Selecting Photos To Use In My Book....

Selecting Photos To Use In My Book....

When I formally retired back in 2003 I decide to use my spare time to write a sort of Life Story focusing around my Career.

I decided to call this book ' When I Stepped Down Off The Bus'.

Frank Lomax & Ethel Wassell's, wedding day. From left to right either side of Mother and Father - Mothers brother, Uncle Ernie, Fathers sister Ruth, Mothers Aunt Queen, Mothers Mother Eppie and Mothers Aunt Ethel.

My Fathers Parents William and Lillian Lomax.

I discovered recently that being born in the, Evacuated from Portsmouth, Royal Navy & Marine Maternity Home called 'Beverley House', located in the nearby village of Wickham, Hampshire, I am one of the 'Beverley Babes'.

With Mother on the mound next to our Air Raid Shelter at 1 Riverside Terrace, Wallington.

Map of Broadcut, Wallington showing No.1 Riverside Terrace, Grandma Wassell's home. No.1 & 2 Tanyard Cottages, Mothers Aunts homes and the Culvert where our Play Den was located.

Left to my own devices at so young an age.

With Father during one of his rare spells of leave from his WW2 Submarine service.

A little older here, with Mother sitting on the fence alongside the River Wallington at Broadcut. 

Able to sit up on my own now.

Over One Year Old and Father has finally returned from his last War Service in the Pacific.

Leaving Submarines behind him, we moved north to Fathers Home Town of Widnes where my sister Jeanette was born. 

We were not there long before we moved South again to Fareham. Mother did not settle in Widnes and I was now ready to begin full time education.

Father with sister Jeanette and I, taken at Grandma Wassell's house 

c.1952, with Mother and sisters Jeanette and Denise on the beach at Hillhead.

Every opportunity spent at the home Mothers Auntie Ethel and Uncle Erne. Trips to the seaside or the New Forest in their car were often available to me. Taken during one such trip to Swanage. 

Life would get tough for us children after Grandma Wassell passed. Mothers two unmarried brothers, uncle Fred (here) and uncle Ernie, now needed a home.

 Dapper Uncle Ernie (left) and his best friend Johnny Gooch-Wallace who became a much loved and cherished friend of our family.

School Days were about to begin.

That First School Photo.

Third from left in the second to back row during my first year at Redlands Lane Junior School in Miss Pettifer's class.

Forth from Left in the second from front row. Now in Miss Jefferies Class.

The right hand end of the second to top row having put on some weight.

On Parade for Trafalgar Day. I am Third From Left Front - At the age of 10.

Around the time of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2nd, street parties saw a resurgence of local social gatherings. 

Second from the left winning our local fancy dress competition.

My parents held frequent Fancy Dress Parties in our Lounge.

 

After a couple of years I joined the 17th Fareham Troop of the Boy Scout movement with my neighbour and best friend Barry Macauley. 

Grandfather Lomax passed away and while we were too late for the funeral we were to soon make the 12 hour Coach Journey to see grandmother Lillian. 

 I did well at school, eventually becoming a Prefect. Here with Head Boy Trevor Brown (centre) and John Collyer.

Trying to play the Guitar made at school in Woodwork & Metalwork Classes. I am still trying without much success.

My Beatnik forming Years. In front of Notre Dame during a 6th Form Geography visit to Paris.

Seen here climbing Hoads Hill, Wickham on my way to win the Fareham Wheelers Consolation Cup Time Trial.   

At the Centipedes Youth Club, I met Ann Kimish, my ballroom dancing partner. 

Ann enjoying our favourite fresh made Doughnut Rings at Southsea Funfair. 

With Friends Barrie (Twig) Upton, and his girlfriend Josephine Stevenson-Oliver and their friend, out for the Sunday Night Dance at Thorngate Halls, Gosport.

Evolving from Beatniks to Bikers Ann and I with Twig & Jo during a camping holiday at Frensham Pond.

Riding our Triumph 350cc Twin with my very young brother Shaun.

 

Mother & Father during a rare day out while on holiday in Scotland.

Another family grouping with Father & Mother in the centre, sister Jeanette to the left holding son Paul. Sister Denise is patting Shaun's head. Ann and I are both to the right. 

On 4th September 1965 Ann and I were happily married at Holy Saviour Church, Bittern, Southampton.

Ann with her Bridesmaids and Page Boy Shaun. I am with my Best Man, Ann's brother Roger.

The Official Photographers Family Line.

Ready to leave for our wedding. My parents, with Ernie, Johnie and Fred.

Still in our Mod Gear, Ann and I are checking my brother in laws new car.

Well into my career with CandA, seen here in my Menswear Designer mode along with Ladieswear man Ted Stephens, my assistant Wally Cousins and Ted's sample machinist.

In full Designer Mode Mustache and Beige Suit, at a 'Leaving Party with Wally Cousins and his much longer hair, Secretaries Margaret Glynn and Cinthia Hammacott. 

During my training at Highbury Technical College I won The Federation of Designers national students design award. 

Participating in the Off the Wall Exhibition projecting how Portsmouth may appear in the year 2000. Our young designer Jenny created the futuristic outfits.

Here I am during a very cold March relaxing in the Ancient Mycenae Amphitheatre while on a training visit with my boss.  

Our family has grown with son Robin followed by daughter Sarah in arms and niece Anouska. We were at Tucktonia Model Village with Ann's parents Hazel and Henry along with Vera, the daughter of my CandA German colleague.

Relocating to Burgess Hill after joining Jaeger Tailoring in 1976 as Assistant to the Managing Director, a visit from Mother, Ernie and Johnie.

Our first Company Car, the Austin Princess, heading for Campbeltown Scotland where I was busy developing our Menswear Suit Factory. 

The Rebuilt Jaeger Campbeltown Factory.

Posing in the Campbeltown Factory Jacket Pressing Room.

The New Kilmarnock Skirt & Trouser Factory.

The New Quick Response Jacket & Coat Teams at Jaeger Plymouth.

With my role at Jaeger drawing to a close I moved on for a short two year spell in Product Development with Blue Jeans Maker Levi Strauss.

 During that time I grew a beard. Enjoying some holiday time with Ann and the Children.

Taken during a visit to the Original Levis Jeans Factory in San Francisco.

At the Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China Factory Site with my driver.

My first of many Camel Rides in front of the Hohhot Museum.

At lunch with Factory Production Manager Wu Jun, Interpreter Eaglet Yu Yi and retired Campbeltown Factory Manager Harry Moffatt

Eaglet and I having just sung Rod Stewarts 'Sailing' to the banquet.

Lunchtime Cycling in Hohhot led by Factory Interpreter Lilly.

Harry Moffatt with Secretary Beatrice Wu, Eaglet Yu Yi and Wu Jun.

Delivering Toys from the UK for Children at the Hohhot Factory Creche.

A Hohhot Factory Picnic at the Tomb of  Princess Zhao Ji, 

Here we are with the Harbin Trainees beginning their 10 weeks of training with a visit to the Pfaff Sewing Machine Factory in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Our Seatex Team for both Textile Mill and Suit Factory with Director Shau and his Harbin team on a Hill Top in Heilongjiang Province. 

Post Banquet Games. After drinking Maotai Toasts, I am challenging our hosts to do Hand Stands.

A group of Local Harbin Boys soon to become members of our Lunch Time Football group.

Culmination of my Seatex Project Work in China. I am one of seven awarded foreign experts who were invited to the National Day Celebrations in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing on October 30th.

Being presented to members of the Chinese Government.

We remained living in Beaconsfield with its excellent education. Robin and Sarah were home from Uni.

Rejoining Jaeger as Production Director, things had moved on during my five years away. About to embark on our first London to Brighton Cycle Ride in support of The British Heart Foundation.

A year later I am repeating the London to Brighton Ride, but on my own this time.

Soon promoted to Managing Director here celebrating Red Nose Day with Chief Executive John Winter, Ipswich Factory Manager Ron Bigmore and China Harbin Student Li Rong Rong. 

As Managing Director, NewTraining was planned. Here at the end of a Three Week Residential Development Course in the grounds of Ashridge Management College.

Conducive to learning, the beautiful Ashridge Buildings 

Procrastinating with a group of other Coats Viyella Directors during a technology study visit to France.

Heading for Japan. During our visit to Hong Kong. required this Gweilo Director to show who is Boss.

At Dinner on the Infamous 'Jumbo' Floating Restaurant in Hong Kong.

Travelling with Coats Viyella Managers during a Study Tour of Factories in Japan and South Korea.

With Jaeger Kilmarnock Factory General Manager Jack Spence.

In Japan, annoying the very smart Lift Hall Attendants in a large Tokyo Department Store 

Enjoying the benefits during an Industry Conference with good friend and Supplier Managing Director, Selwyn Levin as we join this young lady trying Dressing Gowns for size.

Ten years later I find myself returning to Campbeltown to assist General Manager Harry Rea install a Quick Response Manufacturing System for Men's Suits.

With the Jaeger Man Retail and Manufacturing Teams during a Training Course held in The Campbeltown Factory.

Eating on the Kitchen Wall, having just completed the factory service of their Christmas Lunch. Harry Rea is giving me the 'Fanta' treatment.

Harry Rea and I exploited our long held memberships of The Machrihanish Golf Club during those long Scottish Summer evenings playing with partner George Cook.

Our Family, all in black

Ann with her favourite Aunt, Phillis Barkham. 

Sarah, having begun her retail career in London, soon met Handsome Matthew Warn. Here during their Venice honeymoon.

Hazel & Henry having some fun in Sarah's BMW Z3 'Zippy'

Three Generations with Ann, Sarah & Mother, Hazel.

I joined The Dewhirst Group as Technical Director of Ladies Tailoring. My very special Product Development Team, The Green Triangles'. 

Here with my right hand colleague Sue Kelly (flowers) on the day she left, Designer Jill Kirkham and Senior Pattern Maker Richard Graham.

During my first M&S Suppliers Christmas Party, here sporting my first prize in the raffle.

About to enjoy a Corporate Golf Day with M&S Colleague Charles McPhail (4th left front row) 

At the Dewhirst Moroccan Factory with Manager John Fowler.

 

Relaxing in the Moroccan Sun among the old Presses in the Factory Garden.

Taking the retirement opportunity to do some Cruising with Norway our preferred destination.

Norway again, in an island garden.

It was not long before my services were called on once more. A succession of Consultancies came my way. However, I could now insist that a three day week was my limit. 

Not intending to set up proper facilities, my Pattern Cutting was restricted to my Architect Son's Drawing Board. 

The nearest I would get to a Bunny Girl. Seen here with full size ex Bunny and family friend Sue West, during her birthday celebration.

 

Grandsons William and Jacob growing fast with their baskets of Easter Eggs found in our new garden. 

A Retirement Indulgence. Our Morgan Roadster 100 seen here at the Morgan Factory.

In my Help for Heroes Street Collection gear.

Using the car in 2012 to drive the Coast of Britain over 22 days. 

Having switched fund raising allegiance, here supporting Combat Stress. The quest goes on.

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