Rafael Pittman - Lectures Seminars and Visits

individual lectures of one hour for schools, universities. associations and companies

Walking tours for groups up to 10 in English French and Spanish 2.5 hours

LONDON LIFE IN THE 1960s

RACING BIKES, ROCK'N ROLL and RONNIE SCOTT'S

Educated and living in London since childhood my schooldays were spent exploring the Surrey countryside on my Harry Ferris ( FERRIS bicycles and Hounslow Harriers Cycling Club) and my youth on a Norton and BSA motorcycles. In the History, Drama and Literary Societies I  was a regular visitor to museums and London’s theatre district. Weekends were spent at  music venues Eel Pie Island in Twickenham and the Craw Daddy Club in Richmond recorded as the focal point of English R&B and Rock'n Roll with artists the Rolling Stones, Acker Bilk, and Long John Baldrey with Rod Stewart describing  Eel Pie in his autobiography as "a fantastic exciting destination". In the sixth form I would be  In Soho at Ronnie Scott's, the Flamingo or Whisky A GoGo . 

 A story about the new era of the teenager, coffee bars, juke boxes, italian-style clothes and live music

ACTING, WRITING - RADIO BROADCASTING - GAP YEAR IN SPAIN

As a politics undergrad at Bristol University I was performing  with The Revunions (Drama-satire society) and in my gap year I was broadcasting  at Radio Juventud de Barcelona with Spain's first ever Radio Luxembourg style  DJ programme “Teenbeat-su progama de jueves con sus discos” that I wrote and produced.

 Listen to how this was achieved

STUDYING AND WORKING ABROAD

Paris was my home for five years a combination of immersion in French language and culture at the Institut Catholique and the Universite de la Sorbonne studying contemporary French literature and philosophy.I nsights into living in Barcelona, Madrid and Marbella

Learning point: having clear objectives, funding, making friends, joining clubs for culture and sports

LONDON AIRPORT and SHIFT WORK AT FORTE'S DUTY FREE SHOP

Hear about the beginnings of modern day Heathrow that grew from a 1930s aerodrome off the A4 Bath Road and how that area of Hounslow became a 24 hour meeting point and leisure centre for Londoners of all backgrounds from Teddie Boys to Toffs. After A Levels i was fortunate to obtain a summer job with Air France as a bi-lingual flight-dispatcher working air-side ( on the tarmac) attending to the aircraft's passenger and cargo lists, clearing through HM Customs then both seeing off the aircraft and being first aboard. These three years were an apprenticeship in customer relations, travel and tourism operations and export documentation.

Learning point: Airports, retail selling and working with airline staff provided an insight into the long-haul traveler, international life and the workplace. Chales Forte was in the hotel, restaurant and catering sector, in 1960 a pioneer of duty free. My talk describes my work experience and how what I learned served me in my career in both business and government.

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

I was a student of Politics at the University of Bristol followed by an MA research degree at the University of Essex,   Department of Government with  Sir Ivor Crewe later Master of University College Oxford and Prof Anthony King the legendary BBC television elections analyst. With a background in Latin American politics joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, International Press Section, as a Liaison Officer and interpreter ( French and Spanish) leading inward sponsored government visits to Britain for promoting cultural understanding and international cooperation with Europe, North Africa and Latin America. I am on the Executive Board  of the Conservatives Abroad, an affiliate of the  UK Conservative Party.

Lecture points: How government works, Parliament and MPs, Political parties, policy and voters, Foreign Office and Diplomacy. Overseas missions, representation, trade and tourism

PRESS AND PUBLISHING

I was trained at Reuters Economic Services on the news desk before becoming their UK sales executive. I represented them in Madrid and Barcelona at a breakthrough seminars with stockbrokers and bankers to introduce real-time share and bond prices. I have published articles and blogs and reports for multinational clients and the Foreign Office.

Learning points: History of printing, book publishing and newspapers.the work of news agencies, Fleet Street, techniques, personalities, literatura, politics and personalities. The development of the novel, social media and communications. 

Learning points: Skills developed are research, writing, presentation and teaching valuable resources for communication

LUXURY BRANDS UK & COOL BRITANNIA 

What better introduction than representing your country as the face of Britain in commerce trade industry and government for which I am immensely proud. I draw on my experience as Regional Brand Manager at John Haig  now Diageo, inward visits for William Grant makers of Glenfiddich and as MBA professeur at INSEEC ECE business schools in Paris and Bordeuax where I taught Entrepreneurship and Brand Management with focus on fashion, healthcare, fragrances, hotels, airlines, hotels, food and wine/spirits, Also insight into branding Britain in the 1960s

 Learning points: understanding the creative process, storytelling, brands. industry, production, trade, exports, culture, distribution, retail. events and trade fares.

TRADE, EXPORTS & PROMOTING BRiTAIN 

I created the London Chamber of Commerce export initiative "Signpost to Spain" in association with sponsor Banco Hispano Central assisting SMEs to expand their businesses. This involved setting up appointments with potential clients in Madrid and Barcelona  and accompanying and interpreting. I have partnered with Visit Britain in New York, Chicago and San Francisco.  In 2025 I founded the British Spanish Club to promote mutual friendship  through social meetings and lectures for culture and education about Britain

Learning points: business plans, strategy, marketing, personal branding,understanding other culture, the imprtance  of speaking langauges and other undertsanding other cultures

ABOUT ME

I am a writer lecturer teacher Professeur de Grande Ecole, TEFL qualified at International House, a member of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper makers a meeting point for media and publishing and the City Livery Club;  and an official Blue Badge Guide the highest award in guiding, member of the Institute of Registered Tourguides (ITG) and Guild (GBRTG) :the creator of Larry the Downing Street Cat memorabilia