This month the managing partner of Ellisons Solicitors celebrates 25 years with the firm – two-and-a-half decades which have seen significant change in the sector. Guy says he appreciates having so much on our doorstep in East Anglia, yet reflects it still has a pace where you can enjoy life, work hard and play hard. He talks to Gina Long...

What is your connection to East Anglia?

I'm born and bred here, although some of that time has been on the ‘wrong’ side of the Stour Valley. I grew up outside Bury St Edmunds, went to Culford School. and my parents still live just outside the town.

What is your East Anglian heaven?

Despite its growth over the past 30 years, East Anglia has still retained its position as a hugely important agricultural area which is reflected in the landscape, the network of market towns and villages, country pursuits and shows.

What is your East Anglian hell?

It's a bit flat and I love mountains with snow on them.

What are your favourite East Anglian restaurants?

As it straddles the Stour I hope it's OK to say the Talbooth. It's a fantastic location, superbly maintained and the entire team always work so hard to ensure every visit is a memorable one. The food seems to get better every year.

What’s your favourite East Anglian landmark?

When I used to drive back from university in Edinburgh each term it was the ‘Welcome to Suffolk’ sign on the A14 but also Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds, the Abbey and the Church Gates through to the Abbey Gardens.

What’s the best thing that happens in East Anglia every year?

Latitude and the Suffolk and Norfolk Shows.

What’s your specialist Mastermind subject?

Living with women. Our daughters are now 17, 19 and 21. It's been a steep and never-ending learning curve.

What is always in your fridge?

Kerrygold Butter. A taste of Ireland!

What’s your simple philosophy of life?

Don't worry about the things you can't control, nor take life too seriously.

What’s your favourite film?

Top Gun closely followed by Top Gun Maverick!

What was your first job?

I had a summer job for seven years as a mobile seed treatment operative for Anglia Grain Services. I learnt so much from the fabulous Dick and Steve Warner, and visited hundreds of farms across East Anglia. Hard work but great fun. Lots of life lessons.

What is your most treasured possession?

My wedding ring! We celebrated 25 years marriage in September.

What is your biggest indulgence?

Kerrygold butter. It costs a fortune at the moment! And energy - my wife turns every switch off in our house. It takes me 15 minutes in the morning to realise the kettle is turned off at the wall.

What do you like about yourself most?

I am very fortunate that funny things happen every day, so there is never a shortage of laughter.

What’s your worst character trait?

I struggled to answer this but had to narrow it down from the long list my wife gave me to being naturally disorganised and untidy.

Where is your favourite holiday destination?

Ireland or Orlando.

Best day of your life?

Predictably my wedding day and the birth of our three daughters.

What’s your favourite breakfast?

Coffee and a cinnamon swirl or a Krispy Kreme Original when driving into Walt Disney World.

What’s your favourite tipple?

Very hard to narrow it down and I should probably say Adnams or Greene King, but it's Guinness.

What’s your hidden talent?

It's very well hidden. I’m still searching for it.

What’s your earliest memory?

My parents bringing my sister home from hospital after she was born.

I was almost three and I think it was memorable as it was the first time my mother was not at home for any period of time and my father cannot boil an egg, so I was probably starving hungry. I am told I had quite an appetite.

What would you like played at your funeral?

Ireland's Call and the Brian Johnson and Jonathan Agnew Test Match Special clip, when they both start laughing. It's impossible not to laugh with them, even at a funeral.

Tell us something people don’t know about you?

When I go on holiday, I say I am from Cambridge. Nobody has heard of Colchester or Sudbury.

What’s the worst thing anyone has ever said to you?

Father Christmas is not real. I am not sure I have ever got over the shock.

Tell us why you live here?

I’m too disorganised to even contemplate moving home or job. I qualified as a solicitor with Ellisons in 1997, married that year and we have lived close to Colchester ever since. Our daughters feel that East Anglia is very much their home.

What do you want to tell our readers about most?

Supporting the communities we live and work in has always been important to us at Ellisons. Last night was no exception as we proudly sponsored the John Sheeran My Life in Art at Elveden Hall. The reaction of communities to Covid, the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis and now the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been a welcome reminder that despite the technological changes of the 21st Century, the focus upon social media, the rise of Amazon and the move to remote working, our communities remain hugely important, particularly during difficult times. It's essential we continue to support our local towns, villages, businesses, clubs, charities, and the arts throughout East Anglia, without our support, they will not survive. "Shop" local!

If you have a story, email gina@hallfarmfornham.com or follow Twitter: @geewizzgee1 Instagram: @ginalong_geewizz