In his own words…
A personal note …
School in Stratford on Avon, living away from home, the 1939-45 war… each of these elements were key components in my early years, which also included singing competitions at music festivals as a boy soprano.
Later, in common with so many fifth and sixth formers, my target was military service but age barred enlistment until 1946. For a time a new rush took over as I joined basic training in Le Marchant Barracks Devises, the home of the Wiltshire Regiment. After transferring to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – Arborfield – I worked on Radar equipment – Newcastle on Tyne – until selected for Officer training with 164 Infantry OCTU at Eaton Hall, Chester. In January 1948 I received a commission as a second lieutenant over the signature of King George the Sixth.
Few who have not been through the military machine have much idea of a young officer’s life. My first years consisted of course after course in subjects ranging from logistics to law, in locations all over the U.K. It was a demanding schedule, so when orders arrived in early 1949 to go to the Far East I was eager to embark on my first overseas tour of duty. New interest was generated by what was happening in that large part of the World recently vacated by the Imperial Japanese Army. The United Nations joined in a War in North Korea whose forces were assisted by hundreds of thousands of Chinese. In SE Asia insurrections were erupting in the territories previously controlled by Dutch, French and British governments … it was a daunting but exciting scenario. There I stood, on the deck of a troopship, twenty years old, nominally in charge of a draft whose hammocks were below, all of us following the flying fish to one or other of the Eastern wars. Things went well and I was promoted to Captain three weeks before my 21st birthday. Landing at Jardine Steps, Collyer Quay, in Singapore, made a lasting impression and a measure of that tremendous impact may be that much of my working life has been in the Orient and fifty years later, as a family, we keep going back.
In 1952 Mai and I married in England and a few years later went on a three year tour of duty to Germany where our daughter Gaile was born.
I attained my Majority in 1962 and, in 1968, left the Army. With twenty-five years still ahead before reaching pensionable age there was time to have an interesting second career.
I joined the UK NHS but our sights stayed on the East. The Health Service provided an interesting challenge in civilian life. Army management training proved invaluable and repeated promotions brought adequate personal income but there were frustrating limitations to the official budget, making improvements in the hospital service impossible to implement. Sidelines like participating in Government sponsored films and extensive UK travel provided some diversion but job satisfaction was lacking in many respects.
Ther
e was consequently little delay in accepting when, in 1979, a “headhunter” offered me an extremely attractive post for a minimum of three years in the Far East. Mai’s studio at home in Caversham Heights was established, but with few misgivings she agreed that we should sell our house and go to live in another, on the jungle clad banks of the Brunei river.
So we returned to S.E.Asia settling in Bandar Sei Begawan, Brunei where I joined a small team (an administrator and an engineer) to commission the new hospital. After the Declaration of Independence I formed a local company to complete the hospital project and two private clinics in the Sultan’s palace. Mai’s paintings were in demand (see Mai’s website Gallery) and we were very happy there for four and a half years
With our boat moored at the bottom of the garden it was easy to explore islands at sea, rivers and swamps. Since 1962, in Singapore, boating has been a family passion.
Mai:
Without returning to the UK, Michael next took up the post of Director with the Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, his first overseas station where, as a retired officer, active service seemed unlikely. When the Iraqi and Iran War spread along the Arabian Gulf, pleasure grounds were limited but we made many friends and enjoyed almost five years there.
The Hamad General Hospital, above, is the larger of the two hospitals in Doha. Michael’s primary task was commissioning the hospital below.
The Women’s Hospital when new in 1983
From Qatar we moved to Spain.
Life in Jávea …The Pueblo is the oldest part of Jávea. The village is at the apex of a triangle formed by the Port and the Arenal beach. Whatever hobby appeals there is probably a club or association that caters for it locally. When we moved here, there were more English speaking residents on the Costa Blanca than in any other part of Spain and the Spanish are extremely tolerant. From books, painting and music, to darts, whist, bridge, politics or gardening, there are dozens of ways to meet people and enjoy life.
Michael became active in the The Jávea Computer Club soon after settling in the area. During his involvement with the Club, for over ten years during which he was president, they met in Pedro’s Bar and he watched with enthusiasm as it grew from the original thirty members to over 500. It now has over 600 enthusiastic members and meets in new premises (in the Arenal) on three mornings a week. Apart from serving on the Committee he edited and produced the club magazine in hard copy. He also served as the Chairman of a local branches of an international group.