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Tom had been a full time Phuket resident since 2002, following his retirement from the IT business in the UK. During his years here, his passion was classic boats and the beautifully restored Seraph and Marie G (named after his much-loved mother) were familiar sights in the waters around Phuket.

Born in the UK in 1951, Tom was one of seven children. Growing up, he had no interest in school books; all he wanted to do was indulge another of his passions, the game of rugby, together with a long line of girlfriends. Ever the independent fellow, he married none of them, but thirteen nieces and nephews, whose triumphs he followed closely, more than made up for having no heirs of his own.

Tom had fantastic sporting success on the rugby field at school as a very fast winger. He also enjoyed success on the athletics track as a 100 yard sprinter and a long jumper – all quite unbelievable for those who knew Tom only in Phuket!

After substantial success in the UK’s fledgling IT industry, most recently with his own business supplying IT and other office equipment, Tom cashed up and retired to Phuket, where he will be remembered especially by Phuket’s yacht racing community as the prime mover and stalwart of the Classic Class at Phuket Raceweek, presenting the annual ‘Seraph Perpetual Trophy’ to the winner of this stately, but hotly contested, class. Tom was a strong supporter of other local regattas too, making Seraph available as a committee boat on countless occasions.

For the salad

• 80g mixed salad leaves
• 20g yam beans
• 20g green papaya
• 4 steamed medium sized prawns
• 2 cherry tomatoes
• 20g roasted cashew nuts

For seasoning

• 2 tbsp pure virgin olive oil
• ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
• ½ tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 small red onion thinly chopped
• 3 leaves of fresh mint thinly chopped
• 1 bird chili thinly chopped
• salt & pepper

For decoration

• 1 red cabbage leaf (the whole leaf)
• a few mint leaves (whole leaves)
• chives
• 2 cherry tomatoes
• 1 tsp deep fried red onion, shredded
• 1 mangosteen fruit (seasonal availability)

Preparation
Mix the ingredients of the salad.

Prepare the seasoning by mixing the ingredients in a bowl; add the mixed salad.

On the plate lay out the red cabbage leaf, garnish with the seasoned salad and top with the deep fried shredded red onions. Decorate with the mint leaves, the chives, cherry tomatoes and the mangosteen fruit.

Phuket’s shoreline has seen some added colour with more and more kiteboarding enthusiasts seen racing across the sea. Kiteboarding, or kite surfing, offers a great test of endurance and strength to those who learn how to harness the winds using the distinct crescent-shaped kites to power their way across the sparkling waters. Most Phuket kiteboarding activity takes place off Friendship Beach Resort in Rawai and at Nai Yang Beach. Those seeking to learn or improve their skills in the sport can take lessons and rent out kite surf gear at shops located there. Nopparat Thara beach in Krabi is another popular kiteboarding spot.

After studying architecture at Kasem Bundit University in Bangkok, a glittering career in the field always beckoned for Khun Attasit Intarachooti. A lasting legacy of those formative years is his continuing friendship with a fellow student who, as consultant, is responsible for much of the fine tuning at Botanica Villas and the other developments masterminded by Khun Attasit.

But make no mistake, the over-arching vision behind all these projects is Attasit’s, though his innate modesty precludes his labouring the point at our meeting. He is that rare animal: both an artist with an aesthete’s vision, and a highly successful businessman who not only designs his “secret pool villas”, but funds them as well.

Phuket is, he feels, in addition to its charm as an island of exceptional natural beauty, a fecund place in which to work. Bangkok is relatively “cliquey” with limited social mobility: here he feels there is a stronger sense of community with a smaller group of entrepreneurs willing to cooperate with each other.