15 Minutes With...Tristan Lillingston

CLA Vice President Eliza Ecclestone sits down with Tristan Lillingston from the Thorpe Estate to discuss how he transitioned from a career in music management - working with acts including Busted - to taking the reins of his family's rural estate.

Tristan, who is hosting the CLA Next Generation Conference at the estate in April, talks candidly about the gradual nature of succession, working alongside his father, and how he found himself learning on the job by simply showing up and listening. He explains how his background in the music industry - where protecting your rights and thinking long-term are everything - turned out to be surprisingly good preparation for estate management.

We also hear about his priorities when he first got involved: building a brand identity, launching a wedding venue and opening the estate to the public for the first time - and yes, that includes a few stories about badly behaved wedding guests.

Whether you're approaching succession yourself or simply curious about what it takes to run a rural estate in the 21st century, Tristan offers honest, practical and at times amusing insights into life at the helm.

Listen below and join us at the CLA NextGen Conference on 28-29 April to learn more about succession and see the estate for yourself. Book your place here.