Next door to where I lived was a big man called Ernie Haise (spelling ?) who was a toolmaker directed from Portsmouth into the Hawker Toolroom which was in the old roller skating rink next to the Regal Cinema in Canbury Park Road. He said to me, “You don' t want to be a pen pusher lad, learn a trade” He subsequently got me an interview with the Toolroom Supervisor and I started immediately. As you will see, my Tiffin Boys schooling and the Hawker apprenticeship served me well for the rest of my working life.

Between 1940 and 1946 I completed my apprenticeship and spent a considerable time at the end of this period in the important Jig Borer's Dept., working days and nights. Once I had completed my apprenticeship I was called up to join the RAF. I got married to Doreen just before going into the RAF in which I qualified as  a Fitter 1 Airframes Tradesman.

    When I was demobbed I returned to Hawker and went into the Jig & Tool Design Drawing Office where I worked for sixteen years in various locations. With a friend, in my spare time (evenings, weekends and holidays) I designed and built two houses in West Byfleet. It took 12 months to do and was very hard work with continuous money problems, but they are still very attractive and valuable properties. We built these 1954-1955. I lived in one of these houses until 1964 when I was offered a job as Works Supervisor of a new company in Guildford called Designs & Installations, with about 120 employees. I was subsequently promoted to Works Manager.    
    I was later offered the position of Works Manager of  Redwing Aircraft, Croydon, with about 450 employees. Redwing was taken over by Gaskell & Chambers Ltd. and I became Works Manager of this company with two large factories and other smaller units. I had to close down various factories in England and bring much of their production down to the Croydon and Mitcham area. I was then made a Director with a total staff of over 900. My last appointment was Managing Director of a very high tech company called Paterex in Orpington employing about 140, whilst still remaining a Senior Director of Gaskell & Chambers. Paterex worked mainly for Rolls-Royce and other aero engine companies producing very difficult hot zone jet engine parts.
    Finally I will list some names of workmates at Hawker Aircraft.
    Apprentices of my age: Len Hale, Ron Clements (who latterly set up his own company), Tiny Hiles (I think he became Works Manager), Andrews (I cannot remember his first name).
    Other Hawker people I remember: Ted Croker (who got a top job as Secretary to the F.A. He had played with his brother Peter for Charlton Athletic and also played for the Kingstonians), Len Woodward, Ray Ward (I got him a job as Chief Inspector at Designs & Installations. During my time at Hawker he was in the Jig Borers with me), Harry Otterwell (also in the Jig Borers and became a Chargehand), Dick Burr (Jig Borers Foreman), and Stan Woodman (Jig Borers Supervisor).
    Friends in the Jig & Tool Drawing Office: Newman Locke, Charlie Tidy, Tommy Moulds, Willy Wilcox, Tom Webster, Jock Night and Dave Stonnard.

I appreciate a number of the above have probably passed on, and my memory is not as good as I would like it to be.

    If anybody could communicate with me using FaceTime, it would be great. My phone number is. 01929 480897.

Editor’s note. If you don’t have access to a computer write to me at the address in the Editorial section.