Dave Morris (Cl 76-79) Education to Retirement
Opportunities from Education to Retirement
What a strange thing growing up is! We look different from the outside, but apart from knowledge and experience we change very little as a person. Generally it is those events around us that dictate our attitude to life, and that is certainly true with me.
When I look back at my time with Hawford and Kings, it seems the only thing I did was play rugby, hockey or cricket, participate in athletics, or spend any time I could, sculling or rowing with a crew, getting bawled at by a big bloke on a bike alongside the river with a megaphone!
There were a few of us that used to cycle in from Kempsey, Mike Robertson who's now in New York, we still keep in touch. Andy Padden who I see regularly and lives nearby, and his brother Chris, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand and I've visited a couple of times through work.
From the age of 13, all I wanted to do was join the forces, following on from CCF. The Marines looked great, so I joined the RAF! Why? I always the ability to think ahead, and suddenly digging holes, and being out on manoeuvres, didn't seem that appealing!
I don't regret a minute of it though, especially when the Falklands War started and I volunteered to be part of the task force. I was immediately dispatched to Stafford to begin Tactical Training, and found myself digging a hole and living in it for a week!
Seriously though it was excellent, although they sent me after the war, which with an older head was probably a good thing, but as a young kid it was all exciting and I was missing out!
I became very involved in the Logistics area, and spent a lot of time on Chinooks and Puma helicopters. I nearly managed to kill myself whilst hooking an underslung load to a Chinook hovering above me. You need to discharge the static build up with an earthing rod, which I couldn't find, so I threw the coupling onto the hook, too slowly unfortunately, and woke a few metres away looking up at the departing Chinook!
I played a lot of rugby for the RAF and local clubs, and ran and participated in a station and Strike Command athletics team.
After 12 years a beautiful wife Julie, and two children Leanne and Kieran, I decided it was time to move on. We returned to Worcestershire and built a house in Littleworth.
A series of jobs in logistics, from driving to Operational Management and then Production Management, I found myself involved with Motorsport and Exhibition work, which, 10yrs on I still enjoy. Having travelled extensively with the World Rally and F1, I am now involved with British and World Touring Cars, and the Exhibition world, and staring towards the next 10yrs until retirement. Where did that time go? My mind still seems the same as it was 30yrs ago. I gave up rugby a few years ago, and coaching at Worcester, but still play 5 a side football.
It's funny, that as a kid you get up to mischief when you're able, and think you're the only one, and adults don't have a clue. Then when you get older, situations change and you lose that fun, carefree element to your life. I'm glad to say I regained it and still get up to mischief when I can, just for a smile. I believe it keeps you young, although my wife and kids think it just makes me annoying!!
Thanks for the start Hawford and Kings!
(2011)