Humphry Wakefield：勇于冒險(xiǎn) 活得豐富多彩

　　【PChouse】We learned from press that you like to travel. What do you think travel can bring you? Among all the places that you have visited, which one do you like the best?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】I love travel because of the excitement of new ideas and new sights: the vastly different experiences between, for instance, the glories of the ice and snow bound Antarctic and the elegant perfection of classic sights of Peking. They are both totally extraordinary and most definitely all to be experienced to add to the glory and diversity of life. MY FAVOURITE PLACE you ask? That is like asking which girlfriend, child or even horse you like best! Each is so different and each brings something totally different and fresh to life. Besides one child might be sgreat to go to the opera with and the other to climb a mountain with? Wth places as with humanity, one can scan out the unacceptable or try to, if the glories are really worthwhile? I have seen such great beauty in China, both natural and manmade. There is such great beauty in so many countries throughout the world and in such profuse variety/ it is also there in the Museums in the homes and in nature.

　　【PChouse】It is said that you have participated in the explorations of Mount Qomolangma and the Antarctic, and these activities are very adventurous, so how do you like adventures? Do you think the fact that you love to take on adventures is due to the fact that you inherited the spirit of knighthood from your family? After all, your father-in-law is one of her Majesty the Queen's personal Knight. Can you briefly introduce the notion of chivalry to our Chinese readers? It is very exotic and mysterious to us.

　　【Humphry Wakefield】Yes, and my Father was Treasurer and Comptroller of Her Majesty The Queen’s Household though he was a Classical scholar, mountaineer and Member of Parliament as well as a Minister to Winston Churchill. But, to answer your question, from 600 years ago (and from before and since) Chivalry has been a “culture” of honour amongst leading families throughout the entire world, with ancient China (up till today, I am sure), of course, included. There is a universally understood ‘pact’ of ‘how one behaves’ in the fierceness of war and in the calm of home. This universal acceptance of chivalaric behaviour is an all-important bond for nations, especially in wartimes, just as is Music, Art, Sport, Learning and Science. This culture of Chivalry demands that you: A) Live life to the full, taking all honourable risks you dare to take; B) You must try to Win, but you must only win at games and war by fair methods and give honour and protection to others most especially if they obey that code. C) Disregard personal safety so far as you dare; D) Always Care for women and children. E) Love and protect beauty in nature or manmade works and have reverence for tradition and honour. (ALL OF THAT, OF COURSE, RELATES TO STATELY HOMES and their families, the protection of those Homes and their survival.) . The culture really says to live life to the full. Don’t worry about safety, but love glorious things, protect women qand children, protect the best in humanity and rise above or destroy evil. Back in the AD 900s we had a King Arthur: He had his “Knights of the Round Table.” The table was round because all people were equal (but there must have been a ‘pecking order’ all the same) These Knights were all men of total Honour and chieftains at warfare. I truly think that is why the present Stately Homes Lords are famous bird shots and polo players (as is Prince Charles and his sons), as they had to be brilliant athletes and fighters to survive those wars and battles. Those Stately Homes families are also strong in politics and industry today from many generations of practice. Those Stately Homes families do also support beauty and Craftsmanship in their Castles and Palaces and, of course, they support the great traditional STATELY HOMES themselves. I think that Chivalry has related to horsemanship, down the centuries, at least. That is partly because the survival of warfare, in old times, depended on skilled horsemanship, and also because horsemanship does not call for brute strength but for a personal relationship of calm and trust between horse and man, a trust with relates to a dimension beyond reason and certainly beyond force.

　　【PChouse】You have once rebuilt the Terra castle and have also repaired the Northumberland castle Chillingham, why are you so interested in these castle projects?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】 I love Castles as they somehow manage to carry the romance of their dramatic past history of armed action with them, along with the spirits of their powerful past owners and the beauty of these Castles’s contents and natural surrounds. These Castles have seen wars and kings, brave acts and clever feats of arms, with involvement in highest politics, power and front-line action. And these Castles have also housed music and the greatest musicians of their days, and they have furnishings and paintings of the greatest beauty in the country. Even when the Castles are partly fallen and ruined, they still have the memories and they have the potential to revive that spirit with restoration. The Castles I have revived have always been connected with my own family, so I feel the family Ghosts are enjoying recognition and life again and I feel these Spirits are working with me to help me. Certainly it looks that way if you read our Chillingham Castle Ghost stories of ‘helping hands’ in difficult or unlikely situations. With restoration it is also always wonderful to bring a ‘Sleeping Beauty’back to full life and laughter.’

　　【PChouse】I heard that you have designed the The Square Hotel suite (It was the 13 topmost suites at the PLAZA HOTEL in NEW YORK) for Mrs. Trump, how do you like interior design? What are your favourite design styles?

　　【Humphry Wakefield】I designed and furnished the 13 topmost suites for the NEW YORK PLAZA HOTEL, then owned by Mrs Trump and her family. We won many awards for these “Stately Homes” Suites of Rooms. But, it was easy for me! I designed the Suites with BAKER Stately Homes Furniture, with TIFFANY Stately Homes Crystal and silver, with MIRROR FAIR Stately Homes mirrors and Stately Homes Ceramics and even our lamps. We named each of the 13 Hotel Suites with the name of one of the great Stately Homes in the Baker Collection. When the Suites were completed, I arrange for all the Lords who owned these Stately Homes’ Castles and Palaces to have dinner at CLARIDGES HOTEL in London with, to meet Mrs. Trump to celebrate the grand opening of the PLAZA Stately Home suites.