PEOPLE

Alex, Linda, David and Antonia

DAVID – Joint founder and Chairman

My background was in engineering before I turned my attention to the business of growing grapes and making wine (see history). I have been a passionate ambassador for English Wines since the early 1970’s. I believe we make a range of fantastic products that knock the spots off our European competitors with our crisp, aromatic and above all fruity wines. I have recently been working on a project involving wines for the Asian market; for full details visit Taylor & Shroff’s website via links. When I’m not burning the candle in the office, I play tennis and enjoy the odd glass of wine!

LINDA – Joint founder and Director

I trained at the Royal School of Music, qualifying as a flute and piano teacher. I had a variety of teaching jobs before the office side of the business increased to a full time position. I have been a singer in Battle Choral Society for many years and play tennis regularly.

ALEX CARR TAYLOR – Winemaker and Director

As I grew up on the vineyard, it was inevitable that I would end up in the industry in one way or another. In fact, I studied Agriculture at Reading University and did consider a career as a farm manager. However, the pull of the wine industry was too great to resist, so I took over the winemaking role from 1992. I have a great love of the outdoors, and mountains in particular. My big passion (other than wine) was rock-climbing and mountaineering, and I have climbed several peaks over 6,000 metres. I have also sailed across the Atlantic twice, and was a keen runner, with a couple of half-marathons under my belt. All that changed when I met Jacqie. We have two gorgeous children who now occupy weekends with ballet and matchbox cars. I am looking forward to being taken to the pub by them, and introducing them to a few Welsh hills.

ANTONIA SWORDER

JACQIE CARR TAYLOR

I had a previous life as an employment lawyer, having studied English and French Law at Essex and Strasbourg Universities, and then qualified as a solicitor in London. I advised companies large and small, and individuals from all walks of life, helping them through anything from redundancy to claims of discrimination, and acting as advocate at tribunal if things weren’t resolved before then. When I met Alex, and more importantly discovered he was a winemaker, I knew he was the one for me! We got married whilst travelling in Central America, and rather than settle down immediately we have worked and travelled in New Zealand, the States and Asia – India, Nepal and Tibet to be precise. Having lived on site since the birth of our daughter (2005) and son (2007), I joined the family business in 2008 in an official role of Do-Whatever-Needs-Doing (aka Tea Maker aka Legal and Marketing Manager). Pre-motherhood, I played in an amateur orchestra, kept fit through aerobics and running, and joined a creative writing evening class, which I have just started doing again. I also am a keen skier (Alex and I met skiing) and love trekking in the mountains. I have been known to enjoy a drink or two.

JOYCE PARFITT

DAVE HARRISON

For many years, I was employed at Gatwick airport and travelled the world teaching people how to trace missing baggage. I now lecture on the history of Gatwick and on Vines & Wines to very diverse groups of the public. I have been a tour guide at Carr Taylor Vineyard since 2004. I am also extensively known in Sussex, Surrey and Kent as a Medium and Clairvoyant. I retired to Hastings in 1999 to be close to my children and grandchildren. My ambition is to outlive them all and to continue being active until at least my 100th birthday!

SUE CRISFORD

I have worked at the vineyard since 1996. I live in Battle and have 4 children aged between 14 and 21. I enjoy reading, travelling, eating and, of course, drinking!

CAROL WATLEY

I have lived in East Sussex since 2000. I live a 'Country Living' existence with a menagerie of 2 cats, 3 ducks, 10 ducklings, 20 chickens, 2 bee hives and 3 children. Luckily, the neighbour still talks to me! My favourite way to relax is with a glass of bubbly in the garden. I have been gardening organically sine 1994 and am now in the process of converting my garden to biodynamic sowing and planting methods.