[Mafield01]

I have always been interested in mechanical items, and have ridden on quite a large number of steam trains. Several years ago I visited 'Cite Du Train' in Mulhouse in France, also visiting the Schlumpf collection (car museum mainly Bugatti's) in the same town in the Alsace.

I worked with steam all my life, but in a totally different industry - Dry Cleaning and Laundry - and had my own engineering business, carrying out everything from basic fault-finding, servicing, repairs, to installations of complete shops and factories, including steam raising equipment - mainly horizontal and vertical steam boilers.

When I retired I had lots of equipment left over, pipe threading machinery, tools, pipework and fittings etc., which I tried to sell - probably retailing at around £10k+ However, the only offers I got were from other pipefitters who wished to profiteer from this, by offering around £250 for the lot.

I ended up donating it instead, to the Urie Locomotive Society at Ropley Hampshire, and now I occasionally help out in the works, with rebuilding Urie S15 no. 409 - which has increased my interest in steam engines no end.

I also run a classic sports car - a Triumph TR5 which I enjoy tinkering with - anything mechanical (or electrics)