Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
A: Some would say I still am a child, but, in reality those days have long gone. I went to Colstons between 1976-1986, so, attended both the Prep and Senior/Upper School. My Mum and Dad wanted me to be a doctor, I wanted to run a business: I didn’t know what type of business, just run a business. 

Q: Did you win any awards or recognitions during your education? 
A: I was quite selfless at School, I let everyone else win the prizes. 

Q: What were some of your extracurricular activities during your education? 
A: I loved playing Rugby and heading off on School Trips.

Q: What was the most valuable lesson you learned from your education? 
A: You can’t wing it, you might be able to take some shorts cuts and occasionally get away with it, but you will get caught out. 

Q: Did you go to a college or university? 
A: I attended two colleges in Bristol; Soundwell and Filton, I did not complete the course. 

Q: Family details 
A: I am married with 2 awesome children, Archie, who is twenty and Georgina who is sixteen.

Q: Where have you lived? 
A: In Bristol all my life, but I have moved around the area; Bedminster, Brislington, Shirehampton and Frenchay. 

Q: What is your favourite hobby? 
A: I love watching Rugby, love cooking and socialising and I am fanatical petrol head. 

Q: What causes are you passionate about? 
A: We support a range of charities… 

Q: What is an interesting fact about you? 
A: I featured on Question Time many, many years ago. It was not my finest hour. 

Q: How would you describe your career in three words?
A: “He’s done OK” 

Q: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? 
A: Building three successful businesses; I must be a glutton for punishment!

Q: What is a valuable lesson you learned in your career? 
A: Success comes from working hard, but working smart is the real secret ingredient. 

Q: What do you think is the key to professional success? 
A: For me professional success can be summarised by a few key disciplines; Integrity, loyalty, passion and determination. 

Q: What is your favourite memory from your career so far? 
A: Winning a Queens Award for Industry

Q; If you could give a younger person career advice, what would it be? 
A: You will get knock backs, but dust yourself off and keep going. You will make mistakes, but that’s OK, just learn from them and things won’t happen as quickly as you would like…. but you need to be resilient and maintain the path you set out and things will happen. I drive everyone mad with one of my favourite expressions, “the harder I work, the luckier I get”. 

Q: What difference has attending Colston’s made to your life? 
A: Colston’s allowed me to be the person I wanted to be; it didn’t try and fit me in a box that other more academically driven schools try to do. This probably explains why so many OCs run their own businesses.  

Q: What do you most enjoy about being on the OC Committee? 
A: It’s early days, but I just want to make the OC Society relevant for all alumni, whether older or younger…..