Member Profile

Always interested in engineering - my favourite toy was Meccano, and a Mamod steam engine. However, I failed O level maths spectacularly (though passed at the second attempt)but that sort of set me towards the arts. However interests expanded to model aircraft and anything mechanical. Fortunately the Army saved me - somebody recognised the mechanical interest and sent me on a tank design course. (The maths came a bit quick!) This was an intensive degree level affair designed to set officers up to go to the various trials and experimental establishments.(automotive engineering, cross country movement, armour and its metallurgy all that sort of stuff) I ended up doing automotive trials at the Military Vehicles Experimental Establishment at Chersey, and did a variety of interesting work, mine ploughs (power requirements and clutches!) instrumented engine trials, developing the current Challenger gearbox , as well as some gunnery trials and thermal imaging work. I then went back as one of the Regimental tech advisers, gained a place as Staff College, and for the first year of that, took my Msc in Guided Weapons - structures, control, guidance, propulsion and aerodynamics. Later went on to run part of DQA on the procurement/project management side of Challenger, engines and gearboxes,& metallurgy of dodgy welds mainly. Finished my career running the tanks driving and maintenance side, and providing technical advice for the Armoured Corps, on automotive matters. Other interests along the way included model aircraft (twice) and full size racing cars, working on some designs of engine and suspensions. Now I have given up on the electronics and high speed engines, and the pressure of the maths and theory - someone elses drawing - just make it. Simple! You don't need to know to much about it, just relax and make it. Great.

 

North Dorset