Interviews & Achievement
Political Interview with Cllr Paul Rogan.
Cllr Paul Rogan was an English Democrats member of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council representing Rastrick ward until 2010.
When did you first become interested in politics?
As a child helping my father put party election posters in our garden. At school reading the war-time speeches of Sir Winston Churchill.
What inspired you to become a councillor?
I wanted to be part of delivering the services people expect locally in return for the taxes they pay and to be able to speak out for those who feel powerless and intimidated by Town Hall officialdom.
What’s your greatest fear and your greatest hope?
The United Socialist States of Europe ruling and administering England through local government structures.
My greatest hope is that my son will be prime minister of a freer, fairer and more democratic England.
What’s the first thing you would do as prime minister?
The first thing would be to restore democracy to England. This would require three actions. Establish an English Parliament at Westminster, reform the ‘Lords’ into a wholly elected second chamber for all the counties in the United Kingdom and thirdly to arrange a fair referendum and exit strategy from the EU.
What single thing would most improve your local area?
A sensible layout of roads to Brighouse from other areas and a dual carriageway link to the M62 Junction 26.
Is there any cause you would die for?
A happy and free society for my son to live in and bring up his family.
What fictional character do you identify with and why?
Arthur Pendragon. He battled against evil and, even today his round table is an enduring example of equality.
What’s your favourite film?
Not sure I have a favourite, my most watched is the Meeting at Wannsee Conspiracy because it reminds me what horrors can be done if unchecked and how meetings can be controlled by tyrants.
What does your council do particularly well?
Upset too many people, too often.
What do you consider your greatest political triumph?
It is yet to come.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
It is yet to happen!
What is the biggest problem with local government today?
National party politics are a greater focus for elected members than serving local people’s needs. Central government has turned the roles of council officers towards ruling locally on it’s behalf rather than administering local services.
How would you solve it?
Empower community and neighbourhood committees to elect a spokesman to represent them as their councillors. Borough wide elections for all executive positions, not just an executive Mayor but the heads of the local police, the judiciary, the fire service and health trusts.
Who is your political hero, and why?
Joan of Arc. She managed to pull off in France pretty much the same as I would like to see pulled off for England.
When and where are you most happy?
Politically, when attending neighbourhood or community meetings where I can help to make improvements which people want.
Personally, doing a BBQ on the terrace or a party for my son.
What’s your theme song and why?
Who do you think you’re kidding Mr Hitler. It’s inspirational, it’s positive and my son likes to sing it too!
What’s the first possession you would grab from your house if it was threatened by natural disaster?
Swiss army knife.
(June 2007. Template Local Government First Q&A)
Interview with Paul Rogan, proprietor of RoTexCo
(Interview format, Contract Flooring Journal)
Did you get into trouble at school? Yes, frequently who didn’t?
What was your first part-time job? Working on a market stall in Leighton Buzzard. Initially I sold men’s shirts and socks and ladies tights and underwear. I then branched out on my own selling screamer scarves and badges.
What did you spend you first pay cheque on? From my part-time job mostly on LP’s and from my full-time job a bass guitar. I still have all the LP’s and the guitar.
What was the best piece of advice you have been given? Whatever someone is telling you about another person, tells you more about the speaker than the other person.
What was your worst business mistake? So many. Mistakes are always bad news, I don’t think you can put bad things into a league. Bad is bad, full stop.
What was your greatest business achievement? Establishing myself as self-employed and going through the ‘fear barrier’ when the bills are regular but the earnings are not.
What car do you drive today and what does it say about you? A Toyota Avensis. Good on mpg, multi functional, built in England.
If you could have invented any product what would it have been? The first steam engine came into industrial use in 1760. Being part of the dawning of the age we are still in would have been rather nice!
What do you most like about the flooring industry? It will always be there, in some form or other. I have met and made a great many friends in the industry; it seems to attract some wonderful characters.
What do you least like about the industry? Trade exhibitions at times of the year when it is cold and freezing.
Name one change you would make to the industry. Legislate to enable companies to manufacture once again in UK.
Which company in the flooring industry, other than your own, do you admire? There are a number and it would be unfair to name but a few. They are all successful manufactures, mostly all family owned/run and many have been around for a number of years. They are not all UK based.
Where should we have a flooring show? Depends if it is to be an internal one or an international showcase. If only for the home market, Harrogate is homely and ideal. Otherwise, it should be in Manchester. (International airport, motorway links, hotels, restaurants etc all adequately provided for.) and not during the winter!
Which single possession would you rescue if your house caught fire? One of my collections. Won’t say here which one.
Do you have any hobbies? Music, politics, gardening and riding my motor bike. All of which I do too little these days.
How do you relax? Watch history channel.
What is your favorite tipple? Chilled, dry white wine, increasingly with water.
How many times a year do you take a holiday? Not holidays as such, short visits to friends 2 or 3 times a year. Frequent day trips to museums and places of interest. Isn’t life one long holiday?
What is your idea of heaven? I have it and it’s a secret; don’t want to find it crowded!
What is your idea of hell? Getting divorced; got the Campaign Medal and Bar.
Which one record and book would you take to a desert island? Churchill’s History of the English Speaking People
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with? Barbara
If you could be anyone (living or dead, fictional or real) who would it be? Richard Branson.
Choose five words that describe yourself. Patient, paternal, ambitious, organized, determined
Any regrets? Wish I had studied at RADA.
Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions? Yes many. Some family ones are achievable. Some personal ones I hope will be too. Others I am afraid will not come to pass in view of my ‘sell by’ date!
What was your most embarrassing moment? No details, but happened when I was a choir boy.
If you had to choose another career what would it be? If all over again, a songwriter or historian. If not in the floor coverings trade, politics. If neither of these, anything which makes money.
The Coat of Arms used by RoTexCo as a logo is in fact the personal "Achievement" of the proprietor, Paul Graham Rogan.
​
The SHIELD
Chief Dexter is Charged with the Red Rose of Lancashire, the county of Paul's birth and the two previous generations of Rogan.
The Chief Sinister is Charged with the White Rose of Yorkshire denoting the county of his residence, the birth county of his son and, the 19th centaury generations of the direct line Rogan family in Otley.
Chief Point, the Irish Harp alludes to the Families Irish roots.
Rogan is Rua-h’gan in Irish (Redhead). The Fess is a cross-section of a carpet weave, signifying the nature of Paul's second-generation profession and also alluding to the first traceable Rogan ancestor, a weaver from Co Donegal.
​
The Shield Base is Charged Sinister with a wheel to signify the journeyman ancestry of the Rogan Family and Paul's grounding in Export and Field Sales. The five spoke wheel of life has a Golden Centre, which has a mystical significance.
HELM
The Tilting Helm, facing Dexter, as is common in Great Britain, designates the rank of Esquire.
​
The Crest is a Boars Head Couped; this fierce animal is said to be associated with the Rogan name in Irish mythology.
​
The colours used are Sable, White and Vert. Sable and White are derived from Knights Templar symbolism and the Vert refers to the Emerald Isle.
The Mantelling is of White and Vert.
​
MOTTO
The Motto, Rogo Ad Infinitum - I continue to ask questions - whilst generally appropriate in today's ever changing world is based on Paul's continual childhood questioning " but why?"
​
The Achievement was designed by Frank Whitwam of Holly Tree Farm, Jagger Green, now sadly deceased, and to whom I am much indebted.
Paul Rogan, 25.2.2000.
