Directors
Graham was born in Singapore in 1961. He went to Reigate Grammar School and Swansea University where got a 2:1 in Management Science, despite spending most of his time on the rugby field, where he got a first in Cauliflower Ears.
He joined Allied Breweries as a commercial graduate trainee in 1983 and ended up running nineteen managed houses, which was enough to convince him that he could run his own ship. He struck out in 1986 to form Associated Inns Ltd with his father. They purchased the Middle House Hotel in Mayfield, Sussex, refurbished it, and rapidly built up the business. In 1988 he joined Jerry in Brunning & Price as a partner and purchased a 26% share, selling the Middle House to devote his energies full time to the company.
In 1990 he married Judy, a vet, and consequently they have, much to Graham's delight, one horse, one pony, two breeding cows, two calves, a small flock of sheep, a dog, two cats, four ducks, a pond full of fish and a partridge in a pear tree, although sometimes it's in the apple tree, or the plum tree. More importantly, though, finally he had to give up rugby, and is still looking for a new outlet for his aggression and competitive instinct - much as he may try, golf just isn't it.
In 2007 Graham sold his shares in the company to The Restaurant Group, but continues to head up the company.
Graham is generally known as GP, because those are his initials.
For one so young in years (well, comparatively anyway), Graham - AKA ‘Numbers’ or ‘Bridgey’ - has been around a bit. He cruised a 2:1 at Lancaster in Management Science with Economics, and followed it up by passing his CIMA in 1993. Since qualifying with British American Tobacco he has worked as UK and International Financial Controller for Gandalf Digital Communications, and as a Senior Management Accountant for Granada Entertainments Ltd.
Graham joined us in 1998 as our Company Accountant, and currently heads up a financial team of five. He is the Company Secretary, which means he has legal responsibility for verifying our yearly accounts and generally being sensible.
Although Graham is a died-to-the-roots accountant, he doesn’t fit the conventional picture - jeans, open-necked shirts and a motorbike are his modus operandi, but his relaxed and easy manner belies an eagle eye and a strategic brain.
He is married to Fliss, a HR consultant, and they have two daughters.
Jo is a local girl, hailing from Gresford, where her father and brother are renowned for building some beautiful houses in the area. She went to Darland School in Rossett and then her sixth form years took her to Yale College in Wrexham before moving on to Loughborough University for a degree in Retail Management.
Jo's involvement with Brunning and Price began as a regular at the Pant, where she used to party with her Uni friends in the holidays, (as opposed to partying with her Uni friends during term-time, that is). She was eventually tempted behind the bar, recognizing it as the source and fountain of all good things, and on completing her degree in 1998 joined the Pant as Assistant Manager.
Itchy feet and obvious talent soon took Jo to Glasfryn as a Deputy Manager to help with the opening process, and it became apparent that her particular forte and interest was in personnel. In 2000 she moved to head office to join the personnel function, which before long she ended up leading. She obviously didn't do very well, because in July 2006, she became the director in charge of operations.
Duncan was born 1956 in Farnham, Surrey and educated at Hurstpierpoint College, Sussex. He went to Warwick University to do English and American Literature, where he got a 2:2 (the same as a 2:1 in today's money). He was an international sportsman at university, being a sub in the Frisbee team that won the European championship (brought on in extra time).
He's been married to Yvonne, NHS director, for over twenty-five years, and has three children: Gavin, Alexandra and India.
Duncan was a journalist for a period, and taught English for two years, before helping to start the Abbey Green Restaurant in Chester in 1984. He went on to launch the Garden House Restaurant and Nico's Brasserie in Chester, and in 1996 set up the catering operation at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, under Linda McCartney.
He joined Brunning and Price later in 1996 as manager of the Pant-yr-Ochain, Gresford. He helped set up and run the Glasfryn in Mold in 1999, and subsequently the Corn Mill in Llangollen.
Duncan was made a director of Brunning and Price in 2000. He is responsible for communications in B&P, including editing the website, looking after customers and staving off the media. He keeps an eye on wines in the company and does a lot of home work.
Fran, was educated at Kingsmead school in Hoylake, then at St David’s College in Llandudno. He started his working life in 1976 working with cars, changing tack in 1987 to produce, packet and market a framed picture product in association with Virgin Retail.
Fran started working with Pubs Ltd (as we were then) in July 1988, project-managing the construction of the Old Harkers Arms. He obviously relished the building process, and produced a great pub which he went on to run, achieving great success at the hub of a deal of hubbub.
After a number of years he moved on to manage the Pant-yr-Ochain, before joining the head office team in 1997, when we got to a size where we needed a wholly dedicated Property Manager.
As part of his responsibilities, Fran helps source new properties and project manages building works to get new pubs going. He knows how pubs work, understands air flow and lighting, bar design and water pressure. His knowledge of sewage systems, cellar cooling, flooring and roofing is legendary, and makes the whole process of putting a pub together run a whole lot more smoothly. And of course he enjoys it hugely.
In 1998 he married Barbie, and they have one son, Guy, who is himself fascinated by all things mechanical, and a daughter, Danielle, from a previous life. Fran was appointed director in August 2004, and shows no sign of slowing down, in life or in his car.