In our first edition of this occasional series designed to get to know our advisers a little better, we ask David Willis some challenging questions, the answers clearly explain why David is such an awesome Business Adviser!

Q. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An Astronaut, more specifically, Neil Armstrong. As a child of the sixties, what else was I going to say?

Q. What was your first job?
I had a part time job working in a butcher’s. I used to deliver food on a big old bike with a basket on the front like the one in the Hovis adverts.

Q. What one piece of advice do you stand by?
Don’t say something can’t be done if you haven’t given it a go.

Q. What do you do to relax?
I took up Field Archery a couple of years ago. It combines a walk through the woods with some target shooting. A very relaxing way to spend a couple of hours..

Q. Who is the most famous person you have met?
I seem to bump into a lot of famous people in lifts. I shared a 24 floor ride in the Hyatt Birmingham with Sir Alex Ferguson and whilst in Cape Town shared a lift with Leonardo Dicaprio.

Q. Tell us something your Partners do not know about you?
I used to play lead guitar, (badly) when I was in a rock band in my teens.

Q. If you could have a super-power what would it be and why?
It would have to be the ability to fly. I’d never get caught in traffic again.

Q. What event or decision gave you the best learning experience in your career?
I worked for a leading UK bank when the financial crises hit. Managing teams through a lengthy period of uncertainty and ambiguity was challenging but you learn far more when the going is tough than when life is easy.

Q. What have you been watching on Netflix / Amazon Prime etc…?
I’ve recently discovered Homeland. Think Spooks but American. Up to season 6 already, just two more to go.

Q. What is your favourite holiday destination?
Love the Greek Islands but also Cancun in Mexico. The people of both are very welcoming.

Q. Who did you last listen to on Spotify?
A Phil Catchpole podcast about Wycombe Wanderers. Musically, I just took a trip back 10 years or so and listened to Spirit by Leona Lewis

Q. Who has been your greatest influence in life and why?
From both a personal and career perspective it has to be my wife. She encouraged me to reach new goals in my career and we are just celebrating 30 years of marriage.

Q. What was the last book you read?
Blue Moon by Lee Child. I managed a quick trip to Florida before lockdown and a Jack Reacher story is an easy read when on holiday.