Concrete and Clay star buys bricks and mortar in Pewsey

Sixties pop performer Howard ‘Lem’ Lubin has moved out of his London base to take one of the last available homes at Redcliffe Homes’ Whatley Drive development in Pewsey.

Lem, who topped the charts with a number of sixties bands including Unit 4 + 2 and Christie, has moved West to be closer to his family, and make the most of the rather less frenetic pace in rural Wiltshire.

Bass player Lem – who played on jukebox classics including Concrete and Clay and Yellow River – also guested with The Shadows and Zoot Money before he left the music industry for a career with the Foreign Office.

“Whatley Drive is a great location and the traffic is fabulous – there’s hardly any. It’s such a massive contrast to London. I went back recently and couldn’t believe I had put up with it for so long!”

Lem was also able to take advantage of the staggering imbalance between London property prices and the rest of the country.

“Prices back in Pimlico are quite ridiculous. People are moving out as Russian and Chinese investors buy up everything in sight and yet they don’t even live there. But it also means ordinary Londoners don’t get a look in and are having to move further and further out.”

Lem whose other claim to fame is writing the theme tune to BBC TV’s Porridge – said the move west had suited him and his wife Mary as their daughter lives nearby.

“Wiltshire is a beautiful county and we were more than happy to move here. The house and surrounding development has been well designed. The people are very friendly and there is a strong community atmosphere.”

Redcliffe Homes marketing and sales manager, Lorraine Kendrick, said: “It’s great to see that Lem and his wife have settled so quickly into what must be a whole new way of life in Wiltshire. Having a mainline station with regular trains to London makes it easy for them to pop back to their old haunts while enjoying the country life.

“Whatley Drive appeals to movers and shakers as well as to downsizers with a desire for country living, but who still appreciate having so many facilities on their doorstep.”

Lem and his wife have bought one of the Thatcham style homes at Whatley Drive.

Meanwhile Whatley Mews is the last phase on this popular Redcliffe development and is being marketed specifically at those looking to downsize or retire to the countryside.
With only 11 bespoke homes, Redcliffe expects all of them to be occupied by Christmas.

Further details are available from the sales office – open daily from 10 am to 5pm – or call 01672 564680 or visit www.redcliffehomes.co.uk