- 1961: Bungling ineptitude (not mine but that which thrived at the grim, stone-clad Youth Employment Service office in Gladstone Road, about 100 yards from FGS) saw me stumble into journalism. Wrestling with the inevitability of flunking my sixth-form studies I wandered in one rainy day and discussed life as a hired gun. A career as a librarian was settled upon with a promising `we'll be in touch'.
- As weeks of silence turned into months I answered a `strong, young lad wanted' type ad in the Bolton Evening News. It turned out to be for an apprentice printer but having a GCE 'O' level six-pack would I care to front up for an interview at the Farnworth & Worsley Journal? Despite having no aspirations for the world of ink and scandal I thought `why not?' Before I knew it I was a junior reporter-to-be.
- Saturday morning, invaded the home of the headmaster, Mr K. Gibson. `Is it all right if I leave?' His face lit up with affirmation.
- 1962: First came the 007 movie Dr No, then flat rejection from the Daily Gleaner in Jamaica. The West Indies looked so idyllic when Bond was, well Bonding. I was later seconded to the Evening News, covering everything from courts, councils, crashes, cats up trees and other catastrophes.
As a member of the Bolton press ball committee I had the dubious distinction of turning down The Beatles for our annual `do' at Rivington Hall. Another mob from Manchester, called The Hollies, offered to do the gig five quid cheaper.
- 1970: Had job offers in Manchester, Sheffield, Barrow, Brighton and other exotic hubs but chose the Southport Visiter series (yes it's e not o) where I was a sub-editor, production editor and motoring correspondent. Also worked at the Liverpool Daily Post, yer know, like!
- 1979: Migrated to Melbourne and worked at the Sunday Observer (now defunct), Truth (also defunct -- is it me?) then The Age (mercifully still afloat).
- 1992: Moved north to sunny Gold Coast. Worked (still do) on the Bulletin and occasionally the Brisbane Courier-Mail as a senior sub-editor.
- 2005: On November 5 (no more fireworks jokes, please!) I married ex-FGS girl Vera Berry on the Gold Coast and we are living life to the full among the palms, surf beaches and fine vineyards of south-east Queensland.
I have my two daughters, UK-born Nicola and Wendy living nearby, plus a little Aussie granddaughter, Sarah, now 9. Vera's son Andrew and grandsons Logan and Bayley are still in Bolton but ... one day?
- Hobbies: Fly-fishing (sadly Queensland is too warm for trout), photography, music, travel, DIY and inventing new words and phrases with which to lovingly lambast the mighty Bolton Wanderers.
- Did I make the right career choice? Thanks to FGS drumming into me clause analysis and other apparatus of our language I'd have to say yes. But bibliography came a close second; at least it would have, had I ever received word from Gladstone Road. It's not quite half a century, ladies and gentlemen, please take your time!
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