People / 10 Questions
10 Questions: Marvin Rees
Marvin Rees is one of the organisers of The Bristol Manifesto for Race Equality.
Developed by a range of local voluntary and public groups, the manifesto asks for a commitment from many of Bristol’s key organisations to do all they can to ensure that race is of a high priority in their plans and the services they provide.
Rees lives in Whitehall and is currently employed in public health, specialising in helping people with mental health issues. At the end of last month, he threw his hat into the ring to stand for mayor for the second time after being a losing candidate in 2012.
1) What was your earliest ambition?
To be a soldier and Martin Luther King
2) How physically fit are you?
Reasonably. Recently completed London Rat Race and still have 20 chin ups in me. I’ve entered both the Bristol 10k and half marathon this year.
3) If you were mayor of Bristol for the day, what would you do?
Tell my nan and then get the leaders of the city’s key organisations together.
4) Where is your favourite holiday destination?
Gloucester, Massachusetts.
5) What’s your biggest extravagance?
A third child and the soon-to-be-owned seven-seater.
6) In what place in Bristol are you happiest?
I have always found peace and perspective at the Sea Wall on the Downs.
7) What ambitions do you still have?
Be a good husband, dad, son, brother, grandson and friend. To do good and be me.
8) What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?
My family and getting through my A-levels.
9) Can you sum up Bristol in a sentence?
A contradictory city that presents well and has great potential but undermined by its inequalities and social fractures.
10) What is your favourite secret spot in Bristol?
The little room off to the side of Bristol Cathedral’s main hall.
Photographs by Zac Crawley at Candour Creative
Read more about the launch of the the Bristol Manifesto.
Read previous 10 Questions with:
- Nikesh Shukla, author and viral video maker
- Dennis Stinchcombe, centre director of Riverside Youth Project
- Gill Nowland, CEO of charity One25
- John Partridge, Bristol Zoo’s senior curator of animals