Sir Alan Sugar Read Online Free PDF Page A

probably say, “Well, I don’t know him so clear off,” or words to that effect.’ This tendency would lead to a rather amusing episode concerning Rupert Murdoch later in his life.
    Meanwhile, largely eschewing the after-school activities that were on offer at his various educational establishments, the young Alan Sugar preferred to head home and pursue some of his interests, pastimes and hobbies, which included photography and cooking. Both would soon be turned into more professional interests, and rather profitable ones at that. He began to make ginger beer at home, and sold it to his fellow pupils. This was done by feeding a ginger-beer plant each evening. He would then pour out the resulting drink and flog it to friends, undercutting the more expensive big-brand soft drinks such as Coke. He was following the example of his uncle, whom he describes as one of his earliest heroes. ‘At the age of 17, my icon was my Uncle John, because he had a little corner shop in Victoria and was the only person I knew in business. As time goes by, you tend to overtake those people and look back in admiration. I’ve passed Uncle John, Harry the bloke who had the stall around the corner, Fred the chap who had the big electrical store, Bob the blokewho had the big warehouse and Frank the fellow big importer of electronics.’
    It’s not known whether Sugar believes in astrology, but those who do set store in that field would find much in him to back up their beliefs. Born under the Zodiac sign of Aries, which is suitably enough the Ram, he has gone on to display many of the associated traits: courage, initiative, stubbornness and straightforwardness are all said to be typical among Arians. Those born under this sign are also often said to be opinionated. Anyone who came up against him in The Apprentice boardroom in later years would go along with that. Some of these traits were apparent from an early age. He recalls himself as ‘not a ruffian’, but admits that, even as a child, with him there was ‘always plenty of talk’. Could it be that some of that ‘talk’ was heard by his teachers when he was a schoolboy? Sugar attended the Brooke House School in Upper Clapton, Hackney. In a school report that was released to the media, one of the teachers who taught the young Alan Sugar, a Mr Robinson, gives an insight into what sort of pupil he was. He believes the teenage Sugar was ‘an able boy’ but he continues, ‘He must take more care in the presentation of his work. A great improvement in his ability, but it is often misapplied. Alan is broadening his sphere of activities.’ More interesting and revealing is the passage that covers Sugar’s involvement in the sporting side of the curriculum. The teacher is full of praise for his pupil: ‘A good year’s work’ from Sugar. Headds, ‘Alan has represented the house in football and rugby. He has helped in the organisation of the teams. Well done, Alan.’ Well done, indeed. And how fitting that a man who would go on to run a top-class English football club should have made such a great job in the organisation of football and rugby teams in his school days. If only he was similarly appreciated by the fans of that club.
    Those school reports emerged in 1997, when Sugar returned to the school, which has since been renamed Hackney Community College, to launch its centre for construction, civil engineering and community education. It was an emotional and inspiring occasion for all. Sugar addressed more than 200 young people and talked to them about opportunities for starting their own businesses. A fun run also took place during the day, passing the old centres of the college, which housed the construction and engineering courses. Sugar, a charismatic speaker even before his Apprentice days, had the audience in the palm of his hand, as he told pupils that success requires ‘hard work, focus and