Ambassadors
It is vitally important for people to understand the wonders of Somerset. With so many famous people living in our county, we ought to reflect and really appreciate what opportunities this can bring. Visit Somerset is delighted to announce the recruitment of four of Somerset's biggest celebrities as ambassadors to the association; Duncan Bannatyne, Martin Roberts, Michael Eavis and Simon King. Each ambassador share their utter most love and support towards Somerset and 'Visit Somerset’s' vision to make Somerset great! Welcome to Somerset!
Michael Eavis
The Sun’s Got to Keep Shining! Michael Eavis talks to Giles Adams about cows, music, solar panels and tourism.
During the 'Glastonbury Festival' there were 180,000 people on the farm generating over £100m, images beamed worldwide.
"Where are you taking that fridge?” Michael Eavis inquires, of one his staff as we take a short tour around, 'Worthy Farm', in his Land Rover. I suppose an equivalent would be, Richard Branson asking why seat 34F on Airbus no. 56 has a wobbly arm-rest?
It’s an amusing question to overhear, bearing in mind, only a few weeks earlier, during the 'Glastonbury Festival' there were 180,000 people on the farm generating over £100m, images beamed worldwide. On this quiet August day, however, there is just grass, a few flies and cows. The only evidence of the Festival seeming to be this recalcitrant fridge. I daren’t ask what had been in it?
“My overdraft is £1.2m but being able to give £2m each year to the charities (Glastonbury supports Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid) is more important.”
It is this contrast, that is doubtless one of the reasons why 'Glastonbury Festival' is so successful. “People understand that it is a real dairy farm,” says Michael. “It’s authentic. It’s not a soulless aerodrome or MOD site, where some festivals are held. Here there is more warmth to the site, it’s a living thing. The visitors love the cows; they’re fond of them for some reason.”
Well there are 400 of them, thriving on the verdant grass the vale produces. Little do the cows know that they form the backdrop to the world’s most famous music festival, indeed voted as the best at the Pollstar awards in Los Angeles for six consecutive years. The cows have now also have a famous barn as well. The roof of their living quarters has had solar panels fitted. £600,000 worth.
“It is the biggest private scheme in the country,” Michael announces, “producing enough power to run the farm and 40 houses and we earn £60,000 a year selling our excess units back to the National Grid. It also charges my amazing all-electric car, a Nissan Leaf, which F.J Chalke down in Wincanton have lent me for a year".
"We built the cow shed with a mono-pitch roof facing the sun deliberately with this project in mind. What I love about it is that there are no moving parts, no wear and tear….it just sits there, all that has to happen is that the sun has got to keep shining!”
Michael’s eco-credentials are well known. In the early years, he supported CND. “In 1971 the word ecology didn’t register, but old fashioned hippy types spoke of nothing else, they discussed pollution of rivers and rising sea levels even then, so it rubbed off on me. I didn’t believe everything they said, but I did see on many things they had a point".
"The establishment just thought these people were off their heads but they got straight to the point on deforestation and global warming. That’s why I was in front.”
He went on to say, "All these things cost though. Some of the generators at the festival run on recycled fat bought from factories. It costs £6,000 more to do that than run them on diesel".
The money for the solar panels was lent by Dutch Bank, Triodos, who specialise in environmental investment, but Michael had to put £50,000 of his own money into it as well. “My overdraft is £1.2m but being able to give £2m each year to the charities (Glastonbury supports Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid) is more important.”
This man in his farmyard discussing fridge's was heralded by 'Time Magazine', as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world. “I thought the letter from them was addressed wrongly, it was a real surprise.
Michael’s work for good causes is well known already here in Somerset and he has recently become Patron of the new Somerset Tourism Association and Visit Somerset. This will help maximise the county’s appeal to visitors and build on the important tourist industry already established. “It’s outstandingly beautiful here; I notice Wells and Glastonbury being a real draw, especially with foreign coaches.
There is a real sense of history, going back to the year dot. Joseph of Arimathea came here looking for tin and copper, then with the Christian basis in Glastonbury it developed into 2,000 years of history that’s not going to go anywhere. It’s permanent, along with the Parrett, the Brue, moors, Mendips, brewers, cider makers, farming….it’s all going full pelt. I can help tourism businesses in the county stand side by side and promote Somerset and bring business and develop jobs here.”
Michael’s enthusiasm for all things Somerset is very evident and he is clearly proud of how the Festival contributes. “There is a huge knock-on locally from the Festival. It has crept up over the years. No-one really knew what was going on, least of all me! Look where we are now, but I don’t take anything for granted, I am not complacent. Other festivals want to copy us, we are in a good position but it did not happen by accident. It was built up over time, we had to get people on board including the local authority and other farmers, whose land we rent for the Festival. We employ so many people now.”
It’s not main rock acts that are Michael’s favourite part of the Festival however. He loves all the non-music items. “The big names are fantastic of course but they want to come here because we are the best. This is due a lot to the huge variety of other acts we have nurtured. I take special interest in all the avant-garde areas including Shangri-La, Strummerville, Unfairground, Block 9 and Arcadia. These are night performances that come alive after the main stage finishes at midnight. They run until 5am with fire and steel acts. I have worked with them for 25 years, given them more money over time to develop their acts and now they take their show to Japan"!
Michael clearly loves all aspects of the business and it must bring joy to his heart that his daughter Emily is involved with the Festival. “She is fantastic, we work so well together. We have some lively discussions about predicting which acts will be big for the following year!”
The Extravaganza in August is another popular project organised by Michael and this year was just as thrilling with Katherine Jenkins and Status Quo being on stage over the two days, being supported by a great surprise with the, Bootleg Beetles, who performed an extra free gig on the roof of Oxfam shop in Bridgwater to help raise awareness of the Oxfam charity that Michael is so heavily involved with.
Michael clearly loves all aspects of the business and it must bring joy to his heart that his daughter Emily is involved with the Festival. “She is fantastic, we work so well together. We have some lively discussions about predicting which acts will be big for the following year!”
Glastonbury Festival arouses huge interest, the unique mix of the stellar and the urbane all coming under the paternal eye of Michael Eavis. Some farmers who have successfully developed other businesses lack charm, humility and self-effacing humour. Not so Michael; he is of course hugely proud but retains a genuine gentleness, whilst no doubt being acutely aware of the financial figures of the whole operation needing to be at his fingertips.
This man in his farmyard discussing fridge's was heralded by 'Time Magazine', as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world. “I thought the letter from them was addressed wrongly, it was a real surprise. But my highest honour was a comment years ago from the historian E.P. Thompson, who spoke at the festival. He was amazing when he spoke from the stage, he was on fire. No one else could speak like that, apart from perhaps Bill Clinton. He gave me a copy of his book, 'A History of the Working Class of England'. It was inscribed ‘Thank you Michael for your contribution to the real England’. I was so pleased with that.”
Written by Giles Adams Editor on What’s on Somerset. www.whatsonsomerset.co.uk
Glastonbury festival photography: Jason Bryant
Duncan Bannatyne OBE
Somerset has long had an association with dragons and whilst the symbol may have made its way over here with the Romans, there have been many later alleged sightings of the fire-breathing beast as recently as the mid-19th century.
Duncan is no stranger to hard work, having realised from a very early age that it takes dogged determination and perseverance to reach a goal, and it is only when you speak to him that you realise just how similar he is to the hungry fire-breathing symbol that has come to represent Somerset.
But we can now say beyond fear of contradiction that we have a true-to-life 21st-century dragon in the county of Somerset, in the form of Duncan Bannatyne, probably best known for being on the panel of BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den. However, the formidable voice that has so often been heard to say ‘and for that reason I am out’ is now being put to a slightly different use.
Duncan is no stranger to hard work, having realised from a very early age that it takes dogged determination and perseverance to reach a goal, and it is only when you speak to him that you realise just how similar he is to the hungry fire-breathing symbol that has come to represent Somerset. His voracious appetite for the success of his business empire is now being extended to promote the benefits that Somerset has to offer both visitors and businesses alike as he embraces a new task – his recent appointment as Ambassador to Somerset.
Since August 2010, when he took on the role, Duncan Bannatyne has been championing the cause to not only promote the huge range of business and industry that exist here but also the advantages of living and working in a county that has excellent transport links to the rest of the UK but is at the same time, the rural idyll that many find irresistible.
But what made a native Scottish entrepreneur worth in excess of £300 million want to extol the virtues of a county so far from home?
Whilst Duncan didn’t bring anything new to the table because rather reassuringly for the STA, he liked what he saw, he was keen to point out that one of the first things that struck him about the STA is the great affection they have for the area and how very keen everyone is to promote the region to a wider audience.
It was a happy coincidence that led to Duncan discovering why the county has so much to offer. Having decided he wanted to expand his hotel portfolio, his quest to find somewhere that had the spa facilities that form an essential part of his hotel branding, led him to the Charlton House Hotel in Shepton Mallet. With the prospect of imminent closure, the hotel needed not so much a dragon as a knight in shining armour, and with Duncan’s investment the hotel is returning to its former glory and popularity.
There is even a very personal Bannatyne stamp on the Charlton in the form of Duncan’s Den, a suite that has been conceptualised, designed and overseen by Duncan himself. From the double bath and shower unit to the built-in champagne bucket, every aspect of the room has been thought out in great detail. There is even an HD television with DVD player that is mounted on a swivel system so you can watch your favourite TV show from anywhere in the room, even whilst relaxing in the larger-than-average bath!
But don’t be put off, even though the room is of Duncan’s making, it is still available to hotel guests should they wish to enjoy the opulent comfort during their stay in the Charlton.
So having found the ideal property, it was simply a matter of time before Duncan realized it was also in the ideal location and never having visited Somerset before (even though fellow Dragons’ Den member Deborah Meaden lives here), he was completely bowled over by its beauty and the majesty of such jewels as Wells Cathedral.
The Somerset Tourism Association (STA), which also boasts Michael Eavis, the man behind the International Glastonbury Festival and Martin Roberts of BBC’s Homes Under the Hammer, was quick to seize the opportunity of adding another high-calibre personality to the Association, and whilst Duncan receives hundreds of invitations to join myriad organizations, he didn’t hesitate in agreeing to fill the role.
The STA, which replaced the Sedgemoor Tourist Association in July 2009, is chaired by Bob Nicholson who has over 50 years’ experience in the tourist industry. The organization encourages local tourism businesses to come up with ideas on how the industry is run and it is the driving force behind the regional tourism trade. It aims to magnify the region’s marketing profile across the UK to attract more customers and visitors to the area and therefore generate additional business and income.
“Somerset is so much better.”
The STA issue a guide outlining the function of an Ambassador, but with his existing skills in enterprise, combined with his celebrity status, Duncan had the foundations ready laid and he will be using his excellent credentials to help promote Somerset as the leading visitor destination in the UK.
Whilst Duncan didn’t bring anything new to the table because rather reassuringly for the STA, he liked what he saw, he was keen to point out that one of the first things that struck him about the STA is the great affection they have for the area and how very keen everyone is to promote the region to a wider audience.
With the Charlton House Hotel so close to Cheddar, the famous gorge is at the top of his ‘must see’ list of fascinating places.
Duncan sees his job as promoting what already exists and using his renowned reputation to influence people’s thinking, not just because of his celebrity status although the attraction of his presence is inevitable, but because he is a successful dynamic businessman with a proven track record.
With some imaginative PR work and a dynamic advertising campaign, he hopes to further raise the county’s profile across the UK. He will also take time to personally support the STA when he comes down to Somerset to stay in Duncan’s Den at the Charlton House Hotel.
He sees the Association as being an organic body that will grow in both strength and credibility, helping to boost the tourism industry at a time when everyone is looking for ways to make the most of what they have around them. And whilst no one can say for sure what lies ahead, Duncan will take each day as it comes to see how his role evolves over the coming years. With Government cuts aimed at the subsidised tourist boards, the extra support from the Duncan will be very welcome.
So with his roots now extending to Somerset has he visited any of our extraordinary attractions? The magnificent Wells Cathedral left its impression on him and with the Charlton House Hotel so close to Cheddar, the famous gorge is at the top of his ‘must see’ list of fascinating places. He may also find the mythical town of Glastonbury and its legendary association with King Arthur worth a visit.
But with his jet-setting lifestyle and having travelled throughout much of the world, is there a particular aspect of Somerset he most enjoys? The spectacular scenery and being able to breathe fresh air are at the top of the list, and having plenty of space without having to face the congestion of London, is a close second.
And what about Somerset’s famous savoury snack – Cheddar cheese and the liquid gold of cider? That may take a little longer to warm to though, as Duncan is a fan of smellier cheese and a glass of red.
Perhaps there’s an opportunity for one of our many celebrated cheesemakers to create a Bannatyne special and one of the many regional wine producers to find the perfect red accompaniment!
If he had to think of a slogan for the STA, to encourage people to visit the area, what would it be? Without hesitation, Duncan summarized it perfectly: “Somerset is so much better.”
Written by Sarah Ford Journalist at Somerset Life courtesy of Archant Life.
Simon King
OBE, Naturalist and Broadcaster.
‘Visit Somerset’ is delighted to announce the inclusion of another famous Somerset face to represent the county as an ambassador.
"I’m delighted to have been asked to help represent the magic of the county that is my home."
Naturalist and broadcaster, Simon King OBE, will be supported by a great line up of ambassadors that include; Duncan Bannatyne from ‘Dragon’s Den’, Martin Roberts from BBC ‘Homes Under the Hammer’, together with Michael Eavis as the association’s patron.
Naturalist and broadcaster, Simon King OBE, has been making wildlife films for over thirty years and is familiar name to millions as a presenter of various BBC wildlife series. In addition to his high profile presentation roles on ‘Spring watch’, ‘Autumn Watch’ and ‘Big Cat Diary’, Simon has an impressive catalogue of credits to his name, from the David Attenborough ‘Life’ series, to landmark projects such as ‘Planet Earth’.
"I am thrilled that Visit Somerset will be making the natural environment such an important part of their agenda, with support from the Somerset Wildlife Trust and other conservation bodies. Their collaboration will ensure Somerset’s marvelous wildlife and varied habitats are a key feature for visitors to the county".
King has happily taken up the post to lend support to ‘Visit Somerset’s’ mission; to conserve and develop the county’s natural beauty and heritage for generations to come.
Camera and editing work: Ben Alison
“I’m delighted to have been asked to help represent the magic of the county that is my home and in particular to help celebrate the astonishing natural riches that typify this part of the world” said King. “In particular, I am thrilled that Visit Somerset will be making the natural environment such an important part of their agenda, with support from the Somerset Wildlife Trust and other conservation bodies. Their collaboration will ensure Somerset’s marvelous wildlife and varied habitats are a key feature for visitors to the county”.
Simon’s website, ‘Wildlife Whisperer’ (www.wildlifewhisperer.tv) will be working alongside ‘Visit Somerset’ to help visitors to the county find the best features Somerset has to offer. The ‘Wild Places’ map on Wildlife Whisperer will guide visitors to the best reserves, wildlife attractions, hotels and places to stay in the county, and the world over. In addition, visitors to the website can enjoy a wealth of free to view films, live cameras that watch wildlife spectacles, blogs, news and wildlife watching products.
Among the charities he supports as patron is Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Somerset. Simon, an OBE holder (for contributions to conservation and wildlife photography) hopes that his new role as ambassador for Visit Somerset will help to raise awareness for this remarkable charity.
Secret World has been helping the wildlife of the South West for decades and Visit Somerset will be offering a platform to inform people about the projects, open days and fund raising initiatives of the initiative.
Pauline Kidner, the founder of Secret World told us “Secret World Wildlife Rescue is proud to be part of ‘Visit Somerset’. Through our work caring for wildlife casualties we can promote the huge diversification of habitats that Somerset has, thus supporting a wide variety of wildlife rarely found in any other county in the British Isles. We are delighted therefore that Simon has also become an ambassador for Visit Somerset in supporting Somerset’s natural habitats.”
The charity is already featured as part of the Somerset explorer package - a group booking based project launched recently with ‘First solutions’ and Visit Somerset. This can be found at the following URL address; www.visitsomerset.co.uk/special-offers/somerset-explorer.
“Visit Somerset has big aspirations in terms of supporting and protecting Somerset’s natural heritage and this is a major step forward for us” says John Turner, director in charge of international development. Turner went onto say; “Somerset is already known for its natural beauty and having Simon on board to endorse this nationally and internationally is a great privilege”.
Check out Simon Kings latest Somerset wildlife podcasts at:
http://www.wildlifewhisperer.tv/whats-new/1224
Martin Roberts
BBC Presenter; ‘Homes Under the Hammer’.
Property expert, TV presenter and journalist Martin Roberts tells Sarah Ford from Somerset Life how he’s happy to fly the flag for Somerset tourism
"Tourism is the world’s number one industry and I think the STA team is doing a fantastic job of positioning Somerset to make the most of worldwide opportunities. I am delighted to play my part".
Since it was launched more than seven years ago, Homes Under the Hammer has become compulsive coffee time viewing for households up and down the country. Following the progress of properties that have been bought at auction and transformed by their new owners, the program has become the BBC’s flagship morning television show. It is fronted by Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander, who sometimes can’t hide their feelings of disbelief when someone admits to breaking one or two golden rules of property development.
Somerset-based Martin admits he often feels a certain amount of trepidation about whether the proposed work will be achieved within the allotted timescale and budgets.
“I offer advice (see his website at www.martinroberts.co.uk ) but I don’t tell them they should do ‘this or that’. I perhaps raise an eyebrow when they say they are going to paint the kitchen pink!”
“I went for a job as an engineer with the BBC and halfway through the interview we both came to the conclusion that I didn’t want the job, but they were able to put me in touch with Radio Merseyside, my BBC local radio station.”
Martin’s own property developing career began some 25 years ago when he moved to Bath and began renovating a Georgian house on the outskirts of the city.
He grew up in Warrington in Cheshire but, since holidaying here as a child, the West of England always had a special place in his heart.
He is a great ambassador for the area and I have come to meet Martin to talk about his new role with the Somerset Tourism Association. But before that I wanted to question him on how his media career began.
“It was not the most direct route because I was studying electronics at Bradford University! But I was also a presenter on the hospital and university radio stations and was president of the university media club. We would visit places like newspapers and radio stations and this opened my eyes to the world of the media.”
It was not until he had a life-changing experience that he decided to follow his dreams.
“I did Operation Raleigh in Peru, and worked in the rain forest for three months. While I was there I had a major accident when a boat I was in capsized on a fast-flowing river. I was about 22 years old and I came back from there realizing that you never know what is going to happen in life.
“I went for a job as an engineer with the BBC and halfway through the interview we both came to the conclusion that I didn’t want the job, but they were able to put me in touch with Radio Merseyside, my BBC local radio station.”
Martin worked there as a local reporter before becoming a presenter for BBC Radio Manchester and it was a chance meeting in the lunch queue that led to his break into television.
“Radio and television shared the same canteen and I was just moving along the queue with my tray and saw a piece of lemon meringue pie for dessert; it was phosphorescent yellow and was almost glowing. I was laughing with the guy next to me about how it had lots of added ingredients and as we parted he asked me what I did, and that if I ever fancied working in TV I should contact him. ‘Just ask for Peter on the fifth floor,’ he said.
“Somerset has all the plus points of being a rural county but with everything you need to live in 2011”
“My curiosity got the better of me and later that day I rang the switchboard and asked them if there was anyone called Peter on the fifth floor. Only Peter, Head of TV, they said!”
Martin began working on children’s television, followed by eight years of presenting ITV’s travel show Wish You Were Here..?
When he was climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of the NSPCC and filming the adventure for the program, he met his future wife Kirsty. The couple have two children – Scott, aged three, and one-year-old Megan. Before he had children, Martin wrote a children’s book set in the mystical land of Tiredsville.
“When I’m reading to Scott he will sometimes say: ‘Can I have the one that you wrote, Daddy?’ It’s normal for him that I am on TV and that I wrote a book.”
Scott is still a little young for Martin’s other publication, Making Money from Property, which is one of the most popular titles in the Teach Yourself series.
Martin recently became ambassador for The Somerset Tourism Association, a voluntary association of tourism trade and other business organizations, which aims to promote Somerset as a major destination.
“Tourism is the world’s number one industry and I think the STA team is doing a fantastic job of positioning Somerset to make the most of worldwide opportunities. I am delighted to play my part.
“Somerset has all the plus points of being a rural county but with everything you need to live in 2011. You have the beauty of glorious Bath and wonderful Bristol nearby, and yet you are surrounded by the sensational Somerset scenery. When heading south to film Homes under the Hammer my route takes me through Cheddar Gorge, which is world class. I always say if it was in America, the gorge would have its own airport and people would be flying in there from all over the world.”
Written by Sarah Ford Journalist at ‘Somerset Life’ courtesy of ‘Archant Life’.
