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Attended FGS from 1943 to 1949, taking science subjects in the sixth form. Member of '48-'49 Senior Gym Team and Athenians soccer team [see photos in Wrinklies' Corner. — LD]
- On leaving school I gained 12 months' experience in farming in Norfolk prior to reading agriculture at Leeds. Changed course after two years and took a 12-year commission in the RAF. After flying training in Canada I joined a squadron of Canberras at RAF Binbrook.
- Just before this I had met my wife Jean, who was then an Air Traffic Control Assistant with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, but who shortly thereafter became a stewardess with British European Airways (as-was). Six weeks after our wedding I went off to Malaya for six months, then to Malta for the Suez crisis. [Was it something I said? — Jean]
- In the late summer of 1958 I crossed the Atlantic on one of the last trips of the old Queen Mary to learn something (not a lot) about the Thor ballistic missile system, which was to replace the V-bombers. As a result I became a Launch Control Officer — a grandiose title for a very dull job, which eventually lasted for four years instead of the intended two because my scheduled replacement managed to crash his aircraft with the usual result. Too late then to retrain for a flying job, I completed my 12 years in a desk job at Brampton.
- Over the years we have produced a son who teaches IT in Bridgnorth, and a daughter who is married to a history teacher. In turn they have given us four granddaughters — two apiece. In addition we have also bred dogs and horses, but now have only three champion Abyssinian cats.
- In 1964 we came to North Wales to help manage, and later to own, an Interflora/Garden Supplies business, and in 1972 we added a hairdressing business run by Jean's sister. This proved very successful for many years, but in 1985 we expanded the salon and also went into ladies' fashions. This proved to be less successful and ten years later we had to liquidate at great cost.
- In 1972 Jean took a very good Honours degree in English at University College North Wales, plus a PGCE, and became a full-time lecturer for 28 years until she 'retired.' She still works two evenings a week for Coleg Menai and two days a week for a small private college in Bangor.
- We live in a very pleasant spot, across the Menai Straits from Caernarfon, with a lovely view of Snowdonia. Snowdon itself is directly in front of us and on a clear day we can see the little steam trains puffing their way up the mountain.
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