Page 20 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK TWO "BOSTON 1960 TO 1970"

appointed as a Staff Nurse on the Orthopaedic ward at the local
hospital literally just down the road from our new home.
Back at “The Standard” the “writing on the wall” told me I
should look for a job with better prospects.
The “Daily Telegraph” was the daily newspaper with the
best job prospects so I diligently began to subscribe as an avid
reader.
Letter writing came relatively easily after several years of
advertisement copywriting and I had eventually passed GCE
“O” level English language on my third attempt.
After months of writing countless applications I was
rewarded by a reply from the Firestone Company.
I was to meet their District Manager from Lincoln who
would interview me with the likelihood of future employment.
That District Manager was Fred Popham who unbeknown
to me would become the single most influential person in the
whole of my life.
Our interview was very relaxed and informal in one of the
local hotel bars.
He explained what the company required and if I did not
wish to move location, to another part of the UK at that time,
then there were no vacancies in the immediate area.
At the same time he said that although my sales experience
at the “Standard” would be valuable to me and to them as
future employers. I should ideally have some experience of the
motor trade. He suggested I look for an intermediate position
and keep in touch with his office.
I was also asked to use my position in the newspaper to let
him know if any likely property were to come on the market in
the town that Firestone could utilise as a retail Tyre and Auto
store.
The meeting was most amicable and we parted company
with me resolved to change direction in my career. Even the
slight possibility of being employed by a multi-national
company was difficult to comprehend.

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