Q&A: Derek Maskell, sales consultant, Interket

Maskell: no more drainpipe trousers
Maskell: no more drainpipe trousers

Derek is bowing out and retires this month after more than 50 years in the industry. He’s 73 and has been in print-related employment since 1966. He’s married to Donna with two children and three grandchildren, and his hobbies include following horse racing and enjoying regular holidays in southern Spain.

What is your nickname? Del Boy

Why did you get into printing? While working in the Civil Service a friend called and offered me a job with Samuel Jones in the self-adhesive department

What would be your dream job? Professional golfer

What is your dream bit of kit? Eight-colour MPS press with all the trimmings!

What is your favourite film? The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

What is your favourite TV show? Have I Got News for You

Who do you admire most in print? I would like to pay tribute to all of the people within the self-adhesive industry that I have had the pleasure to meet since 1966

What is your favourite saying? ‘It’ll be alright on the night’

What is your favourite album? Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Cat or dog, or…? Horse

What is your biggest luxury in life? My Audi A8

What is the strangest job you’ve ever done? Working for a wheeler dealer in North London in the early 1960s

Who would you like to be stuck on a desert island with? My wife Donna

What is your greatest ambition? To see my potential great-grandchildren

What’s your greatest fear? Losing my sight

Who or what makes you laugh? Ian Hislop and Paul Merton

What piece of kit would you like to see invented? A time machine

Most embarrassing moment? Getting locked out of my hotel room while naked… (I mistook the room door for the bathroom in the middle of the night)

Where would you like to be now? Spain

What’s your worst fashion disaster? Drainpipe trousers as a teddy boy

Which superpower would you like to have? The ability to control time

Who would be your favourite party guests? Dave Allen

Where would you go if you could time-travel? The 1800s to see what it was like

What was the best business deal that you’ve pulled off? Winning a Post Office contract

What advice would you give to your teenage self? Try to do the best you can in every situation

How would you like to be remembered? Someone who was helpful and enjoyed the best things in life

Life is…? For living and enjoying