RE: John Whittaker............27 Sep 2020 12:13
I once read some place that he used to say UM a lot, can't find the link at this time, wonder if Dave and Myles picked it up from speaking with him? as both at times have spoke using UM.
Re: Castlefield 1992 - 2002
« Reply #9 on: 14:58:48, 07/11/14 »
During my cab driving days we had a contract with Peel holdings and I picked their CEO John Whittaker up a couple of times. I asked him what the significance of the Mercedes sports car that was on display in the Trafford centre was? He told me that was the first luxury item he ever bought when he started to make serious money. He had given it to his mother who at the time was still alive. He stated he would never part with it.
We got to talking about families and upbringing in general. He told me that a few nights previously he had been out for a meal in Manchester when whilst driving his car on Oxford street late at night he had seen two thugs snatch a ladies bag off her. Without thinking he had jumped out of his car and chased them until they escaped over a building site. I replied he was lucky because they were probably druggies and could have stabbed him if cornered. His reply was, When you are brought up with certain values and you see someone in trouble you don't stop to think. On walking back to his car he had left it with engine running and door open blocking Oxford street, with everyone blasting on their car horns. :)
At the time he would have been in his early 60s. A short time later I read he was the first self made northern billionaire. I realise you probably don't get to be a billionaire without being fairly ruthless in business. however I found him to be an extremely likeable man.
http://www.manchester-forum.co.uk/index.php?topic=10336.0
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