I was born 50km from Trafalgar Square 2 years before the outbreak of World War II. Thus, my first 8 years of life were influenced by sleeping in our backyard air-raid shelter and attending primarily school in underground classrooms. After the war, my father, being an Australian from Bendigo, decided the family should come to Australia.

We settled in Brighton and I went to Haileybury College and then went on to do engineering (Mechanical and Electrical). My first job in 1959 was at Joseph Lucas (automotive electrical) where Southland stands now and they promptly sent me back to England (Birmingham) as a cadet engineer. On return I commenced a career of management of manufacturing businesses, some with household names. This included managing the 3 electrical divisions of James Hardie and perhaps my signature role was MD of the public Company Richardson Pacific. In reviewing my career of making products from electronic to heavy engineering, I am sad to say that none of them are now made in Australia.

I met Gillian just before returning to England in 1959 and we have now been married for nearly 60 years. We have 3 children and five grandchildren. We lived in Beaumaris for over 50 years and 10 years ago moved to an apartment in Hampton. We enjoyed travel in Australia and overseas

Over 40 years ago the we bought some land at Shoreham and it has been a family project to develop it (all the family have laid bricks) and it has become the centre for family activities.

In terms of community, I have played some tennis and golf and did some sailing in the earlier years. I have been a member of the Rotary Club of Victoria for 30 years (did all the jobs) and whilst spending a lot of time in retirement at Shoreham I became a member of the Probus Club of Main Ridge (President and monthly newsletter)

For health and age reasons we are now focussing our life back in Hampton and Beaumaris