I was born in Minehead a West Somerset seaside town on the shores of the Bristol Channel ( population about 10,000 inhabitants ), attending the local Grammar School from 1942 to 1948. As the first three years was during the Second World War, I only attended morning school. During the afternoon the school was used by the London Polytechnic School which had been evacuated from London for the duration of the war.
My sporting achievements were far superior than my academic one’s.
On leaving school I joined British Post Office knowing that within twelve months I would be required to commence National Military Service. During the next two years from 1949 to 1951 I served with the Royal Engineers. On my discharge I was selected to take a six months government training course in Mechanical Engineering, and for the next four years was employed in several large General and Aircraft Engineering Companies as a Precision Engineer, working mainly in their Tool Rooms.
In 1956 ( a week after my 26th birthday ) I was diagnosed with tuberculosis which went to my spine. This resulted in spending the next eighteen months of my life lying in a plaster bed in a sanatorium just outside of Gloucester (a plaster cask is made of your back – this cask is then supported on two wooden trestles on top of a mattress). After having an operation on my spine – some twelve months later. It was another six months before I was allowed to stand up, (with no physiotherapy treatment on leaving hospital) it took me another six months before I could walk properly again.
As a result of this illness I was forced to change my occupation to that of a clerical one.
From 1958 to 1964 I had several clerical positions. In a Chemical Processing Company, Fibreglass section of a large Wood Laminating Company, an accounts office in a large Engineering Company and finally as an Office Manager at a large Holiday Camp which catered for up to 12,000 guests weekly. In 1964 I emigrated to New Zealand - paying my own fare with my first wife and two children under five years old. I landed in Auckland on 1st July 1964 with no permanent accommodation or employment and sixteen packing cases ( which I had made and packed myself) in the hold of the ship after a six weeks boat trip from England.
Finally settling in South Auckland and joining Manukau City Council in their Treasury Department and within twelve months I was promoted to be in charge of this section in the levying and collection of Rates, Water Charges and Cashiers Sections. In this capacity I also represented Council on several court cases relating to payment of outstanding rates. I held this position for the next twelve years.
I have also been particularly involved in community affairs, being Treasurer of a Intermediate School Committee and Chairman of the Finance Committee at a large High School, both in South Auckland New Zealand.
In late 1975 after an interview I was appointed to the position of Revenue Controller with the Wellington City Council a position which I held until I could retire in August 1988 at the age of 56 years. This was after completing 25 years of service in Local Government and giving three months notice.
After twelve months living in Wellington I met Marie and we were married in 1981.
In 1988 Wellington City Council was the second largest Local Government Council in New Zealand and Australia. In this position I was responsible for the day to day running of the Rates Office, Water Rates, Cashiers, and Parking Meter collectors. Including receipting and the allocation of all monies received by council which represented a turnover of some $300 million annually.
During my time with in Wellington City Council I was much involved in the Induction and Implication of:
“A” Instalment Rating – five instalments annually
“B” Differential Rating – 60% / 40% between Non-residential & Residential sector.
“C” Change of Rating from Land to Capital value Rating
“D” Increasing the rates payable by Government Departments by some ten thousand dollars annually.
“E” A large increase in collection of Outstanding Rates.
Another change of direction saw Marie and I move across the Tasman to Queensland and for the next six years we managed two separate high rise accommodation buildings on the Gold Coast before again retiring in 1995. Over the next several years I operated my own mobile windscreen business, before moving back into management of the Emerald Lagoon residential complex, until finally retiring in 2005 for the third time at the age of 74 years.
I joined Rotary in 1984 being the Charter Secretary of the Rotary Club of Mt Victoria for the first two years.
On arriving on the Gold coast I joined Broadbeach Rotary Club in February 1989 and have been Treasurer of this club five times. In addition early in 1993 I was persuaded
by District Governor the late Bob Baldwin to take on the role of District 9640 Treasurer in that year.
Again in 1993 I commenced as Treasurer of the Broadbeach Senior Citizen's Centre which included the Broadbeach Meals on Wheels, Although several years later I separated these two organisations, and relinquished the latter. I have continued as Treasurer of this Centre up until the present date.
One of the most rewarding episodes of my life was In June 2002 when I was honoured by the Broadbeach Rotary Club in presenting me as a Paul Harris Fellow for my services to the club and the community.
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