In early 1990 I received an award from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, and at the ceremony re-acquainted myself with Rytons Managing Director Roger Irwin who was receiving an award for the same incident (this is a whole other story!). I was working for the Department of Health and Social Security (as it was then) and he offered me an interview for the position of Office Manager at Rytons. Following an intense group interview, I was offered the position.
It seems hard to believe but when I started at Rytons we still had a Telex machine, the internet and National Lottery had yet to be invented and Elton John had never had a solo UK number one single. In the time I’ve been here I’ve seen Rytons departments, product ranges and services expand beyond anything we could have imagined, but the ethos has remained the same. No two days have ever been the same and, while I may not be here in another 25 years, I still enjoy every challenge my job throws at me.
Here are 10 things you didn’t know about me:
1. I spent my childhood holidays on my granddad’s farm in the north of Scotland drinking unpasteurised milk and risking life and limb.
2. I’ve only had 9.5 days of sick in my 25 years at Rytons (none at all between 2004 and 2012 inclusive!).
3. I advertised Weetabix on a poster in the 1970’s.
4. I was a rubbish Brownie. I undertook and gained 2 badges in about 3 years.
5. I’m a competent fencer – with foil, epee & barbed wire.
6. I’ve never had any part of my body pierced – but I do have a life-size rose tattooed on my left thigh.
7. I’ve visited 5 of the world’s 7 continents.
8. The fastest I’ve ever travelled on the road is 170mph.
9. I breed and compete part-bred Arab show horses.
10. I’ve never been in a Nando’s.
Clare
