JEREMY ROBINSON
company maritz and set up a boat business near monte Carlo in the late 80s.” I returned to England in the early
90s and trained as a commercial pilot with the aim of going into the private jet market but didn’t pursue it as demand was low in the 90s recession.” He married Carol, who at the time was a buyer for the nhs, in 1998 and set up Captiva with her. They married in West Sussex and
lived in henley-on–Thames. a move to Wiltshire preceded their final move to Little Coombe nine years ago, with nine-month-old daughter Ellie and Carol pregnant with twins. Twins George and Harriet are now eight and Ellie is nine and they all attend a local primary school. When they moved to Little Coombe Farm there was a main house, a holiday cottage and a run down stone barn. They have restored the 450-year-old barn into a holiday let and extended the house and outbuildings. The estate is 20 acres, including six acres of woodland. Jeremy collects classic cars and
owns amongst others a 1960s mini moke. he sold his 1966 aston martin and a 1962 Bentley to fund the farm’s building project. Jeremy grew up in Reading and attended shiplake College as a day- pupil. he left in 1977 with not as many qualifications as he would have liked. He said: “I didn’t do that well at
school but I did enjoy it. my favourite
sport was rowing and, as the school was on the river Thames, I was on a the water a lot. “my father was in publishing and
mother was a practice manager for Reading University Health Centre. my younger sister was a norland Nanny. “When I left school I wanted to
join the BBC, in front of the camera but in those days you needed a degree to sweep the floor. so I went into the business world instead.” after 15 years in the fast paced corporate world Jeremy and Carol decided they wanted a lifestyle
“I love working for myself and have been doing it since I was 24 years old – I’m probably unemployable now”
change, so moved to Devon. He said: “Rather than work in
the corporate world we now work in the travel and leisure markets, helping people enjoy their holidays. “We bought a local boat hire
company and branded it, then off the back of that set up Dart adventures – a local group activity business renting kayaks, stand up paddle boards etc and running stag, hen and corporate events. It ties in nicely with the accommodation we let out too. “It’s river-based, operating from Dittisham.”
The latest luxury holiday accommodations in the Little Coombe portfolio are four cedar- clad yurts in the woods, opening this season. Jeremy added: “They come complete with under floor heating and en suite bathrooms - it’s very, very posh glamping. They’re a great addition to our holiday lets.” It’s clear that life at Little Coombe Farm is fun and idyllic. Jeremy said: “We absolutely love it and wish we’d moved sooner. It’s a great place to bring up kids and we’re all very happy here. It’s a different way of life and very relaxed. “In 2008 we found a house we
liked. a friend’s mum lived in the village and I’d stayed here once. We moved down knowing only one person. “my work is based at home so I
can work around the kids and pick them up from school. Being my own boss I can work the time around the family, although with the boat business I’ve often been working seven days a week during the school holidays. hopefully, once that is sold, the holiday lets will be easier to manage and give me more time with my family. “I love working for myself
and have been doing it since I was 24 years old – I’m probably unemployable now!”
For more information visit
www.littlecoombefarm.co.uk
visit
www.bythedart.co.uk - for everything & anything about Dartmouth
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