Eddie Kulukundis

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. [ [http://www.lof-news.co.uk/Kulukundis.htm LOF-News: Kulukundis Family ] ] 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 [http://www.salisburyschool.org/about_us.asp?groupid=292]

hipping

The family had formed shipping company London and Overseas Freighters. Eddie learnt his trade in the shipping industry on tramp steamers: small freighters who plied their trade around the Mediterranean working where the loads were required to be shipped from/to. After the death of his uncle John Kulukundis in September 1978, Eddie joined the board of London Overseas Freighters.http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/lof2.html] However, in light of mounting losses, after the company 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 post the death of company president Manuel Kulukundis, and the resultant death of his nephew, Minas Kulukundis,in the Lockerbie disaster while flying to attend his uncle/godfather's funeral (Captain Nicholas Kulukundis). On 1 November, 1997 London and Overseas Freighters was sold to Frontline Freighters AB of Sweden, and Eddie resigned form 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.Fact|date=January 2008Kulukundis 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. [ [http://www.compleatseanbean.com/macbeth-press52.html Impresario who never recovered from being stage-struck ] ] The consortium became the Ambassador Theatre Group, of which Kulukundis is presently Chairman and a major share holder. [ [http://www.theambassadors.com/atg/index.html The Ambassador Theatre Group: About Us: Introduction ] ]

Athletics

Kulukundis has given more than £2 million to British athletes over the last 25 years, [ [http://www.onlinesports.com/sportstrust/creative37.html Where Do You Find Sponsors? ] ] 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." [ [http://www.onlinesports.com/sportstrust/creative37.html London Guardian, 22 May, 1998 ] ]
*Nick Buckfield
*Dwain Chambers - who had to move out of home, so Kulukundis funded his flat [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990905/ai_n14249521 Athletics: Interview Sir Eddie Kulukundis - Gifts from Sir with love | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]
*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
*Du'aine Ladejo [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980513/ai_n14155799 Athletics: Kulukundis funds French trip | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]
*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
*Steve Ovett
*Fatima Whitbread
*Janine Whitlock

In November 1998 Kulukundis was beaten by former Olympic champion David Hemery to become the first elected president of UK Athletics. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/216121.stm BBC News | Sport | Hemery earns leading role ] ] 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

Personal life

Kulukundis married actress Susan Hampshire in 1981. They celebrated their Silver Wedding anniversary at Raymond Blanc's Oxfordshire restaurant "Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons". [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1753968,00.html Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | JK Rowling is right about skinny models - but nothing will change while men still run the fashion world ] ]

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

External links

* [http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article289845.ece Interview with Independent re Sports philanthropy]
* [http://www.lof-news.co.uk/Kulukundis.htm Kulukundis Family] at London & Overseas Freighters news site
* [http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/lof1.html London & Overseas Freighters history 1948-1992]