I left KEGS in 1963 after five years as a boarder. I was lucky enough to gain a place at the London School of Economics and spent four happy years there. I read economics, followed by a postgraduate degree in War Studies. I have memories of Churchill’s state funeral and of course the immense student unrest at the time of the Vietnam war. A whimsical notion took me to St Thomas’s hospital for first MB and to read medicine. Not perhaps a well considered move and a short lived one, but I did receive a surprised but a very kind note from Bob!
I started my business life after graduating from Manchester Business School. I have been lucky and have had a varied and challenging multinational career, which included two assignments in the USA living in New York and Los Angeles. I held senior positions with Xerox and board appointments with VW Audi. A three year assignment running Duchy Originals offered new perspectives, taking a small start-up business forward at a time of immense public interest and scrutiny of its founder. My final business appointment was as MD for the UK and Ireland of the Dutch technology company Oce. I retired in 2003, but was subsequently asked to run the Sea Cadets for the RN. The organisation was successfully merged with the Marine Society to create the oldest and largest maritime youth charity (Marine Society and Sea Cadets). I led the organisation for seven fascinating and successful years.
I finally retired in 2010. I am a Fellow and former trustee of the Royal Society of Medicine (a long story), a former member of the Development Committee of the National Gallery, and a former Chairman of the Anglo Netherlands Chamber of Commerce.
Retirement has allowed me to continue travelling and exploring. I warmly commend India, trekking in Nepal (Ama Dablam, Kanchenjunga, Manasalu and Annapurna) and the Karakorams (K2 base camp) and some of the high routes in Europe for those with a love of high places.
My generation had the good fortune to be taught by dedicated, professional and inspirational teachers.