Bohemia Village Voice

Acting manager John Ball, busy sorting out invoices on Tuesday.

Horntye Park’s general manager, Rob Newell and his assistant have gone, and it seems they won’t be missed. Acting manager John Ball (picured) said "We are hoping to replace them as soon as possible. Final interviews on Thursday of this week, so hopefully we’ll make a decision then.” John was clearly not impressed with either of the departed staff. "As far as the general manager, Rob Newell is concerned, he’s gone. He left about the end of July. He didn’t do what he was asked to do. He spent too much time on the schools’ project and nothing else. He tried to develop that side of it and has allowed the whole business just to implode. And now I’m trying to get it back again. He never controlled his assistant, who should have been entering everything onto the system."
What is John doing? "Everything’s in such a mess. The invoices haven’t been sent out for two and a half months. There’s nothing on the computer system. Now it’s a matter of trying to get everything on the system, get the invoices out, get the creditors sorted out, and try to find out where we are. I’ve got to sort every invoice from every company to make sure it’s on the system.
Has John got any help? "Kate, the night time bar supervisor, who does the accounts for a firm in Bexhill, has kindly agreed to come in of an evening to help out."
Isn’t John supposed to be working part-time? "I’ve been coming back, to try to move things along, and that’s been going alright." John has worked 160 hours in the last three weeks, and he was only supposed to have been doing 15 hours a week. "My wife is not very impressed," says John, with a wry smile. "I’m also covering for Ami (Ami Wallis, receptionist)  who’s in Cyprus for two weeks."  
” Horntye Park 01424 716666. John Ball, general manager.