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Previous page:
Sam and
Mark Vestey playing for
England in Chicago, 1976.
Opposite
: Mark playing
for Stowell Park, 1980.
This page, from top:
Stowell Park/Foxcote
– Sam, Eduardo Moore,
Mark, and Hector
Barantes, 1978; stick
and ball with daughter
Tamara at home, 1984
coupled with our mother’s unwavering support. What
passed between them was another story, but certainly
not one we ever perceived during our growing-up.
Tales of Dad’s life in and around polo were sometimes
told over cigars and port, but rarely repeated, unless he
was encouraged to do so. The Vestey brothers first
encountered the sport when they were based in Kenya
with the Scots Guards. My father’s finest hour back then
involved what was, in its heyday, the best pony in the
country: Napoleon. His owner was leaving Kenya for
a few years and could not countenance losing him.
Dad struck on the idea of offering to buy him for an
appropriate price and sell him back at the same price
if asked to do so at any stage. The handshake sealed it
and, sure enough, Napoleon was played until the
posting ran its course, just in time for his previous
owner to return and buy him back at the same price.
‘It was downhill from there when it came to buying
ponies, that’s for sure!’ my father would joke.
