A Gift to Remember

Monty, House Butler to the Duke of Richmond 

It would have to be Christmas 1991 when I was a duty Petty Officer aboard HMS Valiant, a hunter killer submarine. I had been waiting for a draft order to transfer for about 5 months. When the mail arrived on Christmas eve I had to sort it into departments. The last one in the large pile was for me. I could not believe it - this meant that my lovely wife Ann and our family could move back to the south coast and end what had become a nightmare in Scotland. I ran around like a man possessed trying to find a frame that would fit the draft order so I could wrap it in Christmas paper.

My very good friend Pat Patterson had arranged to relieve me of my duties so I could get home in time to watch the kids open their Christmas presents, but the best present for me was the one I had for Ann - the draft order framed and wrapped in Christmas paper. "What is it?" she asked, I explained to her it was my draft to HMS Dolphin in Gosport Hampshire and as a family we would be moving south! Her face was one I hold dear to my heart till this very day. The previous year our two-year old son had been seriously ill and required a big operation in York Hill hospital in Glasgow and we were just glad that he was still with us and getting better. As a family we were all looking forward to returning to England making this the best Christmas present ever.

Chris Woodgate, Chief Executive Officer

Sega Mega Drive Street Fighter game – Champion edition. As a child of the '90s this was the ultimate fighter game. Although the graphics may seem a little basic back then it was so addictive and definitely still the best present ever…

Chris Woodgate

Sam Worthington-Leese, Flying Instructor

It's a tough one, as I don't go in for receiving presents too much at Christmas, I just like to give them. That said, something that I will always remember was what I was given for Christmas 2013. I had just been made redundant from the RAF and was re-adjusting to a new "life" as a flying instructor, while on the side I had bought my first property, a renovation in need of a complete overhaul, from top to bottom, with some help from my mother. That Christmas I received a sledge hammer, in light of the work about to commence. For me, that was great, as it was a tool to begin rebuilding my life, which had been shattered as a result of the redundancy only months earlier. The property was a success, selling it only a year later and making a tidy profit allowing me to continue instructing, which is certainly not the best paid career in the world, to put it kindly!

Sam Worthington-Leese

James Peill, Curator of the Goodwood Collection

I think my all-time favourite has to be the three-wheeler bicycle that my parents gave me. My brother and I came downstairs on Christmas morning and there were these two three-wheeler bicycles covered up in front of the fireplace. We were over the moon with excitement. Each had a little boot in the back and handlebars at the front just like a normal bike. My father used to put them in his trailer and drive us to a ford in the Black Mountains where we would ride backwards and forwards through the water. I remember repainting them ourselves when they began to look a bit tatty after all the use they had.

James Peil

Kevin Crisp, Estate Sommelier

The best Christmas presents I have ever received were a bottle of Chateau d’Yquem 1982 and my bass rod! It is impossible to describe the complexity of flavours of d’Yquem and the pleasure to be had from drinking it – the taste stays on the palate for a prolonged time. And aside from wine, my other passion is fishing so the bass rod has been well used and helped create many happy memories.

John Hearn, Master Butcher

When I was 13 my father gave me a set of butcher’s knives. He said when these wear out you will have learnt a trade – then you can do as you wish – travel the world – have fun – but you’ve always got something to come back to – something that you have learned – a skill. That was certainly the best gift I could ask for and one that probably lead me on the path to where I am today.

Darron Bunn, Group Executive Chef

The Christmas I had off work! It was Christmas 1995 I was working in the 3 Michelin Starred Chez Nico on Park Lane. I had only been a chef in London for a short while but had worked my first two Christmas’s, I had recently moved to work for Nico and his restaurant was shut for two weeks over Christmas and New Year, so I went home and had Christmas dinner cooked by my mother. It felt fantastic to be home with my then girlfriend (now wife) and all of the family. I was so exhausted I slept for almost all of the two weeks! I have been lucky not to have worked every Christmas (like a lot of chefs) as most of the restaurants I have worked in, have closed in a similar fashion to Nico, however, I remember this one in particular as feeling like a really great Christmas present.

Our Farmer (Tim Hassell pictured centre), Butcher (John Hearn pictured left) and Chef (Darron Bunn pictured right)