Open Writing

After almost three and a half years abroad and 30,000 kilometres of travelling on three continents my arrival back in the UK was a huge culture shock. Needless to say, my parents were glad to see me. Mary's brother Roger, did us a great favour in getting us temporary rented accommodation in the house of one of his scouting friends whose marriage had broken up. Although the house was expensive to keep warm owing to the single brick walls it did provide us with a welcome roof over our heads whilst I went job hunting. The house had become blighted owing to a proposal to build the M42 motorway through the area. This made it almost impossible to sell. It was to the mutual benefit of both the owner and ourselves to become temporary occupiers of the property.

Jane was enrolled at the local junior school and Paul attended a pre-school group on a mornings-only basis. The oil crisis was about to make a huge impact on the social and economic life of the country. The three days working week had been introduced. This caused a huge strain on the social security system; so many people qualified for benefits as a result of being laid off for two days a week. Television channels were ordered to close down at 10pm. One of the consequences of this decision by government was a surge in the birth rate in the late summer and early autumn of 1974.

I was busy scanning the weekly Times Educational Supplement further education section for job opportunities. I received invitations to attend interviews at three colleges; Exeter; Birkenhead and Leicester. I decided not to attend the Devon invitation. I was unsuccessful with the other two. I applied for a post at Mexborough College. My impression of the college, its principal and its head of business studies was non too complimentary but I badly needed a job. I reluctantly accepted the post.

I was a little anxious because I had only been offered probationary terms of employment. Although I was pretty confident that I would not have a problem proving my worth it did make a search for a house a little uncertain. I decided to play along because I was several months away from my start date. I vowed to keep my eyes on the jobs columns of the TES. In the meantime I needed to earn an income by one means or another.

I registered with an employment agency specialising in the business and management field. I was placed with Ye Olde Bell Hotel at Barnby Moor near Retford as its book-keeper/ accountant, part of the Lyons Group. It meant I would have to stay in the hotel Monday to Friday. The pay was reasonable particularly as I was also given free meals and accommodation.

Whilst working at the hotel I applied for a teaching post at a college in Halifax. I was called for interview in early March 1974. The head of business studies was looking to appoint someone to teach the law component on Ordinary National Certificate courses. There were only two of us up for interview. My competitor had done some part-time teaching for the college. He also possessed a law degree. I didn't rate my chances. I was keen to get the job for three reasons; housing costs in the area were amongst the lowest in the country at that time; the location was attractive being pretty in its own right and close to the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks; I' gelled' with the head of department, Nick Thomas. Somewhat to my surprise I was offered the job starting on 1 April 1974.