大象传媒

I was born, just before the Second World War broke out, in January 1938. My father was an agricultural worker and we lived in a 鈥榟ind鈥檚 cottage on a farm at Thorpe Thewles, a village four miles north of industrial Teesside.

My stories relate to my early childhood and how the war affected me and my family. I believe that the events of those days really shaped my character and gave me an understanding of life as it really is.

After the events described in my two stories, 鈥淎 rural child touched by war (part one 1939-1942) and A rural child touched by war (part two 1943-1945) I continued to live in a rural environment until I completed Grammar School.

I was a Boy Scout and was among those selected to represent North Yorkshire at the 8th World Jamboree at Niagara Falls, Canada, in 1955

I them became a Police Cadet in Middlesbrough but National Service gave me an opportunity to join the Royal Air Force and see the world.

They say 鈥渘ever volunteer for anything鈥�, but I have found that it presents great opportunities. By volunteering I was selected to work on the British Nuclear Test program by the R.A.F., being based at Edinburgh Field in South Australia as a nineteen year old and then serving at Air Ministry in Whitehall on the same task.

On demob, I worked in the car trade, selling cars all my working life. This I totally enjoyed, it gave me opportunities to become involved in Motor Sport, and I was fairly successful as a Rally Driver in the 1970鈥檚.

My wife and I have successfully brought up two daughters and we have two grandchildren, both of whom are growing up to responsible people

My main private interest over the past decade has been buses and public transport.

I am now retired but am chairman of 鈥淭he 500 Group鈥�, this is a transport interest group, catering for bus enthusiasts and we have about a hundred members and run vintage buses on Teesside

If you would like to know more about Teesside trams and buses on Teesside over the past hundred years visit our web site at www.500group.org.uk