About the Owners

Alan Harper-Smith was born in Delhi, India and was nearly christened Gandhi Harper-Smith!

In March 2004 Alan was joined by his partner Helen, who had her own local business Llyn Home and Gardens, which offered a holiday cottage changeover and gardening service, so quickly fitted into the Wern Fawr environment. Helen gave up her business to be full time at Wern with Alan and the new arrivals Kaitlyn and Max (who was born here at Wern Fawr Manor Farm).

Alan's early education was in various Indian schools, as his parents moved around the country every 3 years. He went to boarding prep-school - in Bournemouth, Hampshire when he was 8, visiting his parents in India for the summer holidays. He then went on to public school in North Wales again as a boarder. During this period his parents moved to Kenya, where he would visit them for his summer holidays. On leaving school at 17, he joined the Bank of London and South America (BOLSA) in London. He worked for various parts of the bank finally ending up in their computer department. Developing and implementing many systems both in the UK and overseas (spending 3 years in New York) – he never lost that travel bug. Indeed he also spent his holidays, implementation schedules permitting, in exotic places visiting Australia, Kenya, Mauritius, Hong Kong, New Zealand and closer to home Spain, Greece, Portugal to name but a few – usually taking part in one of his many hobbies, which include scuba diving (in which he became a First Class Diver and National Instructor with the BSAC) and flying small planes (having a now lapsed PPL). BOLSA became Lloyds Bank TSB and after 24 years service and a redundancy package he decided to continue as a freelance computer consultant based in London. He has worked for Nationwide Building Society, National Westminster Bank and Global Asset Management. Finally, as he admits the ‘Rat Race’ became too much, so he sold his London property in West Dulwich. Whilst looking for rural properties in Rock, Brancaster, Salcombe and Abersoch, he found and fell in love with Wern Fawr Manor Farm, despite not knowing a soul up here or indeed speaking the language.

Helen was born in Horforth Leeds a Yorkshire lass had work ethics instilled in her at an early age and worked for her parents Ian and Linda in their Fish and Chip shop, to help fund her passion for horses. She also worked for a Bank (spooky!) and married having two children Laura and Richard, but eventually due to circumstances divorced and joined Alan having eventually ended up here in the Lleyn / Llŷn.

Although, the property needed a fortune spent on it and still carries on costing a lot to run, they have at last found a home to put down their roots. Alan's vision was to work towards self-sufficiency hence the chickens, geese, ducks, sheep and bees, in addition to build up a small business to fund his pension and now simple life style, hence the bed & breakfast and holiday cottages. Unfortunately his mother passed away on the 29th July 2005 - he has converted her property "The Cottage" into another self catering cottage, which was available from 2006 and is proving very popular.

The time, effort and commitment of both Alan and Helen are evident throughout, where modern facilities have been combined with traditional elegance. Most of the original features and character remain including huge oak beams, wood paneling and open fireplaces. But they are the first to admit that many of the ideas came from his new friends in the Lleyn / Llŷn Sub-Aqua Club, David (Bach) Jones and Malcolm (Pendre) Roberts to name but two.

Today Wern Fawr Manor Farm welcomes visitors from around the world. Alan and Helen aim to make Wern Fawr Manor Farm a home from home for guests staying either in one of the holiday cottages or in the manor house for bed and breakfast. Wern offers a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere where the owners want you to relax, share and enjoy the fruits of their labour. Although a commercial venture it has lost none of its traditional values that underpin its heritage.

Alan and Helen are also proud that they have put something back into a rural economy, especially in Wales where Alan was educated and Helen holidayed a lot. They are sure that their guests will take total advantage of the local attractions and facilities available in this designated area of outstanding beauty. But as Alan says with a glint in his eye – if you are a diver just leave some scallops for him or his aims for self-sufficiency may wither and die!

Alan and Helen also allow the grounds and gardens to be used by a local charity FOGG (Friends of Grape and Grain) to hold their annual BBQ fund raising event, with all proceeds going to local schools, see www.foggllyn.co.uk. Alan also hosts and maintains the local community web site which promotes local businesses see www.llanbedrog.info as well as the sites for the three local pubs the Glyn y Weddw Arms, The Ship Inn and the Tafarn Tu Hwnt I'r Arfon Inn (Twnti pub).

They will continue to add facilities at Wern, a 6 seater sauna, pool table and table tennis table have been installed in the Barn and they hope to add more facilities soon. For example the refurbishment of the Bragdy Wern (Brewery), which will sleep 10) is nearing completion and will be ready for the 2011 season. This is our fifth luxury cottage, comprising four bedrooms, two bathrooms (one being a wet roomn), well equipped kitchen (including American Fridge/Freezer, gas range cooker, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer etc), large lounge (complete with wood buring stove) and a conservatory.

“We are looking forward to the next challenges”, they say with infectious grins.

A warm welcome awaits, come and see what you think - you won't be disappointed!

Alan and Helen - tied the knot on 27th August 2008 in St. Pedrog's Church!