Did you come to Phuket intending to open up a restaurant?
No. I first came here in 1989 for fishing and ended up deciding to move here. I never intended to open a restaurant but I had an attorney in the West Indies who spent all of my money, so I woke up broke one day and had to do something. I ended up turning my house into a restaurant, Baan Rim Pa. In those days the location was considered too far out of the centre of town. There were only dirt roads in Patong. I didn't have any choice though; I couldn't afford to be anywhere else.

What do you like most about living in Phuket?
The thing that has always impressed me about Thailand is the people. They never fail to amaze me nor do they ever disappoint me. It was really difficult back in 1990 because I didn't have any money and a lot of Thai people helped me to get my first restaurant here open.

How long have you been in the restaurant business?
I started working in my father's restaurant at age 14; my folks have always been in the restaurant business. I've had restaurants in the West Indies, New York, Boston, Paris and England.

What’s new in your business?
In February this year we opened a new restaurant in Kalim Beach called Hung Fat's. We've brought in a team of chefs from Chengdu Province who specialize in Sichuan cooking. Music is a big part of the place and we have our own Brazilian, Latin, Jazz & Blues band who come direct from NYC and we plan to attract various musicians travelling through the region in order to bring some international entertainment to the island.

Do you have family here?
My wife, Pensri, and I have a 11 year old son, Pure. I also have a daughter, Fleur, who is 24 and lives in England. She's working on a novel but she comes over here for a month or so every year. Then I have a son, Casey, who is 34. He lives in Washington in the US and manages a series of restaurants. He visits occasionally with his wife and children.

What school do they go to?
Pure goes to the British International School. When I first came here, I was a single parent and my daughter, Fleur, went to Dulwich, as the British International School was called back then. She received an excellent education there and went on to college in the US.

Are you involved in any local charities, Clubs or associations?
I started my own foundation, the 'Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation'. We're involved in two schools in Phuket, the King's Foundation in Kamala and the Grade School in Kalim. We try to provide a very good standard of English in the schools and then, when the kids come out of school, to follow them through to their graduation. We have donors from all over the world and we're trying hard to bring up the standard of education. This foundation should advance the opportunities for young people and maybe reduce the influx of a foreign work force. We try to add a new school every year but it's very expensive. Hopefully our funding will increase so that we can take more on.

What do you think the future holds for you?
My foundation is the most important thing in my life. I'm still in the restaurant business but my focus is more and more on what I can give back to Phuket. After 45 years on the road this is my home now and I've got no plans to leave.