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One Minute Intervew: John Mowbray, corporate affairs director, Northumbrian Water

Career history: joined Sunderland & South Shields Water Co in 1983. Became company secretary and accountant and head of customer services. Since merger with Northumbrian Water he has had several jobs. Received an OBE this year for services to the water industry and charity.

What was your first job?

Porter in a store called Joplings in Sunderland.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

The best is using the power of the company to help people beyond our normal service. The worst is admin.

What’s your dream job and why?

Digging around ruins – I like understanding history.

What’s your most treasured possession?

My campervan.

Where did you last go on holiday?

The Lake District in said van.

In the Hollywood film of your life, who would play you?

Steve Martin, but only because my daughter gets married this month and I will be “father of the bride”.

Reveal something about yourself not many people know.

I won a Blue Peter badge in the good old days of that show.

What album is currently in your car CD player?

The Lake Poets.

What’s your favourite film and TV programme?

Film: The Godfather; TV programme: Game of Thrones.

What quote or saying do you most overuse?

To be honest, I often say “to be honest”.

If you ruled the world, what would you do first?

Insist on real ale.

What’s your favourite joke?

Sorry, but you need to come from the North East to understand Brendan Healy’s jokes, but he is funny…

“A woman in Ashington failed her driving test ‘cos she bumped into a couple of kerbs, mind, they were camping in a field with the scoots!”

“Same woman goes into the hairdressers and asks for a ‘perm’, to which the attendant replies ‘Mary had a little lamb…'”