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“I started in ����Թ�in 1960 at the School of Engineering Science, led by Prof. Gavin, that at the time was one of a select few such departments in UK. I had two summer stints at RSRE, Malvern and Ferranti, Manchester, but paid my way by summers of driving ice cream vans. I represented postgrads on the Student Council.

I missed my PhD ceremony in 1967 as I wrote my thesis up by Christmas, joined Texas Instruments, spent a couple of months in Bedford while visas were obtained, got married and emigrated to Dallas Texas in July 1967. I spent 2 years in semiconductor research (mm wavelengths) and another 2 years in surface wave research. In my spare time I did a bit of teaching evening classes and as a Science Fair Judge.

In 1971 I returned to the UK to join CEGB first as a control systems section head in NW Region in Manchester. We developed new instruments, one of which I involved the Industrial Development Unit at ����Թ�in. I also got involved in the huge problem of boiler leaks at Wylfa that had just been commissioned, and in improving the displays in its control room that were already out-of-date. I then moved to become Head of the Control Division at the Central Engineering Research Laboratories, Leatherhead, where we devised new methods of controlling generation and the grid. One such was radio teleswitching to control domestic load, some decades before smart meters took off. I was also a member of the UK-wide recruitment panel for R&D.

In 1979 I joined Software Sciences Ltd becoming Projects Director responsible for the System X telecommunications sub-contract, then BOC Automation, automating a sausage factory in Holland, then winding the company down.

I joined Hugh Pushman Associates, a high-tech communications company, becoming Managing Director. We had an automatic Telex product and carried out development for GCHQ.

In 1985 I joined NEI Control Systems in Newcastle, becoming Managing Director. We were heavily involved in Nuclear Power Station control, providing control room and station equipment for Heysham and Torness and some £60M of plant control equipment for Sizewell B.  I was then also appointed Managing Director of Reyrolle. Our speciality was large 400kV Gas Insulated Switchgear sub-stations particularly in Middle East. Following the acquisition of NEI by Rolls-Royce 1996 I was appointed worldwide Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Transmission & Distribution Ltd, with direct or functional responsibility for some 20 factories around the world. In 1998 I arranged the sale of this Company to VA TECH of Austria and, having overseen the integration of the two companies, I retired from full time employment.

I authored numerous publications in the computer/control instrumentation and management fields including the IEE book "Micros for Managers" and more recently a retirement book project “Ceramics Art or Science?” available free on the web.

I have been very active in the community, starting as Schools Liaison Officer for IEE Southern Region, becoming a main speaker and author for the DTI’s microawareness initiative, and creating one of the largest Northern Company Schemes for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. I was founder chairman of South Tyneside Enterprise Partnership, Chairman of Tyneside Training and Enterprise Council, Northern SATRO, John Marlay Trust and Science and Technology Fair organising committee. I was also an Executive Committee Director of Newcastle West End City Challenge, Vice Chairman Tyneside Careers and on the board of the Northern Regional Assembly.  I was a governor of Ponteland County Middle School and Newcastle College, and later Chair of Governors of Quarrendon Secondary School. I was a Trustee and Hon. Treasurer of IEE (Now IET), Trustee of the IET Benevolent Fund and Trustee of BNES. I was also Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Nuclear Institute and of its Trading Company and Chairman of Bucks Campaign to Protect Rural England. I remain chairman of Wycombe Neighbourhood Watch Assn, Hughenden Parish Council, a member of National Association of Independent Police Advisory Group and of Wycombe IAG.

My OBE was conferred for services to the community in training and education.”