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He told me he planned to float his business, including growing a PLC by acquisition of other PR companies worldwide – and in the UK regions. Could I help? UK, even international expansion from our Norwich and London offices was very much on my list of ambitions and, naturally financial success was another aim. Should I sell? Over the next few weeks my consideration got warm, then warmer – and we agreed a merger before Shandwick went public. We had both explored other companies contemplating...

The Norfolk business was now about 18 years old. And earning well.  For the first five to eight years I had paid myself a small fraction of my old Fleet Street salary. But now, at last, we were winning. And both Norwich and London offices were contributing halves of our turnover – and profitability. A classic painting of old Broads river cruisers racing at Wroxham, probably in the 19th century. Pauls Bessie Bell was built in 1898 - Credit: Submitted Norwich was booming, particularly thanks t...

Paul Thomas The opening of the 100th Marriott hotel in Maui, in 1981 - Credit: Paul Thomas Marriott hotels are found all around the world – from Norfolk to New York. But they got a foot up in global publicity thanks to a small company based in Norfolk. Its founder, journalist Paul Thomas, takes up the story As my Norfolk publicity company was growing in the 1970s, we were becoming more ambitious – including opening an office in London. East Anglian clients and local staff were up for the b...