GOVERNMENT minister James Wharton was in Leeds last week to give a short speech on how the city’s financial services sector can be promoted as part of the Government’s much-vaunted Northern Powerhouse initiative. Apparently he was delayed arriving at the event because his train was late. You couldn’t make it up. If that doesn’t underline […]
IT was only when Yogi Bear and Booboo, two Andy Pandys and a woman dressed as Super Mario walked passed me that it really sank in that I was at one of the great British sporting occasions – the darts. The first direct Leeds Arena hosted the first stage of Premier League Darts last night
WHEN it comes to great British athletes, after Sebastian Coe (he’s a bit busy at the moment), they don’t come much bigger than Steve Cram. So I was delighted to get the news that the Olympic runner turner top TV commentator has agreed to take part in this year’s Lord’s Taverners Balloon Debate on the
David Parkin on banking on Steve Cram and a night with a Blue Nun in Frankfurt Read More »
YORKSHIRE used to pride itself on being the global capital for eccentrics. I’ve been so worried that the bragging rights on bonkers people may be slipping away from this region that I’ve been doing an informal survey of existing and some new eccentrics in these parts. There’s the tramp that plays a penny whistle and
David Parkin on eccentricity and bitterness and looking forward to a legal high Read More »
THERE aren’t many corporate dinners in the business calendar that you look forward to going to. Getting an invite to the Leeds Law Society annual dinner or a do for members of the ICAEW (it’s for accountants, but these days it is terribly unfashionable for an organisation to explain what the initials stand for) is
David Parkin on the scrabble for YABL, an English rugby winner and chatting with Yoda Read More »
MARKS and Spencer insists that the decision of chief executive Marc Bolland to “retire” in April is not linked to the fall in clothing sales that was also announced yesterday. It probably wasn’t. A man doesn’t leave just because sales of general merchandise (mainly clothes) were down by 5.8% over the three months up to
David Parkin on top spot at Marks and Spencer and a non-existent New Year Read More »
IF I hadn’t embraced the Christmas spirit this festive season, then there was the perfect opportunity to do it at an event at the Andaz Hotel next to Liverpool Street Station in London this week. The Andaz, formerly known as the Great Eastern Hotel, is an impressive part of Hyatt Hotels’ portfolio of London properties.
David Parkin on bake offs, chefs and Christmas wishes Read More »
THEY sit like uneasy neighbours squabbling over the size of a privet hedge between their houses. The North West and Yorkshire have had a rivalry stretching back to the Wars of the Roses. Now the argument is often over the respective merits of each region’s economy, particularly over whether Manchester outshines Leeds when it comes
David Parkin on muppets and the War of the Roses and Talking Heads on squawking iPads Read More »
LEEDS has been named the best big city in England to live in. That was the result of a survey this week where Yorkshire’s biggest city beat six other major English cities including Manchester and Birmingham in MoneySuperMarket’s 2015 quality of living index. Apparently it scored highly in a number of categories with Leeds residents
David Parkin on city success, Christmas in the Long Room and strangers on a train Read More »
HOSTING an event for KPMG Enterprise this week gave me the opportunity to have a close up look at the impressive new home of the business advisory firm in Leeds. The Sovereign Street building represents a big change from the firm’s previous home across the road. Walking in you immediately see staff walking around the
David Parkin gets inspired at KPMG, has Black Friday Blues and meets some Forward Ladies Read More »
