A series of essays….
CHIPPING CAMPDEN, MY FAVORITE COTSWOLD VILLAGE,
KNOWN FOR ITS ANCIENT MARKET HALL,
BUILT IN 1627 AND NAMED IN THE NATIONAL TRUST
….as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E Hughes
Taking a seat in a far corner of the dining room, I closed my eyes and stretched my back against the stone wall all in a futile attempt at cooling down. We arrived in The Cotswolds and settled in at the Burford House Hotel amid a heatwave that shriveled our energy output as we walked High Street in discovery mode.
Deciding to get a cold drink at our hotel before having dinner there sounded prudent; cooling down was, most certainly, our primary objective. Dan went over to the bar to order our drinks and, with my eyes closed, I overheard the other couple in the room carrying on their private conversation while enjoying a pint and a tall gin and tonic. I couldn’t help but listen in…
Leaning over her gin and tonic to draw closer to the man: You know that you’re going to have to give a few talks while on this latest tour, don’t you? The people will want to hear your stories. It’ll be good for you, Alan! Don’t look at me like that.
I know. I know. I just haven’t done that for a little while. I’ll get back into it, looking a bit somber and dejected.
By this time, I had opened my eyes and glanced over at the bar to see if Dan was on his way back to our table.
Suddenly the beautiful, blond lady was addressing me. What? I apologize for this heatwave. But, you know, we locals are cherishing it right now. We know what waits for us, weather wise, right around the corner so, we are eating this up for as long as possible.
Oh, please don’t apologize for something you have no control over. Thank you for thinking about us, though. Peeling my cotton skirt away from my legs in a feeble attempt to look more civilized, I remained smiling as Dan brought me my own tall gin and tonic (Fever Tree Tonic) and a pint of Guinness for himself.
Alan and I are taking a small break after shopping at the antique dealer’s across the street for our son-in-law’s birthday. He’s into old maps and we found one of North Umbria where he is from. We hope he likes it, she said.
Later, we discovered that Alan’s son-in-law is English comedian, Ben Miller, married to his daughter, Jessica, from his first marriage.
Finally, it was good to hear Alan speak to us. Thought we’d take a little break here before heading out to find a bite to eat, he said in his rich, English accent. It’s a terrible shame about Jimmy (Buffett) passing, isn’t it?
Yes, I’ve been a huge fan of his for a long time, Dan said.
Alan, she inquired, you know Jimmy, don’t you? You see, Alan is a music producer, now, and has worked and been friends with many musical artists throughout the years.
I did meet Jimmy several times during his career. My take away of him was that he was the wisest business man I’ve ever known. Yes, his music was phenomenal, but Jimmy made his mark through his business acumen. And, he loved his life; enjoyed himself to the fullest extent. He will be missed.
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ALAN PARKER — 1960’S |
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TODAY: ALAN PARKER, BRITISH GUITARIST |
Photos courtesy of You Tube
Alan’s career as a credited sessions guitarist had him playing with several groups. He spent quite a lot of time with the French singer, Serge Gainsbourg. But you wouldn’t know of Serge, she intimated.
Oh, you’re looking at one of the world’s most faithful Francophiles, my friend! I have probably three of his CD’s at home which includes his most famous cut with Brigitte Bardo,
Je T’aime, I was quick to inform her.
She was surprised that I even knew of Gainsbourg. Well, Alan and Serge were quite close for many years. Alan followed his tour and played guitar. Those were very interesting times back in the ‘60’s!
I knew Serge very well, Alan interjected, both professionally and privately. And, I will admit to anyone that he was a very, very nasty boy.
As the four of us sat talking while still trying to cool down, I could see how protective of Alan this elegant lady was. It was easy to see that his (their) surname was carefully avoided and caution was the protocol for this encounter. It was obvious that they had, given Alan’s work and reputation, been down this road before not knowing to whom they were speaking or if it was a strategically planned encounter. With my sweaty hair still dripping down my face and clothes hermetically sealed to my body, I was in no mood to do much more than sit and talk. Shaking myself out of this mini-revelation, I can hear Dan relating the story of our ‘lost day’ and the American Airlines role in this bitter scenario.
After listening to my husband’s sad story, Alan began a similar one of his own: We had taken an Alaskan cruise a few years ago. Everything went along smoothly until a problem arose with the boat and the crew was texting all of us (passengers) with updates too infrequently, according to my calculations. I was quickly getting upset with their handling of the situation. Finally, a crew member came up to us and exclaimed, Mr. Parker, we are doing our best. Please be patient.
My husband, phone in hand, instantly picked-up on the full name of Alan Parker and proceeded to look him up online. Dan saw that he’d been credited for playing electric guitar for the singer Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” and David Bowie’s “1984”. Alan was known to have owned Jimi Hendrix’s Epiphone acoustic guitar given to him by Hendrix in March of 1970.
Dan mentioned Alan’s full name in conversation and the lady bristled at this revelation and asked, How do you know Alan’s surname? Dan explained how Alan himself had revealed it within his story about the Alaskan cruise and curiosity took over for Dan and he had to see who this fascinating man was.
Finally. Finally, proper introductions were made. Jessica Parker dropped her shoulders, lightened-up, and truly began to enjoy and take pride in sharing their life together with us. Alan’s daughter’s name is Jessica, as well, and is known in the family as Jessica #1 and I am known as #2, she told us with a loving smile on her face.
Jessica had been living and working in South Africa for over twenty-three years when she met Alan and they, eventually, married. She was by his side when they traveled all over the world and lived in several exotic places, while meeting many interesting people. Alan’s long career has aligned him with Cat Stevens, Frank Sinatra, Joe Cocker, Donovan, David Bowie, Sonny and Cher, Ella Fitzgerald, and The Walker Brothers, to name a few.
They purchased their latest home in my favorite Cotswold village of Chipping Campden, known for its ancient Market Hall that’s named in the National Trust and built in 1627. I would live in this village if I could. Like most villages in this gorgeous area of natural beauty, they were built on the money from the wool of sheep farming and each village has a street named ‘Sheep’ in it for this reason.
Alan had taken their grandchildren to The Cotswolds Wildlife Park & Gardens the day before and highly recommended it for us. We were dismayed about not having enough time and that we were leaving the following afternoon for the States.
We delighted in the fact that he felt very comfortable with us and the interesting stories of his celebrated past kept us entertained for a while longer. Given his public exposure in the world of musical enterprise at the beginning of rock & roll, the Beatles (yes, he met all four), writing songs for stage and big and little screen, Dan and I could have listened to them all night long. But fatigue was placing its shadowed hand on me and hunger beckoned to all four of us.
There are so many other places to eat here in Burford. There’s ‘The Lamb’ just up this side street with limited menu but very unique entrees and several other restaurants we like up High Street, Jessica pointed out.
As badly as food was calling to me, a nice, warm shower was, as well. I discovered that being overheated is a very uncomfortable state of being and I, at least, was in no mood to go restaurant hunting when a good, hot meal could be placed before me in a matter of minutes without having to walk to find it. For the record, my wild mushroom risotto wasn’t as good as my risotto experience in Stirling, Scotland, five years ago—but it was exactly what I needed at the moment.
Sadly, it was time for the four of us to part ways. I plucked one of my cards from my purse to hand to Jessica explaining that I was a writer and Travel Blogger and, unless they had any qualms, I would be writing about our experience together, in the midst of a heatwave, in a beautiful Cotswold village at the beginning of September close to our 50th Wedding Anniversary. What a wonderful treat having met them had been for us.
Hugs and good-byes proclaimed, we waved back at them as we followed their progression up High Street.
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THE BURFORD HOUSE HOTEL DATING BACK TO THE 1600’S |
Just after ordering our meals at the Burford Hotel’s restaurant, core temp nearly reaching normal, I saw Jessica quickly walking past the front windows and make her way inside the building. She must have left something behind, I told Dan. Looking up, she was headed directly towards me. Abruptly stopping, she leaned down to whisper in my ear. Alan and I remembered that ‘The Angel Pub’ right around the corner from here has excellent food! Pulling back, she smiled and just as swiftly, left the hotel. I had no time to respond and sat there, mouth open, for several seconds.
Dan, I think she was inviting us to have dinner with them at ‘The Angel Pub’ if I’m not mistaken. My heart sank. We were caught in an overlapping time scenario with no satisfying way out. Wanting to leave and knowing we couldn’t, we sat staring at one another, mouths open until our very cheery waitress said, I have Mushroom Risotto for the lady and Chicken Marcella for the gentleman.
Things do happen for a reason. We have been deeply sorry, however, to have missed continuing our marvelous evening in the company of this exciting couple. I can only hope that Jessica finds my card in her purse or pocket of her long vest one day and remembers the two, friendly Americans they met, and by chance, shared life stories with in the Burford House
Hotel in the Cotswolds. If you do find it and remember us, Jessica, won’t you please let me know?
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| MOVING ON….2013 - 2023 |
Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes
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