Gerald Ratner, the businessman whose infamous jokes about products his shops sold led to the downfall of a retail giant, has been sharing his life’s ups and downs with business people and students in Mansfield and Ashfield.

In a joint initiative from Mansfield & Ashfield 2020, West Nottinghamshire College, and Nottingham Trent University, Gerald spoke at three events in the Mansfield and Ashfield area.

He was the after-dinner speaker at a special 2020 evening held at Il Rosso on Nottingham Road, Mansfield and was the keynote speaker at the following day’s 2020 breakfast meeting at Portland College (below).

Following the 2020 meeting, Gerald then went to the NTU Mansfield Hub campus at West Nottinghamshire College, where he delivered a speech to college and university students (top).

Jane Box, 2020 chairman, said: “What a story he has to tell and what an inspiration he is. He has experienced incredible highs and awful lows so people can learn a lot from what he says.”

Jane Fishwick, assistant principal at West Nottinghamshire College said: “It was a fabulous, humorous speech to hear, and I think he was quite honest with what he was saying. There was also a lot of advice and food for thought.”

Gerald had been head of the Ratners Group family business, and under his stewardship, it had become highly successful, with thousands of outlets.

But in 1991 he gave a speech at a conference of the Institute of Directors, during which he said: “We also do cut-glass sherry decanters complete with six glasses on a silver-plated tray that your butler can serve you drinks on, all for £4.95. People say, “How can you sell this for such a low price?”, I say, “because it’s total crap.”

He then went on to say that a set of earrings was cheaper than a Marks & Spencer prawn sandwich but that it would not last as long as the sandwich.

Following his comments, the value of the Ratner Group dropped by around £500m, and consumers avoided its shops. Mr Ratner, who had been chairman and CEO, appointed a new chairman, who then dismissed him.

Gerald, who is now a speaker and a mentor, said: “I certainly didn’t enjoy the seven years after it happened, but I’m happier now and I appreciate things more.”

He added that in his opinion, the media reported his comments out of context.

His speeches, delivered with a lot of humour, detailed what happened following his comments, his other business interests, and how he is now.

In the question-and-answer sessions that followed his Mansfield engagements, he also offered advice to businesses and to students.