David Beckham shares his new passion for country living in the Cotswolds in Country Life.
The 50-year-old former professional footballer became enamored with the idea of becoming a true country gentleman after purchasing a £6 million estate in the Cotswolds in December 2016.
Since then, the East London native David has shared his love for beekeeping, gardening, and raising chickens with fans through his social media.
Now, the father of four has revealed that his rural lifestyle was influenced by his friend, 57-year-old Hollywood director Guy.
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David discusses this inspiration in the upcoming issue of Country Life magazine, where he was invited as a guest editor to celebrate the magazine's 50th anniversary.
David explained how Guy Ritchie helped him fully immerse himself in country life.
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He said, “He’s a modern-day primitive man who helped me love the countryside much more and understand it even better than before. Sometimes we sit by the fire for hours, just the two of us, talking well into the night.
Guy is a true country gentleman who has an immense love for his estate in Wiltshire. The time spent with him has been one of the reasons why I have come to love the countryside so deeply.
He is a wonderful and very close friend who inspires me greatly. I constantly learn so much from him—whether it’s about life, running a country estate, people, politics, the monarchy, or what it means to be British.”
Among David's favorite country activities is beekeeping; he built his own hive near his home close to Chipping Norton during the lockdown.
He previously told Men’s Health: “When we harvest honey, and I sit in my kitchen looking at it, I am overwhelmed with strong emotions.”
Since then, David from East London has been sharing his passion for beekeeping, gardening, and chickens with fans through social media.
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David also mentioned other things that occupy him in the Cotswolds, adding, “My chickens in the village, time spent in the garden, meeting friends, a pint of beer or a glass of wine…
That’s what I love. We had chickens, a garden—all of this at the country house. I take great pride in that.”
