Graham Lamont is the Chief Executive of Lamont Pridmore Chartered Accountants, Tax and Business Advisers. A great believer in hard work, when he's not running his own business he loves the great outdoors -  from walking around Crummock Water to abseiling

What does your job involve?

I run the national award-winning firm of accountants, tax and business advisers, Lamont Pridmore. We have more than 65 staff and eight offices across Cumbria and in Lancashire.

I advise our clients and work with our team to ensure we offer a wide range of specialist added-value services. I’ve also taken on several interesting industry and community roles over the years.

I drive a….

BMW 7 Series Sport

Who would you invite to your dream meal? (Six people, alive or dead)

Raymond Blanc, John Motson, Sir Clive Woodward, Warren Buffet, Dame Judi Dench and Sir David Tweedie, former President of the Scottish Institute of Chartered Accountants and the first Chair of the International Accounting Standards Board. An eclectic mix of interesting people!

My favourite TV programme is?

Richard Osman’s House of Games and Antiques Road Trip

Most memorable meal or favourite food?

Le Manoir des Quatres Saisons in Oxford to celebrate a special birthday a few years ago!

My idea of a great weekend involves…

An early morning walk in the country with the dogs; full English breakfast on our return; a few hours of relaxation reading the local papers and professional magazines; then watching Carlisle United win another home game; candlelit dinner with my wife at one of our favourite restaurants with a glass of Champagne to start and a very nice bottle of wine.

Biggest inspiration

Charles Handy. I’ve read all his books and find them inspirational. He advocates dispensing with traditional ideas in favour of upside-down thinking to manage change.

Best advice you’ve ever been given

Get up early, work hard and finish late to make your own luck!

Which sport do you follow and who do you support?

Rugby Union – and I particularly enjoy the Six Nations. I support England and Scotland which can be tricky when they’re playing one another. The Lamonts are originally descended from Argyll and have a Lamont tartan.

Favourite pub, café or restaurant in Cumbria

Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater – it’s my local!

Favourite walk in Cumbria

I always enjoy walking around Crummock Water, which is nice and flat and close to home. It’s beautiful first thing in the morning when you don’t see another soul. (At the weekend, I’ll pop into the Kirkstile Inn for breakfast afterwards.)

Best view in Cumbria

Crummock Water from the north on a very still and peaceful day or on a very windy day. There’s often no one else in sight!

What was the first piece of music you ever bought?

The Beatles – She Loves You

Tell us something you’ve learnt in the past fortnight

The article in the New Scientist which was widely discussed in the media that female orcas in the north Pacific limit their chances of having more calves because of the care needed by their adult male offspring. Fascinating!

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know

I really enjoy abseiling!

Early riser or enjoy a lie-in?

I’m an early riser.

How important is social media to you and what channels do you use?

I’m much too busy in life to pay much attention to social media!

The book or film which has had a lasting impact on you

The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. I recommend this to everyone. It’s a really helpful book for anyone who manages people, focusing on how to understand someone’s hopes and aspirations and how you can best support them to develop and achieve their goals.

Apart from a mobile phone, which piece of technology has improved your life in the last couple of years?

My iPad