FROM working with Sir Richard Branson on Virgin Galactic and the West Coast Main Line to becoming chairman of the Hydro, Will Whitehorn has had a busy life.

Guest speaker at today's annual Business Lunch at Glasgow City Chambers, to raise money for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Will also has links with Stagecoach and Sir Brian Souter.

"I've had quite an interesting and varied career," he said.

"I was the guy who got Virgin into the trains business, before that I was the person who handled the dirty tricks affair with British Airways in the early 1990s, when BA tried to put Virgin out of business.

"Then I embarked upon looking at the way to recreate the West Coast Main Line and design a new train for it, called the Pendelino.

"Latterly at Virgin I built the space ship for them."

But it hasn't all been plain sailing. Will revealed that he nearly died 18 months ago after a heart attack.

He said: "I always think, any- thing that comes along from the point of view of charitable work and working with hospices I have always found worthwhile."

Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Alison Walker, the Business Lunch has successfully managed to raise more than £135,000 in the 15 years that chartered accountants Campbell Dallas has been the principle sponsor.

Approximately 2850 business people have attended over the 15 years, when guest speakers have including Serco boss Rupert Soames, Olympics official Sir Craig Reedie and Tory politician Lord Michael Forsyth.

Meanwhile, Greaves Sports is backing the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice Brick by Brick Appeal.

Glasgow's oldest independent sports retailer will donate cash generated by the carrier bag tax to support the fundraising drive.

The Evening Times backs the hospice's Brick by Brick Appeal to build a new facility on a site at Bellahouston Park.

To learn more about or to make a donation, visit www.ppwh.org.uk/brickbybrick, call 0141 429 9861 or email brickbybrick@ppwh.org.uk

angela.mcmanus@eveningtimes.co.uk