I was born in Kingston Upon Hull in 1944 and progressed though schooling without passing my eleven plus. As a young child I was fascinated by chemistry and general science. However, at school I only had one chemistry lesson. At my request I started an evening class aged 14 and continued through Technical College to HNC Chemistry and MIBiol level Microbiology.
I started work at 15 as a laboratory assistant in a chocolate factory, and at 18 was working for a company processing vegetable oil. When I was 20, I was the chemist at a small lubricating oil & fuel company but my first of four redundances within nine years led me to be managing 25 laboratory assistants in an animal feed company whilst at the same time acting as Deputy Oil Manager! Redundancy forced me to take a job in the fish processing industry for two years followed by two more years working for another animal feed company! Facing redundancy once again I moved to Malton.
At Malton I was employed to install and manage chemistry and microbiological services for an up and coming well known food label. Over the 30 years we progressed to being the most certified independent food laboratory in the country. I chaired several committees as a member of the British Meat Producers Association, including member companies’ compliance to ISO 2001, and EFSIS food safety accreditations. As an accredited EFSIS and ISO2001 auditor I frequently inspected food manufacturing producers across Europe.
My other passions are music, dancing, geology, and rambling, and anything technical.
Much of my time is spent with my lovely wife two sons and five grandchildren.
In 1977 started a folk club in Malton, and for seven years organized a 3-day folk festival. This all moved up a gear when at 40 I joined the Malton & Norton Amateur Operatic Society, and the Pickering Musical Society and being a tenor was lucky to play many roles including male leads. Currently I am a member of the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir.
I got involved with research groups after I discovered I had early-stage Type 2 diabetes. I had to prove to my doctor that I had a 1 in 4 chance of a coronary in 10 years.
In 2004 after requesting blood tests, I calculated that I had a 1:4 chance of a coronary, but my doctor disputed it saying it was “normal! He reviewed and agreed with me, henceforth I decided to manage my own health. Subsequent monitoring discovered that I had Type2 diabetes! Now, 17 years later I have never had or needed medication.
My research and questioning into Type 2, led me to be invited to join the Diabetic Research Network and be trained to vet future research documents. During my training in London, I met up with a lovely group of trainees from Newcastle! Since then, I have continued to answer the call to travel to Newcastle from Malton, North Yorkshire whenever needed.
Why do I think research is important? One has only to see in the media a young child with life limiting conditions receiving the latest medical breakthrough! Anything that is of help is worthwhile!
I have always said “where’s there’s a will…there’s a way” If you have the will there will be a way to help! You do not need a science background only a bit of common sense to do it. And it can be great fun! The research staff are overwhelmingly grateful, especially when we come up with an alternative view!!
Come and join us.
