Each week we shine the spotlight on a member of Dorset’s business community and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

His favourite place in Dorset is Christchurch, he gets angry at social media trolls, looks for personality and a sense of humour in a new employee and chooses sponge and custard every time because “I’m a northerner!”

David Squire, Managing Director, Yellow Buses, takes the 20 Questions’ hotseat. 

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: Detective dramas. It’s changed over the years from Morse to Broadchurch and now The Bay. I love a good mystery!

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: There are many interesting characters but given my love of travel, it would have to be Simon Calder from the Independent, as he knows so much. Failing that Michael Parkinson, the King of Chat Shows, to hear the stories about all the people he’s met (it would need to be a very long car journey!).

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: The people. Our terrific staff who I’m very proud of and the people I meet for their passion in the area.

Q: And the worst…?

A: Red tape!

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: Hard one. I guess from TV days it would be someone like John Noakes on Blue Peter for the sheer range of stuff they did. Get down Shep!

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: Summer shower with the smell of fresh roses coming through afterwards.

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: Christchurch for its vibrancy, great bars and restaurants and pleasant Sunday afternoon strolls by the water front.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Be a sponge and soak up as much as you can from as many people as you can.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: Mud: ‘Tiger Feet’. Sorry!

Q: What gets you angry?

A: Social media. People trolling those who can’t defend themselves without having to answer for it. The recent awful comments about Captain Sir Tom being a prime example.

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: From recent years it’s Zara Larsson singing Symphony with Clean Bandit. A great video where there is a full orchestra in evening dress. She is Sweden’s biggest musical export since ABBA. So much so, that when I went around the ABBA Museum in Stockholm a few years ago, it was playing between ABBA songs!

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: Personality and sense of humour. You can’t get through the day without a laugh at some point.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: At home, a roast dinner which I enjoy cooking. Away, it’s a proper paella.

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: Pudding & custard every time. I’m a northerner!

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: The fabulous natural environment. I’m a townie at heart but grew up in Wirral. It was always a treat to visit the coast.

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: Sort out the social media trolls.

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Injustices in the world, whether it be poverty or health or environment.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: That’s far too hard as I’ve been to some great places over the years. For a city location, it would be Berlin, which I was lucky enough to visit before the fall of the wall and have been back several times since. For a more relaxed destination, Madeira is fabulous and was the last time I was abroad in February 2020.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: I’m 60 this year, so retired!

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Bringing Yellow Buses back into local ownership and moving it forward as a successful company and employer of choice.