entrepreneurs – profile 17
Pictures by Angus Thomas
Would you consider yourself an entrepreneur?
Yes, because of the various facets of the business. I have an entrepreneurial character, anyway, rather than just to produce, I don’t like milking cows every day. I like to do things for a while and then move on and start again in a year’s time. Therefore the Regatta and the turkey business are juxtaposed in the calendar, in July and December, and work very well together. They are seasonal, but now we have dedicated staff who never stop selling turkeys and we are already planning next year’s Regatta. One is continually tweaking things – for instance, at the Regatta camping has been a big growth area and we are now going back to more catered picnics, ie cheaper hospitality. Rewind is tremendously successful, it’s people taking their families and camping together. My bank manager goes and he loves it.
Have you ever wondered what else you might have done in business? Is there an unfulfilled ambition?
I always wanted to do butchery and I’ve been able to develop and enjoy that whilst dealing with turkeys, because we are a totally integrated business. I always wanted to be in building and we’ve done quite a bit of that, too. At eight years old I knew I wanted to be involved in the business, it never occurred to me to do anything else. But I should have gone skiing earlier! I didn’t learn to ski until I was 52. That’s my biggest mistake in life.
What makes you tick outside work?
My interests revolve around Young Farmers’ Clubs. Young Farmers picked me up from school when I was really a complete nervous wreck, so I’ve devoted a lot to that all my life, at club, county and national level. I got involved with the British Turkey Federation and the Royal Agricultural Society and I formed the TFTA and became master of the Company of Farmers. Young people should do four things: join a Young Farmers club, ski, take their children to Disney and join hands and walk up the yellow brick road together, and if they get a chance join a London livery company. And if they get the opportunity of master, that’s the greatest privilege in life.
If you had a sudden £10 million windfall, what would you do with the money?
I’d put most of it in the business, share it with my children, pay off the borrowings. I’d probably eat and drink and celebrate, do a bit more travel and a bit more skiing! But I’d get bored after a fortnight!
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER 11/JANUARY 12
What’s next for you personally? And for the company?
Personally, we’ve got five grandchildren and three children happily married and to see my son happily married, that’s probably next. I’m also going to be president of the Royal County of Berkshire Show next year, one of the few accolades for the Berkshire rural community. To see my son settled in the business, and for them all to have children. The business has got to a
stage where I’ve run out of daughters. The new challenge is employing management in both the turkey and Regatta business. My son will have to one day manage that, so he’s going to have a much bigger job than ever I had to do.
Details:
www.copas.co.uk www.businessmag.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61