Film director Guy Ritchie
has bought the landmark Compton Abbas Airfield – which neighbours his Wiltshire estate

The Hughes family, which has owned the site near Shaftesbury for 34 years, has announced it will be taken over by the star’s Ashcombe Estates Ltd and will be formally handed over on February 1 next year.
In a letter to airfield users, Mr Ritchie assured them the transition would be as seamless as possible, with café and licenced airfield facilities remaining.
Mr Ritchie’s brewing company, Gritchie, is based at the neighbouring estate and he said ‘some of the storage and workshop activities which currently take place at Ashcombe Farm’ would move the airfield site.
There will also be ‘improvements to the buildings and infrastructure’ carried out in a ‘sympathetic manner’, with users consulted, he said.
Announcing the sale, Clive, Margaret, Emma and Laura from the Hughes family said they ‘would like to thank each and every one of you who has visited and been a part of life at the airfield’.
“Selling the airfield has been an incredibly difficult decision to make as it has been the focus of all our lives for so long, and we are certainly going to miss everyone who made our time there so enjoyable,” they said.
“However, we feel that now is the right time to hang up our hats, and we are looking forward to seeing some exciting developments unfold under the new owners.”

Events planned before the takeover – including an Aero Jumble and Christmas Fly In – will continue, they added, while events booked in for next year will also be honoured.
Meanwhile, writing personally to ‘staff, residents, aviators and the wider community’, Mr Ritchie said Ashcombe Estates would continue running the facility ‘in the spirit that has been curated by the Hughes family over their years of ownership’.
“We will continue running the airfield for both resident and guest aircraft,” he said.
“Resident aircraft can continue to rent hangar space here. We will keep the cafe and bar running so that it will remain a regional destination for families.”

He said the firm hoped to continue operating a flying school at the airfield, but would need an external provider.
“There will be a carefully managed transition period with the Hughes family to ensure that nothing is rushed,” he added.
“As discussions develop, we will keep you up to date with plans and ensure there is opportunity for regular dialogue.”