In 2005, Ian Moore, a British comic and author, made the leap to the bucolic Loire Valley in France. He traveled with his wife and their four-year-old son. From the busyness of London life, he moved to the peace of the English countryside. Traveling through this part of the world has been such a thrilling mix of British charm and French flair. Despite facing challenges, including a perceived lack of acceptance, Moore has carved out a niche for himself in the local community.
Definitely a foreigner, he bought himself a house in the Loire Valley and quickly deserved the title of “Monsieur So British.” This title represents his background as an English rider and his unapologetically eccentric style. Character Moore’s desire to stay true to his British roots is demonstrated through his wardrobe. He regularly attends local funerals dressed in a high-collared, eight-buttoned, double-breasted suit, complete with a tie that he never loosens. This sartorial decision has brought confused stares and head shakes from natives who are used to a more relaxed dress code.
Moore’s agent reportedly considered his move to France as a “catastrophic decision,” arguing that the move would prove detrimental to his development. However, Moore remained undeterred, often driving all night from comedy gigs in London to return home in the Loire Valley. And boy did he soak in the experience. He continued wearing his work clothes on excursions to the local boulangerie, their flavors of freshly baked baguette perfume-ing the air.
Moore was handed huge challenges with the language barrier. His French was barely functional and emerged with a full Michael Caine accent. Unlike Moore, his son adjusted immediately, learning the language faster than Moore could learn to change a car tire. His wife is French and so fluent in the language. She has begun teaching locally, establishing the family in their new community even further.
Besides their eldest, Equal Footing, Ian and his wife added two more sons since moving to France. His, her, and their children’s influence expanded their reach, anchoring their family further to the area. More importantly, it allowed them to experience the richness of San Jose’s local culture. The strength of Moore’s resolve to truly gain acceptance into French life was fully on display when local commemorations took place at the cenotaph. He walked the red carpet at the ceremony in bold two-tone basket-weave loafers. One of the most senior officers at the local airbase complimented him on his engagement in the repatriation of fallen soldiers.
Although he sometimes felt like an outcast, Moore has done so much to cross the cultural aisle. But perhaps most of all, his dedication is what most profoundly impresses. He used to “peacock in the house,” now opting for comfort over style as he traverses the extremes of French country life. Moore’s been working for the past 10 years carefully negotiating this tension between his British identity and his French context. This continuing fight has had an enormous impact on his life.