New boy is ready to give with a purpose

Jul 13 2009 By Alastair Gilmour, The Journal

It's Rob Williamson's first day as chief executive of the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. Alastair Gilmour finds out more.

Questionnaire

WHAT car do you drive?
Mini Cooper.

What’s your favourite restaurant?
Café 21.

Who or what makes you laugh?
Eddie Izzard and Victoria Wood.

What’s your favourite book?
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson.

What was the last album you bought?
Gossip – Music For Men.

What’s your ideal job, other than the one you’ve got?
Photographer.

If you had a talking parrot, what’s the first thing you would teach it to say?
"Who’s a pretty boy then?"

What’s your greatest fear?
The far-right gaining greater power in British politics.

What’s the best piece of business advice you have ever received?
Build a professional network of people that you trust.

What’s the worst piece of business advice?
Nothing specific, but I think you have to learn to tell the difference between someone offering constructive criticism and someone pursuing their own agenda.

What’s your poison?
Hendrick’s and tonic (with a slice of cucumber).

What newspapers do you read, other than The Journal?
The Guardian and The Economist.

How much was your first pay packet and what was it for?
About £1.80 for delivering free newspapers.

How do you keep fit?
Not enough, but aim to walk to work more!

What’s your most irritating habit?
Reading the newspaper in company.

What’s your biggest extravagance?
Eating out.

Which historical or fictional character do you identify with/admire?
Mark Twain had some pretty sage things to say.

Which four famous people would you most like to dine with?
Alan Bennett, Julie Walters, Shami Chakrabarti and Annie Lennox.

How would you like to be remembered?
Fondly and with a smile.