Adventures of a Baby-Boomer: A Journey Through Life Along the Road Less-Travelled

This book is the story of the first fifty years of my life, covering the period from my birth in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, at the end of World War Two, to my return to England following the failure of my business in France in the 1990s. I was part of the huge increase in the UK birth-rate after the war ended, which has led to us being described as "Baby Boomers". My parents were from humble origins. My father worked as a blacksmith at the local steelworks, whilst my mother found employment as a bus conductress and seamstress until she gave birth to my elder sister. I was fortunate to possess above-average intelligence, enabling me to gain entry to the local Grammar School and, eventually, to two Universities. My career path began at the steelworks, then took me to a major car manufacturer, followed by stints at an international bank and a management consultancy, after which I ran my own business for twelve years.

The story is not intended to be simply a chronological summary of significant events. It tells of countless incidents, some humorous, some serious, in a packed and varied life that could so easily have been cut short when I was diagnosed with Diphtheria at the age of three. Travel is a recurring theme, as is the variety of characters that I met along the way. My aim has been to show that with single-minded determination and a modicum of good luck it was possible for a working-class "Baby Boomer" to achieve success in life without falling prey to society's unspoken wish that we all conform.