Today is an exciting one for us as we got to have a chat with author Robert Tregay who has recently bought an apartment in the brand new Treehouse development at St Michaels Resort. This was a fascinating interview; we are only too sad we couldn’t share the full conversation which was extensive and centred around the plot of Robert’s first book (and his upcoming sequel) but hopefully this article gives a taster of all that he had to tell us. Without further ado…
Tell us a bit about you and your property buying journey
I was born in Falmouth (as were the 5 generations before me of my family). I attended Falmouth Grammar School and then left to go to university, but I never moved back as there were no jobs in my field. I was a landscape architect for a company that went on to become the top company in the UK, we actually had a lot of projects in Cornwall.
Then when I retired my wife and I knew we wanted to live a good part of our lives back in Falmouth and I’m keen that my daughter and grandson have the opportunity to spend time in Cornwall as well. My little grandson who is almost 5 has second cousins here which is wonderful. We are all very keen that he meets his cousins and grows up with them, becoming part of the succession that has gone on since the 1800s.
I see it as an opportunity to live a Falmouth life – to be Cornish again, because that’s my roots and they are incredibly strong. This often happens to many people if you grow up somewhere special. I loved living in Falmouth - I loved school, we played rugby and went snorkelling at what we called sunny cove. I played golf at Falmouth Golf Club. I also fenced at Falmouth Fencing Club and took part in lots of races – Falmouth to the Lizard Point and back which is around 50 miles! I would also run around Pendennis Point and Gyllyngvase Beach. Every Thursday we would go shopping and look down at the docks. My Great Great Grandfather had one of the founding companies at the docks – Silley Cox and Company. Back in 1865 they ran Cox and Son in Penryn which was my Great Great Grandfather Joseph and my grandfather and then my father. It was the family business for around 100 years. I have this Falmouth heritage, and I feel it in my bones. So, I have always known that I would end up returning home.
We know you have published a novel and that there’s another one in the works, we would love to know a little more about this
There are two books – the first is complete and the second is in preparation. In Invasion my main character Thomas was recruited by secret intelligence as a spy. The book covers the invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940 and how Thomas gets caught up in the invasion and the disappearance of Norway’s gold. Because I’m a landscape architect, place is very important to me. It is set in the depths of the coldest winter for a hundred years which creates drama. The second book is set in Falmouth and is a sequel but works as a freestanding book as well. It’s about someone recruited by secret intelligence service in 1940 (the Battle of Britain) just before the docks was bombed. There is also a very complex love story because the main female character is a spy for Germany. It starts on a boat called SS Broompark in June 1940 which is all true. I found a record of the boat in the Harbour Master’s log. It’s a historical novel which means that as a reader you can never really tell what’s true and what’s not true. Writing a novel is the most difficult thing I believe one could ever do. It’s fascinating but demanding and difficult!
Why did you choose a property at The Treehouse and why this property?
We looked at a lot of apartments for about a year and couldn’t find exactly what we wanted. We were looking for a view of Falmouth Bay and a well-designed apartment at the same time. Modern, with a balcony - there aren’t many that matched the brief. We had viewed The Treehouse but came close to buying another one as it had a 180-degree view of the bay but in the end, we pulled out and The Treehouse came onto the market again. We knew straight away it was the one. The reason we liked it was the sea view, the proximity to the ocean, it’s very nicely designed with only three neighbours and the four occupants are entirely responsible for the management. There is no management company or investor etc - we decide who cuts the grass for us. It’s very nice, it’s well put together.
As we’ve got to know the St Michaels Resort, we have realised they are very nice people, and we are part of it. We are tied into the resort and it’s a lovely place. Just a few weeks ago we were sat on the lawn listening to a duet playing with my daughter and my grandson relaxing, the place has a lovely feel. I’ve been in the construction business and I’m picky – I like nice design. The resort has used good people – there’s the same fitments as the hotel and it’s all such great quality and incredibly considered. The whole thing fitted together for us and took us back to the location we wanted to be. I learned to play tennis on those very tennis courts that the resort now manages. The Treehouse is ideally situated to walk along the seafront, and to walk to Pendennis head which has so much meaning to me, we get to enjoy going up to Pendennis Castle where my grandfather served in 1915. It’s very emotional, heritage heartland, it’s so special to be back. In the evening it’s nice to go for a walk and open straight out to one of the most beautiful waterfronts. The ability on an evening to go outside your front door and be on the seafront in two minutes, that’s priceless.
What was your experience of buying with Heather & Lay?
It was an entirely positive experience. So much so that it actually registered with me to the extent that I’m now here talking to you. And I don’t say that about many estate agents. Some just do the job and others are really ropey and poor but inevitably it comes down to people. The team at Heather & Lay were professional at all times. They always came back when I wanted things, the people are very personable. Barnaby in particular was brilliant – he knew the property he was responsible for selling. On every occasion he knew the answer, and some were very detailed points such as the construction or the management arrangements. He’s very professional, knowledgeable and impressive. His job is to sell me the place but like many people, I don’t like being sold to. Instead of acting as a salesman Barnaby acted as a facilitator in the process. He was just keeping in touch, providing information and support – it felt as if he was on my side. He was very helpful but not in an obsequious way, it was completely natural, he’s very intelligent and genuine. It was a pleasure to work with him. He would call me every now and again and there was never any pretence, he was very natural and authentic. I have the highest recommendations of him, he’s a great guy.
Well, what a fabulous interview. It’s not every day we get to meet a novelist! Thank you, Robert, for your time and we hope you enjoy your beautiful new apartment. It’s been a pleasure to sell to you!
To find out more about Invasion and purchase a copy of this exciting novel, visit the Amazon page here.
