A Brief History of Simon Perkin

During the GGS Christmas bash at The Library (the restaurant near the Guildhall, not the big room full of books. That would be silly...) a - not so Secret - Santa presented me with this very impressive contraption which caused great interest; not just on our table but on surrounding ones as well. In reference to my continued frustration with our abysmal Broadband connection, Simon, who joined GGS last year in the Sales Department, hand built this device for me. This man clearly has hidden talents!

I asked Simon what he had been doing in his previous life. Here's what he had to say... 

1982: Tore tickets at cinema while at school and doodled pictures of ET over English “O” Level papers. 

1983: Became Projectionist at cinema in Camden Town which doubled as Spiritualist venue for all the top Mediums in the eighties – anyone remember Doris Stokes? 

1985: Worked doing BT customer satisfaction (bit oxymoronic - Ed.) surveys – an up hill struggle! 

1987: Became Assistant Manager / Manager for what was then Cannon Cinemas, worked at a variety of venues in London and Essex – the best of which was Basildon – which speaks for itself. 

1989: Travelled Europe for a year 

On return did a course in Film and TV make-up
1991-1994: Freelance Make–up and SPFX artist / Art Director / Model maker for low budget films and pop videos. 

(Now we're really intrigued - what low budget films?! Which pop videos?!! - Ed.)

Then decided better get Ejermacated. 

(What's happened to the dates? - Ed.)

Did part of BA Philosophy and Psychology degree in Liverpool till the course collapsed. 

Then after getting married went back to big school in Norwich and got a First class degree in English and Cultural Studies (part time) – who’d have thought? 

Currently into Assemblage sculpture (because it’s cheap to do) and make the odd Automata from old wooden off-cuts and toothpicks (because it’s cheap to do and keeps me off the streets), which I exhibit at a local gallery. 

Somewhere in the above, have also written 2 short children’s books and several treatments / scripts for films that, despite my best intentions, have all steadfastly remained unpublished and unproduced.

But I’m still smiling!

Pretty impressive. I think there should be regular updates on the 'assemblage sculpture' from now on.

Watch this space. Admit it - you want to know more...