No place like home for fashion guru

Christopher Bailey is the 40-year-old chief creative officer of Burberry, the £2bn turnover luxury goods giant which has 469 stores in 57 countries. His job has taken him to Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, New York, Beijing, Shanghai, Milan and Cannes so far this year.

“But on the last bank holiday I went back up to Yorkshire,” Mr Bailey told The Times.

“Lots of my neighbours up there have no idea that I’m ‘the Burberry guy’.

“It’s just another world - beautiful and peaceful.

“Priorities are different when you live somewhere like that. I’m not cynical and I think it’s because I have that.

“It helps you not to forget how lucky you are – I realise how lucky I am in so many different respects. I never take it for granted.”

Mr Bailey grew up in Halifax, the son of a joiner and a window dresser for Marks and Spencer.

Burberry’s factory in Castleford manufactures Burberry’s heritage trenchcoat, the company’s most iconic product.

The group has launched an apprenticeship scheme at Castleford and at Woodrow, Burberry’s printing and weaving factory in Keighley.

@bernardginns