Latest news with #Vere
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Sienna Miller spotted at 'party rottweiler' Fran Cutler's 62nd birthday - but former Primrose Hill friend Kate Moss is nowhere to be seen
Sienna Miller was among the guests at Fran Cutler's 62nd birthday party this week, but there was no sign of Kate Moss, for whom the host used to act as 'gatekeeper'. In the 1990s, Fran was known as the 'party Rottweiler' for the Primrose Hill set. She would organise hedonistic gatherings for Moss, 51, and her friends, while refusing to admit anyone who she deemed not important enough to join them. The supermodel was conspicuous by her absence at the birthday bash in London, at South Kensington's Nexus Club. Surely Moss can't still be sore about an unfortunate incident that happened between the pair back in 2018? That year, Cutler, pictured, accidentally sent an unflattering message about Moss's appearance directly to her. Hollywood star Sienna, 43, wore a white slip dress under a brown Denebola jumper and was joined at the party by her boyfriend, actor Oli Green, 28, who appeared in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. The smart set's talking about... Pearson follows polo pal and pops the question too My colleague Vere Harmsworth's engagement to horse-loving Alexandra Wood seems to have inspired another. I hear Vere's best friend George Pearson also got down on bended knee last week. 'I proposed while we were on holiday in the south of France,' says George, 29, whose father, Charles Pearson, is the half-brother of Viscount Cowdray and owner of Dunecht estate in Aberdeenshire. George's bride-to-be is lawyer Chesca Durnford, 30. 'Vere and I did discuss things beforehand,' George tells me. The double engagement amused the family of Vere, 30, whose father is Viscount Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail Online and The Mail on Sunday. 'George and I were at Eton and Oxford together,' Vere says. 'We also played in the same polo team.' They will not, however, have a joint celebration. George says, laughing: 'I think we'll stick with separate weddings.' (Very) modern manners West End star Ruthie Henshall, an ex-girlfriend of Prince Edward, may return to the Big Smoke to find Mr Right. 'I've thought about moving back to London and getting an apartment,' says the Olivier Award-winning actress, who lives in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. 'I do have this lovely thatched cottage. I could stay here, but most of my life is in London. How can I meet people if I am not going anywhere?' Henshall, 58, who has two adult daughters with her ex-husband, actor Tim Howar, has not enjoyed online dating. 'I did that twice, but found it awful,' she says. 'I didn't match with many people and some would drop off halfway through a conversation. It's just swipe, swipe, swipe.' Fatboy's boy surprises DJ dad with award As superstar DJ Fatboy Slim, Norman Cook would fly to Ibiza one day and be back behind the decks in London the next. These days, the former Housemartins bass guitarist, 61, doesn't seem to leave his home in Hove, East Sussex, very often. But he did turn up at the Music Producers Guild Awards this week, in east London, to collect a prize for Outstanding Contribution to UK Music. And he was taken aback when his son, Woody, 24, came out to present it to him. 'It takes a lot to get me up the A23 [to London from Brighton], but this is great,' Cook joked. Woody's mother is the DJ's ex-wife, broadcaster Zoe Ball, who Cook last month said remains a close friend and his 'soulmate'. The awards were described as a 'magic moment' by his son. Medal for Wood's forgotten war hero He has walked the length of the Nile and been embedded with Iraqi troops fighting ISIS, and now Levison Wood has completed an even more poignant mission. The TV explorer went to India to present a Second World War veteran with a Burma Star medal and a letter from King Charles. Corporal Con Herh, of the Burmese Chin Rifles, who turns 100 in June, served in the Burma campaign. 'We tracked this guy down, he never received his medal,' says ex-Army officer Wood, 42. 'We thought it'd be a nice touch to go and meet him.' Aspinall curse as Tansy shuts brand Has the Aspinall name been jinxed? A week ago I disclosed that Aspers Group – the casino company founded by Damian Aspinall – had gone into administration. And his daughter, Tansy, has now put her jewellery firm, into liquidation. Tansy, pictured right, set up Tada & Toy with a friend in 2013 and fans were said to include Harry Potter star Emma Watson. But now £119,000 in debt, the company has been brought to a halt. 'It's not goodbye, it's see you later,' the website says. Tansy, 35, last night declined to comment. Townshend: the fame got to Rod and Jagger The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who turns 80 next month, clearly feels it's time to tell some home truths about his fellow rock stars Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Rod Stewart. Talking about the latter's band, he says: 'The Faces and The Who did a gig together at The Oval [in 1971]. It was such a great day, and they were such a great band. 'Then Rod became the "face" of The Faces, a sex symbol. And I hope he won't mind me saying this, because I love Rod, but I think it kind of went to his head.' Of Rolling Stones singer Sir Mick, Townshend questions whether riches have made him happy. 'I wonder, for example, whether Mick Jagger really gives a f*** whether he has a plot on Mustique where he can spend Christmas, or whether he'd prefer to come and have dinner with a bunch of friends in London,' he says.
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joy as Daily Mail owner's son is engaged to Alexandra, girl he met through a love of horses
Six years after meeting on an adventurous horseback safari in Kenya, Vere Harmsworth, elder son of Viscount and Viscountess Rothermere, and Alexandra Wood are engaged. Vere, 30, and Zimbabwe-born Alexandra, 27, who is known as Mwana, or 'little one' in the Shona language, plan to marry next year. The news was being celebrated last night. 'We are over the moon and delighted Mwana is joining our family,' said Lady Rothermere. 'It is like having another daughter. She is a lovely, gorgeous girl.' Vere, whose father Jonathan is chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, publishers of the Daily Mail, MailOnline and The Mail on Sunday, was educated at Eton and St Peter's College, Oxford, where he read history. After working for BCG, the global management consulting group, he joined the family firm, learning all aspects of the publishing business. He has held a string of senior roles and is currently chief commercial officer for DMG Media. Mwana, the daughter of tobacco farmers, was educated at Peterhouse Girls, one of the top independent schools in southern Africa. She is a project manager in the construction industry and currently completing a master's in construction economics at University College London. But it was their shared love of horses and riding that was to lead to romance. Alexandra was hired as one of the guides for a Rothermere family holiday in Kenya's wild and beautiful Masai Mara region – and the couple have been inseparable ever since. Alexandra rides and plays polo as does Vere, who, in 2013, led Eton to a thumping victory over rivals Harrow. He was part of another memorable winning team when Oxford beat Cambridge in the 2015 Varsity Polo Match. The daughter of Duncan Wood and Hilary Campbell, Alexandra is the youngest of four – hence her nickname. She has three older brothers: Tommy who's based in Marondera, south of Harare; Hugo who lives in Zambia, and James, a farmer in Herefordshire. She also has two half-siblings, Emily and Victoria. This weekend, Alexandra was sporting an exquisite marquise cut diamond ring chosen by Vere. The proposal was conducted in time-honoured tradition, after some meticulous planning. On Saturday, despite indifferent weather, he asked her on a walk to Win Green, a beauty spot close to the Rothermere family country home, with views over the Wiltshire countryside. It was there that Vere dropped to one knee. 'I am thrilled that she said "yes", and so excited and happy about this next chapter in our lives,' Vere said last night. 'I'm so very lucky that she is taking me on.' The couple share a home in Notting Hill, west London with their one-year-old Cairn terrier, Toto. It's thought life won't change too much – at least to start with.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ministers draw up plans to shut Hammersmith Bridge for cars
Plans to ban cars from crossing Hammersmith Bridge when it reopens are being drawn up by minsters in a move likely to infuriate thousands of drivers in Britain. A government-led taskforce examining what to do about the 138-year-old bridge, which has been closed for six years for repairs, is focusing on making it a bridge for cycling and walking only, according to the minutes of a closed-door meeting held in January. Officials are examining three options but just one would allow cars. That would involve building a new road above the route for pedestrians and cyclists in a temporary 'double-decker' crossing. However, the minutes show officials are concerned about the 'considerable cost' of this option. Two other vehicle-friendly solutions that would have involved installing replacement bridges have already been rejected. The other two remaining options would involve reopening the bridge for cyclists, pedestrians and single-decker buses only. Officials involved in the meeting praised these options as being good for the environment and cheaper, according to the minutes. Details of the meeting were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and seen by The Telegraph. The document suggests that the bridge, which is among the world's oldest suspension bridges, is unlikely to allow cars when it reopens. Any moves to bar drivers would reverse a long-held government pledge to ensure motorists would be able to use Hammersmith Bridge following the repairs. In 2022 Grant Shapps, then transport secretary, vowed to 'reopen the bridge to motorists'. Baroness Vere, then roads minister, promised the landmark would be 'reopened to motorists as soon as possible and returned to its former glory'. Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, told the Standard in January last year that he 'want[ed] the bridge reopened for vehicles'. Nigel Edwards, the chairman of the Hammersmith Bridge SOS campaign group, said: 'It is extraordinary that in this day and age, we should have a Government that seems to think it's appropriate not to have any viable options for transport for this bridge, for the entire population.'There's an eight-mile stretch of west London that does not have any priority roads across the river. Hammersmith Bridge, Putney Bridge, Wandsworth Bridge – none of them are priority bridges.' Hammersmith Bridge has been closed for long-running works to fix cracks, causing a huge headache for hundreds and thousands of drivers in the area. Findings from Basemap, a transport data provider, suggest travel times have increased to as much as an hour by bus from Barnes to Hammersmith station when it would otherwise take 10 minutes. Tens of thousands of car journeys have also gotten longer. The taskforce meeting was chaired by Simon Lightwood, the minister for local transport, and attended by local councillors representing each side of the bridge as well as MPs and officials from Transport for London (TfL) and City Hall. It was the first meeting of the group in four years. The cost of repairs has spiralled to an estimated £250m and various levels of government have been in dispute over how to pay for the work. Under a 2021 funding agreement, the bill for repairs would be split between the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, the Department for Transport (DfT) and TfL. However, the borough, which owns the bridge, has already said it cannot afford to pay its share unless it introduces a toll or road user charge, a measure that the DfT and TfL do not appear to support. The upcoming Whitehall Spending Review, which sets departmental budgets for three years, will likely determine how any future works on the bridge would be funded. A DfT spokesman said: 'While the Government faces a difficult situation with Hammersmith Bridge, where decisions about its future have been ducked for many years, we recognise the frustration its closure causes motorists. 'The Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce met on January 30 to consider the potential next steps for the long-term future of the bridge. A range of possible engineering solutions were discussed, and further updates will be made available in due course.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
29-03-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Drivers face Hammersmith Bridge ban under reopening plans
Plans to ban cars from crossing Hammersmith Bridge when it reopens are being drawn up by ministers in a move likely to infuriate thousands of drivers. A government-led taskforce examining what to do about the 138-year-old bridge, which has been closed for six years for repairs, is focusing on making it a bridge for cycling and walking only, according to the minutes of a closed-door meeting held in January. Officials are examining three options but just one would allow cars. That would involve building a new road above the route for pedestrians and cyclists in a temporary 'double-decker' crossing. However, the minutes show officials are concerned about the 'considerable cost' of this option. Two other vehicle-friendly solutions that would have involved installing replacement bridges have already been rejected. The other two remaining options would involve reopening the bridge for cyclists, pedestrians and single-decker buses only. Officials involved in the meeting praised these options as being good for the environment and cheaper, according to the minutes. Details of the meeting were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and seen by The Telegraph. The document suggests that the bridge, which is among the world's oldest suspension bridges, is unlikely to allow cars when it reopens. Any moves to bar drivers would reverse a long-held government pledge to ensure motorists would be able to use Hammersmith Bridge following the repairs. In 2022 Grant Shapps, then transport secretary, vowed to 'reopen the bridge to motorists'. Baroness Vere, then roads minister, promised the landmark would be 'reopened to motorists as soon as possible and returned to its former glory'. Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, told the Standard in January last year that he 'want[ed] the bridge reopened for vehicles'. Nigel Edwards, the chairman of the Hammersmith Bridge SOS campaign group, said: 'It is extraordinary that in this day and age, we should have a Government that seems to think it's appropriate not to have any viable options for transport for this bridge, for the entire population. 'There's an eight-mile stretch of west London that does not have any priority roads across the river. Hammersmith Bridge, Putney Bridge, Wandsworth Bridge – none of them are priority bridges.' Hammersmith Bridge has been closed for long-running works to fix cracks, causing a huge headache for hundreds and thousands of drivers in the area. Findings from Basemap, a transport data provider, suggest travel times have increased to as much as an hour by bus from Barnes to Hammersmith station when it would otherwise take 10 minutes. Tens of thousands of car journeys have also gotten longer. The taskforce meeting was chaired by Simon Lightwood, the minister for local transport, and attended by local councillors representing each side of the bridge as well as MPs and officials from Transport for London (TfL) and City Hall. It was the first meeting of the group in four years. The cost of repairs has spiralled to an estimated £250m and various levels of government have been in dispute over how to pay for the work. Under a 2021 funding agreement, the bill for repairs would be split between the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, the Department for Transport (DfT) and TfL. However, the borough, which owns the bridge, has already said it cannot afford to pay its share unless it introduces a toll or road user charge, a measure that the DfT and TfL do not appear to support. The upcoming Whitehall Spending Review, which sets departmental budgets for three years, will likely determine how any future works on the bridge would be funded. A DfT spokesman said: 'While the Government faces a difficult situation with Hammersmith Bridge, where decisions about its future have been ducked for many years, we recognise the frustration its closure causes motorists. 'The Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce met on January 30 to consider the potential next steps for the long-term future of the bridge. A range of possible engineering solutions were discussed, and further updates will be made available in due course.'
