by Jake Polden
Many know Alex James as being the bass player for successful 90s britpop band Blur, others know him for owning a cheese producing farm, but not even those closest to him knew of his soft spot for caravans, until now.
He initially purchased a caravan as a cross between a kitchen and a Portaloo – so that builders working on his house had an area to light-up, relax and relieve themselves on their break.
Alex told The Daily Telegraph: “It was £900 and for years the price was still written on one of the windows.”
With the caravan being promoted to an area of consultation, Alex recalls how head builder Neal opened up to him regarding his divorce, and needed a place to stay.
The rest is history as they say; Neal moved in to the on-site caravan, installed a word-burning stove and more importantly, scratched the price tag from the window to make his temporary house a home.
Since then the caravan has appeared in Italian Vogue, where the photographer refused to capture anything else except the static wonder, and has acquired another lodger in the form of Neal’s friend Garfield – a carpenter also working on the house.
Speaking about the convenience of the caravan Alex said: “Builders drove me mad for years, but now I understand construction better and have people I like working with, I love the idea of them all staying here.”
That said, Neal, who recently rediscovered love with a new partner may well be moving out sooner than Alex had hoped and intended.
So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen: Alex James’ caravan where problems are solved, broken hearts are mended and dreams become reality.
