Hi Jeff, let’s start with work; what does a ‘normal’ day constitute for you?
I get involved in a wide range of things that are all part and parcel of running a business. My main role still involves acting as an adviser to my many long-standing clients – and that’s the part of my job that I enjoy the most.
How long have you been with the company?
From our first day of trading back in July 2014 when Glyn and I merged our two previous companies to form Entire FS.
When you were a child, what job did you want to do?
A ‘lollipop man’ (helping children across the road using a big orange lollipop), as you didn’t have to start work until you were 65!! Didn’t quite work out that way and I must say it’s no longer on my current ‘bucket list’.
Work in silence or with music, background chatter and noise?
Music and chatter for the most part, but do need peace and quiet on occasion when I’m working on a complex case.
What’s your greatest moment working here so far?
Probably moving into our prestigious offices in Altrincham.
What’s your drink of choice while you’re working?
A nice cup of English tea, but probably drink too many during the course of the day.
And when you’re not working?
A refreshing Lager when relaxing or a nice glass of Red with a meal.
Name the best place you’ve ever visited.
Without question the Maldives, it is paradise on earth. The Wifi is not great so not much chance of moving the business there!
And how about the place that’s currently top of your ‘to visit’ list?
Everest Base Camp – planning on going there with my Wife and daughter in October 2019.
If you have the choice between staying in and going out, which do you normally choose and what do you normally do?
Out – everytime. During the day that may be running, walking or cycling or in the evenings out for food and drinks with family and friends.
What’s the one talent you have that people in your office are unaware of?
Not a talent but an achievement – I completed a bike ride from London to Paris (287 miles) in under 24 hours, and that time included the ferry journey from Dover to Calais. So about 18.5 hours in the saddle!!
What would your ‘Desert Island’ disc, film and book be?
Music would be an 80’s soul compilation (Luther Vandross, Al Jarreau etc) to help chill in the sunshine.
The film would be ‘Jaws’ so I could build a ‘bigger boat’ for getting off the island.
The book would be ‘Fly Fishing’ by JR Hartley in case the boat didn’t work! A man’s got to eat!!!
Do you prepare well in advance or are you a ‘last minute’ person?
Always try to plan in advance and ‘get there’ on time.
DIY or call an expert?
DIY because I am an expert!! At least an expert in my own mind. I was taught joinery by my Dad who was a craftsman joiner and built on my skills from there. However not a big fan of electrics as it really hurts if you get it wrong!
If you had to compete at the Olympics, in any event, real or fake, what would you choose?
Triathlon – Used to compete at local level and if I’d have started earlier in life may well have been good at it.
Do you ‘do’ Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn? Are they useful?
I don’t use any social media, it’s all ‘Magic’ to me!
Physical book or e-book? Do you still buy a paper? Which one?
Definitely a physical book although most of my reading is restricted to financial services industry papers and documents.
On a scale of 1-10, 1 being ‘not at all’, how clued up on technology do you feel you are?
Probably 7. Although I have come from the ‘Old School’ ( a description that merely means I am old) I am pretty useful with technology. My desk boasts a laptop, a separate monitor, an iPad and an iPhone although I still can’t use them all at the same time – unlike Glyn my co director.