Dave and his wife Julie have two sons. “My youngest William has a disability and we set up the William Stones Trust Fund in 2010 to raise funds and awareness of Child Brain Injury, which also pays for William’s therapy and treatment,” says Dave.
What is your nickname?
Since being at SPG, I have acquired the nickname of ‘Two Phones’, too much activity for just one phone
Why did you get into printing?
I failed to be a professional footballer; I started off as a teenager at Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United, but failed
What would be your dream job?
A professional footballer
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
I’m only 36. Ask me in 10 years’ time
What is your dream bit of kit?
The Xeikon reel-to-sheet digital press – endless opportunities
What would you most like to print?
Money – you can never have enough money
What is your favourite film?
Watership Down. I loved the film as a child
What is your favourite TV show?
Mad Dogs. I didn’t get the ending though and I was gutted when it ended
Who or what do you hate the most?
Doing anything for free. How can you value anything that’s free?
Who do you admire most in the industry?
Anthony Thirlby from ESP Colour. He has helped me lots in this new role and always willing to offer support. His business model is amazing, and he’s a nice guy too
What is your favourite saying?
When the horse is dead, you have three options: eat it, get a new one or get off it. But whatever you do don’t flog it
What is your greatest luxury in life?
Twitter – it’s my favourite pastime
What is the strangest job you’ve had?
Worked in a sports shop as a student, bleaching maggots for fishermen
What is your greatest ambition?
Business: to help make Stirland Paterson Group the provider of choice within the UK for design, print, web-to-print and cross-media services. Personal: to help my son walk and talk and overcome his disabilities
What’s your greatest fear?
Not achieving the above
Who or what makes you laugh?
My two kids, they are my world. Also Keith Lemmon, he’s a funny guy
Most embarrassing moment?
Slipping over in the snow at work and it being on CCTV – You’ve Been Framed moment
How would you like to be remembered?
For being the guy from a small town who went to work in the city for a great print business. Who took a risk and left a comfortable role to try and make a difference to the future direction of the business. I would like to think my kids would say I am a good father
