| When I first joined Harlow College
in September 1961, I remember 'Chewie' thinking I was the Bees'
Knees' when it came to Maths. Don't know where he got that idea
from but he soon found out to the contrary.
I used to hate going back to school particularly after the
long summer holidays. The long trek from Dublin by boat and
train and on arrival at the school, up those cold concrete
steps to the dormitories to put away the gear. It was hard
to get used to.
In overview terms Harlow College I thought was very academic
and did little to prepare us for the broader/commercial world
outside. Having said that I had a reasonable time there. And
in fairness Harlow gave me one of the most valuable assets
that I could have asked for although I didn't realise it at
the time. It gave me my Independence, something I was to fall
back on time and time again after I left and up to the time
when I married.
I had the 'Cosh' once from Purgavie. Unfortunately the newspaper
didn't work. Lockwood, I think got it at the same time. Could
be wrong.
Do you remember Hailey-Dunne from Dun Laoghaire in Ireland.
Imagine a mad Irishman trying to teach us lot French. It was
some laugh. And the lark with the kipper and later the gym
shoe. That was something else.
Then there was the English teacher who always had the hankie
out. He suffered a lot with the sniffles. He drove a white
Ford Consul which we duly put up on blocks one day , the poor
guy couldn't understand why the car wouldn't move.
After leaving Harlow College in 1965 I returned to Dublin
and after many job applications and interviews took up a Quality
Control position in the paint industry. To be honest it was
the first reasonable job that became available to me. After
3 years I got fed up and moved to another Company still in
Quality Control but this time quality testing detergents.
Products like Daz, Tide and Ariel. Following the advice of
my boss at the time I started studying Industrial Engineering.
It was at this point that my career started to take on some
shape and move in a logical direction, on the path to Materials
Management./ Distribution. Logistics I believe is the buzz
word.
In 1974 I joined a Multinational Company which was in the
business of manufacturing Chewing Gum of all things, and on
into Pharmaceutical Distribution and then Diagnostic Manufacturing.
That took me up to 1984 when following a downsizing I tried
my hand at the computer business. Another well-known Multinational
but I couldn't adjust to the 'Hi-Tech' culture so moved back
to the Confectionery business. Having improved profitability
for other companies I thought I would try doing the same thing
for myself so in 1987 I set up my own business in Logistics
Consultancy. Following 6 interesting years one of my clients,
BWG Foods Ltd, (BWG have the franchise for Spar in Ireland),
asked me to join them as General Manager of their Dublin Delivered
Business Centre. I accepted and that is where I am to this
day.
Heather and I were married in 1974 and we have 2 daughters,
Holly ( 27) and Jill ( 25). Both girls have qualified and
are pursuing their chosen careers. Holly in Human Resources
and Jill in Marketing.
We live in Churchtown, which is located on the South West
suburbs of Dublin.
Finally, I am very big into golf so if any of you guys are
on for a game then let me know.
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