UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Swedish entrepreneur Johan Tham, husband of actress Jenny Agutter, died aged 81 following illness, leaving a lasting mark on Cliveden House.
As reported by Alex Davies of GB News, Johan Tham, who transformed Cliveden House into one of Britain’s leading luxury hotels, died aged 81 following a cancer diagnosis on November 17.
He was married to actress Jenny Agutter, known for her roles in The Railway Children, An American Werewolf in London, and the BBC series Call the Midwife.
Through his company, Blakeney Hotels, Tham became known for acquiring the Grade I-listed Cliveden estate in 1984.
The historic Astor residence, once praised by Queen Victoria as “dear, beautiful Cliveden,” was then in decline and being used as student accommodation by the National Trust.
What did Jenny Agutter say about meeting Johan Tham and his legacy at Cliveden?
Johan Tham and Jenny Agutter first met at the Bath Literary Arts Festival in 1989.
In a 2023 interview, Ms Agutter recalled their first meeting, saying,
“When Johan and I met, I did not feel he had any sense of who I was at all, but he wanted to find out, and that made a big difference. I’m still finding out about him 31 years on.”
The couple married at the estate in August 1990, with Agutter’s finger stained purple by mulberries from the garden. Their son Jonathan, now a GP specialising in sleep medicine, was born that December. Tham had a special bond with Cornwall, where he cultivated a notable garden at his coastal cottage.
Tham was born in Nykoping, Sweden, in 1944, and then relocated to England at age four. His schooling included Heatherdown and Charterhouse, where adapting as a Swedish boy proved challenging.
He completed a law degree and a brief period in legal work before deciding the profession was not suited to him.
After early ventures in property, a funeral parlour, and a petrol station, he joined John Lewis in 1978 to create Blakeney Hotels, inspired by the Scarlet Pimpernel’s Sir Percy Blakeney.
Tham, as managing director of Cliveden House, offered theatrical experiences, letting guests glide along the Thames on elegant 33ft launches or swim in the historic 1961 pool.
What did Jenny Agutter say about filming the Call the Midwife Christmas special?
Jenny Agutter will appear in the upcoming Call the Midwife Christmas special, sharing memories of filming the episode in Hong Kong.
She said,
“It was wonderful. I have a special connection with it because from the age of three to six or seven, I was in Singapore and we visited Hong Kong, though a very, very different Hong Kong.”
Agutter stated,
“It’s extraordinary – great tall buildings, lots of lights, really built up, nothing from what I remembered at all as a child. I sort of enjoyed it then, but it was just something one looked at. Going there to work gives you a completely different view.”
She added,
“The whole piece is very much about unsteady ground. Everything is about people being displaced in some way, and the changes bringing something new and fresh.”
The British actress added,
“But in other ways, it’s very disturbing. Back in Poplar, they’re dealing with a family who are completely displaced. They are travellers who have no home, and who are having a child.”
Which are the famous characters of Jenny Agutter?
In childhood role Jenny Agutter became widely known as Bobbie Waterbury in The Railway Children (1970) and later starred in its sequel, The Railway Children Return (2022).
Her famous adult roles include Jessica 6 in the sci-fi film Logan’s Run (1976) and Nurse Alex Price in the horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981). She also played the memorable role of Jill Mason in Equus (1977).
Since 2012, she has played Sister Julienne in the long-running BBC drama series Call the Midwife. She has also appeared in Marvel films like The Avengers (2012) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
