Each week Bath Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week Pete Sellwood, executive director, Bath City FC Community Sports Foundation, answers our 10 questions.
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? I would like to say it was one of Ken Loach’s – he’s a trustee of the Foundation and good friend – but it wasn’t. A couple of months ago I was badgered by my wife and granddaughter into going to The Little to watch Pride – thoroughly enjoyable and eye-opening based upon true events during the miners’ strike.
Book you read? I was brought up in Oxford and was a useful athlete in my day. Every Friday myself and a couple of lads were collected from school by a Mr Jeffrey and taken to Iffley Road running track. We met and trained with all the top university athletes, including Chris Chataway, Nick Stacey, Chris Brasher – we didn’t know who they were at the time, but they were full of enthusiasm and great motivators. For my last birthday my wife bought me the book 3.59.4, The Quest for the Four Minute Mile, by John Bryant. Only in reading it did I realise that My Jeffrey was the Oxford University Athletics Coach – what a wonderfully community minded person ahead of his time.
Music you bought or downloaded? I was a young man during the sixties and loved the Stones, the Beatles, The Who and I still have many LPs from that time. I recently watched and listened to Liquid Lunch by Caro Emerald on the Jools Holland TV Show - I was smitten, even though the lyrics do refresh painful memories from my early years!
Concert or play you went to? My granddaughter has developed into a talented performer and has a place at the Brit School. I was invited to watch her play a leading role at Hampton Hill Playhouse just before Christmas in the musical Guy and Dolls. It was a time for a big pack of tissues!
Sporting event you attended? I was lucky enough to have been at Wembley when Manchester United beat Benfica in the European Cup Final in 1968 and during my years in canoeing I had the privilege of taking the GB team to a number of international regattas as head of delegation, this included the world championships held at Mechelen, Belgium in 1986. But my greatest thrill was to have been in the stadium in Athens on the night when our very own Jason Gardner won Gold in the Olympic 4 x 100 metres relay final, beating the odds-on favourites USA by 100th of a second. The men’s relay came shortly after Kelly Holmes victory in the 1500m final. It was a proud night to be a Brit!
Holiday you went on? During my working life I was lucky enough to travel quite widely and spent a lot of time working in the US. During one of these trips the airline I was travelling with failed to get me to a conference in time for my slot in the programme. As compensation they offered my two business class return tickets to the US and I took my wife for a holiday. After a few days in New York we hired a car and travelled up the coast through New England as far as Canada. We saw America in its wildest and most natural state and spent time watching whales frolicking out at sea and loons with their young across a large lake. It was magnificent.
Restaurant you ate in? Bath is full of good restaurants. We enjoy Loch Fyne for fish dishes and our favourite is now Raymond Blanc’s eatery at the Francis Hotel. We often go for a late lunch and enjoy excellent service and well prepared food.
Thing that annoyed you? I hate people who tell big porkies, particularly those that ‘talk-up’ sporting achievements. It’s embarrassing to listen to someone boast that their brother, sister or granddad had played at right back or in goal for England or Man U when it only takes five minutes on Google to prove them wrong.
Thing that made you laugh out loud? A few weeks ago we organised a trip to Wembley to watch the England v Germany women’s international. At the start of the trip I sat on a single seat near to the door. What I didn’t know was that the seat was one of those that flip upright as soon as it is vacated. I got up to talk to my coaching team and then sat back into where I had expected my seat to be! I disappeared down the stairwell to become lodged against the door with only my legs visible. Fortunately I was not hurt. I can’t honestly say that I was laughing out loud but the rest of the coach certainly was!
Piece of good advice you were given
During a time when I was nearing the completion of a post-graduate course in Cardiff I was invited for interview in Dorset. A past tutor said that it was my responsibility to make the interviewers feel that they had made an excellent job interviewing me. If they feel good about their own performance they will feel good about yours. Since then I have spent many hours interviewing on the other side of the table and still consider it to be excellent advice.
Pete Sellwood was an industrial designer before studying art after which he taught art and design at two large comprehensive schools. He returned to post-graduate studies becoming a county education adviser. Pete has always been addicted to sport, first as a participant and later as a coach and administrator. A keen Bath City FC supporter he became chairman of the supporters’ society and began forging links with schools working alongside Ken Loach to develop positive links with the community. In 2011 he founded Bath City FC Community Sports Foundation to bring the benefits of sport to children in Bath.
