On The Spot With Ian Spencer

What was your first job?

A Saturday job in a large supermarket in Doncaster, great experience for dealing with customers and colleagues.

If you weren’t in your current position, what would you be doing?

I’d probably still be in the Civil Service working for HM Revenue & Customs.

What was your worst mistake?

Not leaving the civil service sooner.

What’s you ideal day away from the office?

Walking in the Peak District with my wife and new puppy – friends and children can be there too.

Name one person you would like to have dinner with and why?

It would have been Nelson Mandela – a truly inspirational man.

What was your best subject at school?

Maths – I just loved the logic-based problem solving.

What are your hobbies?

Gardening, but I don’t have the time I want and my garden deserves.

What would you do if you won the Lottery?

I’d want to do something to improve the quality of life for people with so little – the problem is, where do you start?

What’s your favourite item of clothing?

Strange thing for a man to admit, but I love shoes, especially trainers.

What’s your favourite time of day?

Early morning before anyone else is up.

What’s the best thing about Yorkshire?

I can’t think of anything I don’t like, the people, the countryside, cities and towns – what’s not to love?

What would you like your epitaph to be?

I’d like to say “Always thought of others and always tried his best” – in reality it would be more like “he didn’t do bad, better than we expected”.