Rupert and Annabel Wakley – both long-time stalwarts of Knight Frank’s country department – have moved over to the rival Jackson-Stops agency.

Rupert is to head up the Chipping Campden branch of Jackson-Stops, following 15 years at Knight Frank where he was most recently partner and office head of the Stow-on-the-Wold office in Gloucestershire.

Prior to that he spent eight years at the Knight Frank Stratford-upon-Avon office.

Meanwhile Annabel will be heading the Chipping Campden lettings operation for Jackson-Stops, having left her role as head of lettings for Knight Frank’s Stratford-upon-Avon office.

“We’re delighted to welcome Rupert Wakley to Jackson-Stops. His commitment and expertise in growing and developing offices within this region is impressive and we are looking forward to seeing Rupert, Annabel and the team continue to build on Jackson-Stops’ high-quality service in the area” says Jackson-Stops chairman Nick Leeming.

“Although a lot has changed in the last few months since Covid-19, I am looking forward to embracing our ‘new normal’ with Annabel and the team, building on our strong links with the local community, and continuing to share our knowledge and love of the Cotswolds with our clients and buyers alike” says Rupert Wakley.

“Our sales team has already hit the ground running, securing a deal on a home, which was valued at just under £2m and sold within a week.”

Before establishing his career in the estate agency industry, Rupert Wakley was a professional jump jockey for 10 years, riding some 250 winners including Wandering Light, which he took to victory at the Cheltenham Festival.