Matt Betts, Communications Officer

Place of Birth: West Yorkshire

Lives: Muswell Hill, London

Education: Stonyhurst College, Lancashire; University of Kent, Canterbury

Previous jobs:

Supplier Relations Consultant for BCD Travel. My main role was to work with our airline and hotel suppliers to sell their products, incentives and initiatives to our staff – creating annual marketing plans and servicing a day to day relationship. I also sub-edited the internal magazine and the external magazine.

What do I do?

I am the Communications Officer and I'm responsible for promoting bridge throughout England at all levels. Please contact me if you have any bridge news or would like to promote bridge locally. I am here to help. Please click here to email me.

Do I play Bridge?

Yes - slowly but surely. I learnt bridge in a weekend with Ned Paul and now playing now and again.

We asked Matt some questions about himself and his answers are below:

Who would you like to be stranded on a desert island with and why?

A ship builder (for obvious reasons),  a camera crew so I could sell our challenging time to TV and The Manic Street Preachers for some singing.

If you could come back as an animal what would it be?

A cat - I will get fed, watered and have a comfortable home and not do anything for it! Like all cats I would ignore my owners most of the time: knowing that when I need a little bit of attention the silly humans will give me some!

If money was no object, tell us about your dream holiday?

Ethiopia. I know this sounds really strange, but ever since my studies I have been interested in the culture and history of this African country. Their history stretches so far back that Ethiopia is mentioned in Homer's Iliad and the Bible (the Queen of Sheba) and I would love to see some of this wonderful country.

What book are you currently reading?

I own a lot of books - about 2000ish. I am presently reading "Murder in Mesopotamia" by Agatha Christie - a nice bit of Hercule Poirot. After that, I want to start my new book all about King Henry IV of England - a popular leader, until he decided to steal the monarchy from his cousin. Fascinating stuff.

Who do you admire and why?

Lots of people to be honest. I always admire good statesmen/stateswomen - Churchill, etc. I also admire people that make me laugh: Monty Python, Rowan Atkinson, Carry On team (sorry!). Finally, I admire members of my family who have had to work hard to succeed in their goals, especially my mum, nan and my grandfather, Edward.

Which 4 famous people (dead or alive) would you invite to a dinner party?

Sid James, Alan Davies, Monty Python (can I get away with that?) and Stephen Fry. What a fun dinner party!

What is your ideal night out?

A night out with my friends is all I need: good chats and good fun.

Tell us something about yourself that no one at EBU would know ..

Outside the office I help with a charity called the CA, which organises a weeks holiday in Lourdes for sick people. I am also the secretary and newsletter editor for the charity.