Looking back on the last 16 years, the last year had led me to consider my long-term future and where the company would be in the years to come. Although I had taken out a small private pension the lack of a Company pension scheme was something I needed to consider. The reorganisation of the London County Council to the Greater London Council opened up a number of new interesting positions. I applied for one of several posts which were connected to the Ambulance chassis development at Merton Road, Wandsworth. While most of my time with the Allard company had been interesting and challenging, I needed to recognise that working for a family business had it’s limitations and an uncertain future. When Sydney died it was a sad reflection on what could have been. However my move to the GLC provided me with a chance of promotion to a senior level, financial rewards, pension and generous holidays – I would find it hard to take all the leave I had – a whole new world!
The decision made I handed in my notice, late one Friday afternoon in May 1965, not to Sydney but to Alan Allard. I worked my notice period and on my last day and after a few slightly sad goodbyes I went home – still with the workshop keys, returning them on the first day of my new position with the GLC. I joined the newly formed Greater London Council, taking up the post of Head of the Automotive Engineering Group and held the position of Senior Fleet Engineer for the Inner London Education Authority. It offered the chance to be involved in the development of the ambulance vehicle which I had been involved with while I worked at Allards.
Some 25 years later in 1991 I left the Greater London Council, the Inner London Education Authority, and the London Residuary Body taking early retirement. My interests in cars had been replaced by boats, which had started in the 80’s on the Broads and along with my ever-patient partner Pat, we had enjoyed some six holidays exploring every part of the Broads. The trips to the Broads were a total joy however the journey back to Surrey was not the part we looked forward to! It seemed a shame, the River Thames was almost on our doorstep, but we had never been on it.
After several trips on self-drive hire boats, we decided to get our own boat and by a stroke of luck a work colleague knew of an ex hire boat which was for sale on the Thames at Gibbs Marine near Shepperton. Being an ex-hire boat, her name was Maid Feodora, it needed considerable renovation and by dint of many hours hard work by Pat and myself, our next holiday was on Feodora getting well above Oxford on this first major trip.