Marquisofqueensbury

--Marquisofqueensbury (talk) 10:06, 20 November 2007 (UTC) I was born in Liverpool, attended school and then on to college up until the age of 21 or thereabouts,. BTEC 1st electrical engineering, H.N.D Computer Science. I started my working life in Linfoods cash and carry, whilst at college to help with my finances. I still lived at home for this period of my life. When I finished college I wasn’t working so I was given an opportunity to move to Malton in North Yorkshire, to work on renovating a hotel for my uncle Michael. I worked as a labourer for him and helped in the hotel, it was my first time away from home, after six months a few ups and downs with home sickness, I was comfortable and relaxed. The renovations had been completed every four weeks, we had been upgrading the rooms to have on suite facilities and the job was completed after a period of six months. I ended up staying in Malton for another 18 months.The hotel had been sold and I ended up getting a job in Malton Bacon Factory where I received Tenosynavitus which is a Repetitive Strain Injury after writing for extended periods of time eventually my hands seized up. After this I spent a period of time back in my native town God’s chosen city Liverpool, I Spent three months trying to find work, Yet again my uncle Michael helped me out, This time he had a bar and it was on the outskirts of Blackpool a small place called St Annes, seven miles down the promenade it was a beautiful pub and it didn’t work out for him, but it gave me my first experience of working in a bar and the runnings of it. When this period of my life ended, in St Annes… My life started in Blackpool, South Shore, My next term of endearment was at the Queen’s Hotel Central on the Promenade Blackpool, I was employed as a barman/ cellarman for eighteen months, it’s a large hotel in blackpool, five bars, three hundred residents (per week) and live cabaret every night of the season . Senior Citizens were the main clientele and the stag and hen parties came in for a minute literally. Before leaving my employment, about two months prior to this I was to discover that St Annes and South shore, was not the place called blackpool that we all love and know or hate. I was walking past the Manchester pub on the promenade whilst working at the hotel, Got talkin to the doorman for about an hour though, he figured that I was a cellarman and the pub was in dire need for one. Within a month I got the position of Bartender which also meant I was in charge of the cellar which was in need of a few minor repairs and renewals. Which in time I was able to rectify. I worked there from 1996 up until 2006 for previous managers some of which had different ideas for making the place function to fulfill it’s potential. One particular year a lady called into the pub and she had a young child by the name of Michael. The concern was that his right kneecap was situated within his hip. After a year or so the muscles in his thigh would of eventually bound around his kneecap meaning that amputation was the only solution, unless action was taken immediately. With a number of operations in Baltimore America, we set up a charity called “Operation Michael” in conjunction with the local media and the local newspaper: The Gazette. We helped to raise over 50 thousand pounds to send him and his mother over to the USA to extend the bone from his hip to his knee, in time he will be able to play football with his friends. ( in my eyes he is one brave little boy) My time ended in blackpool, by me taking a pub on in Leicestershire, working for a small holding company. Traveling down to the pub with two bags and an iron, (I made sure that incase this establishment didn’t work out I still had my home available in Blackpool) the area manager Mike asked me if I could handle a rough pub, my response was “I’ll find out”. when I get there, after dropping me of at the pub there was a small changeover. Mike left and a few days later the pub was opened, after my initial month it dawned on me the people who lived in this community had been left in the lurch and the area has been on a downslide for a period of time. The customers were extremely doubtful and uninterested in any development the establishment and myself had to offer. Despite being disgruntled by others I was still determined to make the establishment become an icon for the community as it once was a while back. In it’s hay day the establishment was on the country’s top twenty list as being the best palce for people to come, have a good time and feel welcome. By chance I met a man called Dave Roberts and we became friends. (Hinckley community centre) and a few initiatives of my own. (to raise the awareness of the building within the community) We set up the marquis community association in Feb 07 looking for a lease for the upstairs of the premises. To develop the upstairs of the marquis, so that we can restore, redevelop and help sustain the assembly rooms (as it once was known) so it that it can once again be turned into a valuable community asset. At various meetings we presented a vision of the project. . . From oversized, underfunded, underused and derelict room space into a vibrant hub of the community. Banks of computers, Recording studios, youth clubs, meeting rooms, crèche’s, the list is endless and the building is a huge landmark site within the area, and it should be listed. It’s a building of historical value and it can give so much back. To help stay central to the project I need training, I need to know how it works, how to make it work and how to help develop the building as well as the community, so that it remains a valuable asset within the area of South Wigston for the people that live within the area for many years to come. To begin to assess the viability of the project I have …

• Contacted the Local Newspapers. • Set up meetings with local authority. • Contacted Local colleges, strategy development officer. • Was contacted by BBC radio Leicestershire and broadcast to the nation the project. • Arts and heritage officer. • Local M.P. • Motivated local people / pub customers / local groups and organizations. • Negotiated with building owners. To the association a minimum 20 year lease on a peppercorn rent to begin. The following are my goals • Instigate funding. • Drawing up newsletter for the community Dave suggested, That I had enlisted a number of community development skills and had employed successfully in community development processes. He has encouraged me to take my interest in working with communities further by engaging in professional training and has agreed to support and if required supervise me in developing the work of the Marquis Association. He is a qualified Community Education Manager with over 25 years experience and has tought in a variety of F/E and H/H courses as well as supervising youth and community and community development work students. This is a big step for me to take changing trades at this stage in my life, but i am compelled to do so. I have found it extremely rewarding, it interests me and am drawn towards it. If we can fix this place we can fix anywhere and if we can fix anywhere why not start with this place. --Marquisofqueensbury (talk) 10:06, 20 November 2007 (UTC)