Each week Bath Business News gives a prominent member of the area’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week John Cullum, Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset and chair of Bath Festivals, answers our 10 questions.
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? The Revenant depicting what drives a person to survive in the harshest of conditions, with great acting from Leonardo DiCaprio.
Book you read? The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla. As the child of an immigrant this was an interesting read and I’m sure it will generate a good debate at this year’s Bath Festival.
Music you bought or downloaded? Billy Joel Piano Man. I met Billy Joel fairly recently through my son Jamie, who was in concert with him in Madison Square Garden, New York. He’s such a great songwriter and entertainer.
Concert or play you went to? The Bath Bach Choir at Bath Abbey. The choir’s conductor Nigel Perrin encouraged me to attend and the singing was wonderful, especially Allegri’s Miserere.
Sporting event you attended? Swindon Town versus Sheffield United at The County Ground. Sadly, I am a long-term Swindon supporter and view it as my second charity of choice.
Holiday you went on? A scenic river cruise on the Danube. The boat was magnificent and the views were too. We visited Budapest and attended a memorable concert in Vienna en route.
Restaurant you ate in? The Allium Restaurant in the Abbey Hotel for the Bath Festival’s Patrons Dinner. Their food is consistently good and their menus are creatively thought out.
Thing that annoyed you? My inability to talk to a human being to solve any BT-related problems. It recently took me 10 minutes to navigate through their recorded messages and web-based links to no avail!
Thing that made you laugh out loud? Watching the old Laurel and Hardy film Way Out West. I loved the innocent ridiculous humour.
Piece of good advice you were given? Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
John Cullum is a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset and chair of Bath Festivals, having initially joined as a board member in 2013. He also supports several other Bath-based charities including Mentoring Plus, Quartet Community Foundation and is chair of the Royal United Hospital’s Forever Friends Appeal. John, who maintains several business interests as a non-executive director, including an involvement in his son Jamie Cullum’s music business, took early retirement after a successful career in the automotive industry to spend more time with the local voluntary and charity sector.
