Why Apprentice Tom still votes for Hampshire, not London
Monday, July 18th, 2011Everyone loves a winning loser and if there’s one man who fits that bill perfectly at the moment it’s last night’s Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau who, despite losing eight tasks during the 14 programme series, made it through to win the £250,000 prize.
The cash, which will be invested in his business by Lord Sugar, along with the considerable free publicity it will create, comes at a time when Pellereau had been facing a difficult period in his life, he says.
Before appearing on the show inventor Pellereau had already launched several successful products including an ergonomically-designed nail file and a range of baby goods. But he told reporters recently that, after his most recent business venture faced an uncertain future, he sat in his London flat and decided it was time to be on the show.
But we can reveal that Tom, who proposed to girlfriend and ‘fellow-geek’ Sarah Fawcus just three weeks before the final last night, remains a home boy.
Despite renting in London and being holed up these days more and more at Sarah’s flat in Camberwell Green, South London, Tom’s life is still strongly tethered to his family home back in the wilds of Hampshire between Winchester and Basingstoke in a small hamlet called Swarraton.
The inventor and businessman is still registered at his parent’s address to vote in Hampshire where his family have a detached country home with a swimming pool and large garden.
Tom’s mum and dad bought the house for £480,000 in 2002 but it’s now worth at least £1 million – so perhaps the couple might want to jump in with Lord Sugar and help him fund his now promising but young business.










