ALAN Stone is the Basingstoke Parliamentary candidate for UKIP in this year’s General Election, which will take place on May 7.

The father-of-four, who grew up in the borough, is the owner of Squirrels Collectors’ Centre, in New Road, and founded the Basingstoke branch of UKIP, in Church Street, four years ago. The branch was officially opened by UKIP party leader Nigel Farage in November 2012.

The 49-year-old antiques dealer was also a big part of the Save Deeside Group, which campaigned in a bid to save Deeside care home, in Alliston Way, South Ham, from closure.

1. Who was your childhood hero and why? James Hunt – he was just so cool.

2. What is your most precious possession, and why is it important to you? I have a telescope. It’s not amazing but it was given to me by my late granddad, who was a Chelsea pensioner.

3. What was the first record/CD you bought? My first album was "Slade Live".

4. What is the radio/television show you hate to miss? These days, Sunday Politics.

5. What is your favourite film? "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service" – the best Bond film.

6. What is your pet hate? People spitting in the street – it is unnecessary and disgusting.

7. What are you reading at the moment? Nothing.

8. If you were choosing a last meal, what would it be? A very long one.

9. If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be? Captain James Cook or Nelson Mandela.

10. If you had a time machine where would it take you? Back to the great sea adventures of Captain Cook and all those new and amazing sights.

11. If you were stranded on a desert island, what luxury would you choose to have with you? As long as my wife was there, who needs luxuries?

12. What sports team do you support? I don’t have any favourite, but will support any team wearing the cross of St George.

13. What was your first job? My first paid job was in advertising. I had to walk around town wearing a rucksack with a sign on it saying "shop at Staffords". I was 13 at the time, it was a great learning experience.

14. If you could take over someone’s job for the day, whose job would you choose? I am quite happy with my own job. I will try to take Maria Miller’s, but not just for a day.

15. What worries you the most? The lack of jobs for youngsters. Saturday work used to give under-16s a start and a way of learning about work. Red tape and seven-day working has changed that so kids do not, even if they are lucky, enter the job market until they are in their late teens or early 20s.

16. What is your proudest moment? The birth of each and every one of my children. I have four, and I am so proud of them all.

17. What would you like your epitaph to be? That would be for someone else to write.

18. What’s your guilty pleasure? Nothing.

19. What one thing could change society for the better? I would ban party politics. I would like there to be voting for people who would actually care for the area, and the people who voted.

20. What three words best describe you? My children would say "grumpy old git".