My grandparents family home was No. 19 Broughton Road. I was born there as were two of my brothers. My grandparents were Jack and Rose White. My gran lived there until her death . As my father was in the RAF we moved around quite a bit but always came back to Broughton Road between postings.

When I left school in 1968 at Abingdon I decided that there was nothing that interested me in Berkshire and moved back to live with my grandparents. I lived in Broughton Road until 1976.

My first job In Sands End was with the North Thames gas board as an apprentice gas fitter, that was based at Watson House. next door to the Drayton Works. I then worked for a while at the Hoffman tool and engineering co. in Carnwarth Road. They made among other things gearbox parts for Triumph motor cycles. And after a spell with Corona soft drinks transport dept I landed myself the job in 1973 as Transport Manager at the Drayton Paper Works.

I remember Eric and Ian Griegsby, Peter Dalton, Alan Crack, and Tito Trinidad and his brother Tommy from Broughton Road.

Read what John has to say about his time at Drayton's in the Work Places section.