Tag: Phoenix

Meddling Menace (‘Ian’) Mowbray Jackson – A Missing Link Between Nigel Farage & George Cottrell (‘Cotrel’)

In the wake of ‘The Sunday Times’ expose of Nigel Farage’s curious connections with convicted criminal George Cottrell, Matthew Steeples highlights an equally curious crony of theirs, Twitter trolling twerp (‘Ian’) Mowbray Jackson

Like or loathe this definite disruptor, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP can now be deservedly branded a hypocrite of the first order.

Prone to slamming political opponents such as ‘Raving Rayner’ Angela Rayner for awkward antics concerning her second home and making a mockery of Sir Keir Starmer over being made a spectacle of concerning Lord Alli and Specsavers, Farage has not only been lambasted for taking a “personal gift” of £5 million from a Thai based tycoon, Christopher Harborne, in recent days, but was well and truly roasted yesterday in a ravaging set of revelations in The Sunday Times.

Whilst the focus of crusading journalist Gabriel Pogrund and his team was on 62-year-old Farage failing to declare being given use of a £4 million Westminster townhouse and countless other benefits by convicted criminal 32-year-old ‘Posh George’ Cottrell (who previously “legally changed his name from ‘Cottrell’ to ‘Cotrel’”), a throwaway paragraph brought in analysis of the involvement a longstanding sworn self-declared enemy of The Steeple Times, a rather tedious Twitter troll who used to go by the name of Mowbray Jackson.

Today, we delve into the details of 59-year-old Jackson (whom fascinatingly now opts for the Christian name of ‘Ian’ on Companies House for records concerning his latest venture, Fispay Ltd), Farage and Cottrell and the links between them their ‘high society’ chums. Be prepared to join the dots between a cretinous collection that jumps from left to right with Adam Boulton, Hugh Grant and Emily Maitlis to one side and Arron Banks, Baroness Meyer and Raheem Kassam to the other.

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The lavish life of (‘Ian’) Mowbray Jackson… The missing link with multiple names between Nigel Farage and George Cottrell

Friends with definite benefits “No Delay – Simples” – Nigel Farage and George Cottrell with (‘Ian’) Mowbray Jackson lurking behind them in a pair of sunglasses attempting to pull a Tom Cruise-esque look during a ‘Respect the Referendum’ protest. This is a mutually beneficial ‘friendship’ that clearly runs deep.

Bombastic businessman Arron Banks, a major supporter of Nigel Farage and Leave.EU, gave evidence before a parliamentary select committee in June 2018. A particularly plump Mowbray Jackson – at one time a data protection officer for Reform UK – was snapped lounging like a lizard behind him.

‘Ian’ or ‘Mowbray’ (depending on what day of the week it is) Jackson with George Cottrell and Georgia Toffolo at the long since shuttered Motcombs restaurant in Belgravia, SW1 circa May 2022. Cottrell dated the ‘Made In Chelsea’ and 2017 ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ winner from 2019 to 2023 and subsequently married the equally controversial BrewDog co-founder James Watt in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 1st March 2025. Blundell’s Schoolm educated ‘Toff’ happens also to be a longstanding bosom chum of Boris Johnson’s father Stanley Johnson.

On Sunday 5th July 2026, crusading journalist Gabriel Pogrund and his stellar investigative team at ‘The Sunday Times’ published an immensely thorough into the relationship between Nigel Farage and George Cottrell. In it, details of Mowbray Jackson’s alleged involvement was revealed. The paper stated: “One of the companies is owned by Mowbray Jackson, a Reform employee who serves as the party’s data protection officer… Cottrell denied he was heavily involved in the crypto-gambling platform [Tether.bet]. Jackson and Robery declined to comment. A source close to Jackson said he would need to obtain legal advice.”

In yesterday’s investigation, “difficult to pin down” George Cottrell was himself highlighted for calling Nigel Farage ‘Daddy’; this was understandably widely mocked on social media. Cottrell was arrested whilst in the company of Nigel Farage at Chicago O’Hare International airport on 22nd July 2016 and federally indicted on 21 counts for conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, blackmail and extortion. After a plea deal in December 2016 and a guilty plea on one count of wire fraud, he was sentenced sentenced and released by Judge Diane Humetewa after having served 8 months in prison.

‘The Finance Guy’ – @OneFinanceGuy on X – has been digging into the ‘interesting’ relationship between ‘daddy’ Nigel Farage and ‘son’ George Cottrell and their associates for many a month. In one post yesterday, 5th July 2026, on the platform he shared a video clip of the latter on a yacht in Montenegro with amongst others Mowbray Jackson and former gambling director and Attorney General of Arizona Mark Brnovich. On 12th January 2026, Brnovich, at one point was nominated (subsequently withdrawn) by Donald Trump to be the ambassador of the United States to Serbia, died at his home in Phoenix aged just 59 after suffering a heart attack.

Raheem Kassam with George Cottrell with Mowbray Jackson tailing on their coattails in Parliament Square, SW1A. Kassam has various been worked in finance at Lehman Brothers, at ‘Breitbart’ and ‘The National Pulse’ and been involved in the Henry Jackson Society, UKIP and Reform. In July 2019, the Australian Labor Party called for Kassam to be banned from entering their country and on Wikipedia he is referenced as being “described as far right” given his involvement in a 2018 ‘Free Tommy Robinson’ rally in London.

Mowbray Jackson was part of the organising committee for an event Chanel clad charity tin banger Catherine Meyer (now The Right Honourable The Baroness Meyer CBE of Nine Elms in the London Borough of Wandsworth) – a finger wagging woman suspended from the House of Lords for 3 weeks in December 2024 for calling a fellow peer “Lord Poppadom” and touching the hair of black MP Bellavilla Riberio-Addy without her permission – organised courtesy of her mate and then Home Secretary The Right Honourable Theresa May hosted at Downing Street on 23rd May 2012. Others hobnobbing with Cathy Meyer whilst hitting the hooch included the since croaked chippy-not-chirpy ex-ambassador Sir Christopher Meyer, property tycoon turned Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy and his then wife ex-‘Neighbours’ actress Holly Valance, former BBC presenter Sue Lawley OBE, advertising tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell, meddling mouthpiece Clarence Mitchell and the parents of ‘missing’ Madeleine McCann, Gerry and Kate McCann.

Social climbing arselicker Mowbray Jackson most definitely celebrates hanging around with what some might turn ‘the great and the good’; pictured from left to right with Petronella Wyatt, daughter of politician and journalist Lord (Woodrow) Wyatt and ex-lover of Boris Johnson, former Sky News anchor Adam Boulton and actor turned Hacked Off press hater Hugh Grant. Jackson’s ‘friendship’ with the Love Actually star is worthy of mention given the latter’s noted involvement campaigning against Brexit and the former’s decided rabid enthusiasm for it. Whether Jackson and Grant still get sloshed together at Brinkley’s in Hollywood Road, SW10 – as they did for many a year – is unknown.

Banal braggart Mowbray Jackson has banged-on about his friendship with the rather left-wing television presenter Emily Maitlis – best known for her 2020 ‘Newsnight’ interview that was the catalyst for the downfall of the then Prince Andrew over his relationships with Jeffrey Epstein, Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell – to anyone willing to listen for many, many years. His union with Canadian born and Queen’s College, Cambridge educated Maitlis is curious given her known enthusiasm for amongst others the Labour peer and alleged traitor Lord Mandelson.

Anything-but-camera-shy show-off Mowbray Jackson has been snapped with ‘actress’ Elizabeth Hurley on occasions also. Hurley, of course, forms part of Hugh Grant’s entourage of press haters, Hacked Off, along with amongst others the dim-witted drippy dunce Prince Harry, ‘Saint Doreen’ Baroness Lawrence, Sir Elton John and his titleless husband David Furnish, ‘actress’ Sadie Frost and ex-MP Simon Hughes. A judgment is due in the case brought by this tedious collection of twerps in their case against Associated Newspapers, publishers of the ‘Daily Mail’ and ‘Mail on Sunday’, on Tuesday 7th July 2026.

In times past, prior to getting deeply embedded with Reform UK, Jackson was a political agent for UKIP and was snapped in a purple rosette whilst working on journalist William Cash’s failed campaign to get elected for North Warwickshire in Coleshill, Warwickshire in the 2015 General Election.

‘Ian’ Mowbray Jackson appears to have deleted his account on Twitter, formerly X, in the wake of ‘The Sunday Times’ expose having first joined the platform in February 2009. His tweets mostly numbered toady responses to society wannabes who’d hosted him at parties and trolling those he loathed – including mostly Matthew Steeples and the likes of anti-Brexit campaigning financier Gina Miller.

His @mowbrayjackson account was suspended on occasions given his propensity for abusive tweeting. Perhaps, now, this tedious Twitter troll would simply do best to decide what his actual Christian name is and learn the art of silence.

July 6, 2026
Ross Barr-Hoyland – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with British men’s knitwear designer Ross Barr-Hoyland

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

To aim to leave the world a better place than you found it.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

To strive to achieve and be better than the best person you could be.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?

The wars in the Middle East and Chechnya and what the regimes there are doing to gay men are unacceptable.

Our world is full of divisiveness and prejudice and Kerry Katona evidently went through an incredibly turbulent time in her life. The press unscrupulously had no shame in reporting such and instead of judging, we should be there to offer help and support and perhaps show some empathy and understanding.

Our lives are not always fairytales and “let they who are without sin cast the first stone” is a saying that springs to mind.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

I don’t think there is anything in my life as such that I miss. I am working on my business – which is a dream many would wish for. It is by no means easy, but I am lucky in many, many respects.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

I wish I had great wealth to swap, but if I had immense wealth I would give it to all the causes I support in many ways from The Prince’s Trust to Style for Soldiers, Children with Cancer UK and RUComingOut. Even if I only had pennies, I would still like to give what I could as there is always someone in need of help.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?

I am by no means an expert but I do know everyone is finding it tough with cuts happening in every sector of business. I just keep my head down and focus on what I do in fashion and the revival of British manufacturing. What I will say is that my bank has been utterly incredible in supporting me with my business venture.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

Being told I cannot do something.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Aside from supporting the charities previously mentioned, I am honoured to have been supported myself by The Prince’s Trust. I serve them in whatever capacity they as a Young Ambassador and with the brand.

More generally, we might be an island nation but no man is. I think charity should be given where it is most needed.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

I am never without my phone, but I would never condone using any devices to cause harm to others.

Mobile phones do have their perks and do allow us to literally have the world at our fingertips, but I do wonder what we would be seeing if we perhaps looked at the world around us and lived in the moment a little more.

If you could fill a carriage on the Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

With every single family member and friend who has supported and there for me and my business. We would have a good old knees-up and some much needed time off.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

Well, I hope to never end up there, but if I did, I’d choose my mother’s Sunday roast at home surrounded by my nearest and dearest. That would be the best way to go.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

That depends on the type of day you are having.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A martini.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

I have enjoyed many so it would be rude to pick one in particular – especially as the memories of some are rather hazy.

Who is the most positive person you know?

I have to pick seven perpetually positive people who keep me going daily and they are Natasha Babar-Evans, Melissa Hulme, Sandie Chapman, Stephanie Ackrill, Sarah Agar-Brenan and Craig Burton.

I would also like to single out a person whom has inspired me immensely. Her name is Gaynor and she has just started a business called Holiday Hack. Over the last year, she’s faced some of the biggest obstacles anyone could have thrown their way but she hasn’t cried and she hasn’t crumbled. She is an incredible lady and always has a smile on her face – and she can also get you savings on a holiday too; maybe even on the Orient Express.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Having a long sleep wrapped up in my bed covers.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

A phoenix and a stag.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

Someone answered this for me at a networking event a while ago. They described me as a Range Rover.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

People think I’m a ‘social butterfly’ but I’m actually a ‘pub with a just a few people’ kind of guy.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

Pictures of my family.

Ross Barr-Hoyland established his own men’s knitwear brand, Ross Barr, in September 2015 after being sponsored by the Enterprise programme of The Prince’s Trust. He focuses on reviving the British textile manufacturing industry by manufacturing in Britain.

Follow Ross Bar on Twitter at @RossBarrUK and Instagram at @RossBarrUK.

June 11, 2017
Tall Poppy Syndrome

Asking price for America’s tallest single-family residence – a 124-foot tall tower in Phoenix, Arizona – slashed by 74%; it is somewhat dated but costs nearly nothing to heat and nearly nothing in property taxes either

They say “the bigger, the better” but in the case of Falcon Nest at Prescott in Arizona, it seems as if the tallest single-family residence in America has little appeal given its asking price has been slashed by nearly two thirds during the two years it has been on the market.

Reduced in price from £2.2 million ($2.8 million, €2.6 million or درهم10.3 million) in 2015 to £1.2 million ($1.5 million, €1.4 million or درهم5.5 million) this year, 124-foot tall Falcon Nest is to be auctioned by Concierge Auctions for a minimum price of £581,000 ($750,000, €688,000 or درهم2.8 million) on 25^th May. For that, a buyer will not only get a truly unique structure but also views that range over 120 miles as far as the San Francisco Peaks.

Sukumar Pal, AIA faced some opposition when he decided to construct Falcon Nest but the resulting building he designed is certainly striking

Falcon Nest, 2365 Skyline Drive, Prescott, Arizona, AZ 86303 is situated at the head of a cul-de-sac and the base of Thumb Butte

It is priced at just $242 per square foot (at $1.5 million) and enjoys long-reaching views

An aerial view of the extraordinary structure

Built to the designs of Calcutta born Sukumar Pal, AIA for his own occupation, Falcon Nest took four years to build and was completed in 1994. This was in part due to high winds making it difficult to use cranes on a site that was already at 5,920-foot at its base on the slopes of 6,514-foot tall Thumb Butte – a prominent geographical feature of the Sierra Prieta mountain range – but also because Pal was so stringent about creating a residence that was not only striking architecturally but also one that was energy efficient.

Featuring a tubular tower portion that causes heat to rise and ventilate the residence in the summer but capture it in the winter, Mr Pal, in a video interview, claimed that “heating and cooling [the building] is automatic and without any cost”.

Accommodation in the 24-foot by 24-foot square base, ten-floor residence – linked by a staircase with 144 steps and a hydraulic elevator that provides access to six levels – includes three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Living space is primarily located on a central floor known as ‘the solarium’ that is mostly built of glass so as to catch as much sun as possible and centres around a vast entertaining area described as a ‘great room’.

Falcon Nest stands on a 1.08-acre plot that offers potential for further development and of the existing “multi-functional structure” itself, selling agents Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty suggest there is potential to turn it into a bed and breakfast, ham radio tower, event space or even a ranger station and museum connected to the Prescott National Park.

Of this “architectural and engineering treasure”, which is defined as a ‘palsolaral house’, Mr Pal commented:

“I chose the height, for several reasons: I wanted to enjoy the views but I didn’t want to cover vast areas on the ground as open ground separates the tower from the neighbouring buildings”.

“[But the most] important [reason] is the tax. The tax is proportional to the ground cover of the building. If this building was flat like tortilla, it would have a tremendous tax burden. This building does not have that. It is 6,200 square foot but I’ve been paying much less [tax] because the ground print is so small”.

In a feature on Falcon Nest in March, Lauren Ro of property blog Curbed rather curtly remarked: “Time has not been kind to this property, which feels like it was left behind in the ugly part of the ’90s”. She has a point but anyone wanting to live like the ultimate super-villain could indeed do a lot worse.

May 2, 2017
Perez Hilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

‘The Steeple Times’ asks blogger, columnist and television personality Perez Hilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” (more…)

June 10, 2015
Brooks is back

Rebekah Brooks looks set to return to the fold

Few expected Rebekah Brooks and her husband to be acquitted in June but now it looks set to be the couple who have the last laugh. News that Mrs Brooks has spent the week at the headquarters of News Corp in New York this week is telling (more…)

October 25, 2014
Britain’s Detroit?

Could the most deprived area in Britain be the place to invest?

The city of Detroit has long been a no-go area and its decline from an automotive giant to a capital of deprivation has been well documented. Britain’s equivalent is a small seaside village named Jaywick, near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. (more…)

August 28, 2014
Sasha Reid: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times asks author, designer and band manager Sasha Reid: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

“Anything is possible”. I love knowing that you can take a little idea and create anything out of it. The possibilities are endless.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

“Kill people with kindness”.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?

For me, people being cruel to animals is something I find unacceptable. I hate the fact innocent creatures are being killed. We should respect the animal kingdom and allow them to share our precious planet.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

I miss having Christmas with all my family. When I was growing up I was looked after by a nanny. She wasn’t my granny – she was a proper nanny and had looked after my mum and my uncle when they were little before coming to look after my brothers and me. Our Christmas used to be my mum, dad, 2 brothers and me, nanny and my grandparents.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

Happiness. What is the point of being able to have everything if you can’t be happy?

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?

I hope my money is safe.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

The word “grand”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

I was recently on tour with Kasabian and Jersey Budd who did the Teenage Cancer Trust gig at the Royal Albert Hall. I was inspired to see the good work that the charity does and meet some of the young people who have been helped and hear their stories. I also like to support animal charities.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

I think mobiles are great as long as they are used at the right time and place.

Sasha Reid

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

I would want my mum and brothers (Charlie and Sam), and of course my mum’s little dog, Honeybear. I would also invite the Kasabian guys: Tom, Sergio, Dib, Kealey, Ian and Tim so that I could have great music.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

I hope I would never end up on death row but if I had to choose my last meal it would be risotto, pancakes, chocolate and a banana cupcake from the Chelsea Teapot on the Kings Road. I would want to eat it all on a beautiful beach watching the sunset.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

Anytime: It’s always evening somewhere in the world.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A watermelon martini.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

Matthew Steeples has the best parties. They are full of the most interesting and lovely people in London.

Who is the most positive person you know?

My brother Charlie. He is always so calm and always sees the glass half-full .

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

I love watching American television shows. Nashville and Revenge are my favourites at the moment.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

It would be a phoenix as I love what this mythical bird symbolises. There is going to be a phoenix on the scarves I’m designing.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

I would be a red Cadillac.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

That I am related to General LaSalle who was first General to Napoleon and I can get married in Les Invalides in Paris. I’m sure the James Bond character was based on him. I am also related to Prince Yusupov who murdered Rasputin.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

I have family photographs, candles, a clock that was my granny’s and my Kasabian AAA pass.

Sasha Reid trained to be a teacher before becoming a headmistress of a nursery school. She was then responsible for discovering a Leicester band called Kasabian and worked with them until they were signed to a major label. Currently, Sasha writes children’s stories, manages singer-songwriter Jersey Budd and is designing a range of rock and roll scarves.

Download Sasha Reid’s children’s stories onto your iPad at: http://store.interactivetouchbooks.com/books/sasha+reid+and+amy+withers+riedl

Follow her on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rockchicksasha

April 27, 2013
Jax Martin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times asks the financier turned fashion designer Jax Martin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force?

Love.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

“If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit.”

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2012?

Reality TV personalities are unacceptable in any year (but to be clear Kerry Katona is still unacceptable).

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Sleep.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

High quality education for all children.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank.” What’s your view on the banking crisis?

Bankers who created complex financial instruments should not receive the brunt of the blame. Let us not forget the inept regulators who permitted these activities to flourish, causing the crisis to become much worse than it might have been.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

“Reaching out.”

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home.” What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” Plato. I anonymously support several charitable causes related to: education, medical research, the arts and women’s and children’s issues.

The judge in “Law Abiding Citizen” states: “I can pretty do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

You can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. But, I have no interest in listening to other people’s loud conversations on their mobiles.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

Oscar de La Renta, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mao Tse Tung, Madonna and Ronald McDonald.

Fashion designer Jax Martin

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

I LOVE to eat; I would have a very large meal comprised of chateaubriand with shallot sauce, Cajun chicken and fries from Le Bilboquet and a bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions from Corner Bistro. All of the aforementioned would be served with a bottle of Gevrey-Chambertin. For dessert, I would have a slice of mille-feuille with fresh cut strawberries on the side. If I were allowed to dine outside of death row, I would have the meal served in either Trancoso in Bahia, Brazil or José Ignacio in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

This question makes the assumption that somehow one has stopped partying from the previous evening.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A martini.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

It doesn’t matter who throws the party, it’s the company you carry that makes the party.

Who is the most positive person you know?

Lucy.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Can’t say.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

A phoenix.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

A Koenigsegg Agera R.

Cilla Black presented “Surprise, Surprise.” Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

While I was in engineering school, I was also a professional dancer.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

An antique Buddha, candles and a couple of black and white family photographs.

British designer Jax Martin is a former financier and professional dancer. A graduate of Columbia University, Martin also has an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and began her career in the hedge fund business. She now creates “chic clothing for today’s woman” and states: “I live to make women feel great and look fabulous”.

For more information about Jax Martin, go to: http://jaxmartin.co.uk

November 18, 2012
Video of the Week: Total Control

Nicky Haslam adds another string to his bow

Nicky Haslam is a man of many parts. He’s best known as an interior designer and author but over the years, in chameleon like fashion, he’s variously styled himself as Liam Gallagher, bought a house in Transylvania on the net and once told Vanity Fair he’d rather meet Kim Jong Il than Nelson Mandela. Whether he’s partying with Paris Hilton or working with a Russian oligarch, Haslam’s character and charm always shine through and for good reason he tops the list of the most invited in the land.

Nicky Haslam’s “Total Control”

Nicky Haslam’s life has been well documented in many a column but his latest move, recording a debut album entitled Midnight Matinée, can certainly be described as a bold departure. Yes, he did cabaret at Bellamy’s in 2009 and The Savoy in 2010 but having heard the first song, this truly does represent something akin to Kevin Spacey’s Beyond the Sea. I must admit that I thought it vastly superior.

Produced by David Ogilvy, who wrote the music for a BBC film about the interior designer, Total Control is the first in the series of songs to be released. It is accompanied by a video by a Canadian filmmaker named Douglas Arrowsmith.

We at The Steeple Times very much like Haslam’s “highly individual” foray into the “contemporary music scene” and for that reason make it our video of the week.

For more on Nicky Haslam and his interior design business, go to: http://www.nh-design.co.uk

Listen to Total Control and watch the accompanying video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyvmrswykXM

October 4, 2012
Nicky Haslam (Nicholas Haslam)

“Britain’s ultimate interior designer” is a man of many talents and guises. Haslam flits from party to party by night, but by day writes, edits and designs. He’s performed cabaret at The Savoy and Bellamy’s and interior watercolour renderings by him are held by the Victoria & Albert Museum. This trendsetter’s life is indeed summed up by the title of one of his books: Sheer Opulence.

May 13, 2012