Date & place of birth:
September 19 1959; Morecambe, UK.

Profession:
Managing Director of Autograph Sound Recording Ltd.

What was your first professional job?
To answer the question literally, ASM at Liverpool Playhouse in 1978. From a sound point of view, Godspell at the Manchester Library/Forum Theatres in 1980.

Why sound?
To be honest - money! I realised there was a limit to the money that one could earn in stage management and I aspired higher than that! (A shallow but brutally honest answer!) Of course, having entered the world of audio beautification I never regretted it!

Who or what provided your biggest inspiration?
Phil Clifford, the co-founder of Autograph. I first met him when he came to see Sweet Charity at the Forum Theatre in Manchester, which I was operating. Having left Autograph, Phil was a freelance designer again by this time, and he gave me a job! So off I went on the 1981 Annie tour that Phil designed. That was a great experience and I learned such a lot from him on that show and went on to operate La Cage Aux Folles, Pirates Of Penzance and Kiss Me Kate.

What do you consider to be your biggest achievement?
Other than not having been sacked yet? It has to be that I am lucky enough to be Managing Director of the best theatre sound design and rental company in the world. But then I would say that!

Is there anything about the theatre world that you'd like to change?
Other than budgets doubling over night, not much, although it would be good if the sound designer got to decide who the director was, and there were no electricians allowed in the theatre until all the sound equipment has been installed. I'd also ban performers from wearing hats!

Your most embarrassing career moment?
It was the first time I met Andrew Bruce, Autograph's owner. I operated Evita in London many years ago. During the interval you had to go to the leading lady's dressing room to refit her mic pack - worn on her inner thigh. So at the right moment you had to pass the mic capsule up through her knickers so that she could clip it on to her bodice (and you got paid for this!). On this particular evening, I had my hand delicately poised in the aforementioned position when the dressing room door opened and in walked Andrew, who had come to see Siobhan, his wife and leading lady! A good way to meet your future boss - NOT!

What were the last additions to your record/CD collection?
My boys have turned me on to their kind of music, so it was probably something by Eminem, Pink or Snoop Dogg! Of course, you can't beat a good Leo Sayer tune can you?!

Any hobbies away from the job?
I like to spend my time, with my family, Wendy, Michael and Harry. I also follow Manchester United with a passion bordering on obsession and cricket is another distraction when the time is there.

The last live show you attended as a paying punter?
Cyrano De Bergerac at the National Theatre.

If you met the teenage Terry Jardine what advice would you give him?
Invent the Internet and/or devise a musical around some Abba songs set on a Greek Island! Work in the theatre - the pay's poor, but thank God the hours are long!