As a schoolboy Colin enjoyed chemistry lessons so when the careers master suggested he should be a chemical engineer it sounded good. However at university he found out that chemical engineering is more about maths than it is about chemistry but nevertheless he gained a degree and joined a company on a graduate training scheme.
He was interested in production control and at that time computers were the coming thing. He found himself in a computer department with an ambition to introduce computers into production control. He met the Production Director only to be told “you’re not bringing your [deleted] computers anywhere near my shop floor sonny”.
Colin joked: “This was the time when memory was something you lost with age, an application was for employment, a programme was a TV show, a cursor was someone who used profanities, a keyboard was a piano, a web was a spider's home, a virus was the flu, a hard drive was a long trip on the road and if you had a 3 inch floppy you just hoped nobody ever found out!”
Those early days were challenging. For many years it was a case of receiving lots of scepticism when trying to convince people that it meant doing things differently rather than full on automation. There were uncomfortable moments such as when several wage clerks were made redundant because of a new system of wages and production bonuses. That one got Colin blacklisted by the Union and its members were forbidden from cooperating with him or his team. On the other hand some changes were pleasantly surprising, like the stock clerk who recorded all the steel in the stockyard in a ledger in copperplate handwriting. He couldn’t wait to get to grips with the new technology.
But gradually the opposition eroded. Today almost everyone has a smart phone which has a million times more memory than did those early computers which were the size of a wardrobe and had to be kept in an air conditioned suite of rooms.
To broaden his experience Colin became a consultant. He worked in many different industries introducing new systems or replacing old ones. Eventually, wanting less time on the road and more time with his family, he returned to his roots as an IT Manager and actually ended his working life at a major building society spending £500m to replace a first generation computerised system.
Colin is married to Barbara, a former teacher. They have two daughters; one has followed her mother into teaching and the other has inherited her father’s interest in chemistry and works for a pharmaceuticals company in Ireland.
Now retired he is looking forward to having more time to play golf and ride around the Country on his beloved motorcycle. He said: “I like changing things so I am honoured to join Rotary where I hope to make a difference to people by putting Service above Self.”
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We have played a role in a significant global public health achievement as the World Health Organization’s Africa region has officially been certified wild polio-free.
moreRotary’s second major donation, of £208,000, was handed over on 7th July 2021 when local Rotarians visited the Great Western Hospital to view the build progress of the nearly completed radiotherapy unit.
moreSmallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated. Let’s make polio the second! Join the fight to end polio with Rotary on World Polio Day
moreBrighter Futures launched their Radiotherapy Appeal in 2015. Today, 7 years later, a ribbon cutting ceremony has taken place at the Great Western Hospital
moreHe's taking part in the Youth Adventure Trust's Virtual Resilience Challenge from 13th to 21st February 2021
more£1286 has been sent from our Emergency Disaster Fund to the Disasters Emergency Committee UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL
more£1,250 has been sent to both Prospect Hospice and Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service to help bridge the funding gap both charities are currently experiencing.
more"In musical entertainment Swindon punches way above its weight. Some of the youngsters we've heard tonight will go on to make a name for themselves"
moreA new design for a new name
moreCongratulations to the teams from St Joseph’s Catholic College Swindon. The intermediate team (in the picture) was commended and placed joint second by the judges
moreWe went to the races in March. It was a meeting with 10 races, 8 riders in each. It wasn’t at Epsom, or Haydock Park, or just up the M4 at Newbury. It was, of all places, in Wanborough Village Hall.
moreThe winning team P.G.Events presented with the David Maggs Memorial Trophy to hold for one year by Swindon North Rotary President Mike Helyer
moreClub President Kathy Hobson presents a cheque for £750 to Richard Millard, Chairman of the Trustees
moreAttendees found plenty at the 2018 Rotary Convention to remind them of the fellowship that binds them and the diversity that Rotary embodies
moreTorquay’s Riviera Centre was the venue for the Rotary in Britain and Ireland (RIBI) Annual Conference on 6th April 2018
moreRotarian Terry Williams has been selling his locally grown Christmas trees again and all the proceeds are going to be divided between two charities
moreThe new Horizons College Minibus, donated collectively by all the Rotary Clubs of Swindon and District, has been branded with the Rotary logo and other graphics by the Wootton Bassett based company, PG Events, free of charge.
moreRotarian Terry's Christmas Trees enable the Rotary Club to present £1,225 to the Friends of Angel's Orphanage
moreThe Rotary Club of North Wiltshire (the name was changed to the Rotary Club of Swindon North in 2008) received its charter from Rotary International on 28th September 1966
moreThe Community & Vocational Service Committee is tasked with organising fund-raising events and functions.
moreRotarian Terry Williams' remarkable and unique fund raising effort, living in a ShelterBox emergency tent for a week in the Market Place, Highworth
moreThe Club Service Committee manages the administration of the Rotary Club.
moreInternational, Foundation & Youth Activities Service Committee
moreClub Council
moreExceeding expectations, President Lynn's challenge to 3 club members to Zumba in the Co-op Foodstore raised £700 for Swindon Young Carers.
moreThe Rotary Club of Swindon North charity concert featuring the Swindon Male Voice Choir in St Michael's Church, Highworth.
moreA Charity Dog Racing event with dinner held at Blunsdon Abbey Stadium on 14th March 2015 in aid of the NSPCC
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