I was born in a British Military hospital in Munster, West Germany as was called in 1948.
My father was a career soldier as was his father who was awarded the DCM (distinguished conduct medal), which I have in my possession –the next highest award to the VC for a non- officer.
My father met my Dutch mother during the liberation of the Netherlands and married after the war( before I was born)
My early childhood was spent in various military camps in England and Germany
Whilst in Catterick my father was posted to Korea . My mother decided we would prefer to be with her family in Eindhoven than be in Catterick Army Camp.
At the end of his Korean posting Dad was sent to Kuala Lumpur.
We had to then embark on a troop ship from Southampton to join my father in KL. The ship was the Empire Windrush a captured German liner well known for bringing migrants from the Caribbean to UK immediately post war before being used as a troop ship.
On the way we had many delays because of engine trouble. On its return to UK from Singapore its engine exploded and sank in the Mediterranean with the loss of life of one of the engineers who was killed by the explosion.
When we lived in Malaya, to go on holiday we travelled in our own car in an armoured convoy, as there were still sporadic skirmishes with the communist militia. We had to carry a sten gun on the floor of our car – just in case.
I remember once when we travelled in convoy and my brother started vomiting my father stopped the car, there was dense jungle all around, the convoy continued except for the last vehicle which was a Saracen armoured car and I remember words being shouted at dad telling him to get the kid back in our car and get back on the road and catch up with the rest of the convoy!
After a short stay with dads parents in Cleethorpes England where I had to attend yet another school dad was posted to Rotenberg West Germany- which was to be his last as he was demobbed after 22 years of service. Even though dad was a tradesman electrician, employment was difficult in those days.
Migration was an option – he applied to NZ, Australia, South Africa and Canada. NZ said yes first – dad paid our own way in order to leave as soon as possible.
During our first year in Wellington we had a house built in Wanganui. I attended Marist Boys School in Thorndon but as it was a transit year before moving to Wanganui mum said she wasn’t going to buy a school uniform and I had to endure standing out like a sore thumb. The following year I started at Marist school in Wanganui that had the same uniform!!
Post school I worked for 5 years in the traffic branch of the NZ Railways in Wanganui and New Plymouth.
After a short trip overseas I commenced a long career with The Dept of Labour rising to be a Senior Inspector of Factories and Awards and Agreements and later Resource Manager in Occupational Safety and Health, Corporate Affairs and Immigration largely involved in restructures of the administrative functions of the various services under the Dept of Labour.
As part of my development I was sent to Ashridge Management College, in England to do the strategic management programme, fellow participants came from all over the world. The College main building was the country residence of Henry VIII.
The most rewarding was being appointed as First Secretary Immigration to the NZ Embassy in Bonn in 1996 to carry out a restructure of the Immigration Service in that part of Europe. Living the life of a diplomat with all its perks was great. Large house rent free, free utilities, duty free fuel and booze.
After leaving the Department we migrated to Australia in 1999 purchased management rights in Brisbane and sold after three years to purchase a rent roll in Burleigh, which we had for 13 years until we sold in 2015.
On the personal front I married my first wife in 1972 had a daughter Emily and divorced 5 days later. I became a solo dad for a few years until I met my current partner Shelley with whom we have four children the youngest of which has just turned19.
My passion is football having played until my first hip replacement at 40,and was selected for NZ under 18 development squad as well as regional representative honours, and I am an avid Manchester United fan.
Since retiring I have been busier than ever helping out on jobs and working on our own house.
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