My Life

I was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England in 1922.   I attended Copnor Road, Infants and Primary Schools from the age of 4, before passing the 11 plus examination and moving on to the Northern Secondary School for Boys.   It was there that I gained my Oxford School Certificate with Matriculation Exemption and passed the Civil Service Dockyard Apprenticeship Examination.

I took up my five-year apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering in 1937 and completed three years in the Royal Dockyard School albeit nine months of that final year was interrupted by sick leave, five months of which was spent in hospital.   On completion of my apprenticeship I became an electrical engineering draughtsman employed on shore (as against ship) installation work.    Some of my work involved landing craft bases between Fareham and Beaulieu.

In 1946 I gained my Ordinary National Certificate in Electrical Engineering and Higher Mathematics.   I did not take these studies any further, having passed the Civil Service Clerical Examination and taken up a posting in the Inspector of Taxes Office at Chichester.   My annual salary immediately jumped from £270 to £310.

It was in 1946, just prior to leaving the Admiralty, that I married Dorothy (Dot) Morphy.   We had two sons Andrew Michael (1949) and Derek Peter (1955).    Andrew is married to Rosemary and they have two sons David Michael (1981) and Robert Paul (1985).   Derek is married to Grace, who has a daughter, Punkie (1990).    Dorothy died in 1990.

Following on with my career in the Civil Service I passed the examination for Officer of Customs & Excise in 1948. We moved to Sutton, Surrey in 1953 when I was transferred to London.   In 1973, I was promoted to Surveyor of Customs & Excise.    I retired in 1981.