Speedbird

Spanning over 40 years in service to a major world airline,(25 of which were spent overseas variously in Europe,Northern Africa and the Middle East during the war years), this book describes a wayfarer's journey as the author,the son of a British Army Colonel, grew through the challenges that came his way living in exciting times.In Algiers he was even witness to the birth of De Gaulle's 4th republic as the mob rioted beneath his balcony and, 35 mm cinecamera in hand he coolly recorded history in the making! In Accra he even searched the junglefor a lost Comet 1 engine.On his permanent UK return in 1959 he was just in time to usher in the jet age as he raised his growing familyin the UK but was now ideally placed to contribute to resolving the challenges posed by the increasing passenger numbers.Finding himself at the leading edge of the new computer technologies he was able to make a major contribtionto its development.As part of the Management Services Division that was honoured he was able to wear the specially designed 'Queens Award to Industry' logo for his work on the ground breaking Departure Control System globally connected to the London BOADICEA computer.He was even one of the last to fly Concorde !