It all began at a Texaco garage
I led The Royal Parks’ role in the Queen’s 2016 Christmas broadcast outside Buckingham Palace; that’s me, fourth from the left!
My life in communications started off in a more unusual place…on the forecourt of a petrol station at a time when 4-star petrol had just been banned. If it hadn’t been for an advert for a trainee reporter at my local paper I’d have never ended up here.
Having qualified as a journalist and gone on to win a host of awards thanks to an interview with Nicholas Cage and breaking a world exclusive about Kylie Minogue, I realised our local communication teams weren’t up to scratch.
A media trained and confident spokesman and public speaker.
Having led press and communication teams in local authorities and the private sector in Somerset, the bright lights of London beckoned, and so off I trotted to the big smoke.
My first stop was at the Home Office where I worked closely with the then Home Secretary Theresa May - a real chance to stamp my skills on the national media in the areas of drugs, alcohol and anti-social behaviour.
This provided a great platform for me to move to the communications team for the UK’s top paedophile investigation centre, where my skills in bringing harrowing stories sensitively to life captured the imagination of international media. These skills came with me as I took on leading cyber crime campaigns at the National Crime Agency.
I’ve managed communications for some of the country’s highest profile events and issues.
My last stop during my seven-year stint in London was as Head of Communications and Media at The Royal Parks, leading some of the country’s most high profile events and media stories, from managing media at major royal events and crisis comms for Europe’s largest Christmas market to broadcasts for prime ministerial resignations and the Queen’s annual Christmas broadcast.
My return to the westcountry saw me dip my toe back into the private and charity sectors, with national communicaton manager roles for the FTSE250 transport company FirstGroup and one of the country’s largest charities, the National Trust, managing some of its highest profile stories and contentious issues, including its response to the dreaded covid pandemic.
The C Word is the culmination of more than 26 years of hard work in an eclectic mix of sectors as an award-winning journalist and successful communications manager covering media relations, digital, social media, internal, crisis communications, and event and stakeholder communications. Maybe your business or organisation could be my next stop.
The one time you’re allowed to use
The C Word
Communications should be at the heart of everything you do. What you say, what you snap, what you think, what you post; it’s your chance to talk directly to the public.
I pride myself on cutting through the bull, dumping the jargon and telling it like it is in as plain English as possible.
Shout The C Word to get noticed
Trusted by people who know my work
Thorough and forward-thinking. A great person to work with. Tough times were always fun working with him.
High achieving communications expert, with a range of skills to complement traditional wordsmithing and community engagement.
Excellent written and verbal skills. A real asset to any team, with a wonderful sense of humour!
An asset to the team, driving significant turnaround in our PR. With personal integrity and a great sense of humour.
Thorough, committed, assured and creative, and huge fun to work with. I wouldn't hesitate to work with him again.
One of the best PR professionals I've worked with. A rare mix of creative and logical, a creative thinker and a great planner.
Enthusiastic, creative and very hard working. Great communication skills, written and verbal, and gets on well with people.
Professional, quick to respond, cooperative and diplomatic. Easy to work with and maintains a healthy sense of perspective.