interview
Island Life - June/July 2010
Photo left: Chris
pictured in his Aston
Martin DB5 he
purchased in 1962
Right: Chris pictured
at home relaxing
with his dog
Mottistone
concerned about the governance of the
Hong Kong where his youngest son, Tobias,
Island, expressing mild frustration about the
works in finance, recruitment and event
length of time taken to make decisions. “I
management. His eldest daughter, Louise, is
think it could be better,” he says carefully.
head of fresh food product development for
“However, I have to extend my admiration
M&S, Emma is an image consultant, and Kate
for people who put themselves up for
is a partner in Just Radio which produces
election as councillors.” He is, though, full
programmes for the BBC and others.
of enthusiasm about the sort of things which
Christopher is quietly but immensely proud.
make the Island unique, such as Osborne
Keeping in touch with them all is easy,
House, Carisbrooke Castle and the Royal
one imagines, with email and ‘real time
Yacht Squadron.
chat’ with Skype. But Christopher Bland
He has, he says, his fears for the future:
wants none of that. He’s happy to stay in a
“Overpopulation, total disregard for the
mechanical world where things are fixable
environment, pollution of the seas and a
with just a little tinkering. The Aston Martin
greed amongst fishermen that sees us throw
and the Tiger Moth were built long before
18 million tons of dead fish back in the sea
the advent of electronic gizmos, and as he
every year are hugely concerning.”
says: “You can’t tinker with black boxes.”
Six grandchildren are enough to make
anyone worry about a changing world. He
Later that day the Tiger Moth is seen flying
joyfully over the Brighstone Downs.
sees them regularly although four live in
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