David Parkin on the future of retail and a journalistic inspiration

FAREWELL then Peter Bowles.

The actor best known for playing a smooth-talking cad, bounder and nouveau riche lord of the manor has died at the age of 85.

With his elegance, charm and aristocratic manner, it was surprising to learn that Bowles had rather humble beginnings and grew up modestly in Nottingham.

It seemed like you couldn’t turn on the telly in the 1970s, 80s and 90s without the mustachioed Bowles appearing on screen in a host of hit comedies and dramas including To The Manor Born, Only When I Laugh, The Bounder, The Irish RM, Perfect Scoundrels and Executive Stress.

I clearly remember his single appearance in the comedy series Rising Damp playing a rather camp theatrical named Hilary in an episode called ‘Stage Struck’.

That was apparently Peter Bowles’ first comedy role and it led to him being cast in To The Manner Born as Richard DeVere, a nouveau riche millionaire supermarket owner originally from Czechoslovakia.

Playing opposite Penelope Keith as aristocratic Audrey fforbes-Hamilton who is forced to sell her vast country estate to the wealthy incomer.

Penelope Keith was riding high from her role in the sitcom The Good Life and I didn’t realise that Bowles actually turned down the role of her husband Jerry.

To The Manor Born was the most watched British TV show of the time, garnering a staggering audience of over 20 million viewers for every one of its 21 episodes.

For all his great TV work and the host of classical roles he had on stage, I will remember Peter Bowles best for Lytton’s Diary.

He devised the series himself about a gossip columnist on a national tabloid newspaper and it ran on ITV for two series in 1985 and 1986.

You could tell his inspiration was the Daily Mail’s Dempster’s Diary run by Nigel Dempster.

I was still at school doing my O levels at the time, but I think that by that point I had already decided I wanted to pursue a career in journalism.

Lytton’s Diary, which was recently replayed on the excellent TV channel Talking Pictures TV, cemented that ambition.

I loved the idea of this well dressed journalist hob-nobbing with the great and good and picking up his stories in wine bars and restaurants.

I didn’t quite achieve that during my time as a junior reporter at the Derby Evening Telegraph doing vox pops in shopping centres and getting chased by the BNP.

But eventually, when I became a business journalist, first on the Western Mail and then the Yorkshire Post, I donned a suit and tie every day and lunchtimes and evenings were spent “developing contacts” on expenses in restaurants and bars in Cardiff, London and Leeds.

I even ended up writing a gossip column.

It was for the launch of a women’s magazine in South Wales.

Not surprisingly the magazine didn’t last long, but I always thought I made a rather good female gossip columnist.

It is something I always thought I could fall back on when times became hard.

Any takers darlings?

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I’VE organised and hosted an annual event for financial recruitment firm Headstar for the last few years and every year they are always keen to pick a venue which is “different”.

From the impressive surroundings of the old Leeds Club to trendy basement Chinese restaurant Man’s Market to the Trinity Kitchen food hall in the Trinity Shopping Centre, we’ve tried to achieve that.

So when I suggested they host this year’s event at Leeds Arena I think they thought I’d finally flipped.

I know Headstar are popular with clients, candidates and advisory firms but a 12,500 capacity venue might be going a bit far.

However the arena’s Black and White Executive Lounge is perfect for their annual panel discussion on Thursday, March 31st.

After two years where we looked at the future of work - who expected the way we work to change so dramatically in such a short period of time? - this year it is the business of retail.

That is a sector which has undergone rapid change and the pandemic accelerated online retail but it also reminded many of us how much we enjoy the experience of shopping “in person” rather than on the internet.

Headstar have brought together an impressive panel of experts to provide their thoughts and predictions on the future of retail in a post pandemic world.

On the panel are Mark Saunders, chief executive of baby products group Mamas & Papas; Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, CEO of lighting and home interiors business Dowsing & Reynolds; Rob Shaw, CEO of CreativeRace, the Leeds-based marketing agency that works with retailers including Asda, Greggs, Primark and Pets At Home and Majid Khan, the chief financial officer of outdoor clothing retailer Regatta who has previously held senior roles in finance at Burberry, Morrisons and International Personal Finance.

I’ll be compering the event and asking the panel some questions, but I know that the kind of audience attracted by Headstar will have plenty of their own questions to pose to the panel, which alway helps create an engaging and interactive event.

With food and drink served after the discussion and a chance to meet the panellists and members of the audience, the Headstar team always make sure the event is both informative and fun with plenty of positive business opportunities thrown in.

If you are interested in attending please contact Samantha Goodwin at Headstar at?[email protected]?as there are still a few places available.

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I WAS sad to learn this week of the passing of celebrated Yorkshire cheesemaker Judy Bell MBE.

The founder of Shepherd’s Purse Cheeses was a highly respected figure in the Yorkshire food and agriculture sectors.

Judy founded the business in the late 1980s and it is now run by her two daughters, Katie and Caroline.

She was the chair of the regional food group Deliciouslyorkshire since it was founded, when it was originally called Yorkshire Pantry, back in 1989.

I know everyone associated with Deliciouslyorkshire has been left stunned by the news of Judy’s passing.

She was a tireless and passionate advocate of Deliciouslyorkshire and the work it does supporting, promoting, and championing Yorkshire food and drink producers and businesses locally, nationally, and internationally.

She always proudly credited Deliciouslyorkshire with helping her, particularly in the early days, as she built Shepherd’s Purse and was keen for that same support to be accessible for other businesses.?

In a message to its members, Deliciouslyorkshire said: “Judy’s sheer determination, principles and perfectionism that translated a ‘baamy’ idea into the truly special success story that is Shepherds Purse has proven to be a huge inspiration to many of you personally and the wider Yorkshire food and drink community. The products may well be a favourite with Prince Charles, and Judy may be a Rick Stein ‘Food Hero’ but for the DY team, and everyone whose life she touched, she is and will remain the original and undisputed Yorkshire Food Hero.

One of Judy’s many defining characteristics was her generosity, giving freely her time and knowledge to aspiring cheesemakers. ‘Paying forward’ her own experience she thought nothing of jumping in the car to meet with a cheesemaker to share her expertise, to push, challenge and encourage them to take their business to the next level. This was best seen at the recent Deliciouslyorkshire Taste Awards where Judy presented the Supreme Product Champion accolade to another cheesemaker, whose thanks and gratitude to Judy was visible for all to see.”

Her funeral is being held at Ripon Cathedral next Friday.

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I WAS watching the TV news the other evening when they reported on US astronaut Mark Vande Hei who it was feared might be stranded in space because he was on a mission with two Russians and due to return to earth on a Russian spacecraft.

Rising geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meant fears were raised that NASA and the Russian space agency might be at odds over the return of the three astronauts but it has since been confirmed that they will return to earth together at the end of this month.

All that aside, what struck me when I saw a photograph of Mark Vande Hei is that he reminded me of someone.

I wracked by brains and finally realised who.

One of the cast of sixties TV series Thunderbirds.

I used to have one of those International Rescue blue caps when I was a child.

In fact it brings back painful and traumatic childhood memories.

I was wearing it on a holiday to Pembrokeshire and a gust of wind blew it off when I was standing on top of a cliff and it ended up in the sea.

I’m still not over it now.

Have a great weekend.