Allan Harvey

Born and lived in Eastcote Lane next to the Day Nursery for the under five’s left Eastcote Lane School by now called Roxeth manor in 1956 after the 11plus exam.
Whilst at school I was always interested in electronics, so it was no surprise when I left school in 1960 at 15 years of age, to begin my career as early as possible in the electronics world.
My first employment was in Wembley wiring VHF communications equipment for the Police, Ambulance and the Military which I did not consider was going anywhere towards my career.
I decided to look for a company that would allow me to go to college whilst I was working, so that I could really start to make progress. It was as an Electronic Design Engineer for Marconi Space and Defence in Stanmore that I achieved this and stayed with them for eight years or so designing guided missile systems and underwater weapon systems.
I married in 1966 we had two sons, (1971 & 1972) both are now in senior positions in City Banks.
Also I have a wonderful Grandson from that marriage.
It was during this time that I purchased my first house in Ruislip, and then moving after three years to Eastcote.
As part of my design work was involved with ‘logic’ systems, it was a natural progression in the 70’s to move into Computers……so a career move into mainframe computer hardware maintenance was the result. Initially on-site at Freeman’s mail order looking after their computers, I then went to British Airways Computer Centre at Heathrow-scary stuff.
During this period I moved from Eastcote to Cranleigh in Surrey.
Swapped to the Management ladder, Site Manager at BA, then group Manager for BA and some City Banks.
Our company was taken over by Granada in 1989 and I went on to achieve a senior Management position running the entire South Eastern Region of the UK for Granada. Unfortunately, I was part of a large redundancy sweep in 1991, with a divorce happening at the same time.

I remarried in 1992 and acquired a grown up stepdaughter who had been born in 1972 I have stayed very much in the same industry since then, I’m an I.T. Manager having General Manager responsibilities, with a company in Guilford. My hobbies have no connection with computers, my main interest outside of work is building and flying radio controlled model aircraft. I also enjoy gardening, and golf but that leaves a bit to be desired My Wife Jan and I still live in Cranleigh, Surrey. With our cat Java
©Alan Harvey2008