1. Who are you? 

Philip Clarke, now I’m mostly involved with arts governance.

2. What does the public know best about you?

Probably that I was the first Director of Objectspace, Aotearoa New Zealand's leading gallery dedicated to design, craft and architecture.   

3. Tell us about one of your greatest achievements?

I’m proud of the fact that I have led the rejuvenation of not-for-private-profit organisations so that they are now highly respected and successful. This has happened more than once so it might be a thing with me!

4. Are you a cotton, linen or something else person?

Don’t care too much as long as they are nice. Cotton Jersey sheets in winter are required as there are no electric blankets. 

5. Do you sleep in black or white or colour?

Everything and anything. I can handle stripes but not so keen on patterns.

6. Describe you perfect bed?

There’s nothing like fresh linen, so newly laundered sheets everyday!

7. Does size matter, when it comes to beds?

Unless one is in the tropics a double is just fine, I don’t want the other person to be miles away. We’ve got a bed/mattress with a top layer, thickness is better!

8. What is your must-have bedroom extravagance? 

Lighting. We have Tolomeo lamps on either side of the bed. 

9. Tell us about the most memorable bedroom you’ve slept in. 

Our bedroom in a former home. It was a second storey barrel-vaulted room with windows on three sides including French doors and a balcony. Furnished with just an inherited early NZ Scotch chest and an installation of extravagantly expensive Italian pendant lamps, it was always light filled and ethereal. 

10. What’s your favourite bedroom story?

I was in a situation where no bed companions were permitted. Somehow we broke the bed and I needed to ‘fess up. I was asked ‘how many people were in the bed’ and I was very happy to use the well-used line “Two but only one was moving”. I paid for a replacement bed and later married my companion. 

11. What’s your favourite bedtime story?

The Lord’s Prayer.

12. Have you eaten spaghetti carbonara in bed? If not, what’s the best thing you’ve eaten in bed? 

No, no, no. The only food consumed in bed is when I have been ill and I can’t remember what that was. 

13. What historical figure would you like to go to bed with?

It’s easier to discern attractive brains rather than bodies from history so I’m thinking of a night with good talkers. As threesomes are fun I’m thinking writer Nancy Mitford and diarist the Duke of St Simon. She’s written about him and I’ve read both their writings. 

14. Watch, listen or read, what are you currently consuming in bed?

There’s always an issue of the London Review of Books by my bed. 

15. What are your relaxation night time rituals?

Espresso coffee, a hot bath and maybe an episode of The Rest is Politics. 

16. Have you ever made a hot water bottle cover? Do you make art in bed?

Never, never. 

17. Pillows; fluffy or flat, 1,2 or more?

Two, fluffy and flat. I’m partial to a quilted pillowcase. 

18. Blankets or duvet, why?

Both. All year it’s a summer duvet with the addition of just a mohair rug on top for the colder months. 

19. Do you have cold feet when going to bed?

Much of the year I have hot feet so my first action getting into bed is kicking sheeting free so my feet have access to cold air. 

20. Night owl or morning lark? 

Both. I usually sleep about 6 hours so I’m often the last to bed and the first up.

Nighty night.