I left school at the age of 15 and joined my local Ransomes grounds care dealer, Paice & Sons, as an apprentice fitter. I was assembling the popular Ransomes Ajax and Antelope push mowers. When I passed my driving test it enabled me to get out of the workshop and into demonstrating equipment.
What advice would you give to others starting out?
Get to know as much about the products as you can and get on to a manufacturer's training course, if possible. Most importantly, listen and learn - this is a great industry with many knowledgeable people.
What does your typical day involve?
I spend a lot of time on the phone, answer numerous email enquiries and I have to prepare quotations, but primarily I spend as much time as possible out with customers.
What takes up most of your time?
My territory is Kent, which is a surprisingly rural county so a lot of my day is spent driving to appointments. I know virtually every escape route on the M25 to avoid the inevitable congestion during rush hour and when there's a delay due to accidents.
What is the best part of your job?
This is a really friendly industry and I love meeting the people in it, but the real buzz, as any salesman would say, is clinching the deal.
And the worst?
If something happens in your area and you know nothing about it.
What is your greatest achievement?
At the 1985 Open at Royal St Georges I put in all the equipment used there and I did something similar for the Open in 2000 at the same venue.
How do you wind down after a hard day?
A cuddle with my wife, a glass of wine and a meal down the pub.
What does the future hold?
Hopefully continued health and happiness. The excitement of winning deals now is still the same as when I first began selling and I will continue for the foreseeable future because I love it.
