13/07/2026
The Sunday Supplement - With Paul Fraser
Welcome to this week’s Tees Business Sunday Supplement - Tees businesspeople revealing how they relax at the end of a week and the start of the next.
This time we speak to Paul Fraser, owner of Rephrase and Tees Business freelance writer…
Name: Paul Fraser
Age: 48
Organisation: Rephrase
Position: owner
Currently lives: Seaton Carew
What does your perfect Sunday look like?
After breakfast with the family, a Sunday tends to be very much the day when I try to relax and do very little other than eat a Sunday lunch, have a couple of drinks at the local, Hornby Park, and be happy with family (Hopefully, watch a bit of football too!)
What’s the one thing you always make time for outside of work?
My wife might disagree with this (ha!), but I would have to say the family. What’s the point of working if you can’t spend any time doing things with those closest to you. For the record, the missus would probably say I put playing, coaching or watching football at the top of the list!
Are you an early riser or a night owl – and why?
Ridiculously, I am a bit of both – not through choice. I find it easier to go to bed a bit later to fall asleep, but then I tend to wake up early because of the years getting up with the kids. Since Rephrase was launched in 2020 too, I have found it much harder to go back to sleep if I am woken up (hence the tired look!)
What’s the best book you’ve ever read – and what made it stand out?
I love a good autobiography, particularly sport, and I used to read plenty of James Patterson thrillers. But if there is one book that stands out more than most it’s Bounce, by Matthew Syed. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a champion, Bounce has the answer.
Where’s your favourite place in the Tees Valley to switch off?
Probably the golf course or a football pitch! As a member at the brilliant Seaton Carew Golf Club, I really ought to play more, as we have such an incredible links course on the doorstep. I live closer than most. We are so lucky. But I still need to find a way to play more, and golf hasn’t quite replaced football as I’d have expected it to 20 years ago.
Who or what inspires you outside of the business world?
Running your own business can be quite a lonely place, but meeting so many people and hearing inspirational stories all the time from all kinds of industry and sporting backgrounds makes it much easier. I’m a big believer in doing your best for your family too, so they inspire me every day.
Do you have a hidden talent or party trick most people don’t know about?
I still believe I can do more than 1,000 keep-ups with a football. In truth, I probably haven’t done that many since I was 20, so I’m not sure if that still counts. Other than that…I’m an unreal Karaoke singer, honest!
