User:Anameisbutaname

Since 2013 I have contributed here as "Anameisbutaname". I use Wikipedia regularly for reference and occasionally do some editing: mainly correcting mis-spellings and removing vandalism from pages on my Watchlist.

From my first year at grammar school in 1952 I became interested in radio and electronics. Lots of electrical components were available at low prices from war-surplus shops and I built crystal sets, amplifiers, TRF and superhet radio sets using valves, a.k.a. vacuum tubes. Radio-controlled gliders and boats followed. For the valves to work two sources of power were needed: a small-size high-tension battery and a small 1.5 volt cell for the filaments. At that time transistors had been invented but were not available for general use! That hobby led me to become a professional engineer. I served a student apprenticeship with Associated Electrical Industries Limited - a major electrical engineering and manufacturing company - which sponsored my "Thin-Sandwich" student-apprenticeship course at London's Regent Street Polytechnic. (Now The University of Westminster.) Each year of the course comprised two three-month periods working in industrial departments followed by a six-month period attending college as a full-time student. On completing the course I was awarded The Polytechnic's 'Diploma in Commercial Administration With Engineering' along with AEI's 'Professional Engineer Certificate'. During my seven years' service with AEI, and subsequent employers, I gained great experience of engineering, manufacturing, all aspects of commercial administration, using IT and the art of business negotiation.

My wife and I have been married since 1964. We have produced three wonderful children who have given us seven fine grandchildren.