Introducing...Jon Barnsley. After 25 years as a Fleet Street journalist, five years ago Jon Barnsley quit the rat-race of impossible deadlines and the hustle and bustle of London life to become Lord of the Manor in the rolling Norman countryside.
During his time as a journalist, Jon was Showbiz Editor of The News Of The World – a non-stop rollercoaster ride of celebrity parties and interviews, during which time he became a confidant to such people as Kylie Minogue and Elton John.
But now 48-year-old Jon, who declares himself as “gay but sadly single”, is a full-time Jack of all Trades – as owner and restorer of Le Castel, a small Napoleon III chateau near Coutances. He has turned the rambling chateau into an upmarket guest house and now regards himself as a children’s nanny, wedding planner, chief park keeper, handyman, toilet cleaner/fixer (“there are 12 loos at Le Castel and guests are always doing odd things to them!”)
“With a small business, you have to be able to do everything,” he says “...including predicting the weather for guests!”
What is a hard-bitten, cynical News of the World journalist doing in the tranquil, rolling countryside of Normandy?
On the News of the World I had some of the nicer jobs – Showbiz Editor and Travel Editor. I didn’t have to put my foot in doorways or upset people. Thanks to those jobs I met just about everyone I ever wanted to meet from The Queen to Diana Ross and I went to just about every place in the world that I hankered after seeing. But you can have too much of a good thing and surprisingly I was happy to swap the high life for country life.
They say you should never get tired of London – but I did. I was sick of my house being broken into and my friends getting mugged.
Do you miss the cut, thrust and ridiculous deadlines of Fleet Street life?
For five years I was happy outside of Fleet Street, but I am easing myself back into things during the quieter winter season. I have started writing travel articles for The Sun and The Mirror. I thought everyone would have forgotten me, but I have been welcomed back with open arms and Club Class flights with BA. Bliss. The fear of Economy never goes away!
How long have you been resident in Normandy – and what initially attracted you to the area?
I moved to Le Castel in 2004 with my partner Nick, but he didn’t take to country life – even though it was his idea. The original attraction was its closeness to the UK as initially I was commuting back to London for four days a week and Nick was running the business. Then I managed to get redundancy and came over here with a wheelbarrow full of Mr Murdoch’s money. He paid for the stable block and servants’ quarters to be turned into gites – thanks Rupert! Nick then went back to the UK to become a teacher.
Le Castel is a wonderful chateau in a superb location. What is its history and how do you make the estate work for you?
Le Castel means “small castle” and it was probably the site of a wooden castle in medieval times. The current, classical looking building with twin turrets was built around 1860 as a summer home for a Parisian judge. It is all very symmetrical and beautifully constructed. The huge lawn would have be a status symbol as you had to have it hand scythed regularly – everyone in Normandy knows how fast the grass grows here!
These days Le Castel is a holiday home for lots of families rather than one. The main chateau is used as a chambre d’hôte, but our main business tends to be whole house bookings for celebrations like 40th birthdays, weddings or golden wedding anniversaries.
I love doing the weddings – it is a chance to be very creative and you get great satisfaction from seeing so many happy faces.
Le Castel used to be famous for two other residents – your llamas Fernando and Fidel. Did you inherit them with Le Castel and where are they now? (Hopefully they have not passed on to the great llama-lland in they sky?)
I had been fascinated by llamas right from when I was a child. When we came over here I realised that I had the space and rather bizarrely the first one arrived quite by chance. I had the TV chef John Burton Race coming over to do a cookery demo and I needed more rooms, so I checked out another local chateau. He had loads of animals including some llamas and I asked where I could buy one. In typical French fashion he said “Zis one e for sale”. I bought him there and then. I then had to go all the way down to Limoges to find Fidel – he came back here in mini bus. He is much better behaved than some of my guests.
The llamas have been great fun and we have had a huge amount of publicity because of them.
However, Fernando and Fidel have recently gone off to be with llady llamas and we already have one nipper called Felix!
In your former showbiz role with the News of the World, you must have met many A-list celebs. Who were your favourites, and are you brave enough to say who were your least favourite – and why?
Kylie was undoubtedly my favourite. My least favourite was Jim Carrey – he is probably a great guy, but my interview was at the end of a very long day for him and he was in a foul mood.
Describe a typical day for you at Le Castel...
It is very long! Running a place like Le Castel is hectic. Preparing breakfast starts around 7am, then the rooms have to be sorted out, some marketing, sending out booking confirmations, preparing for dinner, serving dinner, cleaning up and bed around midnight... if you are lucky. Out of season is a constant round of maintenance.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years time?
No idea – I am too impulsive to plan. We bought Le Castel during a weekend break to Normandy, so goodness knows what I will do in future.
What do you most love about your life in Normandy and what do you most miss about your former life in Blighty?
The thing I most love (surprisingly) are the ex pats. They are a weird and wonderful bunch and I have made some amazing friends. I have also met a number I am keen to avoid. I do miss being able to wander around London and just bump into friends rather than always planning to do things.
If you had a magic wand, how would you improve Normandy as a tourist destination?
Move it a few hundred miles south for better weather.
What is your favourite extravagance?
I live a much simpler life now I am in Normandy and the days of spending ridiculous amounts of money on an Armani suit are over. I don’t miss that either – I am quite happy in a ruby shirt and jeans.
What is your most annoying habit? (family or friends can help you with this question!)
Like Mary Poppins – I am practically perfect!
What would be your chosen epitaph?
I want to be a lawn (I am certainly sick of mowing a hectare of parkland!)
There are more photographs of life at Le Castel on Jon’s website:
www.le-castel-normandy.com
