I was born in Birkenhead on April 6^th.1914. My first school was Claughton Higher Grade School, Birkenhead, which was destroyed later during the war by bombs. From there I went to Park High School, Birkenhead, newly opened in 1925. I enjoyed my stay at this school, which at this time had a first-class teaching staff. I gained my School Certificate in 1929. In the same year my family moved to a property situated midway between Neston and Heswall, which meant that I now had to cycle about 9 miles each way to school. This had the effect of making me super-fit and I started to clean up athletically at sports activities, becoming first cross-country champion and then later at the school sports quarter-mile and half mile champion. I left School in 1931 with the Higher School Certificate in English, French and Latin

I joined the Royal Navy in 1941 as a potential Air Mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm branch. Basic training was at Malvern in Worcestershire. There I was further selected to the electrical branch and sent for training in this to Brighton and subsequently to various RAF stations for 6 months, till it was decided I was fit to be let loose on real planes and sign for their air-worthiness (electrically speaking). In 1943 I was sent to America on board the Queen Mary to join a squadron bound for the Pacific. But fate was to intervene here. I became involved as a passenger in a road accident on the base at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, which put me in the Navy Hospital, Newport for 12 months. During this time I enjoyed the hospitality of the U.S Navy. When I finally got out, still very shaky, I was sent up to Brunswick in Maine, where I joined a Maintenance Squadron. While here I was promoted to Petty Officer Air Mechanic and this remained my finishing rank. I left the Navy in 1945 having on the whole enjoyed my service there.

I took up amateur radio late in life. I think I was well into my seventies in 1982 .I spent about 2/3 years as a B licensee before attempting the dreaded morse test. I failed miserably the first time and spent another 12 months before attempting another, which to my relief I passed and became G0HAB. As an A licensee I continued with the morse for a time then realized I would never be in the top flight in morse and went over permanently to phone QSOs. I started by going after Russian oblasts, of which in the old USSR there were over 290. I got up to 190 or so of these before finding it progressively more difficult and started looking for pastures new. I had learnt Russian some years ago and could pretty well translate any Russian quite well. I thought I would have a go at doing my QSOs in Russian. I shudder now to think what I must have sounded like in those early days, but over the years and aided by careful listening I have gradually honed my efforts to a respectable standard which generally gets a seal of approval from the Russians. In addition I have made three separate trips to Russia in 1992, 1994, and 1996 by invitation. Bands I work on are the 10/15/20and 40 metre bands. My favourite band when it is open is the 10 metre band. I am a member of the RSGB and will send QSL cards to anyone who asks for one or who sends me one. About 4 years ago I joined the RNARS. My membership number is No.4294. In addition I am a member of the HMS Plymouth group which maintains a station permanently on that retired warship in Birkenhead docks.