CALIBRE Quarterly #10

T H E L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E M AT U R E M O D E R N M A N C A L I B R E Q U A R T E R LY . C O M

JOHN LYDON

WIN!

Packed with competition prizes

THE CALIBRE DEBATE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

SPORT OF

KINGS

Do men get a fair deal when it comes to divorce?

Going after grouse

IT’S ELECTRIC! Music’s wildest instruments

Supercharged Jensen

Road Test

INTERCEPTOR HEALING HEALEY

SWISS BEAUTY!

A rugby legend’s road to recovery

Skiing & sightseeing in Mürren

196 PA G E S

» Culture

» Food & Drink

» Lifestyle

» Health

» Technology » Travel » Money

» Motoring

Also in this issue...

CHARITY EXPOSÉ!

The good, the bad & the ugly

Issue #10 | £4.99

10 9 772055 376003

Discover more at Cunard.com

Cunard Grills.

Because too much of a good thing is even better.

Take the world’s most luxurious ocean liner experience to the highest level with Cunard Grills: an enclave of indulgence, sumptuous accommodation, personal service and the most privileged dining at sea.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Publisher James Hurst Editor-in-Chief Barnaby Dracup Editorial Assistant Josh Stephenson Designer Robert Hearn Photographer Al Richardson

W

elcome to this extra special issue of CALIBRE magazine – extra special in that it is our 10th issue and one of our best yet!

Continuing our mission to bring you the most interesting and relevant interviews of a generation, this issue we have non-other than the King of Punk himself, John Lydon (p.34). Our latest coverstar kindly took a break from his busy touring schedule to have a chat with me about maintaining his punk ethos, not mellowing out, global politics and the things he believes needs to change.

Speaking of change, here at CALIBRE Towers we are upping the ante and upping our frequency by moving to a bi-monthly publication cycle with our next issue.

The magazine will have a fresher look and feel and more of the same great content and unique in-depth interviews featuring high-calibre gentlemen, social icons, celebrities and captains of industry.

This, of course, could not have been possible without our readers and commercial partners, whose support and confidence we will continue to inspire and build upon.

To the issue at hand and we have, throughout, our usual selection of excellent competitions: we have £1,000s worth of tech, fashion, literature and libation to giveaway, so do not forget to go online at calibrequarterly.com and enter.

While online join in The CALIBRE Debate over on our Facebook page (facebook.com/ CALIBREQuarterly) to have your say on the pressing issues facing men today. This issue we asked, “do men get a fair deal when it comes to divorce?” As you can imagine there are some strong feelings expressed and we have a legal professional onboard to offer their balanced opinion.

For our Road Test this issue (p.20), we tear up the countryside in a British classic – the Jensen Interceptor. These icons of motoring are being given a new lease of life by a small company in Oxfordshire, and it is one hell of a job they are doing.

Elsewhere, we undertake our very own CALIBRE Crime Walk (p.117), looking at the people and locations involved in the grisly past of London’s East End. We take a look at the pros and cons of Universal Basic Income in The Big Idea (p.97), the most electrifying rock ‘n’ roll instruments in Audiophile (p.134), and talk to rugby legend, Austin Healey (p.173), about dealing with his health and fitness problems as he gets older.

I would also like to welcome onboard ‘professional’ grumpy-old-man, Rick Wakeman, who will now be regularly venting spleen at the indignities of modern life in our back page Exhaust Pipe (p.194) column.

So, all-in-all a great issue and I hope you enjoy it!

Barnaby Dracup editor@calibrequarterly.com EDITOR’S

WIN!

Web Developer Seth Havens Contributors Rick Wakeman, Pip Gale, Iris Ellmann, Cai Ross, Jonny Evans, Gina Miller, Al Richardson, Adam Jacot de Boinod, Adrian Hailwood, Graham Clarke, Jonathan Falconer, Joshua Williams, Gordon Robinson, Venisha Shah, Eilish Adams, Simon Smith, Ruth Emery, Gill Wadsworth, Craig MacLellan, Lewis Stallard, Noelle Blackman Head of Consumer Division James Smith Project Manager Jim Ellis Media Sales Executives Ben Whitworth, Barry John Accounts Manager Melanie Feliciano Administration Ashish Bhalsod Marketing Consultant Kevin Lavery Public Relations Palamedes With thanks to Durran Heslop, Nick Downie, Wes Stanton Matthew Fisher, Viewranger, Haynes, our Facebook followers Special thanks to John Lydon & Rambo, Austin Healey Cover Image John Lydon by Al Richardson Subscriptions Tel: 0203 770 4022 Printing Cliffe Enterprise Newsstand Distribution COMAG Promotional Distribution Gold Key Media Stock Images istockphoto.com, REX Features, Getty Images

WIN!

15 Disc Royal Ballet Box-Set

The Collection from The Royal Q Choreographer and Ballet brings together over 20 former Royal Ballet complete ballets in a special principal, Carlos luxury edition box set.

Acosta, is from which We also have three runner-up country? prizes of An Evening with the A: Spain Royal Ballet to give away.

B: Cuba

» ENTER ONLINE AT calibrequarterly.com

C: Brazil

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: For full terms and conditions and to enter the competition please see online at calibrequarterly.com

4

Production Controller Jennifer Harland

| calibrequarterly.com

PICK

Calibre Quarterly is an independent magazine published by Hurst Media Company Ltd. hurstmediacompany.co.uk Tel: 0203 478 6017 Email: info@calibrequarterly.com Registered Address: 56a Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 2HB Company Reg: 08375910 CALIBRE Quarterly is published by Hurst Media Company. Every care is taken in compiling the contents of the publication but the publishers assume no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. Readers are advised to seek professional advice before acting on any information which is contained in the publication. Hurst Media Company do not accept any liability for views expressed, pictures used, or claims made by advertisers. All prices correct at time of going to press. All views expressed within are solely those of the advertisers, writers or sources interviewed. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of Hurst Media Company or CALIBRE Quarterly.

Choppy waters require a masterful manager at the helm

evidence experience ethics

ACHIEVE SOMETHING REMARKABLE Join the only global yacht race crewed by people like you, no experience required.

Sign up for a single leg, combine several or complete the full circumnavigation.

APPLY NOW clipperroundtheworld.com/apply +44 (0) 2392 526000

OPERAT IONS ANALYS T NURSE

DOCTOR MARKE ENGINE TEER ER

CONTENTS

Contents

WIN! £200 Royal Opera House p.4 £200 Holiday Extras Booster Package p.17 £900 iRobot Roomba 980 p.33 £59.99 Tamdhu Batch Strength Whisky p.53 £25 The Somme from Pen and Sword p.59 £285 Porsche Design Sunglasses p.125

COVER STORY

CULTURE

34

34

Cover Star: John Lydon

46

Cultural Observations

72

61 122 154 8

We head out on the highway in a British icon: the V8 Jensen Interceptor

The Sport of Kings Grouse shooting is an exclusive pastime – but what should one expect from the sport of kings?

157 173

Fashion The style of Chevy Chase in Harold Ramis’ 1980 golfing comedy, Caddyshack

SKIer’s Guide Spend the Kids’ Inheritance wisely on the peace and tranquillity of fly-fishing

| calibrequarterly.com

183

The CALIBRE Debate “Do men get a fair deal in divorce?”

Professional Comment

85

Art & Auctions

Military History

Homes & Gardens

142

Our garden expert takes a look at three different styles in which you can give your garden a stylish overhaul

162

Northern Soul

169

Hobby Corner

190

Puzzles

194

Exhaust Pipe

LIFESTYLE

Road Test

Unusual words and phrases from around the world

75 Cool character: we have a laugh with John Lydon.

20

The King of Punk takes a break from touring to chat to us

Healing Healey British rugby legend, Austin Healey, talks about his career, keeping fit, and finding a solution to his joint pain

Charity Corner In the first of a new series our financial crusader, Gina Miller, shines a light on The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of the charity sector

Venisha Shah from The Law House gives professional comment on the CALIBRE Debate

Spot the deals and avoid the fakes in the world of online auctions

How the German Tiger tank struck fear into the hearts of the Allies

The birth of a unique scene and how they still ‘keep the faith’

The world of poker: a game of exceptional skill and logic

Test your knowledge with our Crossword and Hidden Years

Professional grumpy-old-man, Rick Wakeman vents his spleen

NO 10 TRAVEL

54

Lights in the Sky Some say it is nature’s finest spectacle: the northern lights

Secrets of the Houses Historic houses perfect for a culture lover’s getaway

78

View to a Thrill

117

The End of Murder

The year-round magic of Mürren in the Swiss Alps

Our East End crime walk is a fascinating way to see London

FOOD & DRINK

49 90 114

10

Water Of Life Distilleries brought back from the dead

Cellar Selection The best après ski drinks and Hollywood & Vine, our new film and wine pairing column

In the Arctic Circle the magical spectacle of the northern lights is a must-see.

MONEY

66

Alternative Savings

103

Property Investment

Restaurant Review Humphry’s at Stoke Park, Bucks

127

49

TECHNOLOGY

With interest rates reaching zero, where can you invest safely?

English country cottages are both beautiful and bountiful

28

Taste Of Tech

97

The Big Idea

108

In The Frame

134

Audiophile

A Fitting Legacy Remembering a charity in your will can benefit everyone

149

A Stitch in Time

179

Economic Eye

The curious tale of the illiquid UK property funds debacle

Low or 0% interest rates may be the new normal

The Raspberry Pi is another example of successful British technological innovation

Universal basic income is a new idea in the world of the welfare state. But can it work?

In an age of gaudy images, black-and-white film maintains its integrity

It’s electric! We round-up the wildest electronic musical instruments

| calibrequarterly.com 9

Images: Antti Pietkainan

10

TRAVEL

Lights in the

Sky

From Canada to Scandinavia the magical spectacle of the northern lights puts them on every traveller’s must-see list YUKON

NORTH POLE

LAPLAND

10

| calibrequarterly.com

V TRA EL

CE

founded the UK’s first ever P T L ERIEN northernR lights A V E holiday firm.

“Now this may sound apocryphal, but I’ve heard that one tribe told this tale the other way around – that the walruses were playing with a human head. I hope this is true because these ancient tribes would have lived a pretty insular existence and I like to think that some brave soul found a route between the settlements and started a Staying in the wilderness game of aurora-based Chinese whispers! to view the aurora can be “To this day there are eleven different truly magical.

Athabascan languages and 22 different

EX

T

he fantastic, spectral displays of the northern lights are a mythical and spellbinding natural phenomenon found in both the northern and southern hemispheres. In the north they are called aurora borealis, and in the south, aurora australis.

“There was a belief among the Athabascan tribes in Canada and Alaska that the aurora were caused by spirits playing a celestial ball game with a walrus’ head,” says Ali McLean a northern lights expert, who, moved as he was by his early experiences with the aurora borealis,

NG-HA

UL

LO

ICELAND

Images: Antti Pietkainan

TRAVEL

| calibrequarterly.com 11

THE MOST INCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE™

RETURN FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS UNLIMITED EXCURSIONS UNLIMITED WI-FI

NEW

ALL FINE DINING, BEVERAGES & GRATUITIES

TRUE

luxury HAS ARRIVED

The newest jewel in the dazzling Regent Seven Seas Cruises® crown is

Seven Seas Explorer®

The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built™ Boasting one of the highest space to guest ratios of any cruise line, she also has one of the most impressive crew to guest ratios in the industry, with 552 attentive crew looking after just 750 guests.

With over an acre of marble, 473 crystal chandeliers, 400 beautiful Versace place settings and 2,200 pieces of art (including two Picassos hung at the double-door entrance to the extravagant 4,443 sq. ft. Regent Suite), every inch of Seven Seas Explorer® exudes true luxury.

As on all cruises with Regent, everything is included within the fare: • Flights • Transfers • All Fine Dining • All Beverages • Unlimited Shore Excursions • Service Charges •

Visit RSSC.com/CALIBRE to find out more Terms and conditions apply, visit RSSC.com for more information.

rssc.com/ rssc.com CALIBRE

Skiing under the aurora adds a whole new dimension to the experience. dialects, so it’s easy to understand how some confusion might have arisen,” he concludes.

The aurora’s origins begin on the surface of our sun when solar activity ejects a cloud of gas, known as a coronal mass ejection. Two to three days later, when this ejected matter collides with the Earth’s magnetic field, it generates currents of charged particles that flow along lines of magnetic force into the polar regions where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, producing a dazzling auroral light display.

Trips to visit the areas where these awe-inspiring displays of nature take place are now more accessible, and more precisely tailored, than ever before.

“We run small group trips which are ideal for solo travellers as they provide the chance to meet like-minded souls,” says Mr McLean. “Our oldest

Images: Antti Pietkainan

TRAVEL client so far has been 88, and it’s also noticeable that the over 50s are increasingly getting bitten by the ‘adventure experience’ bug.”

And what an adventure it can be. From Finland’s captivating snow-covered forest slopes and lakes, to the mountains of Sweden and the Norwegian fjords, each one is distinctively different, both geographically and geologically.

“Canada is amazing and Iceland is a geologist’s dream,” says Mr McLean. “I love them all, and they are all so distinctively different, but if I could go back to just one then I would probably choose Finland.

And one thing is the same everywhere you go; you will always receive the warmest of welcomes, no matter which of the countries you visit. They breed truly great folk in the north!”

Many describe seeing the northern lights as a spiritual experience, and undoubtedly it is this element that adds to the draw of the Arctic Circle’s most famous attraction. Despite our modern, scientific understanding of the lights, to stand in a magical, frozen landscape and watch the aurora dance against a pitch-black sky is a truly otherworldly thing to experience.

“At these moments I always find myself wondering what our lessscientifically informed forefathers thought of the aurora borealis,” says Mr McLean. “Once you have seen the lights in this environment you can understand why so many myths and legends have arisen throughout time to try and explain this phenomenon.”

“Many describe seeing the northern lights as a spiritual experience”

NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE For those keen to witness such astronomical events, it may come as some disappointment that there is no precise way to predict their strength and

AURORA HUNTING FORMULA theaurorazone.com PREDICTING AN AURORA or seeing them is never particularly straightforward but there are certain measures you can take to enhance your chances: » Nothing dilutes an aurora display like artificial light pollution. Find destinations situated outside towns, cities or large ski resorts » An aurora can display at any time. Do not miss them by being asleep in your city hotel when they appear! » There is no substitute for local knowledge. Find local guides who chase and see the northern lights regularly » Be safe out there! The lights appear most frequently just above the Arctic Circle where the temperature regularly drops below -30°C. If you are heading into the Arctic night you must have a guide who knows the terrain.

| calibrequarterly.com 13

TRAVEL

Did you know?

appearance. Auroras occur continuously throughout the With CALIBRE’s preferred partners year but the light Oxygen at about 60 miles up » Canada Travel Specialists summer months causes yellow/green aurora, at render them Helping travellers discover the wonders 200 miles up it causes invisible to the eye, of Canada for over 40 years red auroras so the prime time for canadatravelspecialists.com aurora chasing is from » Inn Travel September through to April, yet even this is still no guarantee.

Specialists in self-guided, relaxing “The problem is that we are dealing activity holidays with the vagaries of Mother Nature, inntravel.co.uk which makes it impossible to state » Iceland Pro Travel with any accuracy when the best time will be,” says Mr McLean. “It could be The leading tour operator in Europe October, or it could be February if the specialising in Iceland sun is active in its output and the icelandprotravel.co.uk conditions are right. From personal experience, I have always had huge success around the equinoxes. September is great PATIENCE PAYS OFF because it’s warmer and the weather tends to be Patience and dedication are usually the most better, which means less cloud cover.” important factors when it comes to successful hunts As with most things in life, it is the age-old mantra of the aurora borealis. A traveller who might find of ‘location, location, location’ that is himself in the middle of a large city vitally important when it comes to when his ‘aurora alarm’ (most seeking out the best northern lights companies operate a warning service for experiences, so make sure that you do their clients) goes off in the small hours “The location of any your research before booking. will be unable to escape the city’s light “I think the location of any aurora pollution in time to view the display aurora hunting trip is hunting trip is of key importance,” says before it fades or daylight returns.

Mr McLean. “In recent years I have “The beauty of our trips is that they of key importance” seen many businesses jumping on the are almost exclusively in areas with • aurora bandwagon by offering cheap virtually no light pollution,” says Mr trips to the likes of Tromsø and McLean. “We’ll still take clients out ALI McLEAN Reykjavik, but I don’t believe that ‘hunting’, but if there’s nothing going on three nights in a heavily light-polluted they can simply return to their hotel or city or a large floodlit ski resort can in cabin. However, if the alarm does go off any way constitute a proper aurora at two in the morning, it may well be enough to throw hunting holiday.” on some warm clothes and step outside to behold 14

| calibrequarterly.com

EXPERIENCE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

The quiet side

of the mountain

A

snow holiday

BOO KING OFF ER

Save

£100 *

up to

ON A S HOL NOW IDAY

doesn’t have to mean aching thighs, busy bars and crowded slopes.

You see, there are two sides

to every mountain

and while you could just follow the crowds merrily downhill, why not explore Europe’s magnificent snow-covered scenery in your own way?

But please, while you’re off racing huskies, eating local food, skiing through silent forests and chasing the Northern Lights spare a thought for the others, stuck in the same bar, on the same slope, with the same old view.

Or not.

Discover the quiet side of the mountain.

* Terms and Conditions Save £100 per booking of 6 nights or more (or per couple); or £50 per booking of 5 nights or less (or per couple). Offer is valid for Snow holidays only for travel before

16 April 2017. Quote ‘Snow-Calibre’ at time of booking. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer only applies to new bookings (the discount is not available retrospectively).

Subject to availability and normal booking conditions.

Unforgettable Experiences with Iceland ProTravel See the best that Iceland has to offer with Iceland ProTravel's range of holidays and excursions

Hire a truck and go experience the best

I

of Iceland!

Advertorial Feature

celand is the destination of choice for travellers who want an experience that is utterly unique. Where else can you find active volcanoes, bubbling geysers, gigantic glaciers and thundering waterfalls? Alongside the trendy hotels, stylish restaurants, bars and geothermal spas of vibrant Reykjavik?

So, look no further, than our adventurefilled, luxury, spa, guided and family holidays – we have truly got something for everyone. Can you picture yourself diving between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates? Or dashing across a glacier on snow scooters?

Perhaps you would like to venture inside a volcano or go white water rafting? No matter what you are interested in be it ice climbing, dog sledging, whale watching, or observing spouting hot springs. Iceland is your destination!

Should you wish to see it all a bit more

hassle-free then take a look at our latest excursion, Iceland Circumnavigation on the comfortable, Ocean Diamond cruise ship.

The Iceland Circumnavigation is the perfect way to see the best Iceland has got to offer by sailing at night and being in a new port each morning. And for those night owls among us, they can enjoy 24 hours daylight during the summer nights.

Once in each port, we offer optional shore excursions which can be booked in advance. The Iceland Circumnavigation highlights the natural wonders of Iceland during a ten-day voyage that circumnavigates the entire island treating its passengers to magical views of mountains, ancient glaciers and fjords.

As well as crossing the Arctic Circle and visiting the island of Grimsey using our fantastic zodiacs.

Our comfortable ship makes your expedition cruise an unforgettable adventure. Thanks to two stabilizers and an ice-strengthened hull, the Ocean Diamond is the ideal ship for adventure voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Due to the compact size, we can take you to places off the traditional cruise routes so that you experience all that Iceland and Greenland have to offer. Our experienced expedition team consists of local guides from both Iceland and Greenland who can

offer real insight into the culture, history and nature of each destination.

Discover the best of Iceland on one of our great holidays. We have a wide variety of trips, so you are sure to find the one that is right for you. Get in touch today using the information opposite and we look forward to welcoming you to Iceland!

Contact Information: 08456 066 686 sales@icelandprotravel.co.uk icelandprotravel.co.uk icelandprocruises.co.uk

Y6069 Exclusive Offer Early bird special offer on all our 2017 Iceland Circumnavigation and Greenland cruises valid until 31st December 2016 – do not miss out, book now!

Did you know?

TRAVEL

the myriad coloured lights dancing across the Arctic firmament.”

Astral light displays aside, just travelling into the aurora zone and the Arctic can be an When the Sun’s ejected experience in itself and visitors can choose electrons hit nitrogen molecules from a plethora of exciting, or relaxing, they emit a blue light as they daytime activities – which are easily just as ‘calm’ back down important as the nocturnal aurora hunts themselves. It is the entirety of the experience that is invigorating and travellers can avail themselves of local pastimes such as dog sledging, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing, reindeer safaris and even staying in the famous ice hotels.

A trip to the Arctic Circle, be it Iceland, Canada, Finland or beyond, is not only a blend of these activities – of snowmobile safaris to visit Sámi villages, of cooking salmon and reindeer steaks over an open fire in the wilderness – many travellers can also find it a deeply moving and spiritual experience, and one which they will never forget.

“Over the years I’ve heard from many clients,” says Mr McLean. “And although that’s a lot of nice things to hear, I’m very fond of one comment in particular from the daughter of an 80-year-old woman who witnessed the northern lights in Finland: ‘We held each other and cried tears of joy at the sheer beauty of the moment’.

Now, I think that’s what you call a happy customer.”

THE SCALE USED to measure geomagnetic storms is called the Kp Index and ranges from Kp0 (very small) to Kp9 (huge). The larger the number, the further south the lights can be seen. The most common solar storms are generally between Kp1 and Kp3, which restricts them to a band that appears at latitude 66°N and 69°N (this changes in North America due to the oval shape of the band). To see the aurora in northern England requires at least a Kp5 or Kp6 level.

Images: Antti Pietkainan / © Scott Kelly, Expedition 44, NASA

DEPENDS ON STRENGTH

Red aurora caused by high atmosphere oxygen atoms.

WIN! A Holiday Extras Travel Booster Package WIN! A night’s stay in a luxurious airport hotel including parking » Get your holiday off to a smooth start with this hassle-free holiday package. One lucky CALIBRE reader has the chance to win an overnight stay for two at a UK airport hotel with up to 15 days’ parking, as well as the chance to spend a relaxing time in the airport lounge.

This prize offers the peace of mind that comes with preparing ahead. Once everything is taken care of – it is time to focus on the most important thing – your holiday!

WORTH £ 200!

Q HolidayExtras.com offers services at how many UK airports?

A: 45

WIN!

B: 28 C: 25

» ENTER ONLINE AT holidayextras.com

calibrequarterly.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: For full terms and conditions and to enter the competition please see online at calibrequarterly.com

| calibrequarterly.com 17

ALL INCLUSIVE on every European itinerary‡ • Exclusive door-to-door holiday transfers† Maximum early booking discounts save you up to £1,400 per person* Nobody does river cruises better than Uniworld - its unforgettable boutique cruises along the great waterways of Europe, Russia, India and Asia redefine luxury cruising. Uniworld travellers enjoy the finest staterooms, outstanding Zagat-recommended cuisine, a peerless staff-to-guest ratio and a choice of included shore excursions at every port of call. Door to door transfers wherever you live in the UK are included as part of Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service†.

And you can appreciate premium all-inclusive value on all European itineraries - unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks onboard, Wi-Fi and gratuities are complimentary. It all adds up to a first-class service.

T’s & C’s apply. Calls free from BT landlines, mobiles may vary. †Excludes Scottish islands and Sark. ‡Only on European itineraries, excludes Russia, India and the Mekong. *Early booking offer is only available on selected departures. ABTA Y174X ATOL 0308

2017

THE WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISES Europe | Russia | India | Vietnam & Cambodia

Call today to request the new 2017 brochure, quoting CM3 5UW or visit the website

0800 988 5897

titantravel.co.uk

JENSEN INTERCEPTOR R & R SUPERCHARGED ENGINE: LS3 & LSA 6.2 litre V8 POWER: LS3 429bhp / LSA supercharged 556bhp SUPERCHARGED TOP SPEED: 174mph / 0-60mph in 3.8secs GEARBOX: 6-speed manual or auto FUEL ECONOMY: 23mpg cruising

ROAD TEST

When I Was 20

| calibrequarterly.com

LIFESTYLE

The Jensen Interceptor is the epitome of cool and now a British company is breathing new life into this classic car

M

a Lad...…

ost customer conversations begin with, ‘when I was a lad’,” says Durran Heslop, head of client relations and marketing at Jensen International Automotive (JIA). “‘When I was a lad my dad, uncle, or boss, had an Interceptor and I’ve always wanted one’.

“That’s the usual line, but I think that’s true for all classic car owners – that they have some kind of resonance with their younger, former life, and it’s just that they are now in a position where they can afford to have the car they want.”

JIA’s typical customers for their Interceptor R and R Supercharged variants are usually successful captains of industry whose children have flown the nest, so now they find themselves looking to rekindle old flames from the past and perhaps pick up a sporty little number in the process.

“They are generally looking for a bespoke sports car, but quite subtle,” says Mr Heslop. “They want one that isn’t shouty, though, like a lot of the fabulous Italianate machines you can buy on the market today. Our Jensen’s are a fairly discerning gentleman’s choice, and they would more than likely be adding it to their collection. They love the look of the classic car, but they do not want the aggravation that goes with it.”

A lot of hard graft and research has gone into perfecting the products at JIA, eliminating the issues the Jensen marque originally had with reliability.

“They had an appalling reliability record, even when they were new,” says Mr Heslop. “We now have modern engines with digital engine management, fuel injection, our own handmade wiring looms, modern relays and interconnectors. The cars are, as humanly possible, as reliable as a modern car. The gentlemen owners of these vehicles can simply jump in them at the weekend and away they go. I was | calibrequarterly.com 21

Model R7051 B

SAFETY, DRIVEN BY VISION. Confidence behind the wheel with Rodenstock Road driving glasses.

See better. Look perfect.

Your benefits: • Unrestricted field of vision for rapid change of focus • Less dazzling and more contrast • Excellent night vision and safe assessment of distances • Also suitable for everyday wear

speaking to a client this morning who was just preparing to drive his car from London to Scotland, which to me speaks volumes.”

WHY NOT TRY?

BESPOKE RESTORATIONS Although the R and R Supercharged are the two models JIA market, each car is bespoke built, with no two cars ever leaving the shop the same.

“Everything from the body paint to the stitching on the leather and the pointers on the dials can be customised,” says Mr Heslop. “We’re doing one car at the moment that we’re putting rear air-conditioning inside and we’ve recently done one with adjustable, heated memory seats, but there’s never been anything so outlandish that we couldn’t work it into the final build.

“We normally start a build with a ‘dead’ Jensen, which generally find us – people look us up and say, ‘we’ve got a car we want to get rid of, are you interested?’ So, we go and take a look and say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. But they don’t need to run, they don’t need to have been on the road anytime recently – because we gut them and then start again.”

As part of the restorations, JIA include their own significant chassis modifications, which is what makes the finished cars a completely different machine to drive than the originals. They lose the live rear axle and install a tailor-made independent rear suspension set-up, which is derived from the classic Jaguar IRS. “At the front of the car we also change the geometry, camber and caster, for a better feel, but

» CALIBRE recommends Hagerty Insurance.

Hagerty is the UK’s only specialist classic car insurance company, run by classic owners and enthusiasts. Their policy features agreed value, 90 days European touring breakdown cover and much more. hagertyinsurance. co.uk

the original double-wishbone set-up was actually very good,” says Mr Heslop. “We also include bigger brakes, bigger wheels and modern tyres – everything that the car rolls and rides on is made new.

“There’s also a new fuel tank and exhaust, all to our own design, which then permits us to install a new engine. All the components are made to order and, as we are based in the middle of F1 territory, just down the road from Silverstone, there are some amazing engineering companies around here who can make things for us that are works of art in their own right.

“So, why try and reinvent the wheel when you can buy it in?”

NO (PAINT) JOB TOO SMALL ONE PARTICULAR JOB Mr Heslop’s team are working on has a 1950s Aston Martin paint colour, requested by a customer, and which proved a real challenge to track down. It is called Moonbeam Grey and they eventually discovered an old handwritten formulation for it over at Aston Martin Heritage – and mixed it up!

Custom paint comes as

standard.

| calibrequarterly.com 23

LIFESTYLE

“It’s the same for our engines,” Mr Heslop continues. “We’ve gone to General Motors and sourced the LS3 which is a 6.2 litre, 430bhp V8 and the LSA, which is the supercharged variant of that with 556bhp. That is then mated to either a six-speed auto or six-speed manual transmission and that gives us some serious performance!

“But, that’s not what it’s all about – you don’t buy a 200 watt hi-fi to listen to it at 200 watts – you want effortless performance at the lower registers; 90mph is 2,200rpm, it’s a lovely, easy cruiser.”

THE EVOLUTION JIA Ltd was formed in 2010 with a majority shareholding from the highly respected entrepreneur, Sir Charles Dunstone. That, coupled with managing director David Duerden’s extensive motor racing and aeronautical engineering expertise, helped create something quite exceptional in the heart of motoring country.

“In the mid-2000s they were looking for ways to increase the value of the Interceptor to the business, and also ways in which they could increase the value in terms of appeal and quality to the public,” says Mr Heslop.

“The obvious thing was modifications because, while Jensen’s look fantastic, in today’s terms they just don’t drive as well as they look. Even though it was originally a 7.3 litre Chrysler engine, with ‘apparently’ 280 horse power, you just don’t feel that – not by modern terms. So, they were thinking about how to improve that and that’s why they brought David in, who’s a trained engineer and he came up with the suspension and brake modifications, which massively improved the way the car rolls and rides.

“After these modifications it could cope with more power, so they began trying to tune the old Chrysler lump – which proved to be both difficult and costly – so the 24

| calibrequarterly.com

solution was to import reliability and newness in the form of General Motors engines, shaving 200kg off the weight of the car.”

This essential formula – of tinkering, researching and perfecting – has stayed true throughout the evolution of the Jensen Interceptor R and R Supercharged and JIA have now gone on to address other elements about the Interceptor that could be considered lacking in today’s motoring terms.

“In the Supercharged we’ve The Supercharged now got electric seats as boasts a 556bhp standard and an improved General Motors V8. wiper set-up, an improved heating and aircon system and lots of other constantly improving odds and ends,” says Mr Heslop. “We’ve evolved the Interceptor to pretty much its optimum place, and we’re just entering, unofficially, phase two of the Interceptor R, where we’ve managed to source a system that’s going to give us traction control and ABS. We’re also now capable of doing tap-shift on the gearboxes, we’ve got cruise control coming, heated electric windscreens, HID headlights and all sorts of little bits and pieces that will, overall, make the cars more appealing.

JENSEN INTERCEPTOR EXPERIENCE GROWL, POWER AND surge in the lower ranges and a steady pull in sixth let you know this car means business. The pedal action and the liveliness felt from the machine brings to mind an early car of mine, although certainly not in terms of performance; the Morris Minor 1000 and its all-or-nothing driving style. During an afternoon of what can only be described as ‘blasting along country roads’, I got a feel for this beast and could soon see why the famous Jensen Interceptor has captured the hearts and minds of so many: thoroughbred looks coupled with punchy power and pace. And let us not forget the handling and instant torque from that gloriously throbbing V8…

The test car had an LS3 480 engine, meaning it is normally aspirated but has 480lb/ft of torque and 495bhp, which sits it between the R Normally Aspirated and the R Supercharged. It did the 0-60mph dash in around four seconds and with a 6,300rpm red line, I was able to make some seriously good progress.

BD jensen-sales.com 0845 519 5265

We have been designing, building and racing cars for nearly six decades.

From first race to international endurance, we will take you where you want to go.

WE ARE GINETTA Join us at ginetta.com #weareginetta

LIFESTYLE “It’s exciting times for us, as this level of customisation and attention to detail is what helps us give the cars the best chance we can when it comes to targeting customers in our price bracket.”

ANOTHER STRING TO THEIR BOW Another facet of their offering, and one that has taken off quite dramatically for JIA, is what they are calling an ‘S Conversion’. A customer brings in a car that has been restored and re-trimmed and made good previously, and the Banbury workshop simply undertake the mechanical conversions for them.

“We don’t touch the paint or anything else – we just make them more reliable and quicker,” says Mr Heslop. “The advantage to this is that it’s a different price bracket, where the Interceptor Rs are now £200k-plus, by the time you’ve bought a £35-40k good condition, previously restored car and spent £70k odd on it – you’re at around the £100k mark – and that’s a different market. It’s something we’re starting to see more of.

“Creating an R will take a good year, but an S can be turned around in four months. This year, in particular, has gone mad and we’re building six at the moment and, as people begin to appreciate the Interceptor more, they are looking for ways ‘into’ them, which is giving us the opportunity to appeal to a broader market.”

A DEDICATED FOLLOWING Compared with many other cars from the period, the shape variants of the Interceptor have generally matured well and they are fortunate to have inherited what was, essentially, an Italian styling

exercise. Being British-built cars, styled in Italy and powered by American muscle, also means they have a unique appeal all of their own.

“In their period they were the coolest thing – they were the car everyone aspired to own,” says Mr Heslop. “Of course, Jensen then fell over in 1976 and from there they went into a gentle decline, but to everyone who knows them, and in particular people who can recall them from the period, they were the aspirational car.

“If you start looking around at what else there is in the classic car market, that is similar, you really are in the league of Aston Martins and other top-end stuff. What other hand-built, British luxury GT from the period can you buy? I can’t think of one.”

THE JENSEN FF THIS JENSEN FF from the 1969 Earl’s Court Motorshow was purchased as an investment project by the company with plans to restore the car to full working order. Jensen FFs in ‘donor’ condition are now very rare and Mr Heslop has only seen around half a dozen. The Jensen FF was actually the fi rst 4WD road car, not the Audi Quattro as is often believed.

The Interceptor R Supercharged is equipped with advanced traction control and wider rear tires for optimum performance. | calibrequarterly.com 27

TECHNOLOGY

TASTE OF TECH

Life of Pi The UK has long been at the heart of technological innovation and its latest success, Raspberry Pi, is no exception

Proof good things come in small packages

F

rom the steam engine to Alan Turing’s pioneering work at Bletchley Park and Brit, Sir Jony Ive, designing the iPhone, the UK has a rich history of tech innovation.

Now, another huge technology success has reared its head in the form of the phenomenally successful Raspberry Pi. Since its first release, the low cost Raspberry Pi microcomputer has built a huge global fan following, and has also found its niche in some professional markets. It is an astonishing success for its creators – the small UK charity The Raspberry Pi Foundation (raspberrypi.org) – and is yet another testament to the UK’s innovative presence on the global stage.

28

| calibrequarterly.com

Did you know?

To demonstrate networking technology in 1976, The Queen sent out her first email from an army base in Malvern

WHAT IS IT?

Developed by Dr Eben Upton and a team of computer scientists from Cambridge University, the Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer about the size of a credit card. It is a no-frills affair, which means it consists of nothing more than the motherboard and I/O (input/output) ports.

You extend this base unit using add-on kits and other peripherals, building your own software or downloading any of the thousands of projects you can find online.

The system was originally created to be a low cost way (they now range in price from £4-£35) in which children and young people could gain

TECHNOLOGY

The Raspberry Pi has seen incredible success

Jonny Evans Jonny is an independent journalist who has been writing about technology since the heady days of the late 1990s @jonnyevans_cw

Image: c/o Lisa Ventre, University of Cincinatti

GLOBAL SUCCESS

experience at coding without wrecking, or hogging, their home PC. “We honestly thought we would sell about 1,000, maybe 10,000, units in our wildest dreams,” Upton told tech website zdnet.com. “We thought we would make a small number and give them out to people who might want to come and read computer science at Cambridge.”

Despite Upton’s wildest dreams, that is not what happened.

BRITISH SUCCESS STORY With modest ambitions, the team had made 1,000 units available for launch. They set the purchase price at just slightly higher than the cost of

RETIRED US AIR Force colonel Gene Lee has been flying planes all his life. He says a combat simulation against an AI (artificial intelligence) unit running on a Raspberry Pi is challenging: “It seemed to be aware of my intentions and reacted instantly to my changes.”

So, armed with a Raspberry Pi, the UK’s teenagers may still yet take . uses many Flight simulation is just one of the Pi’s over the world!

| calibrequarterly.com 29

TECHNOLOGY

manufacture to align with their ethos as a charity dedicated to getting people to code.

Prior to its release, the BBC ran a news article about the device, which was subsequently published on YouTube, quickly going viral with the video receiving over 600,000 views in a short space of time. The team then decided to boost production to 10,000 units, thinking this would be enough to cope with the demand. However, once again this proved not to be the case!

The additional stock then sold out within hours and an additional 100,000 pre-orders were made.

To meet demand the team quickly raced to reach deals with Premier Farnell and RS Components (both electronics distributors).

Four years later and over eight million Pi units have been sold. The product has been through several iterations and buyers can now choose between: the Pi 2 Model B, the Pi 3 Model B, the Pi Zero, and the Pi 1 Model B+ and A+, all of which run variants of the Linux software OS (operating system).

This great UK invention already has tens of thousands of enthusiastic hobbyist users around the world (one-third in the US, another third in the UK and the remainder elsewhere) and is being deployed in education and the home, in business and beyond.

Of course, as far as the Foundation is concerned, the biggest measure of success is that hundreds of UK schools now use Pi computers in lessons; precisely what the founders had hoped for. The platform was recently extended to include the incredibly low cost (£4) Raspberry Pi Zero, which runs a free, full OS, called Raspbian.

CORE PRINCIPLES The core principle at the heart of Raspberry Pi is DIY. You assemble the system yourself, write your own code and create your own solutions based on off-the-shelf products.

30

| calibrequarterly.com

Most units ship with outof-the-box programming tools and you can download a variety of operating systems and even a stripped down version of Windows.

Once you put your system together you will find the core version of Raspberry Pi is powerful enough to run a word processing program, quickly browse the Internet or even stream 1080p video.

It is this challenging DIY ethic that has been so crucial to the appeal of Pi, which has attracted the same kind of enthusiasm as we saw surrounding the Acorn BBC The Pi has sold an Micro computers in the impressive eight 1980s or even perhaps the million units.

HomeBrew Computer Club (which included the founders of Apple), that drove the invention of the personal computer in the 1970s.

UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION

The Pi comes equipped with modern I/O ports

Raspberry Pi is not just the realm of home hobbyists and home projects. Most recently a Pi-based system developed by the University of Cincinnati and equipped with artificial intelligence beat tactical experts in a combat simulation, and the new, ultra-affordable Pi Zero has huge potential for use in robotics and connected device projects: “There are places you can take this that you can’t take the original Pi,” Upton told Wired magazine.

This, if nothing else, shows how a very British technological revolution has become an international platform for innovation – a fantastic result no matter how you slice it up – and is probably why Dr Eben Upton received a CBE from The Queen back in June of this year. Officially joining the ranks of the great British tech titans that preceded him.

THE NEW ROOMBAÂŽ 980 Vacuum Cleaning Robot keeps going until the job is done, vacuuming an entire level of your home for up to 2 hours*, recharging as needed. From pet hair to everyday messes, the Roomba 980 increases air power on carpets and rugs where dust and dirt hide. It also seamlessly and efficiently navigates your home, avoiding obstacles and stairs and cleaning under furniture. And with the iRobot HOME app, you can schedule and clean your floors with the Roomba 980 from anywhere. Get to know the new Roomba 980 at www.witt.zone/irobot *Tested in iRobot's Home Test Lab on hard floors.Run times may vary.

Available at

Vacuum Cleaning Robot Š 2015 iRobot Corporation. All Rights Reserved.iRobot and Roomba are registered trademarks of iRobot Corporation.

The revolutionary new Doro smartphone

Action based interface

Exclusive offer for Calibre readers

Loud and clear sound

As the world leader in easy to use technology, Doro has re-defined the smartphone and created an interface that works the way you think, using actions like send, add or search instead of having to find your way through long and complicated menus.

Google Play Store

Working with the actions you want, you will be able to discover new things, use Google Maps, view pictures or send messages in seconds, even if you are a smartphone beginner. And when set in its charging cradle, the 8030 can also be used as an FM radio, an alarm clock or even a digital photo frame!

And to make sure you are connected when you need it most, we are pairing your new Doro 8030 with an Anywhere SIM card which uniquely uses the signal from O2, EE or Vodafone wherever you go in the UK. Why have just one network when you can have three and virtually never be out of range?

The Anywhere Pay as You Go SIM card offers a flat rate of 10p per minute, 5p per text and 10p per megabyte of data used – whether you are in this country or in Europe. This unique feature of roaming in the UK, using O2, EE and Vodafone, is the perfect companion for those living in rural areas.

Tool for remote assistance

This exclusive offer of a Doro 8030 for the special low price of just £199, including £40 of credit on your Anywhere SIM card, is only available by calling this number 01992 721292

Dock mode Extra functionality while charging

PLUS! If you call and buy a Doro 8030 today, or any time up until October 31, 2016, we will give you a protective case for your phone, with a recommended retail price of £20, ABSOLUTELY FREE! anywhere sim

To find out more, please visit www.doro.co.uk or www.anywheresim.com

TECHNOLOGY

SPECIAL PROJECTS The Pi community has developed a huge range of interesting solutions, from remote controlled homes to near-space exploration, from factory production to consumer media systems. Online and in print, there is a wealth of literature and guides, which you and your family can use to assemble everything Do not let the Lego from media centres to games fool you, this is no console emulators to pet feeders, computational toy. and there is even a project from developer, James Puvar, which automates the process of making a cup of tea.

Head over to Raspberry Pi’s highly active forums where you can discover all manner of interesting projects and find the help you need to explore the fascinating, quintessentially British life of Pi. Across the wider Internet you will also find all manner of wacky, but clever, projects to sink your teeth into: here are just a few of the great Pi-based projects currently out there – made in the UK, the home of innovation.

Create a ona pers l trainer for your cat.

LEGO SUPERCOMPUTER

MAKE A MEDIA CENTRE

HAVE YOU WALKED THE CAT?

HOME PRIVATE EYE

COMPUTATIONAL ENGINEERS at the University of Southampton built a supercomputer using 64 Raspberry Pi computers and used Lego as a chassis for the whole thing. The system cost under £2,500 and has 1Tb of memory – 16Gb SD cards for each Raspberry Pi. Just be careful not to step on it... soton.ac.uk/~sjc/raspberrypi

XBIAN IS A lightweight OS for your Pi that turns it into a media centre. When you put the system together you end up with a tiny, completely silent, connected system that streams video in 720p, though you may find it a little underpowered for larger resolution pictures. Keep an eye out for future upgrades. xbian.org

CATWHEEL IS A giant hamster wheel for cats.

The Raspberry Pi gets triggers from an electromagnetic sensor attached to the frame.

Based on these triggers, exercise on the wheel can be detected, and the speed and distance calculated. Ideal for those of you who want to whip your moggie into shape! raspberrypi.org/magpi/catwheel

PRIVATE-EYE-PI is a DIY home alarm system that you can build and program yourself. You can link it to your house cameras, motion detectors, door switches and even home thermostats to check whether your central heating is working. You can then monitor everything via your computer or phone. projects.privateeyepi.com

WIN!

The iRobot Roomba 980 Cleaning Robot!

WIN! This amazing domestic floor cleaning device from iRobot!

Q For how long can Roomba 980 clean before it needs recharging?

» Smart enough to detect different floor

A: 30 minutes

surfaces and optimise its cleaning power based on the type of floor it is cleaning, the Roomba 980 is controlled from iRobot’s new ‘Home’ app. This lets you start the Roomba cleaning from anywhere, manage its schedule and create a map of the home. The Roomba 980 can clean an entire level of your home and run continuously for up to two hours, before returning to base to recharge and resume cleaning until the job is done! witt-ltd.com

WORTH £ 900!

B: 60 minutes C: 120 minutes

WIN! » ENTER ONLINE AT

calibrequarterly.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: For full terms and conditions and to enter the competition please see online at calibrequarterly.com

| calibrequarterly.com 33

CULTURE

P Politics Pathos COVER STORY

&

CALIBRE sits down with the King of Punk himself, Mr John Lydon WORDS:

Barnaby Dracup Al Richardson

PHOTOGRAPHY:

W

hat do you believe is the most punk thing you have ever done?

“Fucking butter! Without a doubt!” Says Mr Lydon, leaning back with a laugh.

“What an insane thing that was to ask us – I mean it was a puzzlement. What on earth were they thinking? I thought, ‘Well, this is a trick, isn’t it? It’s a trap. It must be because it’s so obviously wrong’. But it worked!

“They asked this particular individual to help save an industry really, and it worked, we made it work. I wasn’t selling Tampax, although I’ve got some really manly purposes for them! They can solve all manner of issues on stage.”

34

| calibrequarterly.com

CULTURE

Still Rotten? Not with that LA dentistry

A Greater Escape

NORTHUMBERL AND, SCOT TISH BORDERS & E AST LOTHIAN

+44 (0) 1573 226711 info@crabtreeandcrabtree.com

���  

CULTURE

“But, they were great and said, ‘You can do what you want John, we trust you’. So, I never looked back and I was treated with great respect, far more than in any other industry I’ve worked in. The money wasn’t fabulous but it gave me a chance to get my band back together, which I had been striving towards for an awful long time.”

Was reforming the band the main goal for you?

“Always, because the record company really shafted me. They wouldn’t give me any backing so I said, ‘Well why don’t you just let me go then?’ If you sign someone like me you know you’re gonna get something original that isn’t going to fit into any known form – but it’ll work, not matter what I get up to!

“But, I won’t be manipulated and so I found myself in a very tight legal situation that I was eventually able to get out of – so thank you British dairy industry!

“I can take all manner of nonsense from people calling me things like ‘sellout’, but you’ve got to understand what that means – when have I sold out?

I’ve never not been meself!”

with-it Britain. But, does it matter who you vote for anymore?”

What do you think politics is about these days?

“I think it’s all about business investment. There’s a contrivance in it. Look at the referendum: ‘independence’.

Britain’s always been independent. It’s never blended into Europe, not at all.”

Who do you consider to be the worst government in your history?

“Anything Conservative – and of course that includes Tony Blair! He was never, ever Labour. Look at Boris – he needs a clown car! But they do this act on purpose, it’s simple and plain ‘confusionism’.”

“People are very, very despondent. That’s not the energetic Britain I’m all about”

You live in the States now, but do you ever vote when back in Britain, such as in the EU referendum?

“No, I couldn’t see a reason for it, it seemed like a trick – I mean what the fuck’s going to change here? Where’s the industry gone? Nobody wants to do anything here. We’ve just toured the UK and we’ve been through towns like Middlesborough and Sunderland and they’re destroyed – it’s like the North is being slowly eradicated.

“People are very, very despondent. That’s not the energetic Britain I’m all about. The get-up-and-fucking-get-on-

They manage their image to play on peoples’ emotions?

“Yeah, absolutely. They find an image that’s… absurd! And that deflects you away from their real agenda.”

What’s your opinion on the American style of politics and candidates such as Donald Trump?

“I think that money buys all and he’s bought his way into a nomination – but he’s slowly and surely destroying the Republican party. Which is a majorly good thing in my humble opinion!

“Trump’s ego is what’s driving him, but he’ll find very quickly that it doesn’t matter who’s president in America, you’re not gonna change the ‘shitstem’.

“They don’t have a ‘real’ political system over there, it’s not equal and it’s not fair.” | calibrequarterly.com 37

CULTURE There was an old rumour that you were up for an MBE. Would you accept one?

“No, I’m not in the market for one of them. I don’t like that accolade/award system – it separates you from other human beings. What does it do anyway? It gives Mr Geldof and Mr Farage the right to flounce up and down the River Thames spouting a load of nonsense at each other like they did.

Trading insults like a couple of worn-out pirates!”

A fine example of our farcical politics.

“It’s insane, it’s like a Carry On movie, a fiasco. I think what it does is damage a perfectly decent chance to have a proper discussion on things. But, the clowns have gotten in and the lunatics are running the asylum. There’s not really a way of taking that back now – something major’s got to happen.

“Something major will happen, something catastrophic, and it will force people to wake up to reality. It’s almost like walking into a coma, walking into England at the moment.”

Speaking of politics, do you think the younger generations are ‘dumbed down’ today?

“They’ve done it to themselves, they really have. Just this gullibility to believe anything that’s handed down to them. I especially see it in the universities when we play there, just this willingness to accept anything from the Left as factual, and that seems just ridiculous to me because there’s so much foolishness that comes out of the Left, all this aspect of ‘moral ownership’.”

Do you find you have the luxury of perspective, living outside the UK? “Yeah, it is a luxury and it’s one that is sorely missing here.

You’re not able to look outside yourselves and analyse political situations properly.”

Did you ever believe people like Bernie Sanders were going to be the ‘great hope’ everyone wanted?

“No, because he was talking too extreme, too quick. For things to change properly it takes time. I live in a world of – not compromise – but if ‘that lot’ are saying something sensible, then fucking hell, I want a part of it. But that’s not what we’re getting in the world anymore, it’s all polarised, it’s all ‘right’ or it’s all ‘left’. And, of course, then there’s the rest of us in the middle going, ‘Well you know what? We can do without either of them’. We will eventually eliminate the need for politicians – I think that’s the way the human race is heading!”

Do you envisage a 1984 type future?

“Yes! You think Orwell, don’t you? But that has some seriously grim scenarios attached to it. We haven’t got that grimness yet – but it’s coming.”

You have recently been called a national treasure, what do you think of that label?

“Well, there ‘aint no money in it! But, I don’t know what that means. Again it’s a title that’s pointless – although it was great to be in a list between Winston Churchill and Lord Nelson. I like to think there was some cynicism in it though, some fantastic humour. Sometimes humour works a great deal and it was a nice reminder not to take things too seriously.”

You visit London fairly regularly, what do you think of the state of London these days?

“I ‘aint seen anyone repair a hole. There are holes everywhere! They seem permanent now. It won’t be long before the National Trust start putting fences around them, ‘This hole has been here for 200 years’. Hahaha.”

Self-determined governance?

“Why not? We all have access to things like the Internet and infinite information and can vote for whoever – without ‘them’. What exactly are they doing for us?”

Do you think this polarisation of political discourse into left and right paradigms is a control mechanism?

“No, I would say it is a hate mechanism. It’s purposeful separation, and then a lack of obligation. This extreme non-activity by politicians in engaging the public is so that the public give up trying.”

38

| calibrequarterly.com

The Sex Pistols were catapulted to infamy on the Today show.

Images: Ltd/Rex/Shutterstock

So, no real democracy there?

“There’s no democracy, no.”

The All-Inclusive Cruise That’s All About You...

Experience a new kind of holiday this winter.

Reserve a Moorings Crewed yacht and indulge in a gourmet getaway aboard your own floating villa. Complete with a personal captain and expert chef, it’s an all-inclusive voyage that’s simply, and exclusively, about you.

To transform your winter holiday from ordinary to extraordinary, cruise the Caribbean on an allinclusive Crewed yacht.

on the water

U N F O R G E T TA B L E M O M E N T S

Call 020 3411 0855 or visit moorings.co.uk/crewed