Mobile Technician on WB Region , on regional office staff with Brian Thickens , Roger White in Chippenham.  This was another new experience for me as a Technical person, this combined two things i had mastered in my life so far Taoe Recorders and Culour Television.  Many people thought they had the skills to take on this new Technology, but only a few paased the test in our little Region of 13 showrooms and 50 odd Technicians.  Roger White and I got top marks on the course and finished the exam paper in 15 minutes out of the alloted one hour.  We were modest of course ..I don't think !

 

I was now esconced with Bryan Thickens as mentor at every showroom in my area, teaching my new skills to the installers and Technicians.  Chance to meet a broader range of people in the group.  Downside of course was that as time progressed I idi ny job too well and was not so essential as I thought I was going to be.  Ended up being moved into a showroom again, this time at Midsomer Norton.  Not my first choice, and as a Field Technician again !.  A really unacceptable retrograde step !  I had suffered chicken pox this year which turned into quite painfull "shingles", and I had injured my back at work and was laid up for weeks.  A good opportunity to move me in Granada.

 

My first day at Midsomer Norton was as I expected, i was introduced to everyone, and true to form as I had explained to Terry Jennins (the new D.M.) I handeed over my envelope which contained my notice.  I was to be off as soon as possible.  I got given all the crap jobs as nobody really wanted to get friendly with me. I was treated with suspicion, despite remaining a true professional at my job.  In due course I was accepted and treated a bit morelike a human beibg.  I found an adveret in the paper of a firm in Oldham, Lancashire that wanted a technician for a guaranteed 6 month contrat to cover the South West as a Prestel Technician, servicing tablet counters and electro-cardiograph machines. How hard could it be ?

 

At the same time i was in contact with Maurice Clyde from Granada who told me of a guy called Dave Coleman in Westerleigh near Yate running a TV refurbishment business who was looking for part-time stafff.  It would fit in nicely with my new job (which didn't look as if it was going to be that busy.

So in November I was self-employed again after a six year gap. It was a shock to buy a car again with the help of Gordon White's mate at "Hinton Garage" in Bath.  A Vauxhall Chevette like the one I was used to driving at Granada. £1,600 on finance of course,  I had tried to buy one from John Hadey and Graham Norris at Farringt Gurney but their lack of interset in my enquiry meant Graham and U had our first serious falling out.  I had actually ogne there on my bike, but the car i wanred to buy was not even ready.  A long way uphill home..not pleased to say the least.

 

So, here we were again, another decade arrives & more adventures.

 

 

                                                           

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