On behalf of Mike Eleftheriades we are very pleased to invite you to the next Nikon Owner (London Group) event ‘An Evening with… Gray Levett’. The event will be held on Friday, June 8th 2012, at Kensingtonrooms.
Gray Levett is the founder of Grays of Westminster, the multi-award winning, exclusively Nikon dealer based in central London. Grays of Westminster service the photographic needs of over 40,000 clients, many of whom include movie stars, rock stars and royalty – in fact, a veritable who’s who of today’s movers and shakers.
Grays of Westminster recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and is enjoying unprecedented growth, which has been recognised by the Nikon Corporation of Japan with a number of unique awards, as well as the Institute of Directors (IoD).
Gray Levett has had a remarkable international career; in the early part of his life he worked as a road manager, rock photographer and played in his own rock band. He become a theatre promoter, then ran a second-hand book business in Scotland, which landed him a personal invitation to 11 Downing Street for tea with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In the late 1970s, he moved to Hollywood, where he wrote for several magazines including Adastra and a column for Kate Bush, his work straddling both the music and movie world.
Moving back to London in 1984, he became the head of PR for an indie record label and recording studios, where he was approached to manage several acts including legendary rock piano session player Nicky Hopkins. At the same time he had been studying the photographic retail industry and felt that there was a gap for a new type of retail environment.
He started a photographic company in a tiny room in his sister’s flat, with £100 to its name and almost no stock to speak of. He had the germ of an idea to create a Nikon-only shop which he was told simply would not work. Today Grays of Westminster holds a unique position in the photographic industry where it has been described as “A deeply civilised shop with an utterly flawless service.”
In spite of a hugely busy business and customers all over the world, he found time to co-found Nikon Owner magazine which he has edited since its inception.
Tonight Gray will tell us about his life and why he chose Nikon as the vehicle for his career. Space is limited to 50 seats, so please book your places early to avoid disappointment.
Venue Details
Kensingtonrooms Hotel, Media Suite (basement floor), from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m., on Friday June 8th, 2012. The presentation starts at 7 p.m.
Address
Kensingtonrooms
131-137 Cromwell Road (corner with Courtfield Gardens)
Kensington
London SW7 4DU
Web address: www.kensingtonrooms.co.uk
Location Information
This popular Kensington ’boutique’ hotel is located on the corner of Cromwell Road and Courtfield Gardens, within a short walk of Gloucester Road tube station (Piccadilly, District and Circle lines) and is also close to Victoria and Paddington mainline stations, all accessible via London Underground services or short taxi rides.
Metered parking is available near the entrance to the hotel – parking restrictions are in effect until 6.30pm. Kensingtonrooms is outside the Congestion Zone.
The last word
As on previous occasions, we would like to request a £5 contribution per person to cover the costs of the room.
To reserve your place, please email (rather than telephone) your full name, subscription number, daytime mobile and landline to me at: gillian.greenwood@nikonownermagazine.com In addition, please indicate your attendance by replying to this invitation on the Nikon Owner Message Board: http://bit.ly/JtsyIN
For those wishing to socialise for longer, dinner will be organised at a local restaurant. We look forward to seeing you on Friday, June 8th!
With very best wishes,
Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor and Events & Training Coordinator
