19 Mar 2025
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Stephen Potter, St Albans Town Crier, city tour guide, Cathedral guide, Roman soldier, ghost walker and Brother Thomas Rockcliffe (originator of the Alban Bun) and Rotarian. He retired as a director of human resources in the financial services industry.
What’s the first thing you do after you’ve woken up in the morning?
At my age there is only one thing you can do. It begins with a “P”.
What TV did you watch as a child?
This will date me – Watch with Mother, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger and Robin Hood. I remember when ITV started and it was snobbish not to watch it. I did. A lot!
Were you well behaved at school?
I regret to say I was. A missed opportunity. Became head boy. Show off. But then again I did say to one miscreant boy ‘I am not giving you lines, I want you to write a two page essay on Canada.’ He never forgave me. I suppose that was a little bit naughty.
What was your first job?
Butcher’s boy delivering meat on a bicycle with a panier at the front. I was 14.
Dogs or cats?
Dogs, big dogs. Quiet dogs. I have had three golden retrievers. We tried to teach them to bark to be let in from the garden. They never did. Just sat looking at the door as if it would open by magic.
Do you speak any foreign languages?
I have had the good fortune to live and work overseas and can ask for a beer, coffee, and the toilet in many languages. Schoolboy French is my best. Arabic my worst. I did learn that there is no word in English for the Spanish word “mañana” that conveys the same sense of urgency.
When have you been most scared?
My younger self learnt to fly a light aircraft. Pilots as you know are never lost they are only temporarily unaware of their position. I will leave it at that.
Where do you buy your coffee in St Albans?
Fade to Black at The Quadrant. I like independents. The real answer is Sainsbury’s.
Most inspirational St Albans person – living or dead?
Stephen Hawking. He is called Stephen for a start. But what he achieved with the hand that life dealt him was truly remarkable. I am someone who read ‘A Brief History of Time’ from cover to cover and vaguely understood it.
What’s your favourite meal?
Liver and bacon, mashed potatoes, onion gravy, with mustard and ketchup. Followed by fruit crumble and a jug of custard. If you are paying let’s go to Prime and you can treat me to a huge rib eye and a glass of Merlot.
