This Life

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), June 22, 2009

Byline: Graham Stephenson

Lives: Locally.

OCCUPATION: General manager of Whiteleys Garden Centre at Mirfield.

STATUS: Lives with partner.

CHILDREN: A son and a daughter.

HOBBIES: Walking, I love the Yorkshire Dales.

What was the last movie you watched at the cinema? It was my son's 15th birthday recently and we went to see the Terminator movie, excellent special effects but not really my cup of tea Which TV programme is your all-time favourite? No, not gardening programmes, it is the old classic Blackadder. It still makes me giggle after all these years.

What makes you laugh? Well I have just mentioned Blackadder. However a good joke never fails to get me laughing.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I have always had a passion for plants and to discover them in their natural habitat has always been my ambition. My favourite plants include Cornus Controversa "variegate", Acer Griseum and Davidia involucrata which, among others, are native to China. This country of course has more to offer than plants I would love to visit the Great Wall and many of the great cities in China.

On a personal note, what is your best quality? People always tell me that I am very patient person.

... and sorry, we have to ask, what is your worst fault or bad habit? Well we all have bad habits besides elbows on the table and nose picking I always feel my worse fault is over eating. I am a big chap and my love for all types of food reflects on me as my worse fault.

What is your favourite local shop? My favorite is the Thorncliffe farm shop at Emley. The selection and quality of food on offer is superb.

Name your ideal way to spend an evening out. A good curry restaurant especially with friends and family.

How do you normally spend Christmas and New Year? Unfortunately it is the busiest time of the year for Whiteleys Garden Centre so its all hands on deck over the Christmas period.

But I always try to make time to visit family in Glasgow every year.

What is the last luxury item you bought for yourself? A Sony digital camera.

Looking back in history, who is the man or woman you most admire? I would say Charles Darwin is the person I most admire, not because specifically of any of his theories but because of the man's dedication to his work and from what I have read of the man he was not afraid of admitting his mistakes. I believe that these are admirable attributes in any great person.

Name a favourite piece of music. I like to listen to a wide range of music.

However a classical track called Clair De Lune by Debussy is, and has for sometime been my favourite.

What is the most important thing in your life today? Without doubt it is my children whom I am very proud of, Rebecca 20 studying English at Glasgow University and Andrew, 15, getting to grips with exams!