Topic

I know we all have the MGF/TF in common but was wondering what sort of background people have here, what does everyone do for a living?

For me I've been an underground mechanical fitter in a coal mine for the last 13 years, working on all kinds of hydraulic machinery, conveyor belts and some diesels. I started out at Ellington colliery in northumberland then transferred to Dawmill near coventry in 2005

so thats me lol

I like your signature, Keith, as we used to say on the mines, there were three maintenance methods; the 4lb hammer for precision work, the 10lb hammer for general work, and the 20lb hammer for when the 10lb hammer wasn't enough!

I started in my student days as a mechanical engineer working in an underground coal mine with longwall mining equipment, then started working properly on an open cast iron ore mining and specialising in condition monitoring, contamination control and lubrication. I emigrated to the UK nearly 20 years ago, had a couple of jobs working for Pall Filtration and then Entek before striking out on my own doing training and consulting to chaps like yourself, Keith, here and overseas. As they say, those that can, do, those that can't, teach, and those that can't teach, consult. I do the latter two mostly now with the off-shore oil & gas industry.

I'm a commercial/car/agricultural tyre fitter..

Done that for 12 years now.

I'm working for ATS euromaster in sunny Denbigh,

Joined the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1973 from school. OND, HND, power plant operational engineering with ascending seniority over the years. Back to uni, sponsored by the Board as a mature student to get a degree in electrical engineering in my thirties.

Still in the same industry nearly 40 years on. Having hopefully picked a few things up I am now lecturing at our academy, teaching graduate engineers and anyone else who'll listen to an old man rabbit on about electrical theory, thermodynamics etc.

Have to laugh at Clarkson and the like drone on about horsepower: in my industry a large steam turbine develops around 700,000 shaft horsepower. By comparison a Jumbo engine is around 25k.

Currently an assistant branch manager for Jewson builders merchant, last 10yrs.. but in a weeks time i start as Senior Sales Coordinator for Alsford Timber The extra money will be nice if I get to see it.. other haf has been spending it already and the rest will be going on overpaying the mortgage

I had a late start as an apprentice Maintenance Engineer firstly training as a fitter fabricator then onto turning welding before retraining as an Electrician in my 20's ,worked foe a food production company for 15 years leaving as facilities manager before being poached to manage the operations for a refrigeration company (not told at the time it was failing) now only work a 3 day week
But thinking of starting up my own business around the motor trade possible

MartinW wrote: wrote:

I like your signature, Keith, as we used to say on the mines, there were three maintenance methods; the 4lb hammer for precision work, the 10lb hammer for general work, and the 20lb hammer for when the 10lb hammer wasn't enough!

I started in my student days as a mechanical engineer working in an underground coal mine with longwall mining equipment, then started working properly on an open cast iron ore mining and specialising in condition monitoring, contamination control and lubrication. I emigrated to the UK nearly 20 years ago, had a couple of jobs working for Pall Filtration and then Entek before striking out on my own doing training and consulting to chaps like yourself, Keith, here and overseas. As they say, those that can, do, those that can't, teach, and those that can't teach, consult. I do the latter two mostly now with the off-shore oil & gas industry.

Nice to hear of someone else with a mining background, looking into emigrating to either canada or australia as unfortunately this countries mining industry is in tatters, Dawmill is winding down for closure and I really don't like the thought of working in a different industry

onefastmoke wrote: wrote:

I started out at Ellington colliery in northumberland

A short walk from my house then.

Electronics engineer turned staff nurse .... with a bit of foreign voluntary work in between.

I work as an optical engineer, we manufacture and supply optical components that have gone to many weird and wonderful places, into space, and in royal residences, on the London eye and in Formula One cars. It's a family run business (my family) so does mean I don't get much time off, and working 7 days a week is the norm and a day off is rare. I never meant to work there, went for a week after I left school while waiting to hear about a job I interviewed for, and 23yrs later I'm still there ( not sure I'm going to hear about the other job now!) I didn't finish until nearly 9 tonight, and I'll be back in by 9.30 tomorrow... Still it keeps the wife from making me go shopping!

cjj wrote: wrote:

onefastmoke wrote: wrote:

I started out at Ellington colliery in northumberland

A short walk from my house then.

Do you live in Ellington? My parents live in guidepost and I have family in Ashington as well. Still love that part of the UK but unfortunately the work isn't there for me

Widdrington Station. Moved here in 1992 when I was at RAF Boulmer.