Twenty Questions - May 2008

Horslips – a little known Irish rock band from the 1970s.

5) What do you like to do in your spare time?

Photography, gardening, cooking.

6) What do you think would most improve Benwick?

Some decent facilities for young people, particularly for teenagers.

7) Favourite holiday destination?

Iceland - a country with amazing scenery, unbelievably clean air, and really friendly people.

8) What is your favourite hobby?

Photography

9) What is the best thing about Benwick?

Compared to many places I have lived – the tranquility.

10) What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?

A large bouquet of flowers for my wife.

11) Favorite place in Benwick?

At home with my family.

12) Where is the worst place you have lived?

Bar Hill near Cambridge. Not bad in itself but the traffic on the A14 was (still is) horrific.

13) If you had £500 to give to charity - who would you give it to and why?

Cancer UK – just after we moved to Benwick I was treated successfully for cancer, so have a desire to help prevent others having to go through what I did.

14) What could you not live without and why?

My wife and children – in 2000 I faced the prospect of not surviving chemotherapy and leaving them without me. The thought of not having them around is unbearable.

15) Do you think Benwick has any major problems, if so what are they?

Long term I think the probable rise in sea level is the biggest problem.
Short term, the poor provision of public transport. I work in Huntingdon with irregular hours and have no alternative but to drive. Also, young people have to rely on others (usually their parents) to get them to events outside the village.

16) Tea or Coffee?

Coffee – as long as it’s not instant.

17) What made you move to Benwick?

Relocation of my job.

18) What was the last thing you bought?

A birthday dinner for my wife.

19) List 5 things that annoy you?

a) The tendency of a large section of society to regard learning and attempts at constructive dialogue with contempt.

b) Politicians (of any persuasion) who distort and selectively omit facts.

c) Journalists who distort and selectively omit facts.

d) Pressure groups (any) who distort and selectively omit facts.

e) Bigotry and intolerance.

20) What would you like to be remembered for?

For being honest and sticking to the principles of my scientific education.