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 to 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 Room

 

In 1956 ( a week after my 26^th birthday ) I was diagnosed with tuberculosis which was on 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 effectively 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 1^st 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, which I removed after a six week boat trip from England. Finally settled in South Auckland and joined Manukau City Council in their Treasury Department and within twelve months I was promoted to be in charge of this section with a staff of 23 working 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 on 2^nd May1981.

 

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 Wellington City Council I was much involved in the Introduction 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 in Wellington NZ 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 continued as Treasurer of this Centre up until I resigned  in January this year, after some Thirty One Years.  

 

One of the most rewarding episode,s of my life was In June 2002 when I was  honoured by the Broadbeach Rotary Club in presenting me a  Paul Harris Fellow  for my services to the club and the community.