04 Oct 2025
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Jim Lewis, fundraising and partnerships manager for Youth Talk, who is currently preparing for The Great St Albans Challenge, which returns for 2025 on Sunday October 12 (greatstalbanschallenge.org.uk). Locally Jim is a well-known figure in the corporate, education and sporting communities.
Where do you walk when you want to think?
I’m lucky to live in Redbourn and can walk out of my front door to St Albans, Harpenden, Flamstead, and more, through fields and woodland, over and along rivers, and there’s always a pub at the end. I just wish I did it more, it’s so good for the mind and body.
If you could have a conversation with someone who had died who would it be?
My Dad passed away 18 years ago. In my mind, he is still the kindest, wisest, most generous person I have ever known. He was a great listener and just seemed to know the right thing to say at the right time. He made such a positive impact on so many people’s lives. I still miss him every day.
Are things getting better or worse?
I’ve always considered myself to be a positive, glass-half-full kind of person, but more recently, I feel I have had to try much harder to maintain this perspective on life. Maybe it’s my age! It just feels as if life has become much tougher for everyone, and in particular, young people, many of whom seem to be carrying the world on their shoulders.
If you could travel back in time and offer your younger self some advice, what would it be?
Let it go. I have this awful habit of overanalysing everything I do and say, constantly feeling guilty that it wasn’t good enough or maybe I’ve upset someone. As long as you treat
everyone with respect, you should be able to live life comfortable in the knowledge that you’ve done your best, and not to dwell on the past.
What is your most-missed St Albans shop, pub, café or restaurant?
I’m a massive Francophile, so I miss places like Pierre Victoire, just simple French food indulgence. I must say, though, Hazel’s has taken French cuisine to another level, and I do love a bit of jazz, bravo!
Odyssey or Netflix?
Odyssey every time, why wouldn’t you want to watch films in such style and comfort, it’s a real treat.
Were you well behaved at school?
I think I just about knew where to draw the line, cheeky but not rude. I loved school, and it’s why I wanted to be a teacher from a very young age.
What’s your favourite St Albans pub?
So many great pubs in St Albans, and the surrounding villages, but The Boot is my go-to for the city, great team behind the bar, and I love their tacos, win, win!
What was your best subject at school?
Hard to believe looking at me now, but sport, sport, sport. Literally all day, every day, I’d even cycle in from Harpenden to St Albans at 7am to be in the gym to play basketball at 7.30am. Rugby, football, cricket, athletics, you name it, I played it. So many fond memories and lifelong friendships as a result.
Where do you buy your coffee in St Albans?
So difficult, I love Café Roma, and The Hub in Redbourn, but for convenience’s sake, it’s Artoplasia, fantastic coffee, amazing Greek bakery and 50 yards from Youth Talk, it’s my second office. I think I must be close to owning shares in the business.
