How did you first become involved in the industry?
I first got involved in the 'industry' working at Verlinde and the launch of their entertainment industry 'Litachain' chain hoist in the mid 1970s! They were based on the Wirral and I applied for the job in 1973 and worked in their sales department. Before then I had done a variety of jobs from washing dishes to building ships, I never ever imagined me selling until I started.

What/who have been the biggest influences on your career to date?
That's a difficult one - no-one really in terms of my career aspirations and getting on in my working life. More lately, when I was on the PSA council, I found it amazing to be sitting alongside some of the industry mavericks I looked up to, like Dave Crump, Chris Hannam, Tim Roberts and Roger Barrett. It seemed strange to be sitting around a table with these guys!

What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I am a really driven person and working for a brand new, six week old company with all the enthusiasm that goes with it!. Believe me it's easier getting up now.
I love what I do and the way it all works... I think working hard really allows you to put something back into your life.

How did you become a key member of the PSA?
I went to the PSA AGM ... and, as usual, my mouth got me into trouble - I started asking about training and a few other things - and someone piped up suggesting that I joined the council.
At the moment, I'm treasurer of the PSA ... and one of the elder statesmen! I've been on the council for four years. It takes up less time now that it has done in the past, especially now we have Andy Lenthall on board as General Manager

What products excite you most in the industry?
Well obviously ... chain hoists!!! I like the way people are using them in ever more inventive and innovative ways than they ever used to - like scenic movement and motion control. I go to gigs and look at what they're suspending in the air and how they're doing it. My friends are surprised at how someone can be more interested in how something is being done rather that what is happening in the show.

What do you do in your spare time?
What's that ?? I really don't get much spare time, especially at the moment. I still love going to gigs - even though I'm often the oldest person there! Other than that, I read a lot and occasionally I run.

What was the last band you paid to go and see ?
The Proclaimers at the back end of 2003. The last gig I went to with a pass was Guilfest (in Guildford, Surrey) ... I was there representing the PSA, and it was fantastic. I really want to get out to more gigs - I just don't do enough of it

What do you like/dislike most about the industry?
The lack of organised training and routes into the industry. It's a difficult industry to get into and become certified as competent. Training is such a major thing that needs sorting. I mean, if you go to a careers office at school and say you want to get into the industry, how do you get there? Most careers officers would not know where to start in terms of giving advice.
If you want to be an electrician for example, you can go to college and qualify, but if you want to get into the production industry, there's no real route. The way Health & Safety is going this is fundamentally important.
Recruiting good staff into the industry is a major problem too - we are looking for two people currently and struggling. We need to attract people and make them want to stay with it and make a career out of our industry.
I think there may be a massive incident at some point, after which the regulators will start looking at what we're doing and impose outside regulation - we need to sort this or have it sorted for us.

What led you to start your new company LTM - Lift Turn Move Ltd?
I became disillusioned with the job I was doing, I had become an administrator and was of no real benefit to anyone. Now I'm really hands-on again. I go out and see people, I do some manual work again and I feel sooooo much better, I feel alive and part of the industry I love once again. I feel like I have the job back that I always wanted.
It's also just great to be able to make your own decisions quickly and not have to answer to a boardroom!

At your last company, you were a strong proponent of training - can we expect the same from LTM?
Absolutely. We published our first catalogue in time for PLASA, and there's a session on training in there - we are just not really sure how we will sort this. We are hoping to set ourselves up to go on site to do it as well. When we move from this current premises - which we will have to do fairly soon as we're already outgrowing it ... we'll look into trying to get local funding to set up a training suite.

What else should we expect from LTM in the distant and not so distant future?
LTM is going to focus on the entertainment and leisure industries. We're intending to take on many more products because we now have the time to go out and find them.

What would your epitaph be?
Hopefully I will not have to worry about that for a few years!! Probably: stand back up every time you are knocked down- that's how you win.