Following graduation in 1972, Olly started working life as an assistant in a sales office and two years later was company statistician and PA to the MD. It seems pertinent here to mention that the company accountant was responsible to Olly.

He then became the north of England divisional admin manager for an insurance company. In 1976, his girlfriend was killed in a aircrash and he left the insurance company to wash dishes in a hotel kitchen. After slowly coming to terms with the unfairness of life, he emerged in 1979 as group manager for the hotel group. It was at this point that he vowed not to be employed again.

This led to the seemingly natural progression of purchasing his own houses and converting them to homeless family hostels - "the best in the country", (Daily Star 1980). However, politics intervened and the local authority struggled to accept that the private sector could provide more for less, and the venture was acrimoniously scrapped. While running these hostels, he also became a freelance consultant statistician and his most famous retention was by the late George Carmen QC until his moving to London chambers. It was during this time that he "invented" the ASDA jingle, that's still played in adverts today.

He continued as an entrepreneurial statistician including, rather memorably, importing containers of wines from the eastern US to Europe. By 1986, computer software threatened the likes of statisticians and a year later, the 'sea slug' attack occurred.

In 1991, after lengthy hospitalisation, Olly left Manchester to convalesce in quieter surroundings and chose the simpler vocation of Accountancy. He did this with his newly acquired partner in life for over 11 years, but who recently chose a different path. The two collie dogs went with her. And so we arrive at today - an accountancy business for over 12 years, with a varied backgound; a reputation bar none; a quiet existence in a little house on a hill; and a knowing smile.

"I try to live my life by the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling and now cannot deny the common platitudes."