From showbiz to star of care work (From Thisisdorset)

From showbiz to star of care work

10:30am Tuesday 12th August 2008 in

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MEET Jeremy Harrison - the retirement complex manager who has gone from working with showbiz VIPs to retired OAPs.

In his younger days as a live entertainment venue manager, he rubbed shoulders with heavy metal band Iron Maiden and an up-and-coming act called Take That.

He now works as the live-in manager of Weymouth's Swannery Court retirement flats in Commercial Road and was recently named house manager of the year by his employer Peverel.

Mr Harrison, 40, worked for 15 years at Derby's Assembly Rooms overseeing the setting up of stages for live music acts and stand-up comics.

As well as mixing it with musicians, he helped set up stages for comedians like Roy Chubby' Brown, Jimmy Carr and Jim Davidson.

Mr Harrison said: "I was in charge of preparing the main auditorium for shows, doing things like setting up the stage and tresses for the lighting.

"Often the bigger acts came in with their own people to do that kind of thing, so our teams who set up sound and lighting would have less to do.

"For example, when Iron Maiden turned up they had six trucks of equipment but could only fit three trucks' worth into the building.

"I really only met them and the other acts to say hello' because the bands would usually turn up, do soundchecks and disappear again until the show."

He said Take That also graced the venue's stage before they were a household name.

Mr Harrison gave up the job four years ago to move to Weymouth with his wife Yvonne and daughters Kelly and Stacy to take up his present role.

He said: "I was looking for a change of career and saw this job advertised online.

"I'm very happy here and the job is still challenging, but in a very different way to my last one."

Mr Harrison is responsible for looking after Swannery Court and the surrounding grounds and is on-call as an emergency contact for people living in the building. Mr Harrison, who was nominated by a resident to win the title of house manager of the year, said: "I was very surprised to win and I'm glad the residents are happy too."