Permanent Krin

A man of many talents . . . that’s our Krin

Martyn Meets.... the amazing Kriangsak Sirisambhan

MANY of you will know this cheeky chappie — he used to be a bouncer on the doors at Romeo’s and Juliet’s — that eponymous reflection of Oldham’s nightlife in the 1970s. But few would know him now.

The city-centre restaurateur, entrepreneur and now head of the Thai Culture Forum in the UK, Kriangsak Sirisambhand — known to hundreds the world over as Krin — is a man of means and influence.

“Everyone who went to Romeo’s and Juliet’s knows me. I talked to many people in those days, persuading them to behave and leave quietly!”

With this he rocked back in his chair in the Royal Orchid restaurant in Portland Street, Manchester, and laughed uproariously. Krin laughs a lot, easily, comfortably and often at himself.

There is a twinkle in his eyes as he talks about those days on the doors, when he used his Thai boxing skills — he was a provincial champion in his home country — to keep us all in check.

I for one certainly remember Romeo’s and Juliet’s — “Where it’s at” was the catchphrase at the nightspot on the corner of Union Street and King Street. It was the place to be at weekend if you couldn’t afford a taxi to Smokies or fancied a change from the Cat’s Whiskers down Union Street.

“They were good days, I remember them well,” said Krin as we chatted amiably over a sumptuous Thai banquet lunch in the restaurant.

During our time together, he was constantly answering his phones — that’s right, plural — as calls came in from the UK and abroad.

Krin hails from Bangkok, where he was born into a family of five. He was educated in his home country and on leaving high school enrolled in the Ramkumbang Open University, studying politics. He supplemented his income working in his uncle’s family business, eventually rising to sales manager in the company, which supplied the country’s military with essential equipment.

Determined to continue his education, he followed his elder brother Chinawut to England and so began a lifelong love affair with Oldham which endures to this day.

For the past 30 years, Krin and his wife Diane — they met on her 18th birthday, which she spent at - you’ve guessed it, R&J’s - have lived in Firwood Park.

“No, I didn’t have to throw her out of Romeo’s, not at all — she was wonderfully well behaved!” And again he laughs loudly at the memories of long lost days which obviously mean a great deal to this adopted son of Oldham.

He and Diane raised three children in Chadderton but all have flown the nest now. Eldest daughter Fon lives with her family in Thailand, son Daniel has joined the RAF and youngest daughter Keira works in London.

There is a sigh of genuine satisfaction that his family is happy and prospering for, on arriving in Oldham all those years ago, he had little idea of his prospects for the future.

“I was ambitious, I was determined to do well but first I had to complete my education.”

And earn a living. Studying by day at Oldham College, he worked on the doors at night, putting to good use his outstanding martial arts skills.

“Not that I ever needed to use them, you know. I was usually able to persuade people it was better to leave quietly. I was only a little chap but I had no problem dealing with bigger people.”

Quite how many people took on the smiling Thai we will never know, but I suspect they all came off worse for wear.

From the age of seven he was learning martial arts skills from his father Swang, who was a traditional boxer, while Krin took up Thai boxing and taekwando, becoming a provincial champion when he triumphed in his home tournament an the nearby American air base.

Those skills have stood Krin in good stead all his life. He is now a middle-ranking grandmaster in Muay Thai and has passed on his knowledge to hundreds of devotees.

After two years back in Thailand, working in the hotel business while Diane worked as secretary to one of the country’s leading businessman, they returned to the UK when his father-in-law Eric Chabley died.

“We had to return to sort out his affairs and we lived in Mossley for a while,” he said.

By now his elder brother had established a martial arts club over a pool hall in Oldham and Krin was soon sharing his skills to the willing students.

The brothers then moved into the restaurant business and opened Manchester’s first authentic Thai restaurant just a few doors from the Royal Orchid.

Twenty-six years on, the Royal Orchid is part of the city-centre eating establishment and Krin has a manager and ‘family team’ in place while he pursues his many other interests.

These include acting as the Thai Cultural Ambassador to the UK, a role which means frequent trips to his homeland where he is welcomed by Government ministers.

His love of sport has developed links with the Thailand FA and he has organised tours for youth teams representing Manchester City and Blackburn. Next year he expects to escort the Manchester United youth team to a tournament in Bangkok.

He regularly organises the Manchester Thai Festival, using the ultra modern facilities at Sports City to showcase Thai sporting talent, pastimes, food and trade opportunities.

Additionally, he’s helping establish Thailand links in towns and cities across the UK and is currently working in Newcastle, Durham, Doncaster, Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester. His most ambitious project is a joint venture with Middlesbrough City Council in partnership with Teesside University.

“We are well along the path of establishing a Thai Centre of Excellence for sport, education and, of course, our culture.”

He is big on Thai culture saying it is inherent in everyone from his home country to help maintain the values and determine every aspect of their way of living. The centres of population where he is working to develop stronger links with Thailand all have what he endearingly describes as “pockets of Thai people” who have chosen to make their home in this country.

But home for Krin is Oldham and ever more shall be so. He loves living in Chadderton and while his wife Diane has really taken to Thailand, and often spends weeks at a time with Krin’s family in Bangkok, home is where the heart is and that’s most definitely Firwood Park.

It seems a little incongruous that we should be hosting the Thailand Ambassador for Culture in our midst, but that’s Oldham for you.

Krin has struck up a business relationship with Chris Massey from the Community Skills Development Agency, based in the old police station in Chadderton, and they have jointly promoted Thai events and trade missions.

Both are keen to strengthen links between Oldham and Krin’s home country and would love to hear from anyone who would like to forge links between the two cultures.

“Just ask people to get in touch: there are endless opportunities in Thailand for the people of Oldham.”

Krin is a genuinely good bloke, whose company I enjoyed immensely.

Oldham should be pleased to have nurtured such a man.





Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle