Brian Wood – Love of engineering came from making and fixing bikes

I joined up as a Junior Marine Engineer and Mechanic. Didn’t have a clue what it was but …

Simon: Oh that’s interesting. Where did you select that then? That path?

Well, that was sort of forced on me by the Recruitment Office I think in Cardiff because they ask you your hobbies, you do this exam and there was also things you had to identify and sort of ‘what would you use this for?’ and I used to make bikes at the time.

Used to be down the old scrapheap and get bits and pieces. My sisters passed the 11+ and they got bikes for passing the 11+. I didn’t pass my 11+ so I didn’t get a bike, so I made my own.

So, they thought well you like moving nuts and bolts and things like … “Oh yeah, love sawing bits and hammering and … ” “You need to be an Engineer.”