He and his wife, a professional jeweller, had run a successful business based in London’s Knightsbridge selling to celebrities such as Michael Jackson and royalty like Princess Diana, before disaster struck.
The jewelery company’s value plummeted during the financial crisis of 1987, leaving him fearful for his future.
“We lost everything…we lost our house, our business. We sold every stick of furniture we had at Leominster market,” he admitted to The Guardian.
They closed their store in Beauchamp Place and moved to the countryside, rekindling a passion for gardening that they’d previously only had time to enjoy on Sundays.