My life outside work on Mersyside was ‘colourful’. The place was a hot bed of music of course and night clubs sprang up all over the place. Drugs were also omni present and I have to confess to the odd dabble.
I became Captain of my Old Boys Rugby Club at the age of 19. In those days all clubs played ‘friendlies’ and our fixture list reflected the time when boys had stayed in the area and had not gone on to university. The North was a hotbed of rugby at the time and many Internationals came from those parts. During the term time it was hopeless but during the holidays when students returned we were just about competitive.
My former headmaster came to my aid and I had the amazing privilege of him coaching our club. Having Captained Wales to two Grand Slams and being apart of the last victorious Welsh team over the All Blacks he was full of knowledge and was way ahead of his time. He honed our specific skills and ensured that ‘fatigue based training’ was central to our approach. I recently met up with one of his children and was able to express the gratitude I felt for his efforts as I fear I did not express them fully at the time.
At the same time I gained a mentor, TG Smith. Tiger had been on General Mongomery’s staff in the second world war and was wise beyond words. He was a mystery man. He was not married but often talked of the love of beautiful women. He had no job as such and was reported to be a professional gambler. He taught me how to play poker that I do know. The lessons on ‘risk’ he gave me were to surface in my financial career and paid me back many many times. He was tough on me, he was kind and humorous too, he challenged and supported me like the dad I had never had. I owe him a lot.
The Old Birkonian Rugby Club in those days boasted quite a cast of characters. Many professors, eminent physicians, the Captain of the Army services rugby team, a man who became the Solicitor General of Hong Kong, one who became Head of the PGA,an MP, A Later to be Hogh Court Judge, several barristers, a Lord, the winner of the Krypton factor and the current Captain at the time of The Cambridge University side. Just imagine giving steam talk to the lot! Of course I knew no different and I would often deliver a speech at Club dinners to such a demanding audience. It was all wonderful training. I referred earlier to the fact that my cognitive skills were somewhat ‘alternative’ so whilst I missed out on a University education I did gain experience in matters and the ways of the world that were special. I often reflect to others that is my belief that aside from careers with specific technical skills, such as medicine and law that the two most important qualifying elements for an intelligent person to make progress in the work place are two fold. Common sense (make up your own definition of that one) and interpersonal skills. What I do know is there are no degree courses in either and A level course and the like seem to me hell bent to negate these qualities. All I can say is without any formal qualifications I got to the top of the industry I was involved in. I have met many captains of industry, I have sat at the tables of the privileged and the rich but to date no-one has asked me for a piece of paper that shows my qualification to be there. Reputation, action, and honesty attract those who know so if your education may appear flawed worry not there is another route.
Tales of a Life Well Lived 