Oxfordshire Limited Edition – July 2019

PEOPLE

InbetweenkeepingBlenheimrunningsmoothly,DominicHarelovestowanderthrough

thewondersofOxfordshireandsharesafewofhisfavouritethingsaboutthearea

DOMINIC HARE

Tellusaboutwhatyoudo
WithateamIrunBlenheim,whichisa
landedestaterunningaworld-renowned
visitorattraction,afocusedandgrowing
propertybusinessandasetofrural
enterprisebusinesses.
Atmylevel,theroleismoreaboutstrategy
andplanning,workingoutifweare
planningtodotherightthingsattheright
timeandifwehavetherightresourcetodo
thosethings.Ispendalotoftimelooking
downtheroadatwhatwillcomeinfiveand
tenyears’timeandtryingtomakesurewe
willbeready.

What'sthebestpartofyourjob?
Twothingsreally–oneisthatIam
empoweredbyagreatgroupofpeopleat
everylevelinBlenheimanditisaprivilegeto
workwithandforthem.
ThesecondthingisthatBlenheim,including
theRoyalParkwhichprecededthePalace,
hasbeeninthisspotfor 1 , 000 yearsandwill
beherein 1 , 000 years’time–knowingthat
youarepartofthatlongflowoftimegives
youarealsenseofbeingresponsibleforyour
actions,adesiretoensurethatyoutakethe
bestcareofthepresentandadetermination
tobequeaththebestgiftsyoucantothe
future.Itisspecialtobepartofsucha
uniquelylong-livedinstitution.

Whoisyourgreatestinspiration?
Ohdear,heisquitecontroversialbut...
ElonMusk.AftersellinghisbitofPaypal,
hecouldhavedoneanything.Hechoseto
takeonwhathesawasthemostexistential
problemsfacinghumanity.Iwouldn’tbet
againsthimtodayatTesla,SpaceXorSolar
Citybut,evenifhefails,hehaschangedthe
worldforthebetter.Ijustwishhewouldn’t
tweetsomuch...

Yourproudestachievement?
Workwise,inmybankingdaysIhelpedBob
theBuilderbuyBarneythePurpleDinosaur
andThomastheTankEngine.Nothingcould
evercompetewiththat,obviously,although
Blenheim’smovetoprovidetrulyaffordable
housingisprobablywhatourPRteamwere
hopingIwouldsay.Ridiculouslyproudofmy
children(nowadults!)too.

DescribeyouridealdayinOxfordshire
Onareallyquietday,startatNaturalBread
inWoodstockwithgreatcoffeeandgreater
company,thenwalkupWhiteHorseHill
andUffingtonCastlenearFaringdon,siton
thetopandreadabook,whiletakinginthe

far-reachingviews.ThentoOxford,lunch

atSashi’sThaithenclimbthetoweratSt

Mary’s,theUniversityChurch,andmarvelat

thevistasacrossthisextraordinarycitywhere

ancientandmodernintertwinesotightly.

AwalkinUniversityParkalongtheriver,

pausingforafewminutescontemplation

fromthebenchbythenarrowbridge,would

setmeupnicelyforaginandtoniconthe

BalconyattheAshmoleanDiningRoomor

theDukeofCambridgebeforeanevening

withmywonderfulfamily.

FavouriteplacetoeatinOxfordshire?

Sashi’sThaiattheCoveredMarket(hotly

pursuedby 4 , 500 milesfromDelhi,theonly

restaurantmywonderfulIndianmother-in-

lawwillactuallyeatat).

Favouriteplacetoshop?

Ilovethesecondhandbookshopsin

Oxford,especiallyOxfamonStGiles

(afterthewonderfulPalaceShopat

Blenheim,obviously).

Oxfordshire'sbest-keptsecret?

Thewonderful(andfree!)evensongsfrom

worldclasschoirsatsomeofthecollege

chapels.Livedincollegefortwoyears,went

once.I’manidiot.

MY OXFORDSHIRE

‘ClimbthetoweratStMary’s,theUniversity

Church,andmarvelatthevistasacrossthis

extraordinarycitywhereancientandmodern

intertwinesotightly’

210 |OxfordshireLimitedEdition|June 2019