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Let me start this part of the page with a brief summary of our lives.
I was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire
in 1952. Within months of my birth my family moved to Newton Nr. Alfreton to be near my fathers parents. I attended Newton
Infant and Primary School until 1963 when I started at Tibshelf Secondary School, I was not a scholar! and left school at
15 years old with no qualifications. I managed to find a job as an apprentice with Bowmaker (Plant) Ltd of Clay Cross some
5 miles away. Bowmakers were then the largest importers of Caterpillar plant (bulldozers etc) in the UK. Whilst employed there
I attended Chesterfield College of Technology, firstly on a years full time Engineering Craft Course and thereafter, on Day
Release whilst studying for my Higher National Diploma (HND) (I never completed it, although I spent 2 years on the course)
but I did manage to obtain my City & Guilds Certificate Part II in Engineering. In 1970 I decided to leave my job and
try my luck at something else. After being accepted for the Army (REME) and changing my mind again, I eventually joined the
RAF in Sep.1970.
Click hereto see a short history of Newton
Click on the picture of St Mary's and All Saints Parish Church (The Crooked Spire) to visit Chesterfield Town Council.
Eileen was born in 1949 in Oakham, Rutland. She is the youngest girl of a family of six boys and three girls!!
Eileen
attended the local infant and primary school, where she passed her 11+. She went on to attend Stamford High School for Girls,
travelling by steam train everyday. After leaving school she was employed at Hamiltons Dentists in Oakham, where she assisted
Mr Hamilton in the surgery as a Dental Nurse, she was also the Receptionist and helped out the Dental Technician. Eileen
married Keith Slater, an airman at RAF Cottesmore, in 1968, they had one son, Keith Jnr. The marriage ended in divorce. Eileen
and I met whilst she was the NAAFI Club Assistant Manageress at RAF Cranwell in 1979, she was then pursuing a career with
NAAFI. We married in November 1980 at Sleaford Registery Office, Lincolnshire.
Click on the picture of the Great Hall of Oakham Castle to visit Rutland Online.
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