That stretch of time between finishing at Worcester Technical College and heading off to Coventry (Lanchester) Poly felt like a lifetime. It was the summer of 1983, a year I can still pinpoint perfectly because the airwaves were absolutely dominated by The Police’s "Wrapped Around Your Finger."

My Mum managed to land me a gig at Huband Electrical Contractors. While the pay was strictly minimum wage, the actual value of the job was far higher. It wasn’t just about the wiring; it was an education in the art of communication and the reality of a hard day’s graft.

The work was a toss-up between government contracts and domestic odd jobs:

• The High Life: I spent a fair amount of time perched on a ladder, wrestling with a hammer drill. It was exhausting, but it gifted me the kind of DIY confidence that’s stayed with me ever since.

• The Digital Frontier: We were actually installing first-generation Ethernet cables. It’s wild to think we were wiring up the future inside Job Centres that still housed massive, clattering typing pools.

• The Domestic Grind: When we weren’t at government sites, we were fitting electric showers, which meant getting hands-on with trunking and mastering the precise art of the pipe bender.

On the days I wasn't drilling or bending conduit, I was behind the wheel of a Ford Transit, delivering materials to various sites. There’s a certain kind of freedom at 17, found in driving a van through a British summer with the radio up, even if you are just the "delivery lad."

I made the mistake that any person who wanted to do the best of the job I would make the delivery and then hurry back to the yard.  Then one of the electricians took me to one side and said, “when we send you out for the day, stay out for the day”.  Which is when I would sit on in the park by Broadway Tower in the sun.  Making sure I was back in the yard, 30 minutes before time to leave for home. 

Conclusion

Looking back, that summer was more than just a way to kill time before university. Whether I was holding a drill, navigating a typing pool, or shifting gears in the Transit, I was learning how to interface with the real world. It was a masterclass in practical skills and people skills, all set to a New Wave soundtrack.