I left school to carry out a shipyard apprenticeship before starting at Kings College in 1960. Moving from sunny Devon all the way up to cold Newcastle was quite a shock to the system.

I had a very enjoyable four years in Newcastle, studying Naval Architecture in the Armstrong Building. I played a lot of rugby, even on a cold winters day down at Tynemouth ! I remember well rag week each year, where I played the trumpet (badly) in the rag band. Naval Architecture always had the biggest float in the rag procession - with a ship of course ! Happy days also singing in the Bun Room on a Saturday night.

I graduated in 1964 working first at Ship Division, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), then P&O Naval Architects Department, where I met my wife. I then moved to Southampton Institute (now Southampton Solent University). After Southampton Institute I moved to Southampton University as a Lecturer, Senior lecturer and then Professor of Ship Design. I have co-authored three books on ship powering, propellers, rudders and control surfaces. In 2022 I was awarded a D.Sc. based on my contributions to the understanding of ship powering, ship rudders and ship design,

As a footnote, our grandson is coming to Durham (Hatfield) in three week’s time to read International Relations.