. My Story .

The shorter version

The full version is below!

I was born in London and worked as a Healthcare Scientist, and latterly as a Healthcare Manager in the NHS.

I am a graduate of The Open University BA(hons) Humanities - Art History & French.

I have a post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies.

 

I am now retired from full time work. Until recently I freelanced for HE Translations, mainly helping with Social Media campaigns. 

I volunteer for The Canal & River Trust as a Lock Keeper / Towpath Ranger.

 

I am happy using Microsoft Word and Excel.

I hold a full UK Car & Motorcycle driving licence.

 

I am happily married and have grandchildren living close by.

I am an enthusiastic, but fair weather, cyclist. I am Radio Amateur G4SDZ (mainly FT8)

 

We cultivate fruit & vegetables on our allotments.

I have an interest in film photography using cameras from the 1950s-80s. I have recently begun playing competitive pétanque with a local club.

My wife and I enjoy travel, particularly within Europe, by train.

 

I speak French, and have an elementary grasp of German & Esperanto.


The Detail

Academic Qualifications 


Post graduate level / equivalent

Diploma in Management Studies

DeMontfort University, 1991

IBMS Special Examination – Clinical Chemistry

Institute of Biomedical Sciences, 1980


Graduate level  (or equivalent)

BA(hons) Humanities – Art History & French (2:1)

Open University, 2013

Diploma in French

Open University, 2010

HNC Medical Laboratory Sciences (Clinical Chemistry)

Paddington College, London, 1976


‘A’ level equivalent

ONC Sciences   (Medical Laboratory Sciences)

Paddington College, London, 1974


GCE (General Certificate of Education)

English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics;

          The Stationers’ Company’s School, London 1972

Professional Qualifications

Fellowship of The Institute of Biomedical Sciences 1981 - 2012 (until retirement).

Chartered Scientist status awarded by The Science Council 2004 - 2012 (until retirement).

Associate of The Royal Society of Medicine  2010 - 2012 (until retirement).

Associate of The Institute of Health Services Management 1987 - 1992

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY


Canal and River Trust (East Midlands Region)

2015 - 2022 : Volunteer Visitor Attraction Risk Assessor 

2012 - continuing : Volunteer Lock Keeper / Towpath Ranger


 HE Translations (Leicester)

2017- 2022 : Freelance Sales Representative / Social Media Champion (p/t)


LiFE Multi Academy Trust

2021 : Site Lead - Covid19 Testing Centre

2018 - 2021 : Examination Invigilator (casual p/t)

 

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

1984 -2012 : Patient Safety Manager

Quality & Risk Manager (Compliance; Risk; Litigation - scientific &      support services)

Various managerial & supervisory  positions in pathology laboratories (Biomedical Scientist)


Other (NHS: London, Cambridgeshire & Nottinghamshire)

1972 - 1984 : Medical Laboratory Scientist : various trainee, operational & supervisory positions Member of The Civil Service Club, London


Short Courses & Miscellaneous Qualifications


I have an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Certificate dated November 2018

 

FutureLearn

2020 : The Open University (OpenLearn) : Neighbourhood Nature

2019 : University of Strathclyde :                Working Lives on Britain's Railways, Railway History & Heritage

2018 : Griffith University (Australia) :          Cities of Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: Why Heritage Conservation Matters

2018 : University of Kent :                           Politics, Art & Resistance

2018 : International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies : Be Ready:Staying Safe During Natural Disasters

2017 : Trinity College, Dublin :                     Strategies for Successful Ageing

2017 : University of Groningen :                  Introduction to Frisian

2017 : Cardiff University :                            Working with Translation

2017 : International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies : Introduction to First Aid for Adults

2017 : University of Glasgow :                     Antiquities Trafficking & Art Crime

2017 : Monash University :                          Mindfullness for Wellbeing & Peak Performance

2016 : National Museums of Scotland :       Stereoscopy: an Introduction to Victorian Stereo Photography

2015 : University of Leicester :                    Behind the Scenes of the 21st Century Museum

 

Coursera

2020 : University of Amsterdam:  Unravelling the Cycling City

2018 : University of California, Santa Cruz : History of Russia - From Lenin to Putin

2017 : Museum of Modern Art :    Seeing Through Photographs

2016 : Universite de Genève :      Introduction aux droits de l’homme

2016 : University of London :        English Common Law: Structure and Principles

2015 : Duke University :               Sports and Society

2015 : Duke University :               Think Again - How to Reason

2014 : University of Edinburgh :   Introduction to Philosophy

 

NHS Test & Trace

2021 : Self swabbing guidance (Innova & Orient); Covid test processing (Innova & Orient); Covid result logging (Innova & Orient); Infection control & prevention; Test centre meet & greet; Train the trainer (Innova & Orient)

 

National Counter Terrorism Security Office / Highfield e-Learning

2019 : Action Counter Terrorism e-Learning (Counter Terrorism Policing)

HM Government

2018 : Prevent e-Learning Training Course

 

The Open University

2010 : Starting With Law (Y166)

 

Staffordshire University / Insitute of Biomedical Science

2020 : Biomedical Scientist Return to Practice Programme

Institute of Biomedical Sciences 

2004 : Certificate of Extended Practice - Quality Management

 

The WEA

2021 : Behind the Iron Curtain

 

NHS Skills Development & Training

NHS Core Learning Unit / Skills Academy for Health / University Hospitals of Leicester

2010: Equality & Diversity; Understanding Personal Safety & Security Awareness; NPSA Being Open;

University Hospitals of Leicester / Q-Learning/Leadership Academy

2010 :  Leadership Development for Senior Managers

University Hospitals of Leicester / Leicestershire Partnership Trust

2010 : Conflict Resolution & Personal Safety Awareness

University Hospitals of Leicester

2008 / 2010 : Child Protection Introduction; Root Cause Analysis; Safeguarding Children; Interview Skills

Safeguarding Children e-Academy / University Hospitals of Leicester

2009 : Awareness of Child Abuse & Neglect - Foundation

University Hospitals of Leicester / NHS Connecting for Health 

2008 : Password Management; Information Security Guidelines

 

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust / Michigan Risk Associates

2009 - 2010 : Root Cause Analysis (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)

 

Coventry University / University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

2005 / 2007 : Major Incident Management (Emergo)

 

Brainbench / Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust 

2001 : Netscape; Operations Concepts;

Mindleaders / Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust 

2001 : Business Communication - Forms of Writing; Networking Essentials ; Negotiating Techniques ; Computer Security Awareness; Data Warehousing Concepts;

Manchester Metropolitan University

1998 : Advanced Internet Training (Level 3) East Midlands Chamber of Commerce 2018 : Integrating Social Media into Your Business

 

Institute of Health Services Management 

1987 : Certificate Examination

 

Canal & River Trust

2018 &2020 : Safeguarding; Acting Safely (Volunteers); Working on or Near Water; Safe Lock Operation; Lone Working;

Manual Handling 'Mind Your Back'; Diversity & Inclusion; Customer Service Success;

2016 : CAATS Lock Keeping Duties

Trust for Conservation Volunteers / Canal & River Trust

2016 : Hedge Laying

British Waterways / KNW Training

2012 : H&S Induction Training

 

Alison.com

2017 : Basic German Language Skills

DuoLingo

2016-7, 2019- 2022 : German

 

GoHighbrow.com / NHS

2016-7: A Brief History of Architecture ; Groundbreaking Contemporary Artists ; Philosophical Ideas ;Ancient Philosophies; Medieval Philosophies; Renaissance & Modern Philosophies; Heroes of Greek Legend;  Significant Futurists ; Street Artists You Should Know

 

Online Travel Training

2010/2014/2016 : Affordable Car Hire ; Great Rail Journeys ; Viking River Cruises ; Botswana Tourism ; Great Southern Rail ; Lounge Pass ; Rail Europe ; Warner Leisure

Animal Aiders

2014 : Dog First Aid

Udemy

2018 : Photography - Ditch Auto; Start Shooting in Manual. 2019 : Composition for the New Photographer

Open2Study

2017 : RMIT University : The Art of Photography

 

City & Guilds of London / The Home Office 

1982 : Amateur Radio Certificate

And what else have I done?

Eaten horsemeat; visited Norway; had kidney stones; driven a Lada; grown Jerusalem Artichokes; sworn in French; owned MZ motorcycles; slept in a tent; toured South Korea; learned Morse code; watched TV in black&white; been on a cruise; built a box kite; visited the Soviet Union; crashed a Ford Escort; had food poisoning; abseiled; been to Seattle; owned a Daf 32; had my tonsils removed; toured a car factory; made cake; Square Danced in Texas; tasted canal water; listened to RNI; seen birth & seen death, driven at 100mph; seen a kidney full of hair; played Go; sketched in Dusseldorf; failed exams; passed exams; visited mortuaries; eaten andouillette (once); taken Citalopram; spoken Esperanto; cried; analysed the fat in faeces; visited Croatia; used Prestel; ridden a Pedersen bicycle; sold stuff on eBay; failed to learn any Italian; been on a ferry across the Mersey; joined (and left) a political party; listened to Pink Floyd; driven in Spain; owned a dog; attended Quaker meetings; canoed along the River Severn; joined a trade union, had Weil's Disease; been a radio DJ; walked around Vilnius; seen Don Williams live; listened to satellite radio; smelled blood; crashed a motorcycle; read poetry; laughed out loud; planted trees; been burned by Nitric Acid; played the cello (badly); lost a credit card in Toronto; married; lived.