Interview With My Father David Harrison
David Spencer Harrison born Dovercourt 1939
I have here the second part of an interview my father gave me about his career
(I haven't yet found the first part)
I was at Edith Weston in Rutland for a year learning Russian, after which I was posted to Berlin. I worked at Flugplatz Gatow, listening to radios on Russian planes. I got fed up with the RAF because our families were treated differently to officers families, and I wanted to settle down. But you couldn't leave unless you paid up all your training expenses. I went to the educational officer and said I wanted to leave. He said a tip, that if I got a university place then they would let me go. I took a correspondence course in Economics and Geography, A Levels with the Metropolitan College, and the RAF paid for it. I passed the exams after three months study. I then applied to universities, Essex by an entrance exam, and Norwich by interview. I took some holiday, went on a boat from Hamburg to Harwich, hired a car, and drove to Norwich. There I had my interview and they offered me a place. I was over the moon. When I requested to buy myself out of the RAF they said No! They were adamant as my work was so valuable. So I wrote to my MP Julian Ridsdale, for Harwich, and he made inquiries. The RAF had told me I was on a waiting list, and then miraculously told me I'd just made it on the list to go. I went to Cheltenham and purchased my discharge for £100. Still they wanted to hang on to me. They wanted cash and a cheque was all I had. The Wing Commander told me that within six months I'd be crawling to come back.
eAt the UEA where I was a student I did a degree in Social Sciences in the first year, with Economics, Economic History, Sociology and Philosophy. In the second year I specialised in Economics and Sociology. I got the university prize for the best overall result. I now had a 2/1 degree. While still a student I worked a lot for Securicor guarding buildings, with a uniform, hat and all, and sometimes with a doberman. I guarded the Norfolk Show which was fun. And I worked at the John Innes Institute which was the best job I ever did. I'd get there at 6 or 7 in the evening and work till 8 in the morning. While there I would sleep or go round eating the fruit. I also window cleaned for a while. When I got my degree I applied for a masters degree but couldn't get the grant, so instead I did a teacher training course at Garnet College. I did my teaching practice at Norwich City College, and they wanted me back afterwards and gave me a job as a lecturer in Business Studies. After two years I was promoted to Lecturer Grade 2. After another two years I was promoted to Senior Lecturer. I then applied for Head of Department jobs and got one in Warrington, and this was just ten years after leaving the RAF.
I was promoted to a higher grade while at Warrington, and after five years applied for vice principals jobs and got one in Hatton College. Two years later I got the job of principal at Langley.
I was promoted to a higher grade while at Warrington, and after five years applied for vice principals jobs and got one in Hatton College. Two years later I got the job of principal at Langley.
While a teenager I worked as a paperboy, a milkman, I delivered groceries, and helped a printer typesetting.