My Yorkshire – Tim Rhodes, Carter Towler
Tim Rhodes is a director at Carter Towler and has 30 years of property experience in the company’s agency property management and valuation teams.
His clients include major pension funds and financial institutions, banks and commercial clients as well as high net worth individuals.
Where do you live/where are you from?
I live in Addingham now but during my formative years I lived in Otley and then Guiseley – I’ve travelled extensively throughout the Wharfe valley!
What is your favourite place to visit and why?
I have lots of favourites but the top two would probably be Filey Bay (in Winter) and Bolton Abbey (early in the morning). Both are beautiful places and I’ve spent many happy hours walking my two black Labradors there with my family
What is still on your “to do list” in the region?
As a boy I flew with a family friend in his Cessna and was captivated by views of the Yorkshire landscape from above. I’d love to learn to fly so I can repeat the experience for myself. I have a significant birthday looming and think it’s time I made a start on getting my pilot’s licence.
What is the most memorable meal you’ve ever had in Yorkshire?
A few years ago my wife and I, and a couple of friends went to The Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley. The food and accommodation is exceptional but was a bit of a stretch on our resources. So we camped nearby and ‘dressed for dinner’ in the pub car park.
What is your most Yorkshire trait?
I am a straight talker. I’ve probably offended a few people over the years but on the whole I think it has served me well, particularly in my business life. There can be a lot of flannelling in the property world and I know my clients prefer the direct approach. They must do, or they’ve just got used to me, because some of them have been with me for over 25 years!
Favorite piece of trivia about the region
The father of aviation, Sir George Cayley, came from Yorkshire. He lived at Brompton, between Scarborough and Pickering and in 1853 he designed the first glider which was flown by his coachman, John Appleby. John took off from one side of Brompton Vale, crash-landed on the other side, and promptly handed in his notice saying he had been hired to drive, not fly!
What is your favourite cultural icon from the region?
Salts Mill at Saltaire is a fantastic Yorkshire icon which I admire for lots of reasons. Back in the late 1980s I was involved in the sale of the building to Jonathan Silver. Although it was seriously dilapidated he had the vision to see what it could become. The cafe, shops and gallery and particularly the David Hockney collection are very impressive and I admire the fact he’s not forgotten his Yorkshire roots.
What is one thing you’d steal from Lancashire if you could?
Manchester Airport. I’ve always supported Leeds/Bradford Airport whenever I could over the years but they’ve still a lot to learn from our friends over the Pennines. They could start with scrapping that ridiculous parking scheme.
What’s the worst experience, or the worst thing about Yorkshire?
It’s been said in this column before but I’m afraid there’s little worse than being a Leeds United supporter. 3 years of joy and 40 years of purgatory. My Dad took me to matches as a small boy and I now take my son – each generation has had to learn to be externally optimistic!
