FRANK WOOD, CHIEF WARDEN

I was born in 1925 in Leicester and lived with my parents in and near the city, where! attended school. At the age of 16, I transferred to the city Technical College where l was employed as a part-time laboratory assistant at the princely salary of 10 shillings per week and the opportunity to study Physics, Chemistry and Maths for the "Intermediate B.Sc." exam. This was in wartime, and at the College both soldiers and airmen were being trained in electrical and radio skills. (Electronics did not exist in those days). I have abiding memories of the many occasions when, at the age of 17, I helped teach these subjects to the servicemen. At the same time I was a member of the Air training Corps, where! had opportunities of flights in planes such as Tiger Moths and a Blenheim. As a teenager, I also performed on my bike, as a messenger for the Home Guard (my Father's unit), the WVS (my mothers group) and also for the local Air-raid Wardens. When the time came to register for National service, I opted for Aircrew, but because I wore spectacles, I was not acceptable, even as a Navigator, for which I had studied enthusiastically. It was then that I decided to concentrate on Radio, and learned more of the subject than would have been normal at my age. I was advised by one of our ATC instructors, that it was possible to apply for a State Bursary to finance my attendance at University. I left home at the age of about 18 to attend University College Nottingham (before it became a full University). From there! graduated in 1946 with an External London Degree in Physics ("with Radio", which was a wartime condition for those studying Physics). I met my late wife at the College and we married in 1951.1 received an offer of employment from The Plessey Company, to work in Physics research, which The War Office accepted as a legitimate alternative to National Service. I continued with the Plessey Company for 34 years in a variety of roles, in Research, Technical Administration, Patents Consultancy, Technical Editing and Product Planning, at several locations, in Essex, Northamptonshire, Hampshire and finally at Poole. In each of these locations I took an active part in the local churches. My other interests included lobbying for new schools, the Plessey Sailing Club, Neighbourhood Watch, and this Residents Association. After 34 years with Plessey, I was selected for redundancy and took early retirement, but at the age of 55, I needed other sources of income. I undertook part-time lecturing at Bournemouth Tech., and at one of the Bournemouth Language Schools, Patents Abstracting and working freelance as the Dorset representative for a London Patents Agency. These activities were somewhat insecure, so in 1983 I found an opportunity to use another of my talents, as a Technical Author, working for a company with offices in Bournemouth and Weymouth, producing Technical Documentation for various clients, including Plessey. Finally,! retired properly at the age of 65 after about 2 years spent commuting daily between Broadstone and Weymouth. "Retirement" gave me the opportunity to spend more time working voluntarily in the local community and the Church. The first voluntary activity, which I took on after retirement, was as a driver for the Age Concern Day Centre every Tuesday. My wife, meanwhile, was a helper and Committee member of the Broadstone Friendship Luncheon Club (for elderly people living alone) and she persuaded me to become a reserve driver for them on Wednesdays, in which role I became familiar with the Luncheon Club. When she died, it so happened that one of the regular drivers became incapacitated, so I became a regular driver for the Club and was also invited to take my wife's place on the Committee. 3 years ago, I became Hon. Sec. of this Committee and last November I became Chairman. In the Residents Association, I was persuaded to become a Warden about 10 years ago, an Area Warden about 9 years ago and Chief Warden about 5 years ago. I can recommend keeping busy, as an antidote for bereavement.

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