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“HAVE you got a cravat on?” “Pardon?” I responded to the person on the other end of the phone. “Me and Susan had a bet that you’d be wearing a cravat.” You take two flights halfway across Europe and you arrive in the Cote d’Azur to a question like that. Given it was a query […]

ONE event I was unable to attend this week was the funeral of David Holmes. David was the former long-serving corporate affairs manager of Yorkshire Building Society. I first met him when I was working in London for the Western Mail in the late 1990s. He was warm, welcoming and generous and very popular with

I’VE changed my mind. I’m with Leeds City Council. Leeds is a booming city with brilliant transport links which can stand comparison with any other metropolis across the globe. It must be, it doubled as New York in a blockbuster film I watched the other day. OK, I better clarify things a bit. The square

THE ‘Power of Partnerships’ was the theme of a business breakfast event I hosted for the Martin House charity this week. Thanks to the generosity of hospitality group Arc Inspirations we held the event at Banyan in City Square in Leeds. Panellists included Jon Hughes, managing director of confectionary group Haribo in the UK and

I’VE often wondered what lasting skills a career in journalism provides you with. Who says I’m not one for self reflection? Most people probably, but anyway, let’s crack on. The ability to write is certainly one skill – that’s not hard to work out – but what else? Do I have any other skills or

HAPPY New Year. I don’t know about you, but I’ve not had that negative feeling that often accompanies the return to “normality” after the festive celebrations. Even the prospect of having to complete my VAT return this week didn’t dampen the positivity. Or having to undergo a prostate check at the doctors. Or the heavy

I ALWAYS knew it would happen. I was convinced that if I manifested hard enough there would be a positive outcome. No Mother, I said manifested. I’ve finally had a cocktail named after me. ‘The Parky’. One third gin, one third vermouth and one third red Italian bitter. What do you mean that’s a Negroni?

IT is quite some time since I got told off by someone’s parents for keeping their child out too late. I’d say about 40 years. Until last night. I wouldn’t mind, but it wasn’t like I was leading a teeny tearaway astray. I was scolded for keeping a 27-year-old boxer out late. The day began

WHEN it comes to the worlds of business and sport, there is an old saying: “Never go back”. The received wisdom is that if the chief executive or chairman of a company or the manager or player of a top team has enjoyed great success in a role, then the odds of doing that again

LONDON, Paris, New York, Sydney, Las Vegas. Legendary singing star Tony “(Is This The Way To) Amarillo” Christie has performed in iconic venues across the world during his six decade career. And now he can add Rotherham to that starry list. Thanks to me. Well, not really, but I did have a role in putting