"Wine merchant turned luxury goods advocate. I have sought out and restored heritage British brands within niche sectors including Wensum Tailoring, Cole & Son and the specialist sector of Alfred Dunhill when cigar smoking was still acceptable.
I have always focussed on ensuring that the reputation of the brand was justified and commensurate with the products bearing its name and whenever possible emphasising a Made in England provenance."
What does it mean to you to be named a Walpole 2020 Power List winner?
Out of the blue and an absolutely unexpected accolade for which I am speechlessly grateful.
Why do you think you were named on the List this year?
I’ve been around for so long that I just wore you down – or – I would like to think that it is the culmination of a career focusing upon British brands and manufacturing and most recently the Huddersfield cloth industry, which is recognised overseas as being the source of the finest cloth in the world but the existence of which, in this country, is barely acknowledged – whilst simultaneously globally promoting the local supply chain from yarn spinning to weaving and restoring a sense of pride and self-respect into this often ignored segment.
