Fleetwood Town, UK

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE STAYING IN A P.G. GOES BACK TO APRIL 1998: On a bright afternoon, way back in 1998, my taxi pulled up to the doorstep with large brass letters with 97 written on it. This was No. 97 Bold Street in the town of Fleetwood, U.K.

A tall man opened the door and gave me a hug and a warm welcome. This was my first Land Lord – Nathaniel Sawyer. “Nat”, as he was affectionately called, hailed from Freetown in the Sierra Leone. Freetown is a port city and the capital of Sierra Leone, in West Africa.

All the boys staying at his house were from India and were here for their Marine Studies at Blackpool & Flyde Nautical College.

Nat would spend the whole day cleaning the entire building himself and doing all the maintenance work for its upkeep. It was always a pleasure whenever Nat would come to meet you in your room to have a chat. Often, when we were bored, we would invite Nat over for a cup of tea. Nat once cooked his favorite dish for me which he called “Mash”, when I was not well.

Nat was the reason why this would be one of the happiest and most memorable experiences of my life.

When I left Fleetwood after completing my studies almost a year later, I carried these happy memories with me. I always remembered Nat’s dedication to his building and how clean he kept it. More than anything it was the personal touch he had, one of kindness and service.

In my next blog article, you will read how my unforgettable experience with Nat Sawyer inspired me to start a Paying Guest Accommodation in Bangalore a few years later. He inspired me to be the best service provider and friend to my clients.