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Paul Gregg (born 1941 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire [1]) is an English multi-millionaire businessman and entertainment impresario, who built Apollo Leisure Group into the UK's biggest theatre owner and largest privately owned company operating in Western Europe. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Scarborough is a town on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England. North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

After selling Apollo to SFX Group in 1999, and leaving new owners Clear Channel, he was a large stake holder in Everton F.C., before falling out with former friend Bill Kenwright in 2004, and selling his stake in October 2006 to Robert Earl. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Clear Channel Communications is a media conglomerate company based in the United States. Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4 September, 1945, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England) is an Actor and Theatrical "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Robert Earl may refer to Robert Earl (colonel (Iran-Contras Robert Earl (businessman (Planet Hollywood Robert

In the 2006 Sunday Times Rich List, Gregg and his family were ranked 439th valued at £127m [2]. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Sunday Times Rich List is a list of the 1000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, updated annually in April and published as a magazine supplement In July 2007 he was due to be introduced as the new owner of Sheffield Wednesday[3].

Contents

Biography

The son of a refrigeration engineer, at school in Scarborough he was: "Hopeless! I was always 30th out of a class of 30. Scarborough is a town on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England. " [4]

Gregg left school at 16 and failed in his ambition to work for Odeon Cinemas: "They asked me at the interview what 5 per cent of £100 was and I couldn't give them the answer. Odeon Cinemas is the largest chain of cinemas in Europe It is owned by Terra Firma Capital Partners. " [5] He got a job at Associated British Cinemas as a trainee manager. Associated British Cinemas (ABC was a cinema chain in the United Kingdom.

Aged 28, he was a council employee running the Floral Hall at Southport. Southport is a seaside town on the Irish Sea coast situated within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in England, UK. He successfully attracted to the run down venue the screen icon Marlene Dietrich, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Marlene Dietrich maɐˈleːnə ˈdiːtrɪç (December 27 &ndashMay 6) was a German -born American Actress, Singer and Entertainer Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25 1917 &ndash June 15 1996 also known as " Lady Ella " and the "First Lady of Song" is considered one of the most influential William "Count" Basie ( August 21, 1904 &ndash April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, Organist Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29 1899 &ndash May 24 1974 was an American Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader.

Apollo Leisure Group

Gregg made his fortune with Apollo Leisure. A career executive, he gradually worked his way up through Apollo Theatres until he founded Apollo Leisure in 1977, aged 36. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays After setting up a Social Club for car workers at Cowley, Oxford [6], he borrowed the then huge sum of £25,000 to buy the New Theatre in Oxford [7], immediately renaming it the "Apollo" [8]. Social Club may also refer to a video game community service by Rockstar Games, see Rockstar Games Social Club. Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford The New Theatre Oxford (for a period from 1977 known as the Apollo Theatre Oxford) is the main commercial theatre in Oxford, England and Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, After buying the Ardwick Theatre in Manchester, Gregg and his wife Nita went on to build Apollo into the UK's biggest theatre owner and largest privately owned company operating in Western Europe.

The Gregg's built their empire by taking over struggling venues and turning them round. The Liverpool Empire Theatre, which was losing £750,000 a year under the Derek Hatton led council, was leased to become be a home to big musicals. Liverpool Empire Theatre is located on Lime Street in Liverpool, England. Derek Hatton (born 17 January 1948 in Liverpool) is a broadcaster businessman and after-dinner speaker Gregg also reopened the Lyceum in London in the 1990's at a cost of £14m, after the theatre had been closed for 10 years. The Lyceum Theatre is a 2000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street just off the Strand. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar" ran for two years, followed by Disney's "The Lion King" [9]. Andrew Lloyd Webber Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948 is a British Composer of Musical theatre, the elder son of William Lloyd Webber Jesus Christ Superstar is a Rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The Lion King is a 1994 American animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, released in theaters on June 15 1994 On 28 September 1982 in association with friend Bill Kenwright, Gregg co-produced a production of "The Mikado" at the Cambridge Theatre, London [10]. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4 September, 1945, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England) is an Actor and Theatrical The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, is a Comic opera in two acts with music by Arthur Sullivan and Libretto by W

On 20 November 1995 Ogden Corporation acquired 25% of Apollo [11]

The eventual portfolio of venues included The Point Theatre in Dublin, the Sheffield Arena and Wales National Ice Rink in Cardiff; as well as 23 theatres nationwide including: Hammersmith Apollo, the Apollo Victoria and the Lyceum in London; the Bristol Hippodrome; the Edinburgh Playhouse; the Old Fire Station and Apollo in Oxford; Royal Theatre in York; the Opera House, Palace and Apollo Ardwick in Manchester; the Liverpool Empire and the Floral Hall in Southport. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 For other uses see The Point. For the rebranded venue see The O2 Dublin. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. The Sheffield Arena is an Arena in Sheffield, England. It is well known for hosting big name Concerts and Sporting events in The Wales National Ice Rink (WNIR was an Ice rink in Cardiff, Wales. Cardiff ( 'kɑːdɪf) is the Capital and the largest city and county in Wales. The Hammersmith Apollo is a major entertainments and concert venue located in Hammersmith, London, England. The Lyceum Theatre is a 2000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street just off the Strand. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Bristol Hippodrome ( is a Theatre in the centre of Bristol with seating on three levels giving a capacity of 1951 The Edinburgh Playhouse is a Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland which plays host to numerous touring musicals as well as many touring bands The New Theatre Oxford (for a period from 1977 known as the Apollo Theatre Oxford) is the main commercial theatre in Oxford, England and Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, York ( is an historic Walled city sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. Southport is a seaside town on the Irish Sea coast situated within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in England, UK. Apollo also owned Tickets Direct, which sold around £6m theatre and concert tickets in 1999. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

On 6 August 1999 Apollo accepted a takeover offer from the American entertainment corporation SFX for £158m, because: "We were running a family business and suddenly we realised there were 5,000 people in the family. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) " [12] Gregg and his family owned 80% of the company, and received between them £126m worth of shares and loan stock in SFX [13] [14]. SFX also agreed to acquire The Barry Clayman Corporation, 50% owned by the shareholders of Apollo, which promotes concert and entertainment events, and who's European tour artists include: Riverdance, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones [15]. Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish step dancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29 1958 is an American musician entertainer and businessman Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American Singer-songwriter and occasional Actor. Barbra Streisand (ˈstraɪsænd "STRY-sand" born April 24 1942 is an American Singer, Film and Theatre Actress Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey DBE (born 8 January 1937 Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh Singer. Sir Thomas John Woodward, (born 7 June 1940 known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh pop music singer particularly noted for his powerful voice

Gregg stayed on, becoming European Chairman of the enlarged SFX group. Gregg approached producer David Ian to head up the theatre division, but Ian refused. David Ian Lane (born Chadwell Heath, Greater London in 1961 is a former actor who turned theatre producer in 1991 to become the After the SFX Entertainment division was acquired by Clear Channel in 2000 [16], Gregg eventually persuaded Ian to join the group by absorbing Ian's joint venture with actor Paul Nicholas, and made Ian head of the European Theatre group before he left. Clear Channel Communications is a media conglomerate company based in the United States. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Paul Nicholas (born Paul Oscar Beuselinck 3 December 1945 in Peterborough, England) is an English Actor and Ian took over Gregg's role as European Managing Director of Entertainment in a Clear Channel [17].

Gregg Air

After buying into Everton, Gregg needed a way to quickly access matches around the country. He initially used OxAero, run by a pair of former pilots out of Oxford airport. Gregg bought the company in 2001, rebranded it Gregg Air and invested £6m to buy two jet aircraft, a seven-seater Citation Ultra and a five-seater Cessna 525 Citation Jet [18]. The company now operates seven jets, including a new Raytheon 390 Premier I, and employs 40 people at its headquarters at Oxford Airport in Kidlington, 20 of them pilots. Oxford Airport, also known as Oxford (Kidlington Airport is a small privately owned Airport located near Kidlington in Oxfordshire. Kidlington is a large Village and Civil parish in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire, England. Gregg Air's management service enables clients' planes to be hired out when they do not need them. The company is currently promoting a service allowing wealthy football fans to pay £10,000 to £15,000 a year in return for guaranteed flights to all the away matches of their favoured club. Marginally profitable on sales of £5. 5m in 2004, the target is a seven figure profit at end 2005 [19]. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Apollo Cinemas

In 2004, Gregg bought back the Apollo Cinemas chain from Clear Channel for £23M, before the European theatres were spun out into sister company Live Nation. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Live Nation Inc is a live Events company based in Beverly Hills California. Apollo instantly became the largest independently owned UK cinema chain, operating from 13 locations and having a total of 78 screens; and four bingo halls.

Apollo also announced plans to open London's first West End multiplex cinema for a decade, with a new 5 screen complex part of a £70M pound scheme set to enhance lower Regent Street. Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London 's West End. Four more new regional complexes under development [20].

Together, cinemas and bingo generated pre-tax profits of about £1. 5m on turnover of £12. 2m in the year to 25 March 2004. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " From this, the Greggs took £240,000 in dividends [21].

Everton F. C.

Gregg invested £7M in friend Bill Kenwright's vehicle True Blue Holdings Ltd [22], which took the majority share holding in Everton F.C. in 2000 from former Chairman Peter Johnson [23]. Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4 September, 1945, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England) is an Actor and Theatrical Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Peter Johnson (born 1940 is a Birkenhead based business man and football investor Gregg first came to the attention of Everton fan's, when he became the main driver behind the King's Dock scheme, promising to plough in an additional £30M to get the project moving [24]. The King's Dock was a dock on the River Mersey and part of the Port of Liverpool. After the scheme fell apart, and amid allegations of excessive "consultancy fee's" paid to one of Gregg's companies, he stayed with the club around the Bill Kenwright five year plan, subject to: "having no interest in football, and wishing to make a return on my investment within two years" [25]. Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4 September, 1945, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England) is an Actor and Theatrical

However, in August 2004, Gregg fell out with Kenwright over the £40M debt levels of the club, and offered to cover the cash needs of the club while re-finance was agreed, subject to Kenwright and his supporter Jon Wood resigning [26]. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Kenwright refused, while Gregg claimed support from fellow director Lord Grantchester, who later issued a statement saying he only supported dissolution of True Blue Holdings. Baron Grantchester, of Knightsbridge in the City of Westminster is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Gregg's investment never materialised, and Kenwright survived when he presented his own plans for investment via the Fortress Sports Fund Ltd. CEO Trevor Birch resigned after six weeks in the job over the feud, having saved Everton from bankruptcy in December 2003 [27]. Trevor Birch (born 16 February 1958) is an English football executive and former football player Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their Creditors Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.

True Blue Holdings was dissolved in December 2004 [28], to enable new investment to be attracted, but it has also left the club vulnerable to takeover. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " With the dissolution of True Blue, the individual holdings of the 22,031,351 shares were assumed to convert directly to Everton shares, leaving the bulk of the Blues' shares split between four parties - Kenwright, the Gregg family, Jon Woods and Lord Grantchester. Kenwright owned the largest block of shares, closely followed by Gregg - but with Kenwright and Woods holding of over 50% out voting Gregg's 23%, Kenwright remained firmly in control.

In May 2005, the Liverpool Echo reported that Gregg had been in negotiations with Chester City F.C. chairman Stephen Vaughan over selling his stake [29]. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror on Merseyside in England. Chester City Football Club is an English football club from Chester. Stephen Vaughan (b c 1962) is an English Businessman from Liverpool. Gregg issued a statement via a PR company, denying contact with Vaughan [30].

In October 2006, Gregg sold his shares BCR Sports, the vehicle of Kenwright friend and Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl in a £15M deal. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Planet Hollywood, a Theme restaurant chain inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, Robert Earl may refer to Robert Earl (colonel (Iran-Contras Robert Earl (businessman (Planet Hollywood Robert Gregg and his wife immediately resigned from the board [31].


Personal life

[He married his first wife and had two sons, Tony (1964) and Robert (1965). ][32] October 2, 1968: Jetta gives birth to their daughter Wendy but she dies a day later of myelomeningocele - a complex congenital spinal anomaly. Later that month Paul and Jetta Gregg separate. [Unfortunately 5 months later his first wife killed herself in 1969][33], aged 30 and the boys were placed in care in 1970, amid allegations that Gregg's new wife Anita (known as Nita) didn't get on with the boys, also according to a report to the children's committee of South-port county borough council: "An NSPCC inspector visited the home of Mr and Mrs Gregg . . . in response to a neighbour's complaint about ill-treatment of Robert. "The inspector found the complaints to be accurate. Robert has been bruised and locked in and out of the house. Mrs Gregg appears to be rejecting of Robert. " Mr Gregg denied any "intended ill treatment" but inspectors felt that most of what he said was "an attempt to cover up his home situation, especially with regard to his wife's rejecting attitude to both Robert and Tony. " In 1999 after the purchase of Apollo Leisure by SFX, Gregg fell foul of Oxford City Council and local residents over plans for expanding his home "Yatsden", on Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill Heath with a cinema and garage [34]. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Boars Hill is located in the Civil parish of Sunningwell, south of Oxford, in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly Berkshire

In September 1999, the Gregg's bought five-storey, Grade II* listed "Garden Corner", one of the finest historic homes in London and considered one of the top five percent of listed buildings in the UK. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance The building on Chelsea Embankment was carefully restored, but by the time it was finished Gregg had bought the stake in Everton and was spending more time in the Northwest. Chelsea Embankment is part of the Thames Embankment, a road and Walkway along the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England Resultantly, the home was placed on the market in early 2002 for £8. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. 5 million but, following September 11th the housing market stalled, and the property was revalued at £6. Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul 85 million - with experts saying it would mean virtually no profit [35].

Gregg has invested time and energy in charitable projects, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation for chronically ill children. In 1998, Gregg was made a fellow of the University of Central Lancashire [36]

References

  1. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch
  2. ^ County is in the money
  3. ^ GREGG EXPECTED TO BUY IN TO WEDNESDAY | Coca Cola Championship Football Transfer News, Football News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Stats
  4. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch
  5. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch
  6. ^ County is in the money
  7. ^ MeSoccer - Battle of True Blue Holdings
  8. ^ http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:ejNFBIwS1rkJ:212.58.240.110/oxford/stage/apollo.shtml+%22Paul+Gregg%22+apollo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=42&client=safari
  9. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch
  10. ^ Programmes/Ephemera
  11. ^ Ogden Announces Agreement To Acquire Equity Position In Apollo Leisure Group Plc. - Business Wire - Highbeam Research
  12. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch
  13. ^ The latest British theatre news for 08/06/99
  14. ^ SFX ENTERTAINMENT INC Quarterly Report (10-Q) ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
  15. ^ SFX Entertainment Agrees to Acquire Leading U.K. Entertainment Provider Apollo Leisure Group. - Business Wire - HighBeam Research
  16. ^ Stage 125 :: Timeline :: 1980-present
  17. ^ The Stage / Features / Seeing clearly - David Ian
  18. ^ http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8213-1471698,00.html
  19. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch
  20. ^ http://www.a-m-a.co.uk/bulletin2/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=92&FORUM_ID=5
  21. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - Pure theatre on and off the football pitch
  22. ^ Showbiz boss backs football takeover
  23. ^ Who Owns Our Club & Why
  24. ^ ToffeeWeb - Viewpoint: Paul Gregg
  25. ^ Who Owns Our Club & Why
  26. ^ Everton FC, Paul Gregg, Bill Kenwright chairman - August 2004
  27. ^ Everton descend into disarray | News | Guardian Unlimited Football
  28. ^ icLiverpool - Everton group dissolved
  29. ^ icLiverpool - Vaughan wants to buy into Everton
  30. ^ http://toffeeweb.com/season/04-05/news/article.asp?ID=85
  31. ^ BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Everton | Gregg gives up stake in Everton
  32. ^ Our millionaire father Paul Gregg abandoned us - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk
  33. ^ Day I knew I would not be seeing mum again. I screamed - Liverpool Echo.co.uk
  34. ^ Cinema decision delayed
  35. ^ http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-13571153-details/Home+for+sale%2C+with+a+£1.6m+discount/article.do;jsessionid=yyvJFB1TkzJ4NQCBGnWD2lpLjMJn6CVX9RCW7c1RZlHdhYtSGgYG!119501946
  36. ^ News Releases - University of Central Lancashire

External links

Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The University of Central Lancashire (or UCLan) is a University based in Preston, UK, which until January 2007 had additional Campuses
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