Mr Handsome

A new portrait has appeared in the entrance hall at Leeds Castle. It's a rather handsome man that gives Mr Darcy a run for his money and apparently has all the female castle guides in a bit of a tizz.

The man in the portrait is Arthur Wilson Filmer, the second husband of Lady Baillie who was the last private owner of Leeds Castle. The Anglo-American heiress married Arthur, from Chart Sutton, so she could purchase Leeds Castle - for the sum of £150,000 in 1926 - as he was a local land owner.

Turns out that the marriage was an arrangement as Arthur 'batted for the other side' and after the Castle purchase Lady Baillie married another man.

Today I shared the good company of my pal Jack, home on leave from the merchant navy. I gave him the VIP tour of the Castle and grounds finishing with tea in the falconry office with my pals from the wildlife and falconry department.

Evening drinkies in the pub with my castle buddies Chris and Mark made for a fab day.