Jonathan Bellamy: Q&As

Jonathan Bellamy, Chairman for Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID and CEO of Cross Rhythms City Radio, was recently asked to feature in Stoke-on-Trent Live's Business Q&As. Read on for a little insight into Jonathan's roles, his interests outside of work, his family life and more.

---

Tell me about yourself.

I’m Jonathan Bellamy, 53, originally from Plymouth but, with my wife Heather, have lived in the city since 1998. We have one son, Nathanael, who is almost two. At present I have two primary roles: one is as CEO at Cross Rhythms City Radio, a local FM Community Radio station; the second is as Chair of the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District (BID)

Give me an overview of your career so far.

I scraped a degree in Physics at St Andrews University and, aimlessly, started out cutting grass and emptying bins in the parks. Through an awakening of faith, my life got on track, and I soon ended up at a pioneering media initiative called Cross Rhythms. A small outfit, I found myself producing weekly radio shows, organising an annual music festival and managing the production of a bi-monthly magazine. In 2002 we launched the UK’s first community radio station here in Stoke. By 2005, now as Chief Executive of the charity, I saw the success of this station spawn others in Plymouth, Teesside, Coventry, Thailand and Bethlehem. It also opened up opportunities to serve more in our city where, over 12 years, I have been privileged to champion our city centre, first as Chair of the City Centre Partnership, and now as Chair of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID.

What is your favourite part about your job?

The thrill of that moment when fresh vision is dropping into your understanding, and then the excitement of seeing it get implemented. And shared vision, brought about by a fantastic team, is even better. I couldn’t be more thrilled for example in being part of the incredible vision that the BID team is currently running with - this year alone aiming to: launch Operation Sparkle to clean up the city centre; pioneer a unique youth engaging Digital Games Jam with Staffs Uni; establish an environmentally focussed summer festival called Better World; set up monthly specialist Sunday markets; coordinate a week-long celebration of the return of the Spitfire; and build collaboration between the ceramics industry and city centre restaurants… How exciting is all that!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

For my wife’s 40th we went to Tuscany and found this incredible little village restaurant who cooked the most outrageously brilliant steak I’ve ever experienced. It was so large they brought up another table besides ours to sit it on! Years later that experience is still ingrained in the memory of my taste buds and keeps rearing it’s tempting voice. So, there’s nothing better, on a long lazy summer weekend, than to pop off to the butcher’s in Eccleshall, get them to saw me a specific cut, slap it on the BBQ grill, and relive that Bistecca a la Fiorentina moment with a glass of Chianti Classico, chatting round the patio table in the late summer’s afternoon heat. Now wouldn’t you want to join me for that?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

To be honest I try not to think like that. It’s an escapist mindset. And if you got there, there would always be ‘somewhere else’ you’d rather be instead. Better to know why you are where you are, embrace that purpose, see all that is good in it, and enjoy it for what it is! Having said that, on those feeling overwhelmed, want to escape, ‘daydream’ days, I quite like the look of that shack on the beach where the detective inspector lives on Death In Paradise.

What is your greatest achievement to date?

It’s a shared achievement with my wife but without doubt our greatest: After 22 years of marriage, sorrow, miscarriage, prayer, consultants and trust in God, we finally had a son, Nathanael. And our greatest achievement easily became our greatest joy!

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

‘Responsibility’ is the loudest inspiration in my life! It reminds me of the jobs of nine employees and the opportunity for 160 volunteers a year to develop their skills and lives at Cross Rhythms. It reminds me of the great challenges to our businesses and the future of our city centre that I choose to play my role in standing for. And most of all, it speaks to me of the future of my two year old son: Wanting the best for him, to provide for his needs, his development and to prepare him for his own future – he inspires me to give more in all that I do than probably anything else can.

If you could go to dinner with anyone at all, who would it be? Where would you go and why?

For our 10th wedding anniversary I surprised my wife with an Easyjet to Venice for an evening meal at a posh restaurant. Only problem was, when we got there we realised the restaurant was SOOOO expensive we could only afford one course with no sides, and had to ask for extra bread to try to fill us up! One day we will return…and have those other two courses!

What is the one motto that you live and work by?

I believe God has plans and purpose for all of us and He rewards those who seek Him. So I try to live my life, being ‘faithful and obedient’ to all I believe He asks of me. I think this is the best investment decision I can make - for this life and the next!

What is the one thing you are most looking forward to this year?

Tomorrow! Every day is packed with the adventure of being involved in making a difference: important decisions, facing challenges, achieving breakthroughs, and grabbing opportunities. You never know what the day will bring.