'I'm one of the UK’s most prominent solicitors - I learned my people skills growing up in Hull'

I grew up in a prefab in Maybury Drive in east Hull, near East Park. We didn’t have holidays, but the nearest we got was going to an aunty and uncle who lived at Huby near Harrogate.

We’d get the train to Leeds, then change and get off at Weeton where we were picked up. One of the first memories is visiting Almscliffe, a large outcrop of millstone grit near Huby.

What is your favourite part of Yorkshire?

I enjoy the outdoors and like the green countryside. Standing on top of a hill and seeing the stonewalls and ploughed fields is something special.

I like the East Riding and the Yorkshire Wolds beyond Beverley and Driffield. I also love Malham and the North York Moors.

What is your favourite walk and view?

There’s a circular walk of five miles which is nice and the views are good too on the Drewton Estate at South Cave near Beverley.

And your thoughts on the Yorkshire coast?

This place is nothing glamorous, but my partner and I often go to Fraisthorpe near Bridlington. It’s a lovely area with a flat stretch of beach.

It’s only a walk of two and half miles to Bridlington harbour. The further north you go up the coast, it’s more attractive, so I like Whitby and Staithes.

What’s your idea of a perfect day out in Yorkshire?

I have two running mates and periodically we go to the Three Peaks and run from one to the others which is about the length of a marathon. We stop for a coffee at the café in Horton in Ribblesdale.

We run as much as we can and then on the way back stop for fish and chips in Keighley.

Which Yorkshire sportsman or woman, past or present, would you like to take out for lunch?

I’m still running marathons, so any help with training or nutrition would be appreciated. So, talking to athletes would help and, therefore, seeing the Brownlee brothers is ideal. Growing up sport was everything and I remember Geoffrey Boycott scoring his 100th century at Headingley.

Which Yorkshire entertainer would you like to take out for dinner?

That’s an easy one and it’s Sir Michael Parkinson who is sadly no longer with us. I grew up with my grandparents and spent a lot of time watching chat shows. Parky’s interviews with Muhammad Ali and George Best were the best.

If you could own part of Yorkshire for the day where and what would it be?

I did think of Headingley cricket ground, but I’ve chosen the Haribo factory in Castleford. If I weren’t a lawyer, I’d be a mechanical engineer because I’m fascinated by process, and the process of mass production.

You see Haribo sweets everywhere. I’d like to own the sweet factory for day and take a day’s profit. One of my guilty pleasures is eating jelly sweets.

Do you have a hidden Yorkshire gem?

I thought hard about this and I’m not sure it’s hidden, but I like the Bempton Cliffs at Flamborough, and it’s not just the half a million birds you see between March and August, but also the seals.

What do you think it is that gives Yorkshire its unique identity?

The people. It’s as simple as that. We have grit, determination and clear speaking. I spend a lot of time in London, and everybody describes me as direct and that defines Yorkshire people.

Who is the Yorkshire person you admire the most?

It’s a guy called Paul Sewell. He’s a Hull entrepreneur and businessman, the power behind the Sewell Group which has done a number of construction projects in and around Hull, such as rebuilding schools.

Paul used to run the Yorkshire Business Week and he’s the person I seek business advice from. We are fortunate to have him as chairman of Hull KR.

How do you think Yorkshire has influenced you career?

Very much. I founded Hudgell’s in 1997, been involved with Hull KR for more than 20 years and became the sole owner in 2019. It’s difficult to talk about yourself, but I’ve got people skills that come from where I grew up in Hull.

Do you think Yorkshire has changed for the better since you’ve known it?

In terms of Hull, the city continues to have challenges and is an untapped resource. Leeds, on the other hand, is a phenomenal beast and has changed so much, and is challenging Manchester and Birmingham. It’s vibrant and forward thinking.

What would you do to change Yorkshire?

Improve transport links, particularly the TransPennine Express. The service is unreliable.

Which is your favourite restaurant?

The Humber Fish Company on Humber Street is a fine restaurant and it’s not far from the office. I do also The Star Inn on the banks of the Ouse in York. It’s in Museum Street and I also like the Pipe and Glass at South Dalton near Beverley.

And your favourite pub?

I like popping into the Fergson and Fawsitt at Walkington near Beverley. The landlord supports Hull FC, our main rivals, but he’s a good bloke. I go there for a pint two or three times a week.

Do you have a favourite food shop?

It’s a farm shop at South Cave and it’s called Drewton’s.

If a stranger to Yorkshire had time to visit one place only, where would you take them?

I think it has to be York. You visit the Roman Walls, then go and see the Minster and the Shambles and then you finish your visit and have a pint of real ale down in Fossgate.