About Us

Stephen and Madeleine met in 1980 when Stephen was leading the second violins in the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet Orchestra (now The Royal Ballet Sinfonia) and Australian born Madeleine had just joined the company as a fledgling dancer with the corps de ballet. By the time they became partners and married in 1992 Stephen was working with the Royal Philharmonic orchestra, touring the world with famous musical names, and Madeleine, who had retired from ballet, had just completed her degree in English literature. In 2004 they moved from the UK with their two young daughters to France where they set up giteholidaysinfrance.com by converting outbuildings into rental accomodation at their property in La Faye in the pretty and unspoilt La Vienne department, much of the building work having been done by themselves. The gites were a great success and many visitors enjoyed the calm atmosphere of La Faye and the pretty villages and towns of the surrounding area. The two went their separate ways for a few years but always remained on good terms – so much so that in 2019 they married for a second time, Madeleine returning from Australia where she had been living to live with Stephen in the UK. Now they return to France to pick up the gite business they left, and to invest in it their special blend of hospitality and artistic joy. Envisaging a place of happiness and comfort equipped with a fabulous vegetable garden and art studio and music room they are excited about this latest chapter in their lives.