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Sir Eddie Kulukundis OBE (born 1932 in London) is a member of a Greek shipping family whose professional career has spanned shipping and the theatre.
The well known philanthropist has donated in excess of £2 Million to British athletics and theatre groups.[1] Kulukundis was made in OBE for services to British sport in 1993, and Knighted for services to British theatre and sport in 1998. He is married to the popular British actress Susan Hampshire.
Biography
Eddie is a member of the Kulukundis family, a Greek shipping family who had made their home in London. Eddie was born at 26 Warbeck Street, W2 in 1932.
Kulukundis's parents moved to New York when he was eight, and not being much of an active sportsman, Kulukundis became the next best thing: the statistician, the guy who would keep the score and carry the sweaters. He graduated from Salisbury School in 1950, and is an Emeritus Trustee.
Shipping
The Kulukundis and Mavroleon families had formed the shipping company London & Overseas Freighters (LOF) in 1948.[2] Kulukundis entered the shipping industry by working on tramp steamers in the Mediterranean. After the death of his uncle John Kulukundis in September 1978 Eddie joined the LOF board.[3] The company suffered mounting losses, and after it had sold all but two of its ships and all shore side assets, Eddie resigned on 11 December 1985.
He rejoined the board of the much reduced company in 1988 following the death of company president Manuel Kulukundis, and the also death of his nephew, Minas Kulukundis, in the Lockerbie air disaster while flying to attend the funeral of his uncle and godfather Captain Nicholas Kulukundis.[3] On 1 November 1997 LOF was sold to Frontline Freighters AB of Sweden and Eddie resigned from the board. He still holds positions with family company Company Rethymnis and Kulukundis Ltd, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1998.
Theatre
A theatre impresario, Kulukundis started producing plays while resident in the United States. He co-produced the 1976 Tony award winning play Travesties by Tom Stoppard. Kulukundis later formed Knightsbridge Productions, with theatre artist/educator Jack Lynn.
In 1993, Kulukundis was part of a consortium which took over the struggling Duke of York's Theatre on St Martin's Lane.[4] The consortium became the Ambassador Theatre Group, of which Kulukundis is presently Chairman and a major share holder.[5]
Athletics
Kulukundis has given more than £2 million to British athletes over the last 25 years,[6] including Steve Ovett, Linford Christie, Sally Gunnell, Roger Black, and Denise Lewis. Currently it is estimated that Kulukundis supports about 60 to 70 athletes.
The philanthropy started when he returned to the UK, and a chance meeting with David Hemery. Through Harry Wilson, Steve Ovett's coach, Kulukundis received the names of several athletes who needed help. Every deal is recorded by his secretary because, theoretically, each one is only a loan. Among athletes Kulukundis has supported are:
Roger Black - "'When I was out of action for two years and earning nothing, it was Eddie who helped me with my mortgage."[7]
Nick Buckfield
Dwain Chambers - who had to move out of home, so Kulukundis funded his flat[8]
Linford Christie
Sally Gunnell
David Jenkins - the disgraced 400m runner returned the $800 lent to him in 1978, when Kulukundis visited Indianapolis in 1998 for the US trials[8]
Du'aine Ladejo[9]
Denise Lewis
Dean Macey - Kulukundis provided Macey with an inexhaustible supply of free motor transport - Macey returned what remained of the car a few months later. On one occasion, the timelag between provision and destruction was no more than an afternoon. After three crashes, Macey gave up and Kulukundis funded his warm winter training instead[8]
Steve Ovett
Fatima Whitbread
Janine Whitlock[9]
Eugene Gilkes "It was Eddie's support that made it possible for me to continue through the trials and tribulations of injury for long enough to hobble to a Commonwealth Decathlon medal. And so many of the good things in life that have happened since have been as a direct result of this achievement. I will always be grateful"
In November 1998 Kulukundis was beaten by former Olympic champion David Hemery to become the first elected president of UK Athletics.[10] Kulukundis is currently: chairman of the London Coaching Foundation; the Midland Coaching Foundation and Athletes Youth Performance; vice-president of UK Athletics; chairman of the British Athletic Field Event Charitable Trust; chairman and patron of the Belgrave Harriers athletics club[8]
Personal life
Kulukundis married actress Susan Hampshire in 1981.
Quotations
"My luck, is that my parents were very wealthy."
"If you don't run a business with one eye open for the costs, it's a disaster. So I have to say I'm a very poor businessman."
References
^ LOF-News: Kulukundis Family
^ "House flag, London & Overseas Freighters Ltd (AAA0295)". Flags. National Maritime Museum. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
^ a b http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/lof2.html
^ Impresario who never recovered from being stage-struck
^ The Ambassador Theatre Group: About Us: Introduction[dead link]
^ Where Do You Find Sponsors?
^ London Guardian, 22 May, 1998
^ a b c d Longmore, Andrew (5 September 1999). "Athletics: Interview Sir Eddie Kulukundis - Gifts from Sir with". The Independent (London). Retrieved 1 May 2010.
^ a b "Athletics: Kulukundis funds French trip".[dead link]
^ "Hemery earns leading role". BBC News. 17 November 1998. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
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