Each week Bristol Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week Dianne Francombe OBE, chief executive of the West of England China Bureau, answers our 10 questions.
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? The Two Popes. Jonathan Pryce (as the future Pope Francis) and Anthony Hopkins (as the outgoing Pope Benedict) star in a study of faith, friendship and power said to be based on some fact! Both actors are very well cast and it proves that even the holiest of people have flaws.
Book you read? The Old Dragon’s Head by local author Justin Newland. It’s a mythical story written about the Great Wall of China, which was built to protect China’s northern borders from the threat of Mongol incursion. The wall is also home to a supernatural beast – the Old Dragon. In today’s context that beast could be the coronavirus and the race to overcome it the same as the race for a vaccine.
Music you bought/downloaded? Celine Dion’s latest album Courage. She seems to have reached the pinnacle of her singing career being bold and breaking the rules. In this latest album she shows courage in using her voice in different ways and, as one song goes, also shows her imperfections. Both good virtues.
Concert or play you went to? I recently saw the musical Beautiful at the Bristol Hippodrome about the remarkable songwriter Carole King.
Sporting event you attended? We support Downend Cricket Club, which plays at the WG Grace Memorial ground, and last summer on a sunny Friday evening we stopped by to watch a group of young people learning the rules of the game.
Holiday you went on? South Africa in December, which has become our home from home. It lifts the soul to arrive from the grey, wet UK into glorious sunshine. The blue African sky is something special and to see the top of Table Mountain without its (cloudy) hat on for five days running was special.
Restaurant you ate in? We had a family gathering at Kerridge’s Bar & Grill at the Corinthia Hotel in London. The food was superb and the atmosphere and decoration were absolutely spot on. Great for a long leisurely afternoon lunch celebrating with the people you love.
Thing that annoyed you? Adults behaving like they are still in the playground and displaying childish behaviour.
Thing that made you laugh out loud? The reactions from friends and family on learning that I had been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. I will leave you to imagine the gibes that I received, from bowing to curtseying, for several weeks. It was so funny as it took some time to sink in that the whole thing was for real.
Piece of good advice you were given? My mother offered advice by example and that was to work hard, be kind to everyone and take a moment to say a few words to people. From this I learned to always take time for others.
Dianne Francombe, the chief executive of the West of England China Bureau, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list for services to UK/China relations. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a specialist in China and Chinese affairs after spending 30 years working with China and following the country’s development. She is passionate about China since her first visit there in 1989. Dianne’s career in higher education spans 35 years. She was a highly successful director of service and has considerable experience in senior management, the higher education sector at home and overseas and post 16 curriculum developments.
