CS rants a lot

Born in Liverpool, down by the docks, CS was first educated by Jesuits.

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His first job at 15 was a Saturday boy, in a record shop he helped run till he’d graduated from one of those 800-year old universities down south, leaving his accent on the train on the way. He studied Classics and Philosophy (specialising in philology), because that seemed to be what most Prime Ministers had studied – and got a terrible degree because  he spent far more time learning how to be Prime Minister than studying.

 

After university he began a chequered career in the London office of a Chicago advertising agency as a market researcher, spending a year in its Milan branch.

 

He switched to grocery retailing, followed by board level jobs at other kinds of retailers, culminating with responsibility for Britain's 18,000 post offices  – a surprisingly similar job to his earlier responsibility for forecourt retailing on the 23,000 petrol stations at an oil major’s global head office.

 

He then joined his wife in running their own business, quality controlling garment manufacture in Central Europe for (mainly British) retailers and advising the global garment community on supply chains, tariffs and logistics.

 

Since Brexit reduced its income, CS now does consultancy for other European retailers and organisations like the NHS. He also does a spot of political campaigning and helps manage some not-for-profit businesses and a range of charities in his Cotswold near-Paradise on the edge of Oxford.