Stephen Channing Rider graduated in English and Film at Kent university in the early 1980s.

He then qualified as a chartered secretary and management accountant (FCMA). He worked in senior financial roles within the charity sector for organisations such as The Church of England, The Prince’s FoundatIon (inc. the Prince’s Drawing School and School of TraditIonal Arts), the SerpentIne Gallery and Solving Kids Cancer. He holds an MBA (Henley) and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Now retired, he volunteers in a local library, paints and enjoys reading to his grandchildren. He was spotted this December working undercover as Father Christmas in John Lewis.