• I enjoy this enormously but because the market is so competitive, I am inclined to view it as a lucrative hobby, in the short term at least. In addition, therefore, following a ‘stint’ as a Foreign Exchange Consultant at Blackpool Airport– lovely people but appalling shift patterns - I joined a local website design company as a writer, writing concise copy for all sorts of businesses: pubs, restaurants, garden centres, hotels etc. Here I find that my experience gained in years past compiling repertory theatre programmes on a regular basis as well as Media Information (*Press Releases in those days) is proving to be extremely useful.

2007 to present: Please see above: writer

• Whilst at the hotel, I staged a number of Spanish Property Exhibitions and, on leaving the hotel, I was happy to continue this role which involved staging regular weekend exhibitions throughout the UK and launching, locally, a Spanish Property Showroom.

• The busy ‘season’ trade was augmented during the winter months via my link with the Grand Theatre and most touring theatre companies stayed with us on a regular basis. Sometimes, with large companies, we filled neighbouring hotels as well. The Grand Theatre described, in printed form, the fact that the hotel was ‘the most famous ‘theatrical digs’ in the North West.

• Second only to the General Manager, I was responsible for all aspects of the day to day running of the theatre including the introduction of a computerised box office.

• A senior management role overseeing conference, concert and exhibition promotions.

• I coupled the role of this position with the previous one of Public Relations Manager and, prior to closure for substantial building improvements, helped to wipe out the theatre’s accumulated deficit – virtually unheard of.
• During the ‘closure’ period I was responsible for raising significant funds for the building work plus, with actor Peter Denyer, negotiated local authority funding to enable us to stage two large scale pantomimes at Cheltenham’s Town Hall – thus keeping audiences in the town and creating work for theatre staff who, otherwise, would have been made redundant.

• I was invited to return in this new post that enjoyed the same seniority as those of General Manager and Artistic Director. Extremely varied work, I played a significant role in achieving an ongoing 60% increase in box office revenue.

• A brand new venue, I was responsible for staging celebrity concerts, radio broadcasts, star pantomimes, repertory seasons etc. This was done successfully within an annual budget of £5,000. From Sacha Distel and Demis Rousos to amateur drama festivals and from live broadcasts of ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’ to Barry Sinclair in repertory and Kenneth Connor, Craig Douglas etc., in pantomime…it all happened within the budget of just £5,000 per annum!

As a keen amateur actor, I became involved in the ultimately successful campaign to save the Lyceum Theatre in my home city of Sheffield. In fact, I was one of just three people, locally, to be credited, by the Lyceum for this effort.
This work brought me in contact with numerous ‘stars’ of the time including the late, comedian, Cyril Fletcher who then employed me as his Publicity Manager, mainly for his pantomimes at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre – and, he remained a good friend.
Subsequently, I was employed as Public Relations Officer at the Everyman Theatre and then as Entertainments Assistant at Southampton Guildhall.