Johns page

Johns Page

Tim Chris Gillian John Mr Victor Photo's Links Mail

Here I am sitting in my pram on a sunny day in Birstall, Circa 1952. I was born in Birstall and went to Stonehill and then to Longslade school. After leaving I went on to further education in engineering and was quite successful but felt it was the wrong working environment (very corporate/very indoors etc.) so I decided to change to something that I did like. I went back to college to study groundsmanship and caring for fine turf.
Having quailfied I worked for the Education department in Winchester and was the head groundsman for the Trojans Rugby Club in Southampton. Then for several years I worked for Birstall Parish Council (Leicestershire), with several staff to manage. One of them was Gillians father (Tom White) and thats how Gillian and I met. My day to day duties included the upkeep of the cemetery, sports facilities, cricket, football, tennis, rounders, archery, allotments, formal gardens, public areas, the church yard, pathways, cleaning and care of pavilions and attending all the council meetings....as you can see from the photo below it's very tiring.....

When I'm awake I'm a full member of the Institute of Groundsmenship and I care for Iford Golf Course in Christchurch. I have an interesting working environment and often take on other grounds tasks when called upon by my employer. For instance the below picture is of me helping to clear up Christchurch cemetary after the a heavy storm. (Notice the massive tree that has collapsed, its roots are sticking up some thirty feet into the air.)

Tim Chris Gillian John Mr Victor Photo's Links Mail