In every issue of our Aycliffe Business magazine, we take a break and sit down with a different employee or business owner to ask them 20 questions on a variety of subjects.
In the latest issue, John Whitehehouse, from family-run Whitehouse Funeral Directors, answers our 20 questions over a cuppa…
1: What do you do?
A: I am a Funeral Director.
2: Who have you worked for in the past?
A: I have worked previously for another privately owned Funeral Director.
3: Best part of your job?
A: Making a difference in people’s lives at a difficult time.
4: Is there anything about your job that you really don’t like?
A: Dealing with the funeral of a child is always a challenge both emotionally and mentally.
5: Favourite thing about working on Aycliffe Business Park?
A: It always feels like the business park is going places. As you travel around you see lots of new businesses coming to the area and the expansion of existing buildings.
6: Which company/individual on the park do you do the most work with?
A: Our business is quite a niche business and we are always open to dealing with as many businesses on the park as possible.
7: Who’s your tip for future success?
A: Any company that embraces change in their market place.
8: Four famous people you’d love to have round for dinner and why?
A: Romesh Ranganathan – he cracks me up: Doddie Weir – what an amazing sportsman and sooo brave: Daniel Craig – 007 say no more: Lynda Carter – what a wonder woman.
9: If you could do something else in business, what would it be?
A: Build and run my own crematorium.
10: Who’s your favourite Tweeter?
A: Tweety Bird.
11: Have you ever done anything really daring?
A: I suppose being involved with and arranging a burial at sea for a sea farer was a challenge. But it made a massive difference to the family.
12: What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
A: Believe in yourself and what you want to achieve.
13: If money was no object, what would be your ideal car?
A: I’ve always been a James Bond fan so I guess a nice Aston Martin would do the trick.
14: Money no object, your dream holiday would be?
A: I love the Lake District and have always found walking in the hills very helpful to get away from the stresses of work. Therefore my dream holiday would be a trip to New Zealand, hire a camper van, tour around and walk some of their iconic mountains.
15: Do you have a favourite band or type of music?
A: Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott are amazing and I have seen them loads of times.
16: What is your greatest achievement?
A: Owning my own business. I have had many a moment at a large funeral were I have thought OMG.
17: How would you best describe yourself in four words?
A: Talented, sexy, generous, liar.
18: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: More of the same. Looking after people at a difficult time to the best of my ability. Trying to make a difference to people’s lives.
19: Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met?
A: Duncan Bannatyne.
20: Do you have any guilty pleasures?
A: Only one, red wine. Well, maybe gin as well!