What are the three things you love about Liverpool?

Don's Answer:

1. Liverpool and its people have a very broad mind inclusive of a great sense of humor and are able and willing to be self-critical. This helps in the regions sustainability and growth. What is needed now is our political leadership to subscribe.

2. The current enthusiasm and anticipation in regional development and opportunity is palpable. “Imagine” what we could achieve given the same dynamic leadership and belief.

3. The nightlife! In the words of Frankie Vaughan “Give me the Moon Light”!!

Three things you would do to improve the city?

Don's Answer:

1. I would introduce something similar to a leadership forum where elected representatives sit in congress with interested group leaders and thrash out a common way forward. I believe this is called Democracy.

2. It has long been my belief that Liverpool is insular in many ways. Accordingly we find it sometimes difficult in a modern economy to compete with the outside world. I would like to see the City boundaries extended to incorporate the Greater Liverpool, as was experienced in Manchester and is now being experienced in Yorkshire. We need to wake up or continue to play catch up.

3. I would do away with tunnel fares and incorporate the tunnels into the main road network as was first intended and thus encourage more people to shop casually.

Three personal business highlights?

Don's Answer:

Wow! As some one who has lived by the seat of his pants this may be the toughest question.

I guess the first one must be this:

1. I talked myself into a HGV driving instructor’s job with (SITEC) Sefton Industrial Transport Education Centre back in 82 which at the time was situated on what is now South Ferry Quay (The old Brunswick Mill). By 1987/88 I had bought the company. Looking back it was a great time, “If only I knew then!”.

2. I think another was, when perhaps on the brink of bankruptcy due to a divorce and massive interest rate rises in 1989/90, managing against all the odds to secure a £250k loan/grant from a brewery to open my bar Sherlocks in Birkenhead. I still smile at that one!

3. We have had a great 12 years doing what we are still doing, buying, selling, managing and letting property, including developments abroad. We have worked with and met some fantastic people, but as we move into some more local developments I think the best is yet to come.