Nathanael Allison, managing director, Industrial and Marine Hydraulics

THE saying goes you should never meet your heroes.

For some, the experience is wonderful and the event a cherished lifelong memory.

For others, it can shatter the illusion, with idols dethroned from their lofty pedestals.

For Nathanael Allison, it helped shaped his future career.

As a young jazz pianist, a young Mr Allison was playing a number of gigs. One occasion saw an orchestra he was part of take centre stage with Martin Drew, a drummer who worked with legends such as Ronnie Scott and Oscar Peterson, playing a supporting role.

The 44-year-old, whose family moved to the UK from South Africa, said: “I remember it being a tipping point.

“I held him in such high esteem because he was such a fantastic drummer.

“It was really strange turning up with your mates and seeing someone whose records you had bought. He was quite grumpy and I can imagine he did not really want to be there.” The encounter didn’t stop Mr Allison’s passion for music, but his life did change direction.

A physics graduate, with a masters in mechanical engineering from Imperial College, he now has more than 20 years’ experience in engineering.

As managing director of Middlesbrough-based Industrial and Marine Hydraulics (IMH), he is playing a key role in its growth.

The firm, which services hydraulic machinery and designs and makes unique system parts, employs more than 40 workers.

He joined the company from Global Marine Systems Energy, where he oversaw global sales and marketing activity, previously spending years abroad as regional manager for the Asia Pacific region for Prysmian PowerLink.

For a musician, such success is music to his ears.

He said: “We took Global Marine from an order book of zero to £65m.

“I had experience of working on offshore wind farms and took that to Global, who were laying telecoms cables.

“I knew that if we could use that expertise we could go into the subsea power cables market because it was a natural step “We had no order book in that area, but 18 months later had some great contracts, including work in Germany and the Gwynt y Môr development, in Wales.”

Five minutes with... Nathanael Allison

Favourite North-East building and why?

Penshaw Monument. A scaled down replica of the Temple of Hephaestus, in Athens, on the top of a chilly hill overlooking urban and industrial areas. Says a lot about the Victorians. Bonkers. Sad. A reminder to be grateful for the society we live in today.

What was your first job and how much did you get paid?

Playing the piano in an Italian restaurant in Huddersfield. It was £5 an hour – a lot back then. I was 15 and it was mid-1980s, so I felt pretty flush with my mates. I do remember blowing most of it on new romantic clothes and records.

What is the worst job you’ve had?

Gosh, I’ve had several jobs which have been no fun at all – working as a cleaner, a perfume salesman, a nightshift security guard, a stint in a pharmacy counting out pills day in, day out. I guess the worst would be making concrete castings in Sheffield. Whilst the job was terrible, the conditions awful and the pay rubbish, the lads I worked with were cracking.

What would you cook for me if I came around for dinner?

Has to be fish on the barbecue.

Probably a whole fillet of cod, skin side down, served with a chilled glass of Sancerre.

What would your superpower be?

The ability to stop time. I could kill off some baddies easily that way.

And I wouldn’t even have to change into a special suit to do the job.

Name four people, dead or alive, who would be at your perfect dinner party.

Trevor Noah, the South African comedian, Jools Holland, Ruby Wax and Dorothy Parker.

Most expensive thing you’ve bought – other than car or house – and how much?

Probably my piano. Its value is priceless to me.

Who is the best person to follow on Twitter and why?

Don’t follow Twitter. I’m an Instagram man. But if I did, does Putin do Twitter? Would be interesting. I mean really him not his PR machine. Or even maybe Kim Jong-un. Come on, what do these guys truly think?

Favourite book?

I have two clear favourites The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Three Musketeers.

When did you last cry?

Watching the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas on a plane back from Singapore. The jet lag and complimentary red wine didn’t help.

What is your greatest achievement?

I write in my spare time, so writing two novels is something I am really proud of achieving. It’s just a hobby so it took a long time, but the sense of achievement completing them was wonderful.

What’s the best piece of advice in business you’ve ever been given?

Work smart. Simple really, but invaluable. By focusing on the important stuff and saying no to the waste of time stuff, results come more easily.

Favourite animal and why?

Sharks. I was reef diving during the early evening once and was surprised by a black-tipped reef shark that shot up from underneath me and darted into the distance. It then circled back. The way it swam with such grace, I have never seen anything so serene and elegant in the animal kingdom. Beautiful.

Most famous person on your mobile phone.

Couldn’t possibly say. That would be telling. And my phone might get nicked as a result.

What was the last band you saw live?

A small local blues band in a pub in York. Don’t know their name. But they were loving performing and it meant the music was great.

Describe your perfect night in.

Martini’s with mates in the garden.

In another life I would be...

Taller.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Daniel Day-Lewis.

What irritates you?

Self pity.

What’s your secret talent?

Being able to touch my nose with my tongue. Totally more challenging than being able to play the piano or trying to write books. Go on. You have a go.