• What is the best thing about lockdown?

 Lockdown is certainly a bizarre time for many around the United Kingdom and I’m sure that everyone will have different tales of what it was like when we are able to reminisce about it in years to come. The inability to see family or friends has been very difficult, but I moved into my girlfriends for lockdown to ensure we were both safe and weren’t breaking any laws if we had decided to stay in separate households. This has certainly been a fantastic part of lockdown, but being able to impress her with my cooking prowess has probably been the best thing. However, my excessive use of spoons is apparently annoying.

 

• Who is your biggest inspiration in life?

I live by two ethos’: 1) afford any children and grandchildren I have the same opportunities that were afforded to me, and 2) be the inspiration to another human. The first of these comes about from my childhood. My parents were and remain to this day two of the most extraordinary people I know. They ensured that one or both of them were always there to pick myself and my brother up from school, they never missed a sports match or school concert or moment where either of their sons were performing in some form or another. They also provided opportunities to my brother and I that I will be eternally grateful for, and I hope that I will be able to do the same for my children.

The second ethos derives from my rehabilitation following ACL and Medial Meniscus reconstruction in 2012 at the tender age of 17. The Physiotherapists I saw in the 9 months of rehab post-surgery had such a profound affect on me, I knew that was what I wanted to do. If I am able to have the same or similar effect on only one other human, I will be happy.

 

• What is the craziest/most daring thing you’ve ever done?

 I once danced on a theatre stage in one of my mother’s summer dresses in a performance of “Fat Sam’s Grand Slam” that the dance group I was part of performed. As the only male in the group, it was rather a daunting experience, but it remains to this day one of my proudest moments – we knocked it out the park!

 

• What talents do you have that most people don’t know about? 

I make the world’s best katsu curry and chocolate fondants.

 

• What is your favourite quote?

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run

There’s still time to change the road you’re on.

 

• What is the one thing you’d like to cross off your bucket list this year? 

Despite being petrified of open water, I have always wanted to swim with Sharks. Hopefully, I’ll be spending the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022 in Australia, so this would be the perfect opportunity to tick this off. An Ashes Test match in Australia is also likely to be ticked off!

 

• What is your favourite restaurant, shop and outdoor space in Chiswick?

I haven’t eaten out in Chiswick for quite some time now; however, my go-to with my best friend from school has got to be Franco Manca. It’s simple, no fuss, delicious pizza.

My favourite shop would have to be the Macken Brothers Butchers on Turnham Green Terrace. I have been eating their produce my entire life and it has always been sublime. There’s also something incredibly special about the smell of the shop when you walk past or in, and the vibe that the butchers emit is delightful.

My favourite outdoor space is the cricket pitch in Chiswick Park. As an alumnus of Chiswick School, I spent many a happy afternoon and evening with friends on that green field. Priceless memories.

 

• What is the best present you ever received? Who gave it to you and why was it so special?

I wouldn’t say I have a single best present – I’ve been given many a phenomenal gift over the years by parents, brother, girlfriends. It wouldn’t be fair to choose as each had different significances in my life at the different times I was given them.

 

 

• If you won the lottery what would you do with it?

This would depend on how much I won. The first thing I would buy would be a BMW Z4 Coupe in Dark Blue. It’s been my favourite car for as long as I can remember. I would portion up the remainder of the winnings so that I would be able to buy my parents and brother a house each, as well as a property (or several) to myself.

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I am absolutely cricket mad – full tours to South Africa, the West Indies and Sri Lanka would be very high up the list. It would however depend on whether I’d already blown the money on classic cars – Ferrari Daytona’s, Lamborghini Miura’s and Jaguar E-Types for example.