Peter Martin of Leekes talks to Vale Life about moving to the Vale from the south east, his love of Cardiff City, Mexican food and singing in the shower!

THE LAST WORD

Who are you and what do you do?
I work for the Leekes Retail & Leisure Group as the Group HR Director and Store Operations Director. The Group owns both the Leekes retail stores and the Vale Resort, also Hensol Castle. I juggle my diverse role in Leekes with my family commitments (running around after five children) and a nonexecutive director role in a South East based retail company, Menkind.

What do you like about the Vale?
I moved from the south east into the Vale just six years ago and I believe that it remains the best kept secret! The combination of a fantastic sense of community, stunning countryside and coastlines, heritage and an easily accessible city centre is unique.

Where is your favourite dining experience?
Apart from the Vale Grill at the Vale Resort, of course, the Carne Arms in Llysworney is a fantastic place to eat with friends. Excellent fresh homemade food in a traditional pub with a terrific atmosphere and real ales. What more could you ask for?

What is your favourite meal?
I love Mexican food, but it isn’t easy to find a good Mexican restaurant. My fall back is usually grilled Sea Bass fillets which are healthy enough to allow a side order of chunky chips!

Favourite place in the Vale?
There is a beautiful walk from the Plough and Harrow in Monknash, down alongside a stream between the cliffs and onto the coast. It is a fairly sheltered walk which is as stunning in the winter as it is in the summer. It is short enough for the children not to complain too much and yet long enough to deserve a drink back at the Plough and Harrow when finished!

Best event in the Vale?
The food and drink festival in Cowbridge is a great social event each year which I wouldn’t miss. You can sample a huge variety of wines, pickles and cheeses all in the name of Christmas present shopping.

What’s missing from the Vale?
Communal floodlit training areas. Throughout the Vale, there are fantastic junior rugby, football and hockey clubs, run by volunteers, encouraging the younger generation to exercise. However, from autumn onwards, training is restricted to weekends only, as there are very few facilities available communally which are floodlit in the evenings.

What do you do to relax?
I try to get down to watch Cardiff City, but that hasn’t been too relaxing recently.

Do you have a pet hate?
Any form of dishonesty, no matter how trivial.

Favourite music?
Different music suits different occasions, so I enjoy a wide range of music, from Otis Redding to the Fratellis.

Favourite place to stay in Wales?
The Vale of Resort. I stayed there for months while moving my family down from the South East and it is a unique resort.

Sum yourself up in three words?
Happy, hard working and challenging.

I’m very good at…?
Chess, but age and a lack of practice is catching up on me.

I’m very bad at…?
Singing, although I am very good at embarrassing my children by singing loudly in the shower when they have had friends staying over.

In a nutshell my philosophy is…?
Attitude is everything.

“There is a beautiful walk from the Plough and Harrow in Monknash, down alongside a stream between the cliffs...”

Leekes Cowbridge Rd Talbot Green, Pontyclun CF72 8XU 0845 050 8240 www.leekes.co.uk

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