Getting Personal with Andy Mackay
Andy Mackay - he loves Les Mis and the smell of grass!
Who are you? Andy Mackay.
Family status. Married to Sarah, three children (and two dogs).
Who's your hero and why? 'Tank man' - the guy who stepped out in front of the tanks during the student riots in Tiananmen Square in Beijing with his shopping bags! That took principals and courage, and it's a lesson to us all about moral fibre in the face of adversity!
What's been the highlight of your career so far? Landing my current job with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
If your younger self saw you now, what would he think? Blimey…you look old! (If I were feeling polite).
What job would you love, other than your own? I'd love to be a pro golfer. Unfortunately, I lack the talent.
What was the most embarrassing moment in your life? I once walked straight into a lamp post in France whilst talking/looking the other way. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of a campsite where about 2,000 people witnessed it (and they all laughed)!
What is your favourite film? Les Miserables (the musical). Judge me if you like, but it touches my soul!
What scares you? Anything that may threaten the safety of my family (at the moment, it's the Ukrainian conflict; before that it was Covid).
What would your autobiography be called…and who would play you in the film? Doing The Best I Can - James Corden.
What would you cast into room 101? Unkind people.
Which historical time and place would you most like to visit? Pompeii in 79AD, just at the moment when Mount Vesuvius erupted (I'd make sure I'd be standing in a safe place though!
Do you have a lifetime ambition? To not die!
What's your favourite smell? I know it sounds cringeworthy, but freshly cut grass (I can smell it again now I'm around it less).
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Peter Kay, Leonardo Da Vinci and Cleopatra.
What's the best advice you have ever been given? Be flexible, but always believe in yourself.
What's your favourite piece of trivia? I'm not sure I have one, but as you asked: A 'jiffy' (as in, 'I'll be there in a jiffy') is a real unit of time. It's the time it takes light to travel 1cm in a vacuum.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? La Boheme (an opera by Puccini), Graceland (Paul Simon) and No need to argue (The Cranberries).
What's the daftest work-related question you have ever been asked? Are you repairing the foot holes with concrete?
What three words best describes yourself? Kind, passionate and daft.
What is the single most useful thing you could tell a 16-year-old groudsperson? Commit to doing the best job you can, but never lose sight of the fact that life is more important.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? Free public transport for all and a vastly improved network.