The Max Factor with Max Clifford
Above: Raffaele Morelli, Max and Des O'Connor with Daniela at her restaurant
Above: Sandro Morelli
Above: Sue Stone is an inspiration
Above: Ian Wills at GuilFest
Originally published in August's Surrey Life magazine
Every month, Weybridge resident Max Clifford gives us an insight into his busy life in the county and beyond
Keeping it in the family
Back in the 1960s, I met and got to know two young brothers, Raffaele and Sandro Morelli from Richmond, who were busily making their way in the hotel and catering business. In the early Seventies, they opened their very first restaurant called Barbarella in Chelsea. As I’m sure a few of you may have done, I spent many a happy evening eating and dancing in Barbarella in the 70s and 80s. It became a very popular restaurant and, when I was still mostly working in the music business, I took many of my famous clients there, and Raffaele and Sandro became good friends of mine and to many of them, too.
Then, a little over 20 years ago, both brothers moved out to southern Spain where they have become increasingly well known and successful. Raffaele’s Valparaiso restaurant, near Mijas, and Sandro’s equally famous Villa Tiberio, in Marbella, have deservedly become two of the most popular on the entire coast.
A combination of consistently good food and spectacular garden settings, together with the friendly charm and know-how of the two brothers, has made this happen. Both restaurants have become big favourites with British holiday makers, locals and many stars, including Rod Stewart and Sean Connery.
My recent visit to the area revealed that both Raffaele and Sandro’s children are now successfully carrying on the family tradition. Raffaele’s daughters, Daniela and Paula, own Regina’s, which has become the most celebrated in the entire San Pedro area. Sandro’s sons, Marco and Carlo, have achieved similar success with the Aretusa restaurant, which is right on the front in Puerto Banus.
The Morelli family have a unique pedigree for providing sumptuous dishes in beautiful settings. Over dinner, Raffaele told me that Carlo and Marco are now looking to come to England to open a restaurant, possibly in the Surrey area. If that proves to be the case, I for one will be highly delighted to have all that on my doorstep.
Getting through the hard times
I was lucky enough to go to the All England Lawn Tennis Club recently and on Centre Court watch probably the greatest men’s singles final ever. Both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were absolutely magnificent, not just for their wonderful tennis but for their sportsmanship and dignified fashion in which they handled this whole great event.
While I was there, as a guest of the British Tennis Foundation, I bumped into an old friend of mine called Sue Stone, who used to live in Guildford. When I first met Sue, she was a successful businesswoman living with her husband and three children, but since then, her whole life has changed.
A few years ago, her husband walked out on her, their children and their business, leaving Sue with a debt of £250,000. She was facing financial ruin and at her lowest point her family home was being repossessed. She started to read several personal development and spiritual books and what she learnt turned her life around. She soon found the confidence to pick herself up and change her life and her career.
Having successfully brought herself back from the brink of desperation, Sue has never been happier and now dedicates her time to helping others in similar situations by running her own very successful happiness coaching business. She holds mass talks as well as one-to-one coaching sessions and has also written a book about her experiences called Love Life, Live Life.
I really admire how Sue has triumphed over adversity to come out stronger and with a positive attitude and I think it’s a great read for anyone who is going through a hard time in their life. It’s a very inspiring book which I wholeheartedly recommend.
Wills and the Willing
Blondie might have been the main attraction at the wonderful GuilFest this year but for me Cobham’s Ian Wills was the highlight.
Ian, whose voice and presence reminds me of Ian Dury, is 46 going on 26. Personally, I am not a big fan of his music, preferring something with a melody, but have to say for a man who can’t sing or dance he certainly can move a crowd.
To his credit, many of the people I’ve spoken to have said that he was the star of the show and thought that his middle-aged poetry to music was truly moving and thought-provoking.
Ian has been telling me for years just how talented he is and such was his success and impact at GuilFest that I’m actually starting to think there could be some truth in this.
At the festival, he also gave away copies of his album for free in exchange for donations to CHASE, and it was lovely of him to give tickets to some of the children from the charity, too, so that they could enjoy GuilFest.
Well done, Ian.
Max has kindly donated his fee for this month’s column to Oasis in Cobham - a charity that works with vulnerable children and families throughout the Elmbridge area. For more information about Oasis and their work visit www.oasischildcare.demon.co.uk
To never miss out on what is going on in Max Clifford's world, subscribe to Surrey Life here. If you've missed an edition of The Max Factor, then click here to catch up with all the goings on since Max joined the Surrey Life team.