I have kept tabs on the news of Beachley for a number of years. I was in 55b (C company) and initially trained as an Engine Fitter IC&P before going to Cove. (9th Training Regt RE) Was selected for NCO training, ( 3 regular NCOs cadre) and had a bad accident on Dartmoor (February 1959) when the TCV we were in left the road and plunged down the embankment. This cost me some 8 months in hospital (Plymouth Naval hospital and Aldershot) with head injuries. Back at Cove they said I was unfit and retrained me as a Clerk.When I was fit again i went to the RSME for trade upgrading, then deployed to Germany 44 Field Park at Paderborn. Then Christmas Island (running the main camp Power Station). Then deployed to the 17 Port Regt in the UK. I did not want to be re badged when 17 Post was moved out of RE control. Was then re-deployed to the Joint Services Bomb disposal unit, initially at Horsham and then Chattenden. By this time I was married and my wife did not want me to continue in the military, so her brother suggested I get a Job in Zambia (He was a Chartered Accountant there). . I did and was offered a position on the Copperbelt as an Overseas Service Engineer. When I got to Zambia they wanted me to work on the Management accounting side. By this time I had 5 O and 5 A levels (mainly from London University) and studying for the LLB Degree. However they wanted me to qualify as a Company Secretary which I did. I left Zambia (localisation) and moved to SA where I was an investment manager for a listed engineering group. Then to Botswana as a Company Secretary for De Beers Mining. Then to Papua New Guinea as a manager in a international shipping company. Then back to South Africa and joined Deloitte and Touche (the international accountants). I then took the plunge and formed my own Accounting Tax and consulting firm, I still run this today and have over 200 clients. (Local and International)
I put my success down to the excellent training I received at Chepstow and in the Royal Engineers. I do not think that I would have become a Chartered Company Secretary and a qualified management Accountant without this training.
I am still in touch with two others from these days, namely Jim Windsor and Barry Spooner in the UK. I was also in touch with John Ingram (we met up in Zambia) and stayed with him in Australia. Unfortunately John died a number of years ago from what appeared to to radiation problems he contacted whilst at Malaringa during the nuclear tests with the Royal Engineers.I am still in contact with his wife Genny.