THE LAST WORD

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?

Something creative - sculptor/actor /writer then as I started school-holiday jobs in tourism I wanted to be head of Visit Britain.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB?

My first real job after university was as a publicity officer for Sea Life Centre in Hastings. On my first day I had to pick up three octopuses from Weymouth to take to their new home!

WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS?

Essentials - dog poo bags, phone and a mask – it’s questionable how hygienic that is!

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?

Walking my Cairn Terriers along the Cornish coast path.

IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE?

I’d like the Lake District mountains on one side and Holywell Bay on the other – it’s such a long drive between my two favourite places!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

Flamingo’s been going for 12 years now and I always feel a sense of achievement at every anniversary and seeing the client base that we have built up and the great team of people with whom I’m very fortunate to work.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

Covid was a real shocker - overnight all of my clients pretty much shut down, including my own visitor attraction. I was left wondering what would happen next and how we would manage.

IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THEM?

I love getting lost in historical fantasy fiction – so Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, so I could talk time travel. Simon Reeve – I love travel documentaries that get under the skin of countries and communities - hopefully from Simon I’d pick up some inspiration for some hidden places now foreign travel is returning.

IF YOU COULD BE GOD FOR A DAY, WHAT MIRACLE WOULD YOU PERFORM?

Turn back the clock and remove Covid so we can all have the last 18 months back – and I could finally celebrate my 50th birthday as intended, travelling around Asia for a couple of months.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST MISTAKE IN LIFE?

Probably missing out on some opportunities due to lacking confidence in my earlier career years.

WHAT WAS YOUR LUCKIEST BREAK?

Being offered the chance to move back to Newquay 20 years ago to oversee the revitalisation of the aquarium – which led to many more opportunities.

NIKKI SMITH

Flamingo Marketing