James Reid

Director

When I was at school I wanted to be a footballer and I probably focused a little bit too much on that and not enough on my school work. I got a serious injury playing in the school squad when I tore the cruciate ligament in my right knee. I did recover and start playing again, but soon had the exact same injury again and that put the lid on my ambition to try and become a professional player. ‘‘Could Have Done Better’ is how I would sum up my school report card, so when I was sixteen I did a deal with my dad where he said I could leave school, but only if I had a job first. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life so decided to try and get an office job to tide me over until I had a firm plan. One of my friend’s mum worked for Wallace Quinn and she let me know the firm was looking for an office junior. I came in and met with Managing Director John Quinn who gave me a two week trial and after that offered me a job. I was filing documents, sorting out the mail and trying to be useful wherever I could.