Is professor fit for title?

A FORDHAM man who thinks nothing of biking a 90-mile-round trip to work will learn this week if he has won the coveted title of Britain's most energetic boss.

Professor David Hall, 47, chief executive of equine and greyhound testing facility HFL, on Newmarket Road, will be waiting anxiously to see if Dame Ellen McArthur has judged him Britain's top boss in the E.ON Energy-sponsored competition.

David was put up for the award by Emma Sutherland, HFL's marketing manager.

"I was, in fact, nominated by a couple of people who work closely with me," said Prof Hall, who described himself as flattered and slightly taken aback by the nomination.

He regularly cycles 45 miles from his home in Hadleigh near Ipswich to Fordham.

"I've tried having a pint half way through, but it makes the journey quite a lot slower," said Prof Hall, who gets up at 5.30am to arrive in time for work. He is a regular bike rider who describes his enthusiasm for cycling as fitting in with a green agenda.

Even Fordham primary pupils have got involved with Prof Hall's ventures and are helping him turn HFL-owned Snail Wood into a conservation zone.

"When we were privatised I found out that we owned some woodland so set about turning it into a conservation zone full of wildlife. There's a hardcore of about 20-30 staff who really get involved. Who doesn't want to work in a vibrant and exciting environment?

"It's part of my role as chief executive to inject energy into the workplace, although I think sometimes people have had enough of it."

Prof Hall has even shown some David Brent-like tendencies by performing his own songs in front of staff, after learning the guitar from scratch.

A spokesperson for sponsor E.ON said Britain's top energetic boss will win an eco-holiday whale watching in Norway, and runners-up will also win a luxury break at Titanic, Britain's first eco spa.

"They'll have to catch up with me first," said Prof Hall who will by next week be visiting a different American state every day.