The 7 ages of
Frank Selkirk
On leaving school I had little idea of what I should do so my parents promptly sent me to “The Institute of Industrial Psychology” (a rump organisation by then) for them to advise. No use: I should do whatever I reasonably liked, possibly with a slight preference for statistical work! Anyhow I got a job working in the plastics research laboratory of Metal Box in Alperton, Middlesex.
Two memorable things occurred there “out of hours”: one was on driving back “home” to Dorset in my Austin 7 I skidded because I was driving too fast in a small town. This made me promise myself to keep whenever possible to speed limits! And the firm had obtained seats as discounted price to go to the Royal Opera House. I went: to what is remembered as a classic production of “Don Carlos”: this started my subsequent passion for this art form!
At work I specialised in statistical analysis, but I was warned that I would have to do National Service. Without waiting to be called up I signed for 3 years to be trained as a ground radar fitter. I wanted to ensure that I could have the training of my choice and that I wasn’t help in limbo too long awaiting for the call-up.
During basic training at RAF Bridgnorth a request was made as to whether anyone was interested in becoming a linguist. Now I hadn’t thought of this, but Andrew had said that the thing to do for a good life in the services was to train as a Chinese Linguist in the RAF. Well, nothing venture, nothing win. So at the end of September 1959 I drove my little car across the south of England to RAF Tangmere - just outside Chichester - where I was to spend a year learning the Chinese National Language (“Mandarin”).
A year later, now a fully qualified Junior Technician, we left Stanstead and flew via Istanbul and Bombay (Mumbai) on a Danair flight to Kaitak, arriving on a lovely September afternoon. Glories of glories we then were taken by the special launch over to Little Saiwan, probably the most civilised and desirable station in the whole of the RAF.
This was my first journey south of the middle of France, but I quickly learnt the importance of flip-flops! We worked in a 6 shift in 10 day basis: 2 mornings, 2 evenings, 2 off, 2 nights, 2 off. These 8 hour shifts effectively were 10 hours, as the journey up to the top of the Peak where we worked was an hour long each way.
It was a high-security intelligence job, so the detail must be glossed over. But if we went up onto the roof in meal break times we were rewarded with the best views anyone could have in the whole of Hong-Kong. 
(The radio station right at the top of Victoria Peak is still “off-limits” to the general public)
After a while I was duly promoted to the exalted rank of Corporal. But this was a special place. Certainly I went water-skiing with the daughter of the Padre and (I think) went to a Corporal Club’s “Do” at one of the best night club venues with the CO’s daughter. I didn’t have a single parade the whole of my 18 months or so there: very civilized!
I also spent quite a while with the St John’s Cathedral youth group, helping at various projects including going over the leper island. My favourite resort was the very quiet, “large” island of Lantoa. The new international airport is now here, though getting rid of it’s peace..
Eventually after a 10-day-long return to the UK I was released and was accepted to go to King’s College London to study theology. At that time my parents gave up their farm and retired to live in Jersey. So I got to know the flights from London to Jersey quite well!
I was not a good student for a variety of reasons: maybe too arrogant in liking my own ideas rather than those of the authors of many, many books. I had some good friends and colleagues, though: one became my best man, another a very-well-known Archbishop of Cape Town, another even helped me to clear my house when leaving the UK for Spain!
But I was not a happy student, though (the Dean was convinced that I should be ordained. I was not!). So I left after 2 years.
For one final fling a few of us from the theology faculty determined on an overland holiday in the near east. We were joined in this with others from sundry fields and we had enough to fill 3 vehicles: minibus, Land Rover and Dormobile (small campervan). Great memories and good friendships made: how fortunate so many of us still keep in touch! But when it was all over I had to get down to finding some employment.
Before setting out on the vacation I had had an interview in London at the head office of a large engineering group. On my return a letter was awaiting me to attend a further interview with Joseph Sankey & Sons Ltd in Bilston. Where was Bilston? Anyhow I found it in the Black Country, attended an interview when the personnel officer asked “wasn’t I a bit old to become a cost accountant? As I spoke chinese might I be interested in sales as he gathered another branch of the firm might be interested in selling wheels to China”?
I was duly taxied over to the other branch in what was called Wellington (it was actually in Hadley, now part of Telford, Shropshire). The big white chief was not there, but I saw the wheel sales manager. After a couple of minutes he rather threw me in asking when could I start? Nothing venture, nothing win, so I said the following Monday. A dash back over to Jersey to get “proper” clothing, enlighten my long-suffering parents on what was happening, and then a new chapter of my life started.
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