Last updated: 27 September 2026
Bow Tie Talks is a personal blog and podcast created and run by Clarke Roberts. I take your privacy seriously — which is a rather formal way of saying that if you trust me with your information, I’ll treat it with care.
This privacy policy explains what personal information Bow Tie Talks may collect when you use this website, why it is collected, and what happens to it.
Who is responsible for your information?
For the purposes of UK data protection law, I, Clarke Roberts, am responsible for the personal information collected through Bow Tie Talks.
If you have a question about your information or this privacy policy, you can contact me at:
What information do I collect?
Most of Bow Tie Talks can be enjoyed without telling me anything about yourself.
I may collect personal information when you choose to interact with the site, including:
Newsletter subscriptions
If you sign up to receive updates from Bow Tie Talks, I collect the name you provide and your email address.
Messages and enquiries
If you contact me directly, I may receive your name, email address and anything else you choose to include in your message.
Technical and usage information
The website and its service providers may collect limited technical information about visits to the site, such as browser or device information, IP address and information about how the site is used. Where cookies or similar technologies are involved, you can find more information in the Cookie Policy.
Why do I use your information?
I use personal information only where I have a reason to do so.
If you subscribe to the Bow Tie Talks newsletter, I use the details you provide to send you the updates you’ve asked to receive, including new posts, podcast episodes and occasional musings. This processing is based on your consent.
If you contact me directly, I use the information you provide to read and respond to your message. Depending on the circumstances, this will normally be because it is necessary for my legitimate interests in communicating with people who contact Bow Tie Talks.
Technical information may also be used where necessary to operate, secure and maintain the website and, where applicable and permitted, to understand how people use it.
I won’t use your personal information for unrelated purposes without an appropriate reason for doing so.
Newsletter emails
If you subscribe to Bow Tie Talks, you can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in newsletter emails.
Withdrawing your consent won’t affect the lawfulness of anything already done with your information before you withdrew it.
And no, I won’t sell your email address to someone who suddenly thinks you desperately need a conservatory.
Who receives your information?
I use third-party services to operate Bow Tie Talks. This means some information may be processed on my behalf by providers involved in services such as:
- website hosting and security;
- newsletter subscriptions and email delivery;
- website functionality and administration; and
- analytics, where enabled.
I only intend to share personal information where necessary to operate Bow Tie Talks, where you have asked me to, or where I am legally required to do so.
Some service providers may process information outside the UK. Where this happens, appropriate safeguards for international transfers will be used where required by data protection law.
How long do I keep your information?
I keep personal information only for as long as it is reasonably needed for the purpose for which it was collected.
If you subscribe to the newsletter, your subscription information will normally be retained while you remain subscribed. If you unsubscribe, your details will be removed from active mailing lists, although limited information may need to be retained where necessary to record and respect your opt-out.
Information contained in correspondence may be retained for a reasonable period where necessary for record-keeping, security or to deal with an ongoing enquiry.
Your rights
UK data protection law gives you a number of rights over your personal information. Depending on the circumstances, these can include the right to:
- ask what personal information I hold about you and receive a copy;
- ask for inaccurate information to be corrected;
- ask for your information to be deleted;
- ask for or require restrictions on how your information is used;
- object to certain uses of your information;
- receive certain information in a portable format; and
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
You can exercise these rights by contacting me using the details above.
You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.
Information Commissioner’s Office
Links to other websites
Bow Tie Talks contains links to other websites and services. Once you follow one of those links, the privacy practices of that website apply rather than this policy.
Changes to this policy
I may update this privacy policy from time to time, particularly if the way Bow Tie Talks operates or uses personal information changes.
When I make significant changes, I’ll update the date at the top of this page.