- I came from St. Stephen's, Kearsley to FGS in 1947 and started off in 111B.
I went on from there in the A form until the UV's when I descended to alpha.
This was mainly due to a serious argument I lost with a truck that cost me
several months off school and quite a few problems in later life.
- I left FGS in 1952 having completed the GCE and with my mother emigrated to
Australia one year later, just a few days after the Coronation at which I
had represented the Farnworth Company of the Army Cadet Force. What a
fabulous memory!
We joined my father and brother who had gone out earlier and had built a
home near Wollongong, NSW. I served an apprenticeship at the Port Kembla
Steelworks and then studied Marine Engineering.
- I went to sea with the BHP. and spent 9 years travelling around the
Australian Coast. I studied and passed exams until I was qualified as a
Chief Engineer on both Steam and Motor Ships. During this time I met a
delightful Aussie lass from Newcastle and became a happily married man and
43 years later I still am, I served as a Chief Engineer for the final 3
years and came ashore following the arrival of the first of our three
children.
- My shore job was as an Engineer in the huge Newcastle Steelworks, working
with industrial hydraulic equipment and that section developed into a major
department. I remained there for 23 years, became the Superintendent, and
eventually took voluntary retirement at the age of 55.
- I gave up work relatively early because of deteriorating eyesight, having
suffered from detached retinas in both eyes, a legacy of being hit by that
truck. Thankfully my vision is stable these days but I can only read with the
aid of a magnifying glass and my driving is restricted.
- I loved playing cricket and did so until the age of 52 when my eyesight
simply got too bad. I played in the higher grades for 25 years until I took
on the captaincy of our nursery side, our Club having 5 senior and 14 junior
teams. I served many years as Club President, Secretary or whatever might be
required and was duly honoured with Life Membership. I also coached my
eldest son's cricket team from age 8 through to age 16, with great success.
- I have been a very active Freemason for 40 years and have twice been the
Master of my Lodge and virtually always have been an office bearer.
- My other major hobby has long been Philately with an emphasis on Cinderellas
and Postcard collecting, being on the committee of the Newcastle Philatelic
Society for over 20 years and serving 2 years as President.
- Margaret and I are both fond of travel and we have been fortunate to spend
several weeks in the UK on six separate occasions. Our most recent trip was
in 2003 when we were delighted to catch up with some long-term friends from
FGS and a couple of revitalised ones via this marvellous Wrinklie's Website.
- Being blessed with 5 grandchildren we babysit a lot and our life now is
very comfortable, both of us enjoying quite good health.
- To finish on a sad note, my brother Geoff passed away 3 years ago in
hospital in Sydney having picked up a staph infection whilst recovering from
a knee injury. Geoff, who was 4 years ahead of me at FGS, had always worked
in bank management. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
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