I attended the local National School; about four miles away crossing through several fields to get there, but when you are young that wasn't a problem, just great fun

In the springtime you noted where the birds built their nests and you kept watch on them until the young flew off. You enjoyed watching groups of young rabbits at play and you found out where the vixen had her lair, whilst you also kept a lookout to see which field the farmer had moved his bull into. In the autumn you marveled at the massive spider's webs adorning the hedgrows, a filigree of silver draped in a mantle of fine misty droplets which you tried very hard not to break. Something the children of today have not got the opportunity to enjoy.

... At the tender age of sixteen in 1954 I set out to realise some of my ambitions. When I arrived at Euston station aboard the Irish Mail, the crowds, the noise and the smells were all invasive. It was a complete culture shock for someone coming from a rural background. ...

It was there I got a sound but rudimentary education, my higher education has come from the University of life.

1947 "the year of the big snow" was probably the worst year of my schooldays. It snowed in mid February and we still had snow in May. Just getting to school was a nightmare, everyone's footwear was very wet on arrival, and no fuel for the fires, no warm food during the day and still wet through when you got home again.

The wanderlust bug was with me from an early age. My older brother, who I believed knew everything there was to know made a pact with me, we would both go to Australia to sheep farm and that was my goal during my early formative years.

Plans don't always live up to your expectations. I was the youngest of four children and as needs must the older children moved out to earn their living. I was left mostly to my own devices and Australia wasn't looming large on the horizion.

We were fairly lucky in our area with some major industrial employment outside of farming. I got a job in the local Brick making factory, however that was short-lived, as I was underage, and when I eventually brought in my birth certificate they had to let me go. I then went working full time with a local farmer but I had not forgotten my brother's dream of far away shores.

... I also quickly learned the divisions and the regiments, their colours, badges and ties. ...

My Sister had moved to work in London some years earlier and perhaps if I joined her, in due course I might achieve my goal. At the tender age of sixteen in 1954 I set out to realise some of my ambitions. When I arrived at Euston station aboard the Irish Mail, the crowds, the noise and the smells were all invasive. It was a complete culture shock for someone coming from a rural background. My sister who was married met me and I went to her house to settle in.

The morning I left home was the last time I saw my father alive; he died suddenly less than a year later.

It was easy to get work then and within a week I had a job, not one I would have thought of doing a few weeks earlier but one i enjoyed immensely. The 2nd World War was still fresh in everyone's mind; in fact some items were still rationed.

The Government was disposing of goods "surplus to requirements" and I got a job in a store selling these items.

The British Armed forces was not something I would have been too familiar with, my knowledge of their history would have come from a different perspective. However I very soon learned about the sections that made up the armed Forces, Navy, Army and the RAF. I also quickly learned the divisions and the regiments, their colours, badges and ties. National service was still compulsory and many young men came in to supplement their uniforms. Also many recently demobbed Service personnel wanted military memorabilia.

As I said plans don't always go as you expected, I met a girl that had no ambitions to sheep farm in Australia so I never got there.

Needless to say my brother did, but that is another story.

I got married and I felt that I needed to improve my income, as working in a shop was not paying enough to bring up a family. I started working for London Transport. I was employed as a Bus conductor later moving to driver.

I was working on Trolley-Buses and was one of the last crews to work on those large, quiet and very green forms of transport.

During the 60s it was difficult to buy your own house in London and with a growing family we decided we would have to find an alternative place to live.

... One of the things I am proud of during my working life is being part of the Trade Union Movement. ...

The GLC as was then, were helping to construct over-spill towns in the Home Counties, after much discussions we came to live near Luton in Bedfordshire.

Once again i made a career change and I joined a major Multinational Engineering Company where I stayed until I retired early a few years ago.

One of the things I am proud of during my working life is being part of the Trade Union Movement. When I started work in Kingscourt Brick I joined the Union the first week I was there and apart for a very short period I have been a union member since. I have been involved at all levels of discussions and negotiations throughout my working life and if I made a worthwhile difference to any of my colleagues working conditions during that time then I think it was time well spent.

Rearing a family in any environment is not an easy job, however the fifty years I have spent in Britain have been kind to me and my family and I will most probably spend out my twilight years here.

Now that I am retired I live life at a more leisurely pace, however I have less time on hands than when I was working, I am involved with several voluntary organisations and with my garden that keeps me busy most of the week.

It certainly beats vegetating in an armchair.