MICHAEL Ellery was born at Weymouth’s Portwey Hospital, now a block of flats, on St George’s Day, April 23rd, 1954. He went to Abbotsbury village primary school and Weymouth Grammar School before joining the DHSS as a clerk in 1971. In 1974 he joined HM Customs and stayed with them until his early retirement in 2010 following an M25 car accident. He is now director of Brewers Quay Emporium Ltd in Weymouth, using his keen interest in antiques and collectibles which he developed while a customs officer.
WHY do you live in Weymouth?
I live in Upwey because it is my ancestral home and the most beautiful part of Weymouth. My grandparents lived there and are buried there, my mother was brought up there and married there and I have now lived there in the village for 12 years.
WHERE do you go for your holidays?
The last one was Portugal. Prior to that I drove to Spain twice and I have also been to South America, Turkey, Canada and Newfoundland, most of Europe and Egypt.
I believe New York and Istanbul are the two greatest cities in the world and I would recommend anyone to go and see them. I suppose of all the places I have been to then rural France is perhaps my favourite.
WHAT is your favourite time of the year?
Summer because it is hot. I like shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops, so it has to be hot.
WHAT is your favourite film?
That’s a tricky one. I think I’ll go for “Dr Zhivago”, “Far From the Madding Crowd”, “The Usual Suspects” and “Kill Bill”. I love Quentin Tarantino.
WHAT is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
Thinking I was going to be killed in an air crash in Peru in 1982. The pilot braked as we took off from Lima and we ended up in the grass at the end of the runway. That’s about as scared as I ever want to get. I don’t like flying any more, but I still do it.
IF YOU could live your life again what would you be?
I would like to be a journalist or a writer. I have always enjoyed writing and reading books. If I couldn’t be a journalist I would like to be a lawyer and get paid for arguing with people.
WHICH three people would you invite to your dream dinner party?
My first would be the Dalai Lama because I used to study Buddhism and my second would Tony Benn because he was one of the few politicians to stick to his principles. My third choice would be George Best because he was the greatest footballer who ever lived.
WHAT would you do if you won the Lottery?
I would travel, drive across the US, go and see the Golden Temple of Amritsar, but I wouldn’t rush out and buy everything. What’s the point.
WHAT do you hope the future holds?
To be happy. Doesn’t everyone want to be happy? If you have that and you are healthy you’ve got everything.
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