An unconventional life.
A curious collection
of books.

J. R. Uggman was educated at a public school in Sussex, where he quickly established himself as someone with more enthusiasm for adventure than authority. While teachers attempted to steer him towards a conventional future, Uggman could more often be found smoking in the woods, organising unofficial expeditions beyond school boundaries or talking his way out of situations that would have ended less favourably for most people.

Following school, he attended university on England's south coast, where he acquired a degree, a healthy scepticism of conventional wisdom and a talent for finding himself at the centre of interesting events. Academic success was never the sole objective. Collecting experiences proved far more rewarding.

What followed was a career that occasionally appeared to have been planned, but more often resembled a series of fortunate accidents. Uggman worked around the world, living and travelling across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australasia. Along the way he accumulated an extraordinary collection of stories, acquaintances and experiences, many of which sound suspiciously exaggerated despite being largely true.

At various points he found himself working as an agent to stars of music, film and television, representing personalities whose names would be recognised in homes around the world. He became known as a man who could open doors, solve problems and remain remarkably calm when surrounded by chaos. The details remain confidential, although he insists that some of the best stories are the ones he can't tell.

Earlier in life, he spent several years on the road with a touring rock band. Officially he was a roadie. Unofficially he was a problem solver, equipment mover, emergency negotiator and occasional peacemaker. The experience taught him valuable lessons about people, resilience and the importance of always knowing where the nearest pub is located.

Perhaps most surprisingly, Uggman also spent time in charge of a top flight football club. During a period when fortunes could change between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning, he navigated the unpredictable world of professional football, dealing with players, managers, directors, supporters and journalists. He later remarked that managing football personalities was excellent preparation for dealing with celebrities and musicians.

Throughout his life he has shared drinks with rock stars, argued with executives, dined with diplomats and found himself welcome in places where he had absolutely no right to be. Somehow he emerged from every chapter with another tale worth telling.

J. R. Uggman divides his time between writing and pursuing an endless fascination with the strange, amusing and surprising corners of human knowledge. He reads widely, collecting the curious facts and oddities that fill the pages of this book.

The Throne Companion is the product of a lifetime spent asking questions, meeting remarkable people and refusing to believe that learning should ever be dull. Uggman firmly believes that every day offers an opportunity to discover something fascinating, especially when one happens to be sitting comfortably on the throne.

“Life is far too interesting to waste on sensible conversations.”J. R. Uggman