All right! I'l admit it from the start: I am passionate about engineering - and right from the first time that I could understand a little about the world I was always passionate about it. And if you are one of the many who think that an engineer is either someone who turns up to mend your washing machine, or somebody in greasy overalls who tinkers about with cars - then think again! Because engineering is a fascinating, satisfying and sometime exciting occupation. You have to study for 4 to 5 years - subjects like maths and physics - at degree level, and then you have to work your way through the corporate ladder.
But play your cards right and it is stimulating and exciting .... and can involve a lot of travel too. I have worked in all sorts of remote places, on things like ships, steelworks and power stations. And when you are working with huge, hot, roaring, machines, life can sometimes get more interesting than you expected!
And don't forget another thing - today's engineer is just as likely to be a woman!
Feeling so strongly about the subject (and when at last I had time to do something about it), I set about writing a novel with an engineer as the main character. I felt that having an engineer as a role-model might just inspire young people to consider entering the profession. It might also open peoples' minds to the world I have lived in, and which underpins so much of modern society. You can find out more about the book by clicking on its title here: "Far Point"!
And now .. the sequel to "Far Point" has been finished - go to my "Novels" page to find out more.
Oh, by the way, I am a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (formerly the Institution of Electrical Engineers or IEE). I was at one time Technical Director of Bailey Meters and Controls, a company in the Babcock and Wilcox Group. Bailey's, which I joined in 1962, had become Bristol-Babcock by the time I left after twenty years to set up my own consultancy company. My company operated for over 20 years, during which time I worked on several projects for the power and water industries around the world. I have also authored two technical books: "Boiler Control Systems" and "Power Plant Instrumentation and Control".
My wife's name is Jo and we have been married for 43 years. We have three sons, one grandaughter and two grandsons.
