Being in the business for over 30 years now, I have seen a lot of changes. I initially started my journey in marine engineering at a young age helping my father with various jobs when he ran a boatyard in Penryn a very, very long time ago. When the "work experience week" at school came along I managed to win a place at the local Volvo Penta dealership. Loving every second of it time went too quickly and I didn't want to return to school but as I was only 14 it was kind of a non- starter when I asked if I could continue to work and not go back to the classroom!
At 16, a YTS apprenticeship was then gained at a local machine shop where I was learning the "nuts and bolts" of engineering as well as attending college one day a week which saw me gaining the knowledge and understanding of how things worked. Two years flew by and YTS training coming to an end, a call came from the same Volvo dealership I had work experience with asking me if I would like to join their team, I jumped at the chance. My first week saw me at Volvo Penta UK headquarters in Watford for a whole week stripping and rebuilding firstly a 2002 and then an AQAD41, - my training had begun!
Understanding the Volvo range from the tiny 2000 series of engines through to the mighty D13. I cut my teeth on the very popular 31, 41 range as well as the TAMD 6 and 7 litre high performance engines, Superchargers, inboard transmissions, sterndrives and even the odd KamEwa jet drive. My mentor Clive Cliff taught me his incredible skills and know-how having served his time at Rolls Royce so nothing was allowed except perfection.
So after a 3 year run with Volo Penta and seeing the local company change hands twice I decided it was time to gain more experience. Moving from VP to Perkins Sabre and Ford for three more years saw me gain more and more experience in the marine industry. Being headhunted was quite an honour and when finding out the my Mentor wanted me back to work alongside him I returned to the Volvo dealership under another new MD, the company went from strength to strength.
Sixteen years on and several certificates later I decided in 2011 to go it alone. My 8th year self employed sees me continuing to carry out repairs and maintenance of all types and to all sorts of vessels here in Falmouth and as far afield as the south of France and Portugal. The work can be hard but I see it as very rewarding.
In my spare time I enjoy riding my motorcycles and I have just started out as a volunteer with Cornwall Blood Bikes and feel very proud to be associated with such a fantastic organisation.
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