Red Robin

About the Book

Red Robin is a story depicting the early years of a boy growing up during and just after the war; at which time two families cared and shared their love with him as if he was their own son. Any person reading the story will become aware of the happiness, comfort and enjoyment of the author’s experiences, during the first five years of life. They will also undoubtedly feel the sadness, misery, pain and tears, which followed when he became part of a third family that informed him they were his parents.

From the age of seven the young boy was kept from school on a regular basis to help build the family home and carry out all labouring work. Although his parents always had adequate food he was never given sufficient, becoming ill on several occasions. He was beaten regularly as a reminder to do what he was told, to keep out of the way and to only speak when spoken to.

Becoming completely independent and self reliant he subsidised his lack of food with bird’s eggs, fish he caught in the river or lake, wild mushrooms and edible toadstools; fruit, nuts and berries, from natures seasonal larder. With money he often earned from snaring rabbits he was able to buy any additional sustenance required.

About the Author

Following the depressing period of my youth I found contentment with Jean who I happily married. Although I qualified for the Weight Lifting Finals of the 1962 Commonwealth Games, I declined, being determined to catch up on my lack of education. I was aware my long-term future was far more important than winning any short-term glory. Having become an electro mechanical engineer I joined a company as Chief Engineer becoming personally responsible for the design, and manufacture of the first Automatic Parking and Toll Equipment, controlled by security cards, or coins. By my mid thirties I‰*ªd qualified as a Technical Sales Executive for a large Public Company responsible for sales and entertaining Government Officials and other potential clients throughout Europe and beyond. During which time I qualified to become a Fellow of the Institute of British Management. One of my most unexpected experiences was to spend months in India looking for viable business opportunities. As was being flown from Bombay for inspection of oilrigs within the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Another was becoming involved in the Angolan war. When the South African Government became aware I was deported with the warning, never to return. How this country boy grew up to live such an unpredictable and exhilarating life is all a story for another day, or two.