I was the youngest of three - my parents were both older than me! As I was their firstborn, they didn't have much experience with children. I was the only kid on our street to have nappy rash on his face! I was around six months old when the three of us moved to Sheffield to live a large part of our lives in the shadow of BDTBL (Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane). In 1949 a little baby sister came along to swell the ranks, and obviously fared better as they'd been able to practice childcare skills on me!
Schooling started at St.Barnabas C of E school on Alderson Road in Sheffield, and passed the 11-plus to go to Nether Edge Grammar School, which later moved to Abbeydale Grammar School for Boys. Not quite the best of students, I wandered along in the B stream and managed to scrape four O-levels - English Language, Maths, Physics and French. I also got a spirit level in woodwork, but they made me take that back!
Despite having failed O level chemistry twice, I started my working life as a chemist at what was then English Steel Corporation, later to become British Steel. I worked at Brightside, Grimethorpe and Tinsley Park before getting out after six years just prior to nationalisation.
Since then I've had a number of different roles, including retail management, sales rep in office machines and supplies, tyres and then seeds, plants, and other gardening requisites.I then worked for myself for around 11years supplying driving instructors, making vehicle signage, and supplying dual controls, training aids etc., but unfortunately that had to go due to an arm injury. A short spell of trade plate car delivering was great fun but the days proved far to long for a bloke in his late 50s, and I was lucky enough to join South Yorkshire Police in their communications HQ in Sheffield. I really wish I'd come across that job years earlier. Fancy having to wait till you're 59 to find the job you enjoyed best!
While all that was happening I managed to find time to get married and raise a family. I met Marie in May 1963 and we were married on her 19th birthday in March 1966. Susan came along in June 1967 and David in February 1970, and we now have four wonderful grandchildren Susan and Steve have Alexander and Thomas, and David and Jodi have Jessica and Harry.
For relaxation I like to get out and about with a camera, especially anywhere steam trains, and canals or other waters, and we are members of the National Trust and English Heritage, but unfortunately my current health circumstances have somewhat curtailed all those activities. However I am a licensed amateur radio operator so can enjoy company when I'm stuck in on my own, and I also enjoy listening to classical music.
The internet is a favourite hunting ground at the moment and has been a boon for keeping in touch with family, friends and workmates whilst I've been in dock. As well as Blogger I use Facebook, and have two Twitter accounts - @G1PQW for amateur radio and @Keith45655 for everything else.
