IN his gladiatorial quest to brush up carpet's image Rupert Anton is well versed in the cut and thrust of the chase.

After all he wrote a degree dissertation on Roman chariot racing.

Though a competent linguist his passion for Latin did not extend to becoming "a librarian or monk" after his course at St Andrew's University.

He was lured by public relations before finally giving in to his destiny - working at the helm of Kidderminster's carpet industry.

Being the great-grandson of Victoria Carpets' founder meant Rupert, 35, was expected to carry on the family tradition.

However, it was a move he resisted for some time. He said: "There was pressure exerted and I rebelled. I had no intention of joining Victoria when I left university but I reached a crossroads in my life and decided it was the best option."

He has not regretted his decision. After seven successful years at Victoria he joined the Kidderminster-based Carpet Foundation six months ago.

It was set up to banish the stuffy image of carpet which has suffered in comparison to media coverage of "trendy" alternative floor-coverings.

Without a hint of PR spin he said: "I love my job. We are raising the profile of carpet and getting good exposure in home interest titles and glossy magazines. The media is gradually coming round to covering carpet again."

Rupert's desire to mix work with pleasure was heightened at St Andrew's.

He found the archetypal Latin scholar too "intense" for his liking and embarked on a mission to enjoy university life.

PR appealed and after a short spell as a sales and marketing graduate trainee he joined top consultancy Grayling as an account executive.

To his delight he found himself one of only nine males among 100 employees.

He said: "PR was very much a woman's domain in the late 80s. It was much smaller and undervalued. However, I gained a lot of valuable experience."

Experience which worked a treat when he moved to Sara Pearson PR and dealt with chocolate and malt whisky accounts!

To work off his new-found girth he took up tennis and met love-match Louise.

He said: "I slammed an overhead smash on to her leg - then she asked me out to dinner. I think it was my prowess on court which attracted her!"

In 1993 Rupert came to Victoria - the following year they married.

However, the new broom refused to be given a directorship and told employees to drop the "Mr Rupert" tag.

He said: "I felt I earned my stripes there. They were exciting times and I was very happy."

Rupert, who dotes on sons Edward, four, and Henry, one, is also a keen horse-racing tipster, jogger, and weekend cook, which he does a la Keith Floyd - tipple in hand.