My life changed direction in 2002 when I met my wife Beata, who went on to become a successful food writer, author, TV presenter, celebrity chef and influencer in her native Lithuania. 

We have four children and relocated to Lithuania in 2013. I founded a thriving restaurant chain, which now operates three brands, across 10 locations in the major cities of Vilnius and Kaunas. We sell predominantly pizza and I have travelled the world in search of inspiration in this field to become a pizza nerd and/or ‘expert’.

One of the highlights was participating in the World Pizza Championship in Las Vegas. Despite not being an active pizza maker in my day-to-day life, I was very satisfied by my 51st/60 placing, against some of the finest pizza makers in the world!

Vilnius is an amazing city, conspicuous by its almost total absence of Brits. So any OIs who find themselves there for work or pleasure, should look me up and come and enjoy a pizza.

Tom Nicholson

(OI 1986-93)