ferraris and Lamborghinis. No, Adelboden is the sort of Alpine retreat where groceries come from the Co-op, shops sell walking boots and alpenstocks rather than Cartier and Brunello Cucinelli — and the most popular thing to get drunk on is the spectacular view of the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Few would think of looking inside Adelboden's former fire station in search of 17 of the world's most coveted supercars, with a combined value of $50 million. But that's what was hidden behind the building's large steel doors last month as preparations were being made for the first global gathering of owners of cars restored by the California-based Singer Vehicle Design. If you're unfamiliar with Singer, it has become the world's premier builder of Porsche 911 'restomods' — a portmanteau word describing 'restoring' and 'modifying' in order to combine the appeal of a traditional classic with the latest and best of engineering to create cars that blend old-school character and charm with new-school usability and performance. Singer Vehicle Design was founded in 2009 by Rob Dickinson, the former vocalist, songwriter and guitarist with the defunct British rock band Catherine Wheel, and his mantra from day one has been 'a relentless pursuit of excellence'. Focusing solely on 964 series Porsche 911s built between 1989 and 1994, the firm takes original donor cars and strips them to their bare bones before putting them back together after virtually every component has been improved, redesigned and recrafted to create what many enthusiasts regard as the ultimate in air-cooled 911s. But never call them a Porsche, for goodness sake. Although the cars origins are instantly recognisable, closer inspection reveals myriad upgrades — so many, in fact, that Porsche's legal team have questioned Singer Vehicle Design's right to use any Porsche branding whatsoever, and insists Singer makes clear that it is in no way affiliated with the marque. Bodywork can be almost entirely replicated in carbon fibre. Engines are remade to provide significant increases in power and durability (some by famous racing firms such as Williams Engineering and Cosworth) and interiors combine retro-look, high-tech instruments with bespoke upholstery in woven leather and fine fabrics. Such excellence doesn't come cheap: at its outset 16 years ago, a Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer (as the cars must legally be called) would have set you back about $250,000. But, as engineering techniques have evolved, specifications have improved and demand has outstripped supply, so prices have increased to the point that the current most expensive creation from Singer Vehicle Design — the Dynamics and Lightweight Services or DLS Turbo — has a base price of about $2.7m/£2.2m. Bespoke additions can bring the cost of the typical DLS Turbo to about $3.1m/£2.2m — partly because the car features engineering solutions drawn directly from the world of Formula 1, such as engine components made from magnesium, titanium and Inconel and aerodynamic improvements calculated using computational fluid dynamics. At least ten past and present F1 drivers — including Jenson Button and Alex Albon — either own a Singer or have one on order. During a recent visit to Singer Vehicle Design's large but entirely anonymous UK satellite factory in Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire, I spotted more than 35 of the cars 'in build'. So how did 17 Singers come to be locked up in an old fire station in an obscure Alpine village? The answer is that Adelboden is the part-time home to one of the firm's most enthusiastic patrons, who reasoned that there are few places on earth better suited to putting a Singer through its paces than the serpentine roads of the multiple mountain passes that surround it. The Welshman Grant Maunder first discovered the place in 1977, when he travelled there with his mother and father — not in a Porsche but in the family Ford Escort — to stay in a Salvation Army chalet. 'My parents were involved with the Salvation Army and a woman called Maya Schraegler came to stay with us in Penarth as part of a sort of 'exchange of ministers' programme, which is how we ended up going to her home village of Adelboden for a holiday.' Maunder, now 57, instantly fell in love with the place and continued to visit as an adult. 'I used to go skiing there with friends during the 1980s, and we slept in a nuclear fallout shelter because that's the only place we could afford. I remember looking up at the 72-room Grand Hotel Regina, the glitziest place in town, and thinking, one day I'll be able to afford to stay there.' Fast-forward to 2009, and Maunder could stay there for as long as he liked without worrying about the rack rate — because, following an aborted attempt to become a Royal Marines bandsman at the age of 17, he had fallen into a career as a financial adviser, achieving such success that he was able to buy the entire hotel and rename it The Cambrian. Exactly a year ago Maunder and his brother, Craig — who describe themselves as 'accidental hoteliers' — also opened the exquisite Brecon hotel half a mile up the road on the edge of the village. This 18-room, four-suite 'adults only' establishment really does give guests the feeling of being welcome visitors in someone's much loved home. 'It is partly a result of being in the hotel game that drew me to want to own a Singer,' says Maunder, who ordered his first, a Classic, in 2017 and now has two more cars in build — a Classic Turbo and an example of the recently launched Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer. 'I soon discovered that meticulous attention to detail really does matter, and that's the attitude they take at Singer. So much so that it took five years from ordering my first car for it to be delivered, during which time I got to know Rob well enough to suggest holding the first global gathering of owners in Adelboden.' The 40 or so people who turned up (owners plus partners or friends) proved the perfect number to fill the Brecon, which served as the base for three days driving their Singers on some of the most exciting and challenging roads Europe has to offer. Although their VIP status precluded me joining the main event, I did enjoy the privilege of driving three different Singer creations on the same roads during the two days prior — and quickly discovered why having to wait five years for his original Classic didn't deter Maunder from going back for more. As the owner of a regular 1980s Porsche 911 for the past 20 years, I continue to be surprised by how exciting and rewarding it is to drive — while simultaneously feeling solidly built, dependable and unique in character. Singer has succeeded in retaining that character while magnifying every aspect of the 911 experience in each different version. The original Classic feels, well, classic — while being smoother, easier to drive and far quicker than a standard car. The Classic Turbo delivers effortless high-speed touring with refined power. And the DLS comes across as a true racer for the road, with a screaming, ultra high-revving engine, ultra sharp handling and giant brakes that seemed to enable it to defy physics as we blasted up the mountain passes. 'They are extremely expensive, but they're definitely worth the money,' Maunder says, 'and I've been told my Classic, which cost me around $600,000, is now worth around $1m because only 450 were scheduled to be made and they have all been sold.' Which gives me good grounds to suggest to Mrs de Burton that, instead of buying a new Skoda and watching it depreciate, we should borrow a couple of mill, buy a Singer DLS Turbo and go to live in Adelboden while our investment grows. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
Sky News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Jeff Stewart: Actor who played Reg Hollis in The Bill helps police arrest shoplifter
The actor who played PC Reg Hollis in hit TV series The Bill has been praised by officers after helping them arrest a shoplifter. Jeff Stewart stepped in when a thief attempted to escape on a bicycle in Southampton on Wednesday. In a statement, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. "To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played PC Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs. "In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week." The Bill was broadcast on ITV between 1984 and 2010 and featured the fictional lives of police officers from the Sun Hill police station in east London. Mr Stewart, who was among the original cast, appeared in more than 1,000 episodes as PC Hollis. In praising Mr Stewart's actions, the force said: "Long since retired from Sun Hill station - but he's still got it." Police from the Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team were alerted by staff at a Co-op store in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter on Wednesday. Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was subsequently charged with five offences of theft relating to coffee, alcohol and food from the Co-op and two other Sainsbury's stores on three dates in April and July. He pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday and was bailed to be sentenced on August 29.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Legendary TV copper helps real-life colleagues arrest shoplifter
TV copper Pc Reg Hollis has helped real-life police officers arrest a shoplifter as he attempted to escape on a bicycle. Actor Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in ITV series The Bill, jumped into action by sitting on the suspect's legs, after he fell from the bike, while officers handcuffed him, in the incident in Southampton, Hampshire, on Wednesday. Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was charged with five offences of theft, to which he pleaded guilty, at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday. He was bailed to be sentenced on August 29. (Image: Hampshire Constabulary/PA Wire) A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week. 'Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV's Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday 23 July. READ MORE: Burnside of the Bill is back on the job in Ruth Rendell thriller heading to Blackpool Grand and Manchester Opera House History of a TV institution - THE BILL THE BILL MADE ME FAMOUS 'The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle. 'The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. (Image: Hampshire Constabulary/PA Wire) 'To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs. 'Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he's still got it.' Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from Co-op in Ocean Way on July 23, theft of £69.90 worth of coffee and food items on July 17, and £54.50 of alcohol and coffee from the same shop on July 14. He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from Sainsbury's in Bedford Place on July 14 and £63 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury's in Redcar Street on April 22.
Metro
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Legendary ITV police drama star 'helps police arrest real-life criminal'
An actor who spent nearly 25 years playing a police officer on The Bill has helped combat a real-life criminal. From 1984 to 2008 Jeff Stewart took on the role of PC Reg Hollis on the ITV drama series. The police procedural focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers of all ranks, with the storylines following situations faced by uniformed officers working on the beat, as well as plainclothes detectives. Joining the series the year it began, Jeff first appeared in the premiere episode Funny Ol' Business – Cops & Robbers. By 2007 he was the last member of the cast remaining from that first episode. His character was written off the following year, with The Bill then ending in 2010. Now, it appears the 69-year-old actor took a leaf out of his character's playbook after stepping in to stop a crime. Earlier this week Southampton resident Mohamed Diallo, 29, appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court, where details of the incident were revealed. The court was that after Diallo shoplifted and attempted to escape on a bicycle, Jeff jumped into action by sitting on the suspect's legs after he fell from the bike, while officers handcuffed him. 'In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week,' a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said. 'Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV's Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday 23 July. 'The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video They continued: 'The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. 'To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs. 'Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he's still got it.' In video of the arrest released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, officers thanked Jeff before asking for a group photo. He replied: 'No, sure, man. Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years, in the TV show. Yeah, I played Reg.' Diallo was charged with five counts of theft, to which he pleaded guilty. Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from a Co-op on July 23, theft of £69.90 worth of coffee and food items on July 17, and £54.50 of alcohol and coffee from the same shop on July 14. More Trending He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from a Sainsburys on July 14 and £63 worth of alcohol from another on April 22. He was released on bail and will be sentenced on August 29. View More » During it's run, The Bill helped launch careers of actors including Keira Knightley, David Tennant, James McAvoy, Sean Bean and David Walliams. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Chloe Ayling: 'I can't believe I'm still talking about being kidnapped eight years later' MORE: Lego Game Boy is so accurate even the advert is the same MORE: The 20 best Commodore Amiga games to celebrate the 40th anniversary
South Wales Guardian
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
TV copper Pc Reg Hollis helps real-life colleagues arrest shoplifter
Actor Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in ITV series The Bill, jumped into action by sitting on the suspect's legs, after he fell from the bike, while officers handcuffed him, in the incident in Southampton, Hampshire, on Wednesday. Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was charged with five offences of theft, to which he pleaded guilty, at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday. He was bailed to be sentenced on August 29. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week. 'Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV's Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday 23 July. 'The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle. 'The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. 'To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs. 'Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he's still got it.' Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from Co-op in Ocean Way on July 23, theft of £69.90 worth of coffee and food items on July 17, and £54.50 of alcohol and coffee from the same shop on July 14. He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from Sainsbury's in Bedford Place on July 14 and £63 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury's in Redcar Street on April 22.
