William John Hope

Who is William John Hope?
Author; Businessman; Entrepreneur; Entertainer; All round Sportsman, having represented his country and county in one, RAF in two; most of all, A Survivor.
During an early military career served as a ‘boring accountant’ in the Royal Air Force but was ‘boring’ in Malta, Gibraltar, North Africa, Malaya, Singapore and Borneo. On active service twice; controlled the budget for the Far East Air Force; set up the whole accounting system for 2000 men under canvas in Borneo; audited the accounts for a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. Captained an RAF Borneo football team against the Army equivalent; captained the RAF Singapore volleyball team; represented his units at cricket and rugby; had lunch with the Governor of Sarawak and met the late Queen Mother.
Sent to both Bristol and Hull Universities by the RAF to learn about computer and modern accounting methods. After a ten year career achieving every RAF accounting qualification possible, faced a career change when discovered that none of it was recognised by the Chartered Institute.
Joined baked bean giant Heinz, as a catering salesman, leaving four years later as Department Head Acquisitions and Diversifications. Held senior positions with Hertz car and truck rental; Loctite; Sharp Electronics in addition to working for many micro-businesses. Made a sales pitch to the Archbishop of Cyprus; negotiated £1 million contract with the Evening Standard; carried out business training in India; appeared live on The World at One on budget day and drunk lager with a serving Prime Minister;.
Has travelled throughout Europe on business; opened offices in Romania, Poland and Sri Lanka during a career operating in many parts of the world including the US. Imported from Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, Germany, US and exported throughout Europe.
Past President of a Chamber of Commerce; Home Secretary’s representative on the committee controlling the county police force; Director and trustee of a national Paralympic sporting body; President of a county Bowls Association.
Personal
Lived through the Second World War, growing up a mining village in his native Nottinghamshire from which, in his own words, he escaped, initially to grammar school during which a spell in the Air Training Corps led to his determination to join the Royal Air Force. Has a military background, with his grandfather, also William died during the First World War whilst on active service with the Durham Light Infantry in Italy. His youngest son Craig, also followed the family tradition with a spell in the REME.
Throughout the highs and the lows his interest in sport has never waned, resulting in him being chairman of both an amateur Football club and a Squash club, at which time he played the late Clement Freud at squash. A qualified cricket umpire; lawn bowls coach and Boccia coach represented both his county and England at bowls, the latter whilst in his 80s. Help to coach the England Boccia squad prior to the Rio Olympics. Officiated at a cricket ladies county final and as a youngster played against the late great Ray Ellingworth.
Thrice married, the last time on an elephant; fled the 2004 Tsunami with seconds to spare; survived a heart attack and triple bypass and recently a cancer operation to remove part of his stomach.
Received Newark and Sherwood Business Person of the year award in 2016; Boccia England National volunteer of the year award in the same year; Nottinghamshire County sports volunteer of the year and in 2019 the Queen’s award for volunteering.
John’s first novel The Dog Walker, was published two years ago with the sequel already completed, along with two other thrillers.
Not surprisingly, inspirational talks are part of John’s portfolio which also includes Time through the Ages, journey from sundials to the atomic clock; Al Jazari one of the most influential people in clock design plus many other mechanical devices; Extra Time, describing how his wife and he escaped the horrendous waves whilst in Sri Lanka; and several others. A recent addition presented at a business meeting recently is entitled, ‘What happens when you do everything right but it still goes wrong?’
Warning. You may be shocked; you may weep; you may laugh out loud, you may disagree with some actions but you will be entertained.
Has delivered over 300 talks and is back on the circuit after taking year out to beat cancer.