Alcan

1981

I was up against the wall somewhat, I needed a company that would take me on in a deepening recession, and agree to let me continue my day release at Wigan Mining and Technical College, It was more important than ever to pass my H2, the last three months of the second (and final) year of the HNC.

In addition, the marriage was very much on the rocks, there had been an event where things were so out of control that I had threatened to end it all, I don't think in retrospect that I meant it, but I stormed out of the house, with a bottle of tablets, made my way into Wigan and of all things, slept in a churchyard.

I believe that in the months after that, for me, it became about me. It was a stage of hardness, as though I grew balls or something and I decided that nothing would take me down further, that somehow I had reached the bottom and it was time to regain something.

An interview at Alcan Aluminium for a die design draughtsman job was arranged and they took me on and agreed to allow the day off, but I don't believe they agreed to pay for it. That was fine as the four day pay was good enough and in the tough economic times a good job was far better than any old job.

Even if it would only last six months...