I left KEGS at 16 years old with an undistinguished academic or sporting record and armed only with a clutch of ‘O’ levels, had no idea of a career. No career advice service was offered at that time. There was a need for help in the family business running a small hotel so I started there which gave me a great insight in how to deal with people.
Having just missed the compulsory call up for National Service, which was then abolished, I followed my hobby of photography and joined WJ Cook in Bury as a photographic sales assistant, until moving out of my comfort zone with the lure of a company car, became a technical Sales rep for Constructional steel buildings. Following a downturn in the building trade I then became a sales manager for a scientific instrument company in Thetford. Returning to my interest I joined W Vinten Ltd as a sales manager for high speed and instrumental cameras and then moving on to the Broadcast products division. This expanded my horizons to cover a global stage and involved much travelling and some adventures. I visited and set up subsidiary companies in Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, and the USA – my travels took in Canada, Scandinavia, Western Europe, Russia, Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Bahrein, Israel, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I then became Sales Director in 1985 responsible for sales and worldwide distribution through Agents and subsidiary companies.
Retiring in 2001, I had already become a Director of our trade body The International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers and they appointed me Partnership Board member to IBC in which they had a share interest. IBC was responsible for an international Broadcast trade show and conference in Amsterdam. I became Board Chairman of IBC in 2008 and finally retired again in 2014 to spend a bit more time at home and with my wife and see more of our four grand children.
© Old Burians' Association 2024