Hilary Smith - A Voice From the Var

Written by Nancy Wilson

Hilary Smith talks with Nancy Wilson about the importance of integrating into Provençal living

Born in Maidstone, Kent, Hilary Smith started off as a City stockbroker at a time when “girls didn’t work there”. “When I first started in 1966,” she recalls, “women aspired to be secretaries or account clerks. I was fortunate. I was hired first by Joseph Sebags and then Wells Fargo. Later I went to Fidelity Investments and finally rejoined Wells Fargo, now part of Barclay’s Global Investors Group, and enjoyed a career in the City that spanned 35 years. There were, of course, defining moments. In 1991, I had an audience with a sheikh in Qatar at eight thirty in the morning. Remember, women were still relatively new in the world of finance then and certainly were not representative at these types of meetings. As the ceremonious cup of fine tea touched my lips, the sheikh informed me that the milk had come from his favourite she-camel that morning. I smiled and continued with business as usual.” Any take on today’s crisis? “It’s been a long time coming. The financial community has been overreaching itself for many, many years and certainly that’s why the outcome is so violent. No hands are entirely clean, not the government’s, not the financial companies’ and certainly not the individuals who became greedy.”

I was bored

So what brought Hilary to the Var? “In fact, I’d reached my peak and was bored. When I started to become rude with our clients, I knew it was time to go but I wasn’t ready to retire; I was too young and had too much energy. In the back of my mind, I’d always played with the idea of a B&B and with nothing holding me back, I thought why not the South of France instead of the south of England.” Was it easy to find what she was looking for? “The third property that I looked at – La Sarrazine in Lorgues – ticked many of my ten criteria boxes: easy airport access, a decent amount of land, room for me plus room for my guests. I honestly didn’t know the Var that well but with its Coastal views and land towards Lac Ste Croix – I was sold.” Hilary paid €1 million for three acres of land, complete with 140 olive trees, tennis court and Edenesque gardens. This was in November 2002, and by May 1st of the following year, she moved in. During the days that followed, a frenzy of UK friends descended on the Var – polishing, painting, cleaning, cutting down trees – and miraculously Hilary was up and running for her first B&B guests on June 6th.

“I was extremely lucky in my transition as the very agreeable French couple who sold me La Sarrazine eased my passage here. They presented me to plumbers and electricians – which can be a nightmare for expats who don’t speak the language – and they introduced me to local Michelin star restaurants and the village, as well as to my neighbours. They even let me build a new bathroom before the final papers were signed.” How about the language? “My French was pretty good from my business years but I needed to enlarge my vocabulary and to understand the local accent – which I still find difficult. The hardest part in this transition was accepting a change of life – I was swapping airplanes for walks to the village – but I think the trick is to be ready for it. I don’t see my UK friends as much but when I do, it’s two or three days together, not just a quick dinner during the workweek. These extended visits reinforce friendships.”

How did her involvement with the International Women’s Club of the Var come about? “I went along to the inaugural meeting in Lorgues and managed to volunteer to organise events. Why not? I’ve not had any problems here and am a natural organiser. One of the points I initiated was bringing a French friend to our gatherings because it’s so important that expat communities don’t get too standoffish with the French communities. We now have ten per cent French membership and offer English conversation courses.” And what is IWCV’s purpose? “Essentially to meet other women and to integrate with expats and locals. We offer mutual support and activities and rally round with help if a member needs it. I’d say most of the members are in their mid-50s upwards but we’re trying to reach out to younger expats. We recently swapped a coffee morning for a drinks evening to accommodate working women. Anyone interested can contact me.”

You have to persevere

And Hilary still has time to be Lorgues’s only non-French councillor. How did that happen? “Let’s just say I was rather vocal about my dislike for the previous mayor of Lorgues. When the current mayor was running, he wanted a non-French person on his list because Lorgues has a large expat community. Just to explain how it works at the local level, and specifically with Lorgues, mayoral candidates create a list of 29 people, and if they are elected with a majority, so is most of their list. This was the case with Lorgues mayor Claude Alemagna. Twenty-two members were assigned from his list and the other seven seats went to the opposition.” What does this position entail? “At the moment, I’m concentrating on the twinning association for Lorgues and as our six-year term develops, I’ll be more hands on. I’ve had a very positive reception and while the intimacy may not yet be the same as it is between my French colleagues, I am very pleased. Above all, I’ve certainly learned that the French are warm people and ‘doers’.” Hilary seems to have found a balance between the expat and local communities in only five years. What’s her advice? “In a word: persevere. The French can be closed and inward looking but don’t take their rebuff at face value. Support others and join groups, invite your neighbours over, even if it takes time for them to accept. Nobody will make it easy for you, so you have to persevere.”

From Riviera Reporter Issue 130: Dec 2008/Jan 2009

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