This involved roles throughout the works, “setting type by hand in some of the 872 languages that were available, then mechanical composition, including photocomposition, type casting by hand and Monotype, foundry, letterpress printing, litho origination and printing, bookbinding, three weeks at Wolvercote paper mill and then works offices”. After that he worked at Jarrolds, then moved into publishing at Longman, Octopus and finally British Museum Publications. After a spell freelancing he bought Larman Printers in Cambridge and merged this to form Cambridge Printers. He is married with two children and five grandchildren. Outside of work he enjoys walking and almost anything outdoors but describes himself as “a reluctant gardener”.
Why did you get into printing?
I did some printing at school and got ‘ink in my veins’
What would be your dream job?
Anywhere where I could see the continuation of the changes in our industry
What is your dream bit of kit?
The latest, high-quality, high-speed inkjet
What would you most like to print?
More high-quality work. At British Museum Publications one of the books I produced was described as “the best reproduced Turner painting I have ever seen”
What is your favourite film?
Passport to Pimlico
What is your favourite TV show?
Grand Designs
What is your favourite saying?
‘If all else fails try reading the instructions’
What is your favourite book/what are you reading at the moment?
Favourite? Probably anything by PG Wodehouse, but I’m currently reading a book about Scolt Head Nature Reserve
What is the strangest job you’ve ever done?
Being given a room, several packing cases, plumbers, electricians, etc, and being told “this is the first Dycril plant in England, install it”
Who would you like to be stuck on a desert island with?
My wife
What is your greatest ambition?
To see a federal Europe
What’s your greatest fear?
Hard Brexit
Who or what makes you laugh?
John Humphries asking a politician a simple question, such as is it morning or night, and getting a two minute answer that is neither yes or no but is filled with slogans
Where would you like to be now?
In Provence with a glass of rosé
Which superpower would you like?
To be able to banish lying politicians to a desert island
What was your childhood obsession?
I wanted to go to the moon
How would you like to be remembered?
As a person who always tried to produce the best work possible
Life is…?
Wonderful
