My name is Jim Crawley and I am a retired member of the British Computer Society, and use the designation M.B.C.S.
I am married to the lovely Diane, who reckons I spend far too much time at my own or other folks computers - while she enjoys TV Soaps!
I was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on August 28th 1940, a night according to family folklore when the Luftwaffe had a night off.
I began computing in the middle 60's, at the NCB Computer Centre, Team Valley, Gateshead, working for the late, great Tom Reed, Head of Systems.
We actually lived at work, literally having to sleep on the job.
The strange thing is that I actually did get to CERN for an interview.
They were happy days at the NCB, when it was quicker to load tapes into a wagon and drive to Edinburgh than attempt to transmit them over the Post Office modems.
In 1969, Neil Armstrong made 'one small step for man'. It was an important year for many people including me. Alexander Dubjek had a difficult year.
For myself, I found myself taking off from Heathrow, London bound for Kiev ( Kyev ) on a spacious Tupolev aircraft of the Aeroflot fleet and marked CCCP.
I was accompagnied by a party of American Jews who were visiting relatives in Ukraine and in the former RSSR.
My impressions would fill a book! But I enjoyed very much the September evenings, strolling the tree-lined streets and sharing a beer and cigarette with the friendly people in Kiev, including some soldiers - and the joy of swimming in the Dniepr river.
I heard of Babi-Yar ... and saw the beauty of the churches... ( not working, in quaint Soviet Speak! ) ... and the memorials to those who died for us in the 1939-1945 war.
I became aware of the reality that the West's military might was now aimed at me
Get a Map of Central Kiev Here
In the 70's I went up to Fenham ( Catholic Teacher Training College ) and spent a few happy years at Saint Augustine's Secondary School, Walker. After a 'burnout' and spell in Hospital, I went to the Town Hall, South Shields, until I was retired due to permanent ill health in 1991.
These days I keep myself in shape on a multimedia 486 DX4-75 ( A geriatric 25 with Overdrive ) for pleasure and for church work.
Click Here for the British Computer Society Web Site
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