I was supposed to be a Barrister, but it never happened. Not that career, but I’ve had so many others.

I taught Nigerian soldiers to shoot, sold paint to Costa Rica, Indigo to the Tuaregs, mini skirts to sixties dolly birds and bathrobes to Sunday Times readers.

Getting a bit more serious, Beatrice and I formed our own P.R. company, started London Fashion Week and bought a yacht. Cruising far and wide we fell in love with Devon and Cornwall, and determined to find a home and a business there.

It took us five years, but then we found Burgh Island and its near derelict Art Deco hotel. That was the start of sixteen years of fun and thrills, worry and nightmares.

But we survived and so did the hotel. Against all odds, we breathed life and happiness into that stunning (1929) building. Its fame spread and we finally prospered.

Now that we have passed our dream to another deco – loving couple, I have written it all down. The almost incredible story of our time on Burgh Island is told in ‘The Great White Palace’, published by Deerhill Books ISBN 0-9550727-0-0.

Now we are snug in our valley, barely 15 minutes from the Island, living in the only Art Deco barn in Devon, with many projects to keep us busy. Use it or lose it, as I say!

As a Trustee of the charity dedicated to the construction of a new Pre School in our village, I became involve in fundraising. In 2008, this led to my foundation of the Aveton Gifford Classic Car Show, now an established annual August Bank Holiday event.

Our fourth show in 2011 attracted 120 classics, more beautiful than ever, and 1400 visitors. This brings our total towards the Pre School to £18500. The building is now complete, with PV electric panels on the roof, which powers the heating and air conditioning. Spare units are sold to the grid too! Proceeds from future Car Shows will continue to be passed to the "Hive" (as we have called the school) to help them on their way. Regular applications are being received from parents in the area.

My book has now sold over 20,000 copies, and is popular in shops selling it in National Trust venues. In the meantime, I am working on my autobiography, which, I admit, is a bit stop and go, due to the many wonderful trips which Beatrice and I continue to enjoy, to many parts of the World. Watch this space!

For copies of " The Great White Palace" @ £9.99 including P&P, please contact Tony at tony@tonyporter.co.uk