When we survived the uninsured loss of 2007, which took me to the absolute knife edge of bankruptcy, we continued to face further challenges, and the future of my company was uncertain for many years, though we didn't share this fact widely...
This book is an inspirational feel good journey of overcoming adversity.
I compare wealth with the number of visible laughter lines on my face and describe myself to be an independent thinker, saxophone player, cyclist and happiness advocate.
After 30 years in the TV industry, I have written a book on the history of VMI, as I wanted to spread the word about the struggles that we endured to overcome our threat of near-certain bankrupcy in 2007.
I live in Kent with my family and run camera rental company, VMI.TV Ltd and wrote the book, Full Experience Living, during the 2020 lock-down.
There is an active BLOG on this site where visitors have left comments.
Please use the chat function (pink icon on bottom right of page) to share your memories and pictures, to allow me to upload them to the public blog.
Facing an immanent threat of a £600K uninsured loss and no recovery plan in place, just how would the business survive.
Read the first three chapters of the book here.
Here is a link to my free audiobook with images from my story. I have chosen to upload this for free, so if you enjoy it, please consider making a donation to the mine clearing charity, MAG
My early attempts at recording my audiobook from my desk were poor but several attempts later, this was my final version.
I love great quotes and have been saving these up for 9 years. I included the very best of them into my book too to help me tell my story!
Early Years.
1943 - 1989
Joining The Family Firm.
1989 - 1995
Early Years of Being a Managing Director. 1995 - 2007
The Uninsured Loss.
2007 - 2011
Recovery and Happiness.
2011 - 2020
A gallery of illustrations from my book, as drawn by Josh
We take so much of our lives for granted, that we never give a second thought to land mines. Every day, some 20 people are killed by landmine somewhere in the world and half of these are children. For this reason, a share of the book proceeds will be donated to a mine clearing organisation called MAG.
A digital memorial site to Jeff Bassett, founder of VMI and family man with shared memories and recollections from his friends and family.
A digital memorial site to Jay Patel who died in the summer of 2020, after a long fight with Cancer and was such an important part of VMI for so many years. We all miss you, Jay.
These are some of the comments which I have received from readers who perhaps were part of the early years of the company. Feel free to send me comments to bb@vmi.tv and I will insert them for you. Barry