Last month, the nation remembered the immense sacrifice that The Few made 80 years ago in the Battle of Britain. One such hero was Paul Farnes, who was the last surviving ‘Ace’, until his death in January 2020 at the age of 101.
As a 19-year-old in early 1938, Farnes noted that 'things were not looking too good in the world', and decided to enlist in the Royal Navy. According to his obituary in The Guardian He got as far as picking up an application form from the recruitment vessel moored on the Thames, near the central London office where he was working. Fate stepped in: a chance encounter that weekend with a man who'd just joined the RAF convinced Farnes that it'd be 'far more fun' to follow suit.
His went on to fly Hurricanes in the skies over Dunkirk, taking part in the Battle of Britain, earning decoration and a commission, before being posted to Malta — where he first took command of a squadron — and eventually to Egypt, Aden and Iraq, sometimes training new pilots, sometimes in front-line duty. In the process he downed seven enemy planes single-handed, jointly accounted for two more, had a further two unconfirmed and damaged 11.
Farnes stayed in the RAF until 1958, moving into jet fighters and continuing to train others before retiring as a Wing Commander. He went on to work in the motor, building and tourist industries on the south coast — and his home in later years was the house on this page, Oak Cottage, which is on the market for £1.65m.
It's a characterful brick-and-flint house on the outskirts of the Goodwood estate, very close to his former base at RAF Tangmere, and it’s a house fit for a hero.
There are six bedrooms, park-like gardens of some 3½ acres and long views over the Goodwood estate and beyond.
Inside, the extremely adaptable accommodation features two kitchens, a garden room, three further reception rooms and the possibility of creating a self-contained annexe within the property.
Exposed brick, open fireplaces, ornamental beams and flagged floors add further character, which is matched by the extensive 3.5 acre gardens.
There's a beautiful mix of parkland, lawned areas, paddock and various outbuildings that include a stable and workshop.
Oak Cottage is for sale via Jackson Stops — see more pictures and details.
D-Day veterans in their own words: 'A lot of men did very brave things. I simply did what I was told to do'
The surviving veterans of D-Day are well into their nineties, but many still remember the events with stark clarity. Three
VE Day in pictures: 14 powerful and evocative images that capture the joy of May 8, 1945
Country Life takes a look back at this day in history, 75 years ago, when the Second World War in
Credit: Alamy
Curious Questions: Does 'Red Sky at Night' actually work? And why?
It's the oldest weather forecasting adage of them all – and you'd be surprised at how accurate it is. Jay Griffiths
-
Tetrad: Over half a century of timeless good looksSince 1968, Tetrad has employed a combination of traditional skills and the finest materials to make upholstered furniture that is designed to offer years of comfort.
-
‘Lots of books, Scrabble, a pack of cards and James Norton. Oh, and some wine’: Alison Weir’s consuming passionsThe Sunday Times bestselling author, 74, on her literary hero, her collection of jigsaw puzzles that she never has time to do and her celebrity crush.
-
A perfect country house in 'the most beautiful and unspoilt town in the Cotswolds'Penny Churchill takes a look at the wonderful Kingcombe, on the outskirts of the charming town of Chipping Campden.
-
The dream home that never was for one of Britain's greatest film stars, back on the market for the first time in half a centuryAnna White takes a look at the beautiful Wallers Mead, in the Buckinghamshire village full of links to Hollywood movies from James Bond to Star Wars.
-
A 500-year-old cottage in West Sussex that's as beautiful as you could ever hope to see, with a pool ringed by flowers, stables and a croquet lawnJames Fisher was in need of some balm for the soul when he came across Woodshill House.
-
A Clarkson's Farm of one's own: Five properties with just enough farmland for you and your family, from under £1 millionMoving to the country is one thing; moving to the country and being able to grow and rear all your own food is another level entirely, and all these properties offer exactly that.
-
Six superb homes, from chocolate box cottages to grand Tudor mansions, as seen in Country LifeOur regular round-up includes charming home counties houses and superb grand country house in Ireland.
-
A billionaire's thatched cottage is for sale in Surrey, once owned by the oil magnate J. Paul GettyChestnut Cottage is a joyous little home — albeit one with the most unusual bedrooms to acreage to price balances we've ever seen. Toby Keel takes a look inside.
-
Medieval Italian? 19th century French? 16th century German? You're spoilt for choice if you're looking to buy a gorgeous continental castleFrom hills of Italy to a Bavarian palace, Toby Keel takes a look at three of the finest castles for sale across Europe today.
-
How to buy a house at auctionBuying at auction can mean you secure your dream property for a bargain price, but preparation is the key
