VIEW PROFILE: Tony Mason & Jan Thorpe

AT THE White Elephant Studio in Manor Farm, Burton Bradstock, the latest phenomena in interior design is drawing interest from across the country. What started as a sideline furniture restoration business has now snowballed to be at the forefront of the current ‘Upcycling’ trend. This week View from reporter TOM GLOVER spoke to TONY MASON and JAN THORPE about their booming business.

IN a small workshop in Burton Bradstock, a new furniture company is helping homeowners revamp their properties with the latest trend in interior design.

Upcycling is a new phenomenon to hit British shores and has received national media coverage in recent weeks thanks to an episode of the BBC series Mary Queen of Shops.

The theory behind ‘upcycling’ is to take an out of use or waste product and re-vamp it to give it a whole new lease of life.

When Tony Mason and Jan Thorpe’s White Elephant Studio opened on a chilly November evening last year they had no idea about the practice, but it is now the key to their success.

Jan said: “The BBC2 documentary has really put it into the foreground now, the idea that you can transform your home with painted furniture is just very much in vogue at the moment.

“We didn’t even realise it was upcycling to begin with though, it was just something Tony had always wanted to do”

The studio is now packed from wall to wall with Tony’s latest designs but the furniture business has only developed to its current level due to the high public demand.

The studio originally began life with its primary function being a lecture room for Jan’s public speaking seminars with her own business ‘Speechtrain.’

The furniture business almost began as a sideline but as more and more people saw their old family heirlooms transformed into something modern and contemporary, the greater demand became.

“With a lot of these items they have sentimental value to people,” Jan explained.

“We had a guy come in the other day who owned a Welsh dresser and he was quite shocked to see we had one the same and how it looked.

“He only had the bottom of the Welsh dresser left and was using it in his shed for storing wellington boots and he had thrown the rest away.

“He looked quite sad about it because he didn’t realise it could look like this.”

Tony added: “Quite a few people remember the stuff as well. It’s been in their house since they were children, whether it’s a sideboard or a dresser, and they say now you’ve painted it its completely different”

Having spent 35 years as a decorator Tony had always wanted to spread his wings and release his more creative side.

Inspired by the quirky details of 19th century French furniture Tony made the leap into restoration.

“It s 100 per cent better than my decorating days; that was just a trade - it’s an industry but this is a bit arty.

“It’s a talking point and we have people come in and talk for hours about it,” said Tony.

“It seems to be extremely popular around this area and also with a lot of people from London and the south east who are down here on holiday.

“We had one lady come down who said that if we took it back to her village in Sussex we would sell out in a week. I am a amazed at the response and when people say things like that to you, you know it’s going the right way.”

The business has an obvious eco-friendly appeal and the recent publicity surrounding this has definitely been a factor in the White Elephant’s growing success but Tony admits this wasn’t the original idea behind the business.

“The eco side of it is a bonus in a way really, it’s only in the last few months we have started to think that way.

“You see a lot of this stuff being burnt, a lot of the pubs burn it when they re-decorate and it’s a wicked waste,” he said.

The White Elephant is only a small business with Tony the skilled designer and Jan the driving force behind the business administration and presentation in the studio, which also features the work of local artists and unusual items to help finish off your home in style.

Despite just being a two-person team though, the pair do not fear the might of the multi national furniture giants that dominate the industry.

Jan said: “We offer furniture which is a lot better quality, if you go to a lot of the big names nowadays you are not even going to get wood, its pressed cardboard.

“This is proper wood and a better quality of stuff; the fact that it looked dreadful when it arrived doesn’t matter, you turn it into something new and fresh and different.

“It’s certainly value for money; there isn’t a comparison. You could re-furnish your whole house for a fraction of the price, there is a big difference between our prices and buying something new”

Tony added: “You could turn your whole house round; it may be old furniture but it can look stylish and contemporary in modern building or you could put it in an old cottage and mix it with antiques because it has history.

“If you look on eBay nowadays, Welsh dressers are going for up to £200 and that’s without being touched, and some of them are in a terrible state.

“Our idea is to buy things as cheap as possible and pass it on. We are pleased for people to come down and take a look even if they don’t intend to buy. It just gives people ideas and they can go away with a new outlook on things.”

www.viewfromonline.co.uk

Bolder gulls get up close and personal

ALL he did was look away briefly from his meal and when he turned back a big chunk of it was missing.

The thief, a huge seagull, was still perched right in front of him on the small seafront table having severed part of the man’s fish and chip lunch with all the skill of a surgeon.

His outraged response swiftly put the seagull to flight but it only dropped to the pavement where it wolfed down the chunk of battered fish it had filched.

The poor man clearly felt he might have said or done something during the incident to upset fellow diners because he apologised profusely, but it didn’t look as if the seagull planned to apologise any time soon.

In fact it lurked nearby for a good while, keenly interested in seconds from such a promising source.

I’ve mentioned the depravations of seagulls before in this column including one incident where people were feeding them right next to signs asking them not to do so.

But this raid was indicative of what is a growing problem where birds are prepared to get up close and personal for the chance of a meal.

In the past fortnight I’ve seen a toddler nearly lose an ice cream to a swooping gull and people trying to eat chips on the Esplanade practically having to defend their meal from a circle of gulls just beyond their reach.

I don’t know what the solution to the problem is except that the bolder the gulls get then the more likely it is that someone is going to get badly hurt.

All of life on sale... all the time

ONLY 139 shopping days until Christmas, so perhaps it’s not surprising that I’ve already seen adverts for Christmas clubs and outings.

This whole relentless crusade to part us from our money has taken some of the gloss off the festive season for me, but it pales into insignificance with the utter destruction in meaning for the word “sale”.

Time was you used to see a sale poster up and it really caught the eye. Now what catches the eye – regardless of the time of year - is a street which doesn’t have a sale sign up.

There are early, mid and end of season sales not to mention spring, summer, autumn and winter sales as if the two definitions are somehow unrelated!

There are “last day” sales which go on for weeks, “closing down” sales for shops which don’t and “special” sales which aren’t.

The only thing I haven’t seen yet is a “sail sale” at a chandlery… and I’m sure that’s only a matter of time.

Beware this man collecting for his own personal charity

THERE really is some serious human scum about on the streets of Weymouth and among the lowest of the low has to be this man.

He took advantage of people’s kind hearts to skim their generosity to line his own pockets.

Two women on the Esplanade were among his victims as he came collecting for a charity which really did turn out to begin at home…. his home.

By the time staff at the café where the women were drinking coffee could get out and warn them it was too late and the man had gone.

Café staff had seen him operate before and noticed that the t-shirt he was wearing to support his chosen “charity” was out of date and apparently had “08” on the back. He ran off as soon as he saw they were suspicious.

Beach patrol staff are keeping an eye out for him, not least because the charity he was using as a front was the hugely deserving Help For Heroes. You’ve been warned.

Not so much fun with the horns

VUVUZELA horns at the World Cup may have been annoying but they are traditional at South African football matches where they were born out of a desire to have harmless fun.

The same cannot be said for the four young men who left a trail of shocked people in the wake of their speeding car in Weymouth from which they triggered an air horn next to unsuspecting pedestrians, cyclists and even fellow drivers.

They did it four times that I saw and were having a hilarious time as they carved their way through the King Street area.

One woman staggered sideways, the cyclist jumped while the driver victim turned his head sharply to his left in an instinctive reaction to see what the blaring noise was.

Any one of these incidents could have had serious consequences, but some people seemed to be trying to get their number.

Hopefully police will soon be getting them to sing a different tune, either through tracing the number or CCTV footage.

www.viewfromonline.co.uk

Lifeguards back in town

THE sunshine may have disappeared for the time being, but summer is certainly here.

We know that because the RNLI lifeguards have arrived on Lyme Regis beach for the fourth year running and will ensure the safety of hundreds of holiday makers over the next couple of months.

With last week’s soaring temperatures, the lifeguards got off to a busy start.

All are trained in beach and sea rescue, first aid and can deal with minor to serious injuries, as well as helping lost children and giving out beach and safety information.

The guards will be on duty and happy to help in the lifeguard hut on Lyme’s main beach, everyday from 10 am to 6 pm until September.

I know some people think it’s a waste of money having lifeguards in Lyme because our beach is so safe.

But their presence must be reassuring for the visitors and they also provide quite a valuable information service as well as dealing with minor accidents on the beach.

They are now firmly established as part of Lyme’s summer scene.

Music by the sea

BATHED in glorious sunshine, Marine Parade was the perfect setting for the first of Lyme Regis Town Band’s summer 'Music by the Sea' concerts last Tuesday evening.

The evening concerts will continue every Tuesday throughout July and August, with extra entertainment on some Sunday afternoons from 2.30pm.

Full details of times and dates can be found on the band’s website, www.lymeregistownband.co.uk.

One of the highlights of the band’s summer season will be a visit from the Wantage Silver Band, who will join them in a joint concert on August 24th.

Not to be missed!

Race For Life

FOR those who are wondering, I managed to complete the 5km Race For Life in 40 minutes on Sunday morning alongside my friend Phoebe Jones, from Seaton.

It was boiling hot in Exeter, so not the best conditions for a run, and I have to admit I’m feeling a little stiff this week, but I’m still proud I took part with thousands of other women.

I raised a total £127 for Cancer Research UK. Thanks to everyone who sponsored and supported me!

Events of the week

TWO great events over the weekend - the successful Talbot Arms Beer Festival and the Football Club dinner.

After running Race For Life on Sunday morning, my friend and I decided to treat ourselves to a hog roast and jug of Pimm’s in the Talbot’s beer garden, and ended up staying all evening dancing to local band Papa Le Gal.

The festival was packed-out with a great atmosphere and brilliant entertainment.

A real traditional West Country event and one I’ll be looking forward to next year.

Papa La Gal are in big demand this summer and they also appeared at the football club’s annual dinner and presentation night at the Golf Club on Friday evening.

It was a great night with all the players in celebratory mood after one of their best seasons ever.

Highlight of the proceedings was the arrival of former England, West Ham and Everton striker Tony Cottee, the club’s patron, who travelled down from London to present all the trophies.

He also did an impromptu question and answer session in which he had some very strong opinions about England’s World Cup flop.

Five things to do this weekend...

1 Show off your green fingers – There are plenty of prizes up for grabs for top flower displays, vegetables and other produce at Uplyme and Lyme Regis Horticultural Society’s annual summer Show at the King George V Playing Field on Saturday. If you don’t want to enter, there’s also a dog show, children’s races and plenty of other activities.

2 Watch a one-man show – Bill Giles, who led the BBC weather team for 17 years, will give his humorous outlook on his career and current issues, such as global warming, at the Marine Theatre on Saturday evening. For more information visit www.marinetheatre.com

3 Rock out to a classic – Veteran rock ‘n’ roller John Otway, famed for his 1977 hit 'Cor Baby That’s Really Free,' will star at the Woodmead Halls on Saturday night as part of the Legends Return to Lyme series organised by Lyme Regis TV. Tickets available from the Tourist Information Centre, Focus, Broad Street, or on the door.

4 Take an early morning walk - Lyme is at its best in early morning and a brisk walk along the Marine Parade and around the Cobb before the town comes to life shows how lucky we are to be able to spend our summer in such a beautiful setting.

5 Visit Lyme’s award winning museum - Popular with visitors, it’s surprising how many local people have never been inside the town museum. Lyme has a rich and colourful history - and it’s all to see in the unique building next to the Guildhall.

www.viewfromonline.co.uk

60 SECONDS INTERVIEW: John Davenport

Originating from Birmingham, John Davenport moved to Weymouth when he was just two-years-old with his family who owned the Bowleaze Beach café.

Now under his guidance, the 42 year-old is keen to promote the resort as a stunning holiday location for everyone from young couples to retired sunseekers.

Here the adrenalin junky talks about his love of the Swiss Alps, designs on improving Bowleaze Cove and why he won’t be buying Prince Charles a pint in a hurry.

WHAT part of owning a seaside resort do you enjoy?

Seeing the many, many returning faces. I enjoy the variety of it all, I wouldn’t like being stuck in an office looking at the square walls, there’s so many different things going on around here.

WHAT do you enjoy about Weymouth?

I think it’s just a great place to be - by the seaside. Everybody enjoys themselves; other people might disagree but I like the lack of trouble down here. My wife is from Walthamstow and I don’t think I would want to live there and put up with that.

WHICH hobbies do you enjoy?

I spend most of my time snow skiing. I like the outdoors, cycling and clay shooting. I go to the Swiss alps, I love the adrenalin of skiing there and my brother lives there and so it’s a cheap way of skiing. I’ve been there in the past five or six years and my sons enjoy it as well.

WHAT would you change about Weymouth?

I think what Weymouth could do with a place for surfing. In Weymouth there’s nothing and I think they should build a surfing community down here.

WHAT changes have you seen in tourism over the last few years?

I think it’s sporadic down here. Over the years parents haven’t given a monkeys about taking the kids out of school but now the government says they’re not allowed to. It gets pretty empty down here during the school term. I’m not sure if more people are coming down here or less. Sometimes our turnover suggests there are more people; I don’t think the people here have the money, they seem really conscious of whether to spend.

WHAT type of holidaymaker do you find comes to Weymouth?

There’s a broad spectrum of people who come down here, from families returning each year to young couples to retired people; you just have to take a look about, its totally amazing.

WHAT do you think draws the holidaymakers here each year?

I think a lot of people know what Weymouth can be like; it’s a peaceful town. There’s a massive range of things for people to do if down for the week. The reasons people come down here are two fold: it’s a place for people to come with good water access and no problems with parking and I think that helps enormously, without parking we are done for. A lot of people come here because their parents came here and their parents before them and its important having the camping around here, they like the variety of things the place has to offer.

WHICH three guests would you invite to the pub?

well, I’ll tell you who I wouldn’t invite: Gordon Brown, because I think he would bore me to death in five minutes while trying to explain to me what a mess he’s got this country in. Prince Charles, because he is just a pointless person in society, we’ve all got our own views but he’s an interfering person. I’m quite fond of the monarchy in general but not of him. And celebrity cooks because they’re a far too opinionated bunch of know it alls and they just take it all a little to far, but I admire the Reux brothers. I think what they did to the UK, broadening everyone’s culinary minds, is amazing.

WHAT three things would you take to a desert island?

I would take my wife, children and some beer. I’m not sure if it would be in that order, but I’d take those three things!

www.viewfromonline.co.uk

Invading my personal space

MANY people feel that the mobile phone has been one of the most useful inventions of the past century while others claim it has destroyed their privacy.

There is actually a third school of opinion which believes some public areas should be set aside where all mobile phone music is banned.

The ridiculous lengths to which this irritating phenomena has gone can be perfectly illustrated by one flabbily challenged family group I had the misfortune to meet while chatting quietly in the street with a friend.

They loomed large and seemed about to pass by when they suddenly stopped next to us when one of their mobile phones went off with a stupid trilling jingle.

They all clustered round to listen when, blow me, one of their other phones went off with zombie music and some rapper talking about making everyone well.

When a third family phone went off to the sound of the Birdie Song I nearly strangled the lot of them on the spot but in the end I didn’t have to. They destroyed themselves.

There was so much noise, so much shouting and so much different conversation that they were drowning each other out and were forced to move on and move apart to stand a chance of hearing their respective callers.

My friend and I shook our heads in disbelief, walked away and slowly the family group faded behind us, but that is not the point.

I don’t ask to hear and I don’t want to hear simultaneous lurid details of last night’s party, “how’s your Mum’s legs?” and which pub the caller can meet them at. All that and three moronic pieces of music as well was just too much.

In an era of cutbacks surely this problem can be one of them.

Offer too good to be true from an African prince

IT was such a good cause that I couldn’t help but consider supporting it.

Prince Umtali Wanaballa had recently assumed control of the treasury in his country but was having a spot of bother completing the takeover.

He wanted to move its £8 billion pounds to a secure place in England and needed my help — and more specifically my bank account details – to do so.

Naturally I would receive £1 billion of his treasury’s cash as a consideration for my help, all the money being transferred as soon as I emailed back my account details to him.

He’s still waiting for my reply because it was an obvious email con, but I idly checked to see what else might be on my computer’s spam list.

Incredibly I found 57 dodgy emails, all of which were African cons except for two music and two travel adverts.

Everyone from Princess Alice and Mr Akim Zongo to various law firms and even the United Nations seemed to need my bank account details.

One of the best lines I found was allegedly from a senior bank official trying to interest me in using my account to filter $13.7 million belonging to a client of his bank who had recently died in a plane crash. Conveniently, the crash also seemed to have killed the rest of his immediate family and all his relatives. That somehow left the bank needing my help.

Once again I can do no better than to quote Dorset Trading Standards advice that “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is”.

Our footballing hero George

THE year was 1966 and the glory was England’s as our football team won the World Cup.

You’d think that the man who scored a hat-trick for us that day would be a household name for ever, but not a bit of it.

Two teenage girls caught up in the current World Cup fever both knew all the details of England’s famous win despite it happening nearly 30 years before they were even born, so you might hope that history could safely be passed down in their hands.

Unfortunately pride in their team’s historic achievement was crowned by awed references to our hat-trick hero… that immortal footballer George Hurst!

Wait until they run that one by their boyfriends!

Making your own luck

PERHAPS there is such a thing as luck… if you are lucky.

A Weymouth woman on holiday in the Far East had always wanted a jade bracelet and found the perfect one for her.

Bargaining duly started and the price fell from £200 to well under £100, but the woman refused to pay over the odds and told the seller it was still too much.

The seller thought about it for a bit and then offered a lower price, urging the woman to buy so she would bring the seller good luck.

The woman replied: “I don’t want to bring you luck, I want to bring me luck.”

A deal was agreed and the woman went away well pleased.

Maybe she did create her own luck because 20 years of lucklessness in her staff-union draw ended when she got home and won £12,000!

www.viewfromonline.co.uk

Summer’s here already!

WELCOME back to my Summertime in Lyme column. Over the next two months I’ll be filling you in on all the summer news and events, which help make Lyme Regis such a popular holiday spot.

I was glad to get home just in time for the start of the summer season. I finished the second year of my journalism degree in Southampton a few weeks ago and then headed to London for a week of work experience at the Daily Mirror.

Getting a taste of working at a national newspaper in the capital was an exciting experience. I was even lucky enough to get a free day out at Wimbledon and, in true summer spirit, enjoyed strawberries and cream on Henman Hill.

Despite the free days out, I can’t imagine spending my summer anywhere else than by the seaside. So my camera and I are ready to cover all the upcoming events… and there will be plenty to choose from.

The town is already starting to get busy and will soon be packed-out for this season’s biggest events, Lifeboat Week, which starts later this month, and Regatta and Carnival Week in August.

If you have an event or news you would like to promote in this column, please phone me on 01297 446155 or email francesca@pemedia.co.uk.

A good excuse to buy a new dress!

I’M looking forward to this weekend as it’s Lyme Regis Football Club’s presentation night with special guest, former West Ham and England striker Tony Cottee.

Tony was the guest speaker at a sporting dinner my Dad organised last year and as patron of the club for our 125th anniversary year Tony agreed to come back to Lyme for the annual bash.

The annual dinner and awards always turns out to be a good night and this year the club has one of its most successful seasons ever to celebrate.

It also gives us “WAGs” an excuse to buy a new dress!

I’ll have Saturday to recover before switching my high heels for trainers and running the 5KM Race For Life in Exeter, in aid of Cancer Research UK, on Sunday.

I’m not exactly a fitness freak. In fact, my family would agree I like everything that’s bad for me a little too much (trait of a true Evans, says Dad). But over the past few weeks I’ve been jogging around the flattest route I could find in Lyme to prepare myself.

If anyone would like to sponsor me, visit www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/chezzie-evans. I’ll let you know how it goes next week.

Event of the Week

LYME loves a good parade and the Jazz Festival’s decorated umbrella procession is top of the list for putting you in a cheerful mood.

The umbrellas certainly weren’t needed in Saturday’s perfect weather, but they looked bright and colourful as they danced down Broad Street led by lady marshal Val Chambers, town crier Phil Street and the upbeat Louisiana Parade Band.

I think the Jazz Festival organising committee tried extra hard this year, selling rainbow umbrellas to passers-by who wanted to take part, and handing out Mardi Gras style beads to everyone involved.

It’s my favourite parade of the year and definitely event of the week.

Well done to John Fry and all the festival organisers and I hope there are many more to come.

Five things to do this weekend

1 Support you local! – Soak up the sunshine at the Talbot Arms Beer Festival in Uplyme. The weekend event will include live entertainment from the Uplyme Morris Men, Three Counties Swing Band and Papa Le Gal, screening of the British Grand Prix and World Cup final, a hog roast and skittles (most entertainment on Sunday).

2 Trace Mary Anning’s footsteps – Professional tour guide Natalie Manifold will be exploring old Lyme, the way famous fossil hunter Mary would have seen it from 3.30pm on Saturday, organised by Lyme Regis Museum (booking advisable).

3 Learn to row – Lyme Regis Gig Club will be holding a taster session at 11.30am on Sunday. For more information or to book your place, email Henry Barlow at henrycbarlow@google-mail.com

4 Watch the World Cup final – So England didn’t make it, but get in the summer spirit, have a barbecue with friends and watch the football. If you don’t fancy hosting, there’s plenty of pubs around Lyme that will be screening the big game.

5 Enjoy a spot of music – Lyme Regis Town Band will be holding one of their popular Sunday afternoon concerts in the Marine Parade shelters from 2.30pm.

DON’T forget to buy your Lifeboat Week programmes, now available around the town for £1.50.

www.viewfromonline.co.uk

60 SECONDS INTERVIEW: Carey Chant

CAREY Chant has been the landlord at The King’s Head in Bradpole for three years.

This weekend the pub will be joining forces with Bradpole’s open-air music festival for 'The Event 2', a fundraising day of fun, games and musical entertainment.

The festival and fun day will be raising money for the street children of Calcutta, The Bridport Burma Appeal and the Dorset Residential Homes.

Carey and his wife Mandy took the leap into the pub industry to fulfil a long harboured dream after many years working in supported housing.

Like many others, football fan Carey was disappointed by England’s early exit at this summer’s World Cup but he is now turning his attentions to his beloved Derby County.

When not working Carey enjoys taking his dog for a walk and taking regular holidays.

WHY did you decide to get involve with 'The Event'?

One thing we are always wanting to promote is fundraising for the local community. We have done our fun day fundraiser for a couple of years and then Fel Moore did this music event last year. We both held the events around the same time so we decided to put our resources together and promote it for both our causes this year as one big event.

WHAT part will you be playing at the pub?

We have been doing a lot of the organising and the advertising here. We have been getting a lot of the bands together because we play music here on a regular basis so I have got a lot of bands who I am in contact with, who have fortunately come to do it for free.

ANY particular acts you are looking forward to?

Yeah, Tom Toomey is one of the main acts. He is a fantastic guitarist who has played here a few times and he has done some of the Music for Africa events at Montacute House. He is a very talented musician. We have many other great acts though, we have Elijah Wolf and Orpheus as well and we have quite a unique act, which is a newly formed children’s choir. It’s an all day event so we want to have the children involved as well.

WHAT separates this event from others locally?

It’s a bit unique as it’s an outside event really. It worked well last year and it’s coming together well again this year. It’s a whole day of music, fun and games with fancy dress. It’s all for charity so hopefully it will be supported well.

WHAT made you decide to move into the pub industry?

Well it was always something me and Mandy talked about for years and years and the opportunity came along. We thought “shall we do it now?” and there were plenty of reasons why we shouldn’t but we decided financially the opportunity had arose so lets go for it.

WHAT attracted you to the pub?

Just being my own boss really. Obviously in the work I had done previously I was working with people all the time and so I just enjoy working with people and it worked out really well.

WHAT are the best places you have visited?

The best place I’ve visited is Lake Como in Italy, it’s absolutely stunning. I’d still love to go to New Zealand, I’ve heard so many people say what a fantastic country it is and how picturesque it all is. That might have to be inbetween pubs though as it would be a long trip.

WHO would be your three dream guests at a dinner party?

I think it would have to be Cameron Diaz to start. I assume my wife would be there so we would have to have Johnny Depp, he’s quite cool and she likes him. The other one would be Charlie George who was my football hero when I was a child.

WHAT was the last book you read, CD you listened to and film you watched?

The last book I read was Brian Clough’s autobiography, I’m very in to football and he was great at Derby. The CD was the Black Eyed Peas and the film I went to watch was Alice In Wonderland in 3D.

WHAT do you think of Derby County’s chances this season?

Hopefully we can make the playoffs but realistically I hope we avoid relegation.

www.viewfromonline.co.uk