recent joiner, but old engineer

Hi Folks, I'm a retired professional engineer (EE) who is a 5th generation engineer in his family, my son is also an EE in Australia and hopefully our 18month grandson will follow the trend.

I was fortunate enough to attend a grammar tech school that taught wood work and metalwork; one of my 6th form projects was to scratch build a go-kart.

I then took a student apprenticeship with A Reyrolle on Tyneside where the first 6 months were in the training school where we were taught basic hand and machine processes. This has proven incredibly useful in my professional life where I've worked in the power electronics field on inverters, drives and power supplies. Mechanical engineering was always a large part of this discipline.

Now retired I run a group of volunteers at the Newcastle Discovery museum repairing exhibits and designing new ones.

Always willing to help other members on electrical/ electronic topics.

Ed

Hello Ed,

Welcome to the forum, it would be good to see some of the exhibits you've worked on.

Neil

Welcome Ed, from another retired engineer. Funny how we can't let go.

Hi Edd, welcome to the forum. I'm sure you will get lots of info to any questions you may have regarding Model Engineering here.

My Step Fathers younger brother worked for a long time with Reyroles in their training school. His name was Ted Crow. I worked at the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company in Wallsend and before leaving Engineering for the oil industry I worked at the fitting out department at Swan Hunters until around 1974.

While serving my apprenticeship there we attended the Wallsend Tech College/SENTEC for day release and night classes. It was here that one of our lecturers Ken Swan introduced me to Model Engineering when he bought his prototype "Bridget" in and showed us it running.

I now live in Manchester but still return to the North East regularly.

Hi Gents,

Neil, I'll see what can be done with some pictures, not promising anything, but if I get bored in the winter you may get a short article!!! There would be an ulterior motive in that I would be looking to recruit locals for our volunteers through the magazine. We actually operate in a way very akin to the "Men in Sheds" programme. That could form a basis for an article.

Bob, I was in the school in the Newtown works with a Mr Matthews & a Mr Watt as the hand tools instructors (1964?).

The next year I was working with the outside erection squads in Northern Ireland and the 3rd year I was in the Drawing Office school with Frank Peacock.

Final spell was in the HV design Drawing office with Charlie Green (7th floor).

When I graduated I worked in the Q&M section for Mike Smith (one eyed Mike) section leader was Ernie Lewthwaite, with most of my work being in the LEF (no 7 shop and Hetton) where I was looking after the transfer of Nalders instruments to Hebburn.

I was then involved with instrumentation in the Clothier EHV lab

Ed

Hi Ed,

Welcome to the forum, I obviously missed your previous posts and have just seen your latest one regarding 'Myford chuck oiling', I assume you are the same Ed Dinning that I see at Golborne BVWS event, I'll see you at the April meeting if you're there.

John M0GLN

"You can take the man out of Engineering; but you can't take the Engineering out of the man".

Whereabouts are you?

If there is a Model Engineering Club within easy distance, do join it. You will be able to help them, and they will be able to help you, in various ways.

Howard

Hi Gents,

John, yes should see you in April

Howard, there are quite a few ME clubs in the Newcastle area and I also have my own workshops for metal, wood and electronics. One of my main activities, with a group of similar retired professional engineers, is Rriends of Discovery Museum.

Main activities are repairs and refurbishments to various exhibits and displays as well as applying for grants for new exhibits, talking to visitors and bringing old exhibits back to display.

If anyone is interested in joining us please come along to the museum any Tuesday morning and find out what we do.

Highlight of this year will be the arrival of Stephenson's "Rocket" from the science museum for display for the Great Exhibition of the North, from June to Sept.

Ed

Hi Ed!

Glad to see that your are multi tasking!

Keeping history alive for future generations is good, and hopefully will get younger folk involved, to things continuing.

keep up the good work!

Howard.