Biggles the High Flying CEO!

I was chatting with Wolverhampton City Councils Chief Executive Derek Anderson just as we were forming a procession behind the Mayor at Full Council last night. Now there is certainly no one quite like Derek in the City Council.

The type of man that always delivers the 'Milk Tray' hanging from a rope. A big 'wedge' shaped man that turns women's head's,you get the sort of bloke I mean?

When he turned and told me that he was still hankering to learn to fly and for a recent birthday he had been lucky enough to have had a present of some flying lessons. He is so hooked on it now he is trying to encourage his friends and relatives to provide more of the same for other landmark dates!

So here we have it, not only is Derek a 'high flyer' in local government witha CBE to his credit, he also has designs on being a real life sky pilot!

I must admit to have been very suitably impressed with his comments...only for Richard Roberts the Director of Legal & Admin to interject with " he ought to be called biggles!" .

At this our fun loving Chief Exec threw his head back and laughed at that comment!

But the revelations don't end there. As we walked in procession to the Council Chamber..still chatting.. Derek revealed that he would have rather liked sky diving and was only put off when told that he would have had to have leapt from an aeroplane strapped to some other person. He said " Deputy Mayor I couldn't do that ! I couldn't be strapped to another bloke and be carried down on some ones back!! " No" said I as we approached the door to the Chamber ..."Of course you couldn't Derek..I don't think you could find a bloke big enough to carry you for a start !" So here we have it a frustrated pilot looking for some one to buy him more flying lessons so now you know what he wants for his next birthday."