Click here to read his first interview

Lots has been happening at School; the School did really well in last year’s World Scholar’s Cup, and we’re looking forward to visiting Yale University in the U.S.A. as part of the current series of these events.

In March we won the Central European round in Prague and progressed through to the finals in Dubai, where we came a respectable 109th out of over 500 teams. In the recent ‘Budapest Round’, we had 8 teams competing with 7 different local (Karinthy, Fazekas, Budai Középiskola) and international schools (SEK Bp, QSI Ljubljana Int School, The Prague British School).

I’m proud to say that Britannica proved to have some of the best academic scholars. We won 1st prize for the best academic team category in the Senior Division, and the 2nd prize for the best academic team in the Junior Division.

At home: My wife joined me to live full time in Budapest, and we moved flats in March, from the 12th to the 2nd District.

2. On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you with your life in Hungary, and why?
I’ve got to say 10 – since I am incredibly happy. We can travel around easily from here. After living in places like Egypt, Jordan and Nigeria, it’s so much easier to live here. I’ve driven to the UK and came back via Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and more – Hungary is a good base for touring. Family and friends can come out easily by air, so yes, it’s definitely 10.

3. What’s the best party you’ve been to while in Hungary, and why?
I am not really a big party goer at my age; however I attended a very good cricket event here in Hungary some months ago, where I was nominated the Umpire of the Year at the Hungarian Cricket Association awards party.

4. What’s your favourite drink?
It very much depends on the time of the day. Tea in the morning is a must; I don’t drink coffee anymore since while in Lagos the school had a ‘Tea Lady’ giving me strong coffee every hour on the hour! In the evenings I’d say the odd beer as I’m a member of CAMRA and I prefer real ale. I’m looking forward to the opportunity of trying a few new ones in Hungary at new micro-breweries setting up. I have to say Czech and Belgian beers are good too.

5. What hidden talents do you have?
I do not think I have one, but I am always happy to be involved in sports even if I cannot play anymore. I turned down three different professional soccer contracts; all three were on different continents. The first, playing, one in Rochdale England, then New Zealand, and finally a coaching contract in Brazil.

6. What was the most interesting travel trip you have ever taken?
Pakistan – I took a Lincolnshire junior cricket team there for a month, the first ever Under 16 team to tour there in 1984. The whole thing was ‘a riot’, and I nearly caused one; it’s a long story :)

7. If you were given a wish that could come true, what would you ask for?
Having lived in Nigeria, I would wish for a vaccine for malaria, and according to recent news reports this might be a possibility. Actually I caught malaria when I first arrived in Lagos, and so understand its very serious health risks. Malaria still kills 100’s of thousands yet seems to be an under-reported danger to human life. I really do hope they will find a vaccine soon.

8. What’s the last book you read, and movie you watched?
Apart of the ‘Rough Guide to Budapest’ I sadly cannot remember the last one I read. I tend to read papers while travelling. It might have been Frederick Forsyth’s ‘Cobra’. I like his books a lot. The last film I saw was the second part of the ‘Lord of the Rings’, and since I hadn’t seen the first part I didn’t understand it at all!

9. If someone wrote a biography about you, what would the title be?
‘There’s more to life than education.’ I was very good at maths, but loved playing sports, too. I feel it’s so important to have good life balance, in my case before my exams I went to the sports ground, after revising properly of course.

10. What is the perfect pizza toppings combination for you?
I do like pizza, but only every now and then. To be original I’m going to say I’d really like pizza with black-pudding, bacon and eggs, washed down with a beer.

11. If you could trade places with any other person for a week, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
A top singer – preferably a classical singer, as I’d love to be able to sing or play a musical instrument at such a high standard. Maybe Julian Lloyd Webber the cellist, as I carried his cello once. I’d also like to be a sportsman right at the top his profession, like Gordon Banks the soccer player (I used to play in goal), or a top cricketer like Ken Barrington – I really wonder how would it feel to be right at the top of your game.

12. On a scale of 1 to 10 how unusual are you, and why?
Everybody is unique – we all have our own talents, I’m a good listener.

13. What’s the best website you’ve ever visited, and why?
Britannica International School’s website! ;)

14. Who do you admire the most, and why?
I admire people who keep trying and don’t easily give up.

15. What do you like best and least about living in Hungary?
Best in Budapest is the public transport system, it’s very reliable, efficient and the city is well geared for mass transport rather than cars. What I like least, not to be taken in the wrong way, it’s the Hungarian language. I have tried hard, yet find it really frustrating because my progress seems to have got stuck, and I can’t see myself getting much better at it.

16. What has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?
My wife, as cheesy as that may sound, it’s also true. We’ve been married for many years now.

17. If you won USD 30 million, what would you do with the money?
I would give some to charity. First I would like to set my family and close friends up for life. From a personal point of view, I would love to travel. Since I’ve never been further east than Pakistan, I would go beyond there.

A fair bit would be spent on exotic adventures; I would take my wife to Barbados since I’ve been there and have been promising her for years that we’ll go together one day. And I would like to go to more isolated, off the tourist-track places, like the Falkland Islands. New Zealand is the place I would most like to visit, and take the time to discover it properly.

18. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel

19. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
England.

20. In ten years from now what will you be doing?
Hopefully I’ll be retired in England, if I’m still alive. I am not the type who feels the need to work forever. I’m not going to continue coaching sports at that age, but I would be certainly involved in sports, on the administration side. I would like to stay active physically – I have an allotment - and mentally, for this I would learn more about the computer. Certainly if I won 30 million, I would retire tomorrow.