About the writer - 2021 update

It seems reasonable for you to ask, if you are reading this blog, who is Robert Howard? In the absence of a third party, you will have to make do with my own take on me. This is me in 2015, having lunch in my favourite café in Beeston, Nottingham, where I live.

I retired from paid work in 2006 when Susan (my wife) was diagnosed with breast cancer and I wanted to be there for her full-time (she recovered fully).

Until I was seventy in 2014, I would have described myself as a Libertarian Socialist and a community activist who blogged. At seventy I gave up serving on committees and resigned my last voluntary commitment in October 2015. I would no longer describe myself as a community activist.

I lived at 36 Swinderby Road, Wembley, from 1944 until 1966 with the exception of few months in 1956, when I lived in Swindon. I have also lived in South Harrow (1966–69), Birmingham (1969–75), Mansfield (1975–80), Lenton (1980–2014) and Beeston (2014 to date).

My first job after leaving Alperton Secondary Modern School in 1959 was as a trainee animal technician at the Chester Beatty Research Institute in South Kensington, where I stayed until 1962. After that I worked for the Ketts chain of electrical shops, first as a sales assistant in their Harlesden shop, before going to the company's head office in Hounslow as an assistant stock auditor. In 1969 I joined Parkinson Cowan Heating by Harrow & Wealdstone Station as their stock controller, which led to the decision to move to Birmingham later the same year, when I became the company's distribution manager. 

Losing my job after a takeover and because I had become a Labour councillor in 1971, I went to work for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service as the charity's Development officer, where I stayed until 1982. For three years I was a full-time councillor before standing down and becoming a part-time field officer with the Guideposts Trust, a charity providing housing and support for tenants with mental health related needs or a learning disability. In 1989 the charity's housing association arm was renamed Advance Housing & Support. I eventually became Head of Housing Management and stayed there until I retired in 2006.

From 1984 until 2006, together with Susan, I founded and published Local History Magazine, a national periodical for local historians.

I have been a member of the Labour Party since 1960, with a couple of breaks (1968) and (2014). I have served the Party in various capacities, including two spell as a councillor: in Birmingham (1970–78) and Nottinghamshire (1981–85). Whilst a councillor I chaired youth & community committees on both councils, I was also Chair of the Midlands Area Museum Service (1973–77) and East Midlands Airport (1981–85).

Trade union membership has been an important part of my life. I was in the AScW (1955–58), USDAW (1958–1970), APEX/GMB (1971 to date).

As a community activist I been involved with numerous groups and organisations associated with the arts, community, health, housing, leisure, local history and public transport, some of which I chaired or help to create.

I still get involved in some things in a individual capacity and since 2007 have had several blogs:

http://beestonweek.blogspot.co.uk

http://paperbagreader.blogspot.co.uk

http://historybybus.blogspot.com

To help me get to grips with the idea of writing a memoir, I joined a WEA writing class and became interested in writing fiction, especially short stories, but since the 1970s I have had published columns and articles on local affairs, museums, public transport and local history.

All these interests have links with my Wembley days in some way, many found inspiration there.

I have no qualifications. Once I started working, I never had time, but I have studied. In the early days my trade unions were very important.

Most of all I have been lucky enough to have had the support and encouragement of many wonderful individuals throughout my life, a good few of who you will meet if you stay with this online memoir.

This blog is as much about sharing my Wembley memories with you, my reader, as encouraging you to write and share your own interests in Wembley.

Robert Howard

13 January 2017.

LIFE SINCE:

I had open heart surgery at the end of February 2017 to replace part of my aortic heart valve after a diagnosis in 2015 that I had Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis found I also had a genetic heart problem I had been born with. My surgeon in a jest said ‘It’s a good job you have never run for a bus’, not knowing of my love for buses and trolleybuses. I now describe myself as ‘a half-day person’ happy with life, one lucky bunny.

For Laura. Me in 1970, aged 25.