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Life after Dragon's Den for Leeds inventor
Ever wondered what happens to the winners on The Dragons' Den? Retired builder Barry Haigh, 61, from South Leeds, can tell you.
He appeared on the BBC2 show with his invention, the Baby Dream Machine.
"The one thing I couldn't live without is my wife, Brenda. She would kill me if I didn't say that but she is fantastic. And also my kids: Ian, who lives in Australia and has a two-year-old son and my daughter Donna, who has a son aged 13 and a daughter, nine. Also golf, I play a lot these days.
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"My first job was working as an apprentice roofing contractor in Leeds but once I'd served my time doing that I became a builder and went into to partnership with Kingston Construction. I had a big bust-up with my business partner. But I picked myself back up and started working for myself and have never worked for anyone since. The Baby Dream Machine idea came to me once I was already retired.
"I had a lot of time on my hands and you've got to do something to keep you occupied. It's still doing really well but I'm not a part of the company anymore, I just get paid for royalties.
"The thing I'm most proud of is my family and my achievements in life. My kids have done really well and now my grandchildren are too and I'm proud of my achievements in general. I suppose I've got what a lot of people want now. I'm proud of The Baby Dream Machine but it was just a hobby really, I'm not an inventor.
"One thing that makes me happy is golf. I spend most of time playing golf at the Banborough Head golf club. I'm glad I can still see
my family a lot after all these
years.
"The best thing about Leeds is it's like the second capital of the country. It's where I grew up and it's a nice place. It's a lot cleaner now than when I was younger, the air is a different colour. The traffic isn't the best thing though, that's unbelievable these days.
"When I want to relax I just play golf. I have an apartment in Spain and that is a good place to go and relax, I go and see my grandson in Australia sometimes and you need to relax there after spending 24 hours on a plane.
"I had a really normal upbringing in Leeds, I was born in Beeston. Growing up in Leeds you get a lot of advice, but the most important thing was to treat other people how you want to be treated yourself. I try to live my life like that: 'do onto thy neighbour', it's simple but true.
"The last time I cried was in 1971 when my dad died. If I could meet anyone living or dead it would be him. I'd want to show him how well I've done in life and make him proud, I think he'd be surprised.
"My philosophy in life is probably that there's no point in being the richest man in the graveyard. I think some businessmen are trying to do that. I'm retired now, I've sold the Baby Dream Machine company on and bought property. I live on the royalties from that as well as rent from the property I have here. I was never interested in power or earning too much money, I live comfortably now and that's what I wanted.
"It would probably surprise people here if they knew I was a builder, well, I feel I can talk to anyone. I've been in meetings with Duncan Bannatyne and I talk to people on benefits on a regular basis, so I think having been a builder would surprise some people.
"My joke is: I was on the 18th hole the other day and a hearse drove past, I took my hat off as it went by, my friend said 'that's very courteous of you'. I said 'well I have to be, I was married to her for four years'.
"My first love was my wife. We met when were just 17 and she has stuck with me ever since and we've had two great children."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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