My Working
Life
Born 25
December 1937. Left School 15 years of age - 5 years Apprentice Toolmaker/Machinist
followed by 2 years National Service.
1959 Returned
to employment as Toolmaker-Machinist. Spent working life in this profession
working for various engineering manufacturing companies.
Gained
experience in all forms of machining/fitting culminating as manager of the
engineering workshop facility at the Science & Engineering Research
facility at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, including being manager of
mechanical apprentices at this facility.
Motorcycling
Life
Obtained a
second hand original rod gear change Douglas Vespa at 19 years of age.
Rebuilt Vespa
from scratch - gave to my Brother.
Purchased a
new Excelsior Tallisman Twin two stroke (1960), nice bike but gutless, after
much pleasure on this bike sold after 1 year.
Purchased a
new AJS 650cc model 31 twin. (1961) nice bike for the time, I and my brother
went to Spain in 1962 complete with Craven Panniers and full camping gear, got
just south of Barcelona - had enough, (too much weight - left half of camping
gear in Spain) rode home (2 punctures’, chain stretched to its full limit but
made it, rest of bike no problem.)
Sold bike in
1963 and went into cars! Bought new 1200cc Volkswagen Beetle, toured
After several
more cars (mainly Fiat’s) and an old Austin A60 campervan returned to biking in
1977. During first oil crisis, bought a new Honda C70 step through for
commuting, a revelation after my last experience with British bikes. Went on to
Honda CD175cc twin, lovely machine but too small for two up.
In 1979
bought a Honda 400cc twin, kitted it out with panniers and full camping gear. Chris and I joined Ken Craven on a tour to
Mojacar. After 2 more tours with Ken went on our own touring
Re joined
Mojacar Club in 1991 for Kens last tour, have been a member since culminating
in me being club secretary for 10 years.
2006 Honda CB1000F
1997 Piagio
Skipper 125cc Scooter Twist & Go. (Christine’s).
Still a very
keen motorcyclist, although finding it increasingly difficult getting up from
floor during servicing – the bikes I
mean!!.