Francis
Cherry joined FPRA in 1998 and is one of the few non-lawyers
on the Executive Committee: he is a builder by profession. His
cheerful mien and enthusiastic approach make him stand out as
one who thoroughly enjoys his work. However, had he followed
the family's long military tradition, he would probably have
less cheerful! He was expected to go into the services but a
short spell in the RAF for National Service convinced him that
- despite learning to fly (an aeroplane) - the services were
not for him.
On coming down from Oxford where he read PPE, Francis joined
John Laing's as a pupil professional builder. He has nothing
but praise for the company and retains fond memories of it (particularly
its training schemes) which, he says, were wonderful. When,
after seven years, he had only risen to the Olympian heights
of Assistant General Foreman, he reconciled himself to the fact
that he and big companies were incompatible and that he was
basically unemployable by any sizeable organisation.
Francis then started his own construction firm which he ran
for twenty years. His work ranged from installing a toilet block
at London Airport to refurbishing the Norwegian Embassy in Belgrave
Square. His main love was restoring period buildings in the
London area, and he specialised in this work.
In 1988, he decided to take three years off and went to University
College London as a mature student, where he took a degree in
History of Art combined with French Literature. Although this
involved a bit of belt-tightening he found the course 'mind-expanding'
and appreciated every minute of it. He remains enthusiastic
about it, but is now back restoring buildings.
Francis deals with FPRA queries of a technical nature - he is
an active member of the British Brick Society and various other
professional organisations. He lives in West London and spent
some time as a Councillor for the London Borough of Hammersmith.
His wife is a teacher and they have three grown-up children:
one is a photographer, one an architect, and the youngest is
studying to be a primary school teacher. Francis loathes all
sports (except skiing) and his interests include 19th century
French painting and Central European Baroque architecture. He
spends large chunks of each summer exploring the lesser-known
areas of Eastern Europe. |
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