Getting Personal with Simon Lee

Editorin People

Simon Lee - Winston won't chase your balls!

Who are you? Simon Lee Head Groundsman. The Ageas Bowl

Family status. Single. Partner Yasmin.

Who's your hero and why? Marcus Trescothick MBE. Our careers took off around the same time and at the same club. We've shared the difficulties along the way and become great friends.

What's been the highlight of your career so far? Preparing the wicket for World Championships final earlier this year between India and New Zealand. Also, to have trained my dog 'Winston' not to run on the pitch chasing balls!

If your younger self saw you now, what would he think? He'd be happy! He'd think 'boy done good'!

Which famous people wind you up? Ainsley Harriot the TV chef. Anyone that excitable makes me irritable.

What job would you love, other than your own? I'd love to be a TV scientist like Brian Cox. I also love music, so I'd also like to be in a band.

What was the most embarrassing moment in your life? When cutting the outfield, I once got too close to the covers and managed to rip a hole down one entire side, two days before a match.

What is your favourite film? Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio.

What scares you? I don't tend to get scared easily. I can't think of anything!

What would your autobiography be called…and who would play you in the film? "My spin" played by Ricky Gervais.

What is your favourite sport? Rugby.

What or who would you cast into room 101? Michael Vaughan.

Which historical time and place would you most like to visit? The second world war years 1939 - 1942. I know it's a little odd as the world was in turmoil, but that era fascinates me.

Do you have a lifetime ambition? My original ambition was to help Somerset win the County Championships, but leaving to progress my career means I won't get that chance now! My ambitions are constantly changing which drives me onwards!

What's your favourite smell? Chocolate orange. (Simon answered SO fast on this I hadn't even finished the question! Ha-ha)

Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Sir Winston Churchill, Mick Jagger and my dad.

What's the best advice you have ever been given? "You can't make a bad decision." I believe making a decision is better than not making a decision at all.

What's your favourite piece of trivia? Classic pub quiz question that has stuck with me. The country with the largest Muslim population in the world is Indonesia with 12%.

What's your favourite piece of kit? My Paladin 24-inch hand mower - she's a beauty!

Which three albums would you take to a desert island? Yellow - Cold Play, Number 1s - The Beatles and Surrender - Chemical Brothers.

What's the daftest work-related question you have ever been asked? Following an extensive outfield drainage project, I was once asked in the depths of the following winter (frozen water on surface), "Why are the drains not working? Why haven't the puddles gone?" I had to politely explain that frozen water is a solid not liquid!

What three words best describes yourself? Calm, funny and dedicated.

What is the single most useful thing you could tell a 16-year-old grounds person? WATCH!!! Learn from the professionals. Take as much in as possible.

What talent would you like to have? I'd love to be able to play a sport to a high level (any sport really)!

What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I'd just like the education authorities to understand that the current maths syllabus isn't equipping the younger generation for 'real' mathematics in the business world.

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