School
- 1950-1955:
Farnworth Grammar School (4 O-Levels)
Caned once for kicking a tennis-ball, twice for truancy.
Extracts from reports:
"Takes a leisure-time interest in reading" [Daddy Wotton];
"Weak, he lacks courage" [Mr. Baxter];
"His main drawback is still indolence" [Mr. Rice]
Career
- 1955-56: Shop Assistant (Marsden's Agricultural Implements, Bolton)
- 1956-57: Messenger (NCB, Sandhole Colliery)
- 1957-59: National Service, HM Forces (Private Soldier, RAPC)
- 1959-67: Scientific Technical Officer (NCB, Walkden Laboratory)
- 1967-69: Assistant Chemist (Manchester Corporation Waterworks)
- 1969-73: Senior Assistant Chemist (Bucks Water Board)
- 1973-90: Deputy Chief Chemist and Bacteriologist (Lee Valley Water Company)
- 1990-96: Water Quality Compliance Manager (Three Valleys Water Company)
- 1996-... Retired
Further Education, Qualifications:
ONC Maths, ONC Physics, HNC Chemistry
(Bolton Institute of Technology — Day release & evening classes)
LRIC (later MRSC):
Wigan Mining and Technology College
Personal
- Born and lived in Little Hulton (Greenheys, near Brackley pit where Dad and two brothers worked — three of my seven sisters worked at Burtons in Bolton Road). I have happy memories of Saturday morning pictures, watching Flash Gordon or Deadwood Dick at the Palace or 'Crit' (-ereon), Walkden.
- Married (1965) to Judy, a student who became an NHS Nursing Officer and is now an NHS
Community Nursing Manager. Our first house was in Malvern Grove, Walkden. We have two sons and two grandchildren.
- Rabid Bolton Wanderers fan. First match I ever saw was a friendly v. St. Mirren (or perhaps it was Motherwell) in 1946 (My Dad came from Lanarkshire on the Clyde, hence my name. Every time he looked at me he burst into tears !)
- Other interests are reading, book-collecting (see my picture), and music of all kinds, especially jazz and orchestral classical. I was a founder member and the first chairman of the Letchworth Jazz Appreciation Group (founded 1998). Since 1979 I have enjoyed compiling and conducting quizzes for charity (which satisfies my irrational thirst for useless information and enlightening other people with it). I have also produced concerts for charity at my church and expect another will be called for at any time.
- Even though I wasn't a particular credit to my school, I am glad to have been there, learned a lot there and was very unhappy when it was demolished.
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