Walpole: In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time
from your work time?
David Telfer: One of the huge benefits of moving up from London to Nottingham seven years ago to be near the Sunspel factory has been that I now have an amazing commute through the nature reserve to work. It gives me a chance both to prepare for the day and to process it afterwards so I don’t take work home with me. Luckily I can alter the route: the harder the day the longer the ride home!
What’s one thing you do after the work day to help you unwind?
I am quite a hobbyist and have a few creative endeavours out of work that help me relax. During lockdown I started making bass guitars and founded a brand called Brute Bass Guitars. One of the tricky things with creative industries is the more you progress in your role the less hands-on the creative element is and the more it becomes about managing others to be creative – so having this output has been a really good thing for me. This time in my workshop (read: messy garage!) crafting the instrument really helps me focus and relax at the same time. It has been such a fulfilling hobby: to be able to play an instrument you have crafted yourself gives me a lot of satisfaction and I have met some really amazing musicians
through it.
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
I tend to spend a lot of time with my young family at the weekend which gives me a good sense of perspective. However, over the past year it has really helped to do a long, two- to three-hour run every Saturday morning. The open air, good music and some 'head time' sets me up really well for the rest of the weekend with the family and then for the next week.
I have recently combined my running with another of my favourite sports golf in the new sport speed golf, and it is here where I really find a lot of life outside of work.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to or seen in your spare time that’s helped
you at work?
I love to hear about how creatives work in other industries and then see how I can apply that to my role. The DO Lectures have some great podcasts where you get to hear how another creative works. It is the reason I love doing artist collaborations at Sunspel – it gives you a new perspective and develops your understanding of someone else’s process.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite third space?
My wife is an amazing gardener and both our garden at home and our allotment bring a lot of peace to me. As we moved from London we have really tried to embrace things we lacked there, so in the garden we have gone all out and we grow lots of vegetables and have some fancy chickens. Whether it’s playing with the kids, having friends round for a barbecue, sitting around the fire pit with a glass of wine or on just my own in the morning, I really love that space.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
I don’t really have the Sunday dread as much as I have had at other times in my career, so I just treat it like any other night – just maybe a little more chilled.
Best reason you've had to turn your Out of Office on recently?
I love a long walk where you feel you have achieved something and the other week we had a great day off walking the Peak District. It's such a privilege to be close enough able to do that in a day and still get back in time for the school run.
Your go-to Out of Office outfit: I wear very similar in and out of work, mainly revolving around a black T-shirt and black trousers, but I do have a little more fun outside of work combining this with vintage or charity shop finds.
Your happy place anywhere in the world: On holiday in Wales.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: We have a great local Indian restaurant called Haveli (order the Goan fish curry).
Something cultural/sporting you booked recently that you'd recommend: My wife has booked me tickets to see Garth Marenghi’s Incarcerat in Birmingham, which will be fun. Also, I have just booked to see John Grant support Sleaford Mods in December. John is one of my all-time favourite artists.
Something you've listened to or read recently that you'd recommend: A Light for Attracting Attention by The Smile. It's an album full of quirks, but incredibly inviting and catchy. I sometimes find the kids humming it to themselves at home!
A hobby you'd like to cultivate: Ultra running.
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Lurpak butter.
Best luxury under £25: A round of twilight golf at Wollaton Park Golf Club in Nottinghamshire.
