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Welcome to my new website

Many of us over 60 are counted out when part-time jobs come up despite our collective wisdom and abilities.

To counter some of this prejudice I have dispensed with sending my CV and have instead created The Complete Picture, an animated ninety second overview of my life to date @ https://vimeo.com/223960456.

 

 

 

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APR
Last Thursday, I flew to Durham, North Carolina to support my son's application for a MMS course at Duke University. We left LHR at 1100 and arrived at 1430, drove quickly to Durham where Duke is situated, showered and then set off for Raleigh for a Bruce Springsteen concert. We were actually quite amazed we could find tickets so late and even on the night there were still a few empty seats left...... I had last heard the Boss at a 4th July concert at Wembley in 1984 -...
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I must have been one of the last people to have read Michael Lewis's FlashBoys which has been so well trailed and reviewed these past three weeks and not surprisingly it has gone to No.1 in the non-fiction charts. Lewis has had a litany of golden hits with his books some of which have made it onto the silver screen. No doubt FlashBoys will follow! Anyway, he makes a slightly dull subject - unless you understand nano second hot fibre horse trading - come to life though the...
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APR
Over the past year or so, I have sat on the UK board of the European Council of the Brain. I have had an interest in concussion as it applies to our armed services in the field and especially as it applies to our sportsmen and women who play rugby, box or ride. Last year, the Fainaru brothers exposed the dirty tricks within the NFL as regards concussion and dementia in their book League of Denial which is not available in the UK until October and so I bought a copy...
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UK article on Concussion in Sport http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/14/rugby-union-concussion-medical-experts USA articles ESPN's Outside the Lines (the investigative journalism side of ESPN) addresses many of the issues around dementia in NFL players, including the details of the scan used, the scientists leading the study (one has started a company around this technology called TauMark), and the story of Tony Dorsett. The article is at:...
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APR
1. Neurosurg Focus. 2012 Dec;33(6):E9: 1-7. doi: 10.3171/2012.10.FOCUS12282. Magnetoencephalographic virtual recording: a novel diagnostic tool for concussion. Tormenti M(1), Krieger D, Puccio AM, McNeil MR, Schneider W, Okonkwo DO. Author information: (1)Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. OBJECT: Heightened recognition of the prevalence and significance of head injury in sports and in combat veterans has brought increased attention...
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APR
On Sunday, Jack and I squeezed time to go to Nasher Museum of Art, at Duke. It is a smallish building but attractive nonetheless with four galleries. We saw some Warhol and Lichenstein which we both adored. Most of all we enjoyed the exhibition of Archibald Motley's Jazz Age Modernity which was anything motley: worth the trip alone.  www.nasjer.duke.edu Book: Archibald Motley: Jazz Age Modernist Edited by Richard J. Powell
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Social Networking 2/12 14-20 April 2014 Monday The Peter Family - Brian, Liddy, Matt, Katherine & Julia @ Parliament Vic Luck and Richard Hornblow @ Waterloo Conference Call @ Great Retail Revival Kirsty McNeill @ Balls Bros The Peter Family plus Daisy & Jack @ Grumbles Tuesday Dr John Stedman @ Twickenham Trentham & Newcastle u L v Parliament XV @ Twickenham Bump Paul Farrelly MP Bill Beaumont Wednesday Dr. John Stedman @ Southampton General...
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Social Networking 2/13 21st-28th April 2014 Easter Bank Holiday Monday R&R Tuesday Gareth Austin-Jones & Janan Leo @ Pimlico Fresh James Hibbert @ D2K Lily Rice @ Waterloo SE RFU 2015 Legacy @ City Hall Bump Kieran Bracken Jason Leonard Wednesday Daisy @ Bills, Kensington Thursday Duke University, North Carolina Bruce Springsteen @ PCU, Raleigh Friday Dr James McNamara @ Duke Daniel Laskowitz @ Duke Rajendra Morey @ Duke Saturday David...
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APR
The Next London Mayor - some thoughts The Mayor of London is after the PM and the Chancellor the third most important politician in the country. Cast your mind back to the London mayoral elections in 2012. The two protagonists BoJo and Uncle Ken spent most of their time arguing about their children and various lovers or who had squirrelled away the most in various limited companies. Neither offered a 20:20 vision of what London would look like in 2020.  Be that as it...
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Visiting America I started going to America in 1979 and I have never stopped going back (thirty plus visits and counting). I love the place and its people. I especially like its music whether classical, blues, bluegrass, country or rock. I have also frequented its jazz bars in Seattle, Georgetown, New Orleans, LA, Chicago and NY listening to the likes of Lionel Hampton, Stanley Turrentino, Booker T and Ramsey Lewis. In 1979, my visit took in San Francisco, Sacramento, Lake...
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Social Networking 2/11 7-13 April 2014 Monday Ian Burt @ Fitness First Alexander Jones, CEO, Centre for Cities @ Westminster James Hibbert @ D2K Bump Anthony Barry Keata Murray Jonathan Shaw @ Thomas Cubitt Tuesday London Book Fair Reception @ Spanish Embassy Wednesday Geoff Bennett @ Pimlico Thursday Crowdbnk Board @ Kensington Bump Ian Pearson Ayan Mitra Barry Parr Christopher Humphrey Karen Duncan Brian & Julia Peter @ Pimlico Hester Finch @...
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APR
I heard Georgie Fame for the third time yesterday evening at Ronnie's. He had had to cancel his appearance just after Christmas through ill health. He looked thinner in the face but his voice was in splendid nick. He is one of the most knowledgeable musicians in the business.
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Social Networking 2/10 31st Match-6th April 2014 Monday Ian Burt @ Fitness First James Hibbert @ Pimlico Peter Gluckman @ Thomas Cubitt Tuesday Vic Luck @ Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry Bump Takaaki Hanoaka Patrick Macartney James Hibbert @ D2K Richard Gorman @ Olivelli Dr John Stedman @ NICE SE Skype Karen Duncan & Emily Murphy @ Uno Wednesday Matthew Pruen @ Pimlico Craig Nicholson @ Pimlico Fresh Kate Kiln @ Uno Roger Truelove...
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APR
I met Alex Jones yesterday to have a download on her team's work on the future shape of global cities. Fascinating. www.centreforcities.org
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We had a lively and formative board meeting yesterday afternoon; our plans gather for Pop at HoF at speed!
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Jonathan Shaw was a minister and MP for Chatham & Aylesford; we were best of friends in Westminster but since we both stepped down in 2010 it has been harder to maintain our friendship so we have agreed to find time to meet once a month starting last night. We had a most enjoyable supper at Thomas Cubitt's.
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See: www.greatretailrevival.org   or http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/london-oxfordst-department-store/store_page_1008,default,pg.html
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APR
Ken Loach, David Robinson, David Dolman, Joe Downey and my good self had driunls and supper at Woods in Bath on Friday to consider our options regarding the future of Bath Recreation ground and its trust. 
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APR
On Thursday, I met Chi Onwurah MP to discuss her plans to look again at the Digital Britain report which was much better than the legislation which followed it. Later, I met Virendra Sharma MP to talk to him about Health issues as he is on the Select Committee.
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APR
http://www.retail-jeweller.com/news/joulberry-announced-as-one-of-nine-new-pop-up-concessions-at-house-of-fraser-oxford-street/5058878.article    https://www.alisonathome.com/get-inspired/pop-at-hof/ http://needtoknowpr.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/skribbies-in-house-of-fraser-pop-up-shop/    http://diarydirectory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/house-of-fraser-pop-up-competition.html
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http://startups.co.uk/shortlist-announced-for-house-of-fraser-pop-up-shop-competition/  
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APR
The LIVE judging of the POP at HOF competition took place on Friday last week. Twenty short-listed retail brands competed for a spot in the final stage of the competition, a pop up shop in House of Fraser’s flagship Oxford Street and on House of Fraser's website from 8-26 May 2014. Nine winners were chosen directly by the judging panel. A tenth spot will be given to the winner from a shortlist of four (also chosen by the judging panel) which will be chosen via a public. The 9...
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