Monday September 17, 2007

So you want to know about me !

I grew up on the Wirral and in my early years, enjoying many fine days out in the hills and pubs of North Wales.  One day I'll write a guide of "Bar Snacks in North Wales", but for now you'll just have to wait.

I moved south about 1975 to London University, attracted by the bright lights and the cosmopolitan restaurants and way of life.  While at college I lived in London near Euston for two years, and then in Harlesden NW10 for my final year.

After college, I moved to Surrey, first lodging in Reigate, then Chessington, then Betchworth before finally buying my own place in New Haw.  I'm currently based in Byfleet, but one day intend to return to the hills of North Wales.

I enjoy the single way of life, so never did get married.  I've got a great bunch of friends, so am out and about most evenings.

Career History

After leaving Bebington secondary school with a handful of CSE's and 'O' levels I spent a further two years at the Grammar to get those all essential 'A' levels.  Then it was a couple of years at Unilever, in Port Sunlight, working as a Technician while doing a part time ONC Physics and HNC Chemistry at Carlett Park Technical College.  That gave me the entrance requirements for Imperial College (London) to get a degree in Analytical Chemistry.

I joined Beecham's Proprietary Medicines R&D at Leatherhead, Surrey as an Analytical Chemist in 1978 to help develop and validate chromatographic analytical methods for proprietary medicines such as Phensic, Day Nurse, Veno's, Scott's Emulsion and various other proprietary medicines.   In 1984 we move to a new site at Weybridge and within six years I was a section leader, with a team of eight analysts and technicians.  Beecham's became Smithkline Beecham, and then GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).  Who know what next?

Test tubes are out - instruments are in, so it wasn't long before I got more involved with Computers and informatics.  I had a good play with some old laboratory software applications such as MiniChrom, LabManager, PeakPro, Atlas, DW4, Lotus 123, Smart Suite and DataEase.  After 15 years I transferred from the Analytical group to become a Technical Analyst in the Information Technology department, looking after the Laboratory's information systems.  Here I gained knowledge of system analysis methods (SSADM), compliance, computer validation (GAMP4) and quality systems, databases (Access and Oracle) and other systems.

I was 50 in July 2005, and am now a Senior Anlayst.  The work is getting more managerial, and now includes some WEB development, software development, system management and general 2nd and 3rd tier support.  I've been with the company about 30 years and can certainly say GSK is a great company to work for.