Barry worked in local government in accounting and bookkeeping, primarily in North Norfolk. He was involved in Civil Defence and communications. I went to school at Chase Secondary Modern Boys School, Enfield. I left there with no qualifications, just a school certificate. My very first job was 1962-66. I started work at a place called […]
Uniformed Services
A technical career. From the RAF into civilian life
The contributor began his working life as an engineering apprenticeship for the Royal Air Force, based at Halton. After graduation as a navigational instrument fitter, he spent 12 years in the RAF. Originally based at Marham. His air force career included two and a half years in South Australia while working for Avro on V […]
A Woman of War and Peace. The army and intelligence (1939-1980s)
Muriel was a remarkable woman who began her working life just before the War selecting women for high professional posts. In 1939 she began work at the Ministry of Labour, braving bombs for two years. Then she joined the Army on anti aircraft guns. As the war ended and the Cold War began, she was […]
Firefighter and more (1970s-2014)
Colin was an artificer apprentice in the Navy, had many jobs in London, then worked as firefighter in London, Cambridge and Norfolk, and ended his career working for the probation service. Engineering training at Wymondham and the draw of the Navy I went to Wymondham College the year that they moved the last house out […]
Governing Prisons: despair and hope
Andy reviews his work in the UK prison service and a second career in the International Centre for Prison Studies. I was bought up in post war Coventry, which was a very prosperous city. I come from a background of public service both in terms of my father and my grandfathers and I moved to […]
In and out of uniform (1960-1995)
Roger is a Norfolk boy who had dreams of being a rock star or a sportsman. He fulfilled these ambitions as an Olympic skier and keyboard player and entertainer. He had an inclination to follow his policeman father into uniform and went into the army and then joined Surrey Police in 1969. He transferred to […]
In the Air Force, the SOE and the police force (1939-1960s)
Toni had an adventurous life, starting in the Air Force in the Second World War, drafted into the Special Operations Executive, being shot down, and then as a London police officer. First Job My first job was a bit funny really – I went for an interview to Sainsbury’s because my mother knew old Mrs. […]
Lucky Jim. Being in the right place at the right time. (1948-2012)
Born in 1933, Jim was destined to become a London banker, but National Service intervened and he found he enjoyed Army life. It was the time of the Cold War and he learned Russian and transferred to the Intelligence Corps. When children came along, Army life wasn't ideal and he became a quantity surveyor, then […]
Payroll, contracts and the Navy reserve (1960s-1990s)
Penny describes her varied career in accounts and payroll and the changes as payrolls were computerised and she moved on to work for Norfolk County Council dealing with social services contracts. She also discusses her time in the Navy Reserve. A start in the Cashiers Office When I left school, I intended to join the […]
Royal Horse Guard and Police Constable (1947 – 1954)
Tales from a Royal Horse Guard and Norfolk policeman. The Cavalry The Princess Elizabeth had been married to Prince Philip and for the first time since the War, the Household Cavalry had paraded in the ceremonial state mounted uniform for this event. My story relates to the next most important event, the Silver Wedding of […]