Anne Heather Chambers

Anne Chambers was born in London in 1951 but spent her childhood at Kiftsgate Court near Chipping Campden. The house had been bought in 1918 by Anne’s grandparents, Jack & Heather Muir, and the garden laid out by her grandmother in the 1920s.

Anne was educated at Seven Springs near Cheltenham and then at Lawnside in Great Malvern. She completed her education in Florence studying Italian and History of Art. She then worked in London for various financial institutions, the Ministry of Defence and as a tourist guide. During this time she was able to travel and visited the Far East, America and Africa for six-month periods.

In 1983 Anne married Johnny Chambers, the director of an engineering company, and they started married life in Clapham. Here she had three children, Robert, Clare and Patrick.

In 1988 the family decided to return to Kiftsgate to live full-time and take over the running of the garden from Anne’s mother, Diany Binny. They built up the visitor numbers, opened a tea room and expanded the nursery production of plants for sale on open days. Now 17,000 people visit each year and in 2003 they won the Christies/Historic House award for Garden of the Year.

Anne is a countrywoman at heart and loves to walk the dogs, play tennis and go stalking in Scotland. She is involved with various local charities and has appeared on numerous television programmes world wide promoting tourism in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.

Email inquiries about and communications for the High Sheriff should be addressed to her Secretary, Lifa Oakley: lifa@wingatesfarm.net