AUTOBIOGRAPHY - “HAVE WHEELS, WILL TRAVEL”
In 2004 Peter was unable to paint for a period of two years, after he unexpectedly lost his left eye, He then started work on an autobiography (due for completion in 2008 / 2009). Peter finished and bound the first working copy of 450 pages, in 2007 which was then revised and a second edition was bound and displayed at the 2007 Lincolnshire Artist's Society Annual Exhibition in the Sam Scorer Gallery, Lincoln. In the mean time, pending a possible general publication, Peter decided to copy the first two pages of each chapter on to "turning pages" on this web site. For those viewers who wish to read the whole chapter, then just click on the box at the bottom of the second page of each chapter (PDF reader required).
click to view.
There are seven main themes in the book:
Family Trees, Lincolnshire, The Royal Air Force,
Travel
Ornithology, Disability Issues, and Painting. |
An Introduction to the Autobiography:
For about ten years I considered whether or not to write this book. I hesitated, because I am just an ordinary person who has had the good fortune to be in a position to make such a decision. My father’s and mother’s generation have now all died and a wealth of social history went with them. I am also conscious that I didn’t grow up with any grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins living in England, so many of the normal family word-of-mouth stories were never passed down to me.
As I think of our own three sons and our three grandchildren, a similar trend has developed in this modern world. Our three sons David, Michael and Stephen all went to boarding school for their secondary education and then, after leaving school, soon moved away with their newly developed independence. Similarly, our three grandchildren Benjamin, Matthew and Senara, all live in Cornwall, about three hundred and fifty miles away from us so we can’t pass on all those little background stories that close families do naturally. Therefore, I decided to record some of my significant memories.
There is also a second, wider reason for this book. In genuine humility, I wonder if it might have an appeal to a wider audience than just our family circle. By nature, I am an optimist and whenever we have come up with a new challenge in life, I have always seen the glass as being half-full, and certainly never as being half-empty. It has been comments from a wide range of friends and other acquaintances that has persuaded me to take the plunge and to consider publishing this book, in the hope that others may find it either interesting or helpful.
A Summary of the Eight Chapters of “Have Wheels, Will Travel”
1. The Early Years: 1939 to 1949
Sleaford, Lincolnshire - My Parents’ Roots, in Ireland - 19a Northgate, Sleaford -
Five Sons in a Strange New Country - Vague recollections of World War II -
Early Schooling - Family Life
2. Growing Up: 1950 to 1959(read chapter * required PDF reader)
Carre’s Grammar School - Scouting and the Church - A Family Growing Up -
Starting Work - The Forestry Commission - National Service -
The Royal Air Force - Phyl and Marriage
3. Family, Education and Travel: 1960 to 1969 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
Our Growing Family - The Royal Air Force Again - RAF Lindholme -
RAF Tengah, Singapore- Malaysia - RAF West Raynham -
A Change of Houses - My Improving Education
4. Civilian versus Service Life: 1970 to 1979 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
Serviceman or Civilian? - Bloodhound Missile System - RAF Bruggen -
Europe - Back to the UK via Hospital - RAF Henlow -
RAF College Cranwell - RAF Wattisham
5. Mid-life Challenges: 1980 to 1989 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
RAF Innsworth - RAFOS -The CSDE - HQ RAF Germany - Holidays -
RAF Wildenrath - Ornithology - Health Concerns - MoD (AFD) -
Tornado Radar Repair Unit, RAF Scampton
6. A Career End & New Opportunities: 1990 to 1999 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
Mobility Challenges - Tordado Radar Repair Unit, RAF Scampton -
RAF Headley Court Rehabilitation Unit - The End of a Long Career -
Disability Issues - Full Time Artist - New Priorities
7. Wheelchair Holidays: 1990 to 1999 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
Cornwall - France: Loire Valley - Hungary - Paris - Norfolk - Cumbria - Ireland -
Kenya Safari - Cyprus - Tanzania Safari - Yorkshire - Ireland -
Cornwall - Cumbria - Brittany, France
8. A New Millennium – A New Start: 2000 to 2009 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
Publication of Disability Report - Access to Churches - University of Lincoln Project -
NHS Committees - New Health Challenges - The Sam Scorer Art Gallery -
My Paintings - More Wheelchair Holidays, Including:
Australia - Canada - Alaska - Bavaria - Austria.
Annexes to “Have Wheels, Will Travel”
Annex A.
Prominent Sleafordians and a Brief Local History. (read chapter * required PDF reader)
Prominent Families: Husseys - Carres - Herveys (Lord Bristol) - Kirk & Parry -
Brief Local History: Middle Iron Age (c400 BC) - Roman occupation -
Anglo Saxons - Vikings & Danes - Doomsday Book
Annex B.
Summary of 58 Years Family Service in the RAF: 1937 – 1995 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
My Father 1937 to 1961 - My Brother, Brian 1951 to 1982 -
Myself 1958 to 1992 - My Son, Michael 1979 to 1995
Annex C.
Family Trees: c 1795 - 2007 (read chapter * required PDF reader)
Ferris - McCarey - Montgomery - Robinson |
If you would like to know more about the autobiography, or possibly a general publication of the book, then please contact us.
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