Frederick Brown - U Can Do It

U Can Do It

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ISBN: 978-1-4251-1681-1

ISBN: 978-1-4669-3679-9 (ebook)

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Contents

I am writing this book in the first place because I want to. It is unlikely that anyone other than the family will read it. Why? This opus, if it can be described as such is an account of my life. I am not famous, I am not a super star or an international sportsman. As I am writing I have not been convicted of any serious crimes. Perhaps it is a waste of time. If you read this manuscript make up your own mind.

Another reason why I am writing this book before typing the word book, I hesitated, and I hesitated because perhaps it is not really a book it is a catalogue, a cartoon of my life. It is written because I want to share my experiences with whomsoever wishes to read about them. I have been extremely lucky in my life, well most of the time. Sometimes it seemed that even bad luck ended in a good result. Practically all that I have wanted to do I have been able to do. However that statement must be qualified a little bit. When things dont go well at first you have to move on, change with the tide or whatever. Therefore the statement that I have been able to do what I wanted to is somewhat simplistic. The things that happened in my life did not just happen. To a certain extent they were controlled, by ambition and by the obstinate streak in my nature which is epitomised in the title U-can do it. What I hope to be able to show is that if you set your mind to it you can do anything. As our children grew up the expression you can do it was one that I continually used on them. It is more than likely they got really fed up with it. The expression came I think from the cartoon character Charlie Brown. Whatever it did I am proud to say that my three kids have all proved the point because they have done it.

As most people do I started as a baby. I was born premature and provided that I dont die prematurely I will not mind. My parents were keen cyclists and therefore from the moment of birth I was pushed, dragged or otherwise transported, by cycle. My mother throughout her life suffered from wanderlust. We moved house fairly frequently. We had no sooner settled at one address than she was looking for another. Mother was also a good businesswoman.

She worked hard but some of her methods were questionable. Father was not a good businessman. He was somewhat gullible and loved to chat, and take advice from all and sundry. Then having heard the advice would often follow it without thinking it through.

I have two younger brothers and an elder sister. We children were separated by 12 years. Between Christina and me there is an 18 month gap. Paul followed 5 years later and Stephen was a further 5 years down the line. When Christina was about 10 year of age she took up swimming very seriously. As she improved she travelled far and wide around the country swimming in galas. As a result I ended up babysitting for my brothers because my Mother and Father would go with her. At other times my father would be out training for his cycling.

Life for me appeared to be great. Most of the time I really enjoyed it and all of the time it was fun. At school I did not shine academically. I was fortunate to be a good sportsman. As a result I was Rugby Captain and the Sports victor ludorum. I was honoured to be made Head Boy. And, more honoured still, to represent England at Schoolboy Rugby. By dint of hard work I obtained a Pass Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Later there were more studies.

In my life I have had 3 careers not counting school. The first was as an engineer, the second was as a businessman and the third was as a Barrister of Law. This is the story of how those transitions took place and why. This is also the story of why I took up painting and learning a foreign language and why I am writing this document. In addition it comprises my recollections and memories most of them good memories and a lot of them are funny. They were funny to me I hope that they will be funny to you.

Finally this is the story of my family. Firstly my wife Tessa with whom I have been extremely happy. I hope that she has been happy too. I do not know how she has put up with the vagaries of life that have been thrown at her. And then there are our three children, Angela born the 4th July 1963, Andrew born the 22nd December 1964 and Louise born 27th August 1966. Without hesitation I claim them as my best mates. On one occasion I recall someone asking the kids when they were in their teens why they came on holiday with us, their parents. Their reply was,

Because we want to

For many persons life is a drag. Equally to many people having children is a penance and an expensive one to boot. Tessa and I have enjoyed nearly every moment. With hope our little story may help one or two other persons to enjoy a little part of our lives.

At school I was designated to the artistic dustbin. Now I paint a reasonable picture. I have changed careers more than once. I returned to college at 43 years of age. At one time I could not stand up and speak in public to save my life. In my career as a Barrister it was my job to stand up in all sorts of courts and in public and put over my views/arguments.

It is somewhat pretentious for me to expect that anything I have written could possibly interest anyone else. If perchance you read this document there is a message that will come out to the reader. That is if you put your mind to it U-can do it.

Thanks to my wife Tessa for her help and patience in the preparation of this tome. Thanks also to Terry Barnes for some technical advice. Thanks also to Mike Higgins. To the proof readers, Ruth Timmis, Georgina (Mary) Worth and Peter Brade my sincere gratitude is given. Miss Jean Lucas MBE pointed me in the right direction when considering Publication, to her thanks too.

Have you ever heard of Staffordshire? If you have you may know that a little town known as Newcastle under Lyme rests in Staffordshire. It is a historic and pleasant town and is a Borough to boot. Poor Newcastle is always being confused with its namesake on Tyneside. The town is famous for its connection with John of Gaunt. Not far from the centre of the town are the ruins of part of the battlements of the castle. These ruins are adjacent to the Catholic Primary School, St Marys at which establishment I was taught. There are keen debates as to whether the town gets its name from the Lyme tree or the Lyme brook. The Swan Brewery has now gone so also have the coal mines, tile quarry and steel foundry. In more recent times the town became noteworthy because of the University of Keele. Keele University was founded, it was said, to replace the specialised University Education with a true catholic University Education. That is a rounded education taking in a number of subjects as opposed to total specialisation. Another of its qualities is its ancient market. This market takes place twice a week on the Stones and is famous for miles around. The presence of the market is due no doubt to one of the Royal Charters. The first Charter was granted by King Henry 2nd in 1173. The second Charter was granted in the time of Queen Elizabeth the First in 1590.