• In life there are winners and losers. This Derbyshire born boy is determined to be a winner.
• Wallow in 1940’s & 1950’s middle England.
• Steam trains and post-war characters.
• Plunged headlong into a adult world.
The year is 1942, the British are stoical but fearful, the war could go either way. A boy is born in middle England on a small tenanted farm that might be lost to the Germans. He knows nothing of this nightmare since the early years are idyllic. Hating school and failing the crucial exam, the omens are not good. But he is bright and works hard and against the odds gets an office job aged 15 and is plunged headlong into an adult world. A world of steam trains and post-war characters. It will take a big push to penetrate the realms of accounting and finance, yet it can be done. A time long gone. An endeavour as relevant as ever. Wallow in 1940’s and 1950’s England, it will be worth it.
From humble beginnings
“The demarcation between bottom-enders and top enders was very marked and well understood in the late 1940’s. The war had made little difference. This was not a proper village. Rather it was a community thrown together, first by the coal mines, later the railways.”
Via steam trains
“If the little engines were lovable, the giant eight and nine freights were positively awesome. Their magnificence was not dented by the quietness and stillness of being at rest in the great engine sheds. Nor was their dignity impugned by the ant-like men in boiler suits with strange sounding names who crawled over and inside them.”
Via business
How does an ordinary John Smith born to a small tenant farmer of poor coal-riddled soil in unfashionable Derbyshire become a qualified accountant and work as a management consultant for the mighty Price Waterhouse and subsequently at the highest level in other trendsetting companies of the times?
To writing
The world may have moved on, but nothing that’s really important has changed. I write now because I enjoy it, and have the time. Derbyshire Born is not only the story of my life, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the sometimes uncomfortable social transition between the old world and the unlimited opportunities of the new.
Who should read Derbyshire Boy?
Anyone with an interest in 20th century social history – Anyone with an interest in how Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire life changed forever in the post WW2 era – Anyone with an interest in the sea change that took place at the cutting edge of business practice in the sixties and seventies – Anyone looking for a good book to read – and of course my family so they know how it really was.
Excerpt:-
“If the little engines were lovable, the giant eight and nine freights were positively awesome. Their magnificence was not dented by the quietness and stillness of being at rest in the great engine sheds. Nor was their dignity impugned by the ant-like men in boiler suits with strange sounding names who crawled over and inside them.”
** Buy Derbyshire Boy From Amazon Paperback or Kindle **
In the pages of my book, I share the chronicles of my life – a journey that encapsulates the ever-changing times I lived and worked in. From humble beginnings as a tenant farmer’s son to soaring heights in the realm of management, this is a tale of determination, resilience, and the pursuit of professional excellence.
Starting as a junior clerk in a British Railway office, I steadily climbed the ladder of success, eventually earning the prestigious title of Chartered Certified Accountant during my tenure with East Midlands Electricity Board. My career trajectory then led me to embrace the world of management consultancy, where I found myself a member of the esteemed Price Waterhouse team. Subsequently, I joined Bell-Fruit, the captivating leisure division of Cope Allman International, a move that opened up new horizons for me.
Among the cherished accomplishments of my career, one particular highlight stands out: being an integral part of the external consultancy team that played a pivotal role in the 1974 merger of the Singapore Telephone Board and the externally focused Telecommunication Authority of Singapore. This experience was a testament to the power of collaboration and the impact of technological transformation on a global scale.
As my journey unfolded, I engaged in challenging assignments with well-known entities such as Raleigh Cycles, Allis-Chalmers, Dexion, Tube Investments and Mcvitie Cadbury Cakes. Each endeavour left an indelible mark on my professional growth, but not without personal sacrifices, including strains on my marital life and the profound heartache of family tragedy.
Through these pages, I invite you to step into the rich tapestry of my life, where the early years reveal poignant snapshots of social history, while the later years trace an odyssey through the white-hot heat of technology’s rapid advancement. In recounting my experiences, I make no claim to sainthood, but I promise an authentic account of life’s triumphs and tribulations, stripped of any “woke nonsense,” and offered raw and unfiltered.
Like the child’s game of snakes and ladders, my journey has been one of ups and downs, with each turn of fate shaping the person I became. I may not be a celebrity or a renowned figure, but I take pride in my achievements and satisfaction in the outcomes I attained.
As you turn the pages of “Barn Door To Balance Sheet,” I hope you will find inspiration in the resilience of the human spirit, draw insights from the ever-changing tides of business, and join me in reflecting on the essence of life’s grand adventure.
Derbyshire Man – A 25 Second Video
Derbyshire Man Book Cover
ASIN: B0CL8N96TQ
Paperback: 505 pages
ISBN: 979-8864072189
Dimensions: 12.85 x 2.9 x 19.84 cm
* A story of never giving in: never accepting your lot in life.
* Life is a balance sheet. Suffer a debit, so wait for the credit.
* Management consultancy with Price Waterhouse.
* Singapore in the early 1970’s.
* Big business & corporate politics.
* Life shock.
