Parsley sauce .

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

I thought it would make for an interesting thread if John Stevenson and myself compared notes about our lifetimes in engineering .

Not much point in just writing out two CV’s so I thought perhaps that forum members could just ask friendly questions to explore this topic .

Regards ,

Michael Williams

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Michael I feel most of the regulars on here have a reasonable idea of what JS has got upto during his lifetime in engineering through the various references he has made in his posts.

On the otherhand we know little of what your engineering background is so although a full blown CV is not worth writing as you say above maybe a brief resume would stimulate further questions from the members. Also possible a few photos of things you have made/designed both hobby and business related if for no other reason to let certain people see that you are more than just an armchair engineer, we know JS is certainly a very hands on type engineer with much practical experiance.

J

PS Good to see you back

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Hi there, Michael,

Who was the most helpful person you encountered during your working career?

Was it through a long-term association or through a single, short-term project?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Where has Neil's post gone? Has a moderator deleted it?

Russell.

[Involute CurveParticipant @involutecurve]

What post? this forum is definitely over moderated, perhaps rather than posting on the forum we should just send PM's or do these get read also??

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Hi Jason ,

This is a little note that I have sent to people that have asked me privately what my background is . It is very much shortened CV – full version extends to 25 pages .

I’ve always liked designing and making things from a very young age .

Before any education or training in engineering I was making simple steam engines and tools – almost entirely by hand since any sort of lathe was out of the question .

Went to Swansea Uni to study Mechanical Engineering and then became a graduate apprentice at Rolls Royce . I spent a lot of this time at the Rolls Royce Bristol site of what had been Bristol Siddeley . Got sent to Cranfield and RR technical college on multiple specialist courses .

All in all with engineers from two of the best aero engine companies in the world to tutor me and exotic technology all around me I had a fantastic technical education .

Worked then as a design engineer mainly on jet engines but sometimes on spin off projects .

Later worked at several RR related companies at home and abroad including Mtu in Munich . Mtu were the modern day descendents of the war time german rocket and jet engine makers – fascinating place .

Later still and into recent times I have been a freelance design consultant working on all manner of varied projects .

Though initially trained as a mechanical engineer I soon got involved in control systems and electronics and my experience has become very broad based now .

These days I have a small workshop used for hobby and making experimental parts and prototypes . I use advanced methods sometimes but I still can and do use very traditional skills – I recently hand scraped some precision parts for new project prototype .

Haven’t done any actual model engineering lately but what I still like to do is make small machines and tools for myself .

My hobby and professional interests have long since merged into one as you will gather !

Regards ,

Michael Williams .

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Maybe Neil deleted it himself as he is now also a moderator.

Yes it is possible for us to read PMs but I have never done it as they are "Private"

J

EDIT thanks for that Michael, you posted as I was commenting on Moderation.

Edited By JasonB on 13/03/2014 12:09:24

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Hi Swarf , Mostly ,

Hard to say who was most helpful – many genuine experts helped me a great deal .

I’ll have a ponder and get back to you on this .

Regards ,

Michael Williams .

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Sorry Michael

I think this is a very bad idea. There is huge potential for conflict with consequent bad feeling / upset.

John's background and experience seems far different from yours but both of you have made your mark as engineers. The relevance that both of you have to this forum is in illuminating the various aspects that a "Home" engineer encounters and providing some assistance towards solving their problems. I'm sure that you each have your own approaches and both are valid.

Let's concentrate on what this forum is ( mostly!) about – blokes in sheds making "stuff" for fun.

Regards

Norman

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

For clarity, I deleted my own post.

My feeling was that this thread, well meaning or otherwise, had the appearance of being a deliberate troll.

On reflection I withdrew it as I feared adding to the OP's previously expressed concern that they were being treated unfairly.

On further reflection, I think it is probably best that this thread is locked (I don't yet know how to do this) as this forum is for discussion of engineering, not haute cuisine.

Participants who have dim views for each other's opinions are respectfully encouraged to at least agree to make mutual use of the 'ignore member' button.

Neil

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

Norman, I think you will find it unlikely there will be a sudden rash of project details and pictures from the professional guys – most work is done for a specific client and even if non disclosure is not signed confidentiality is implicit. It often causes problems when trying to demonstrate experience!

Mark

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I think a thread based on just two peopleis a bit elitist. It is noticable on other threads that lots of people like to have the opportunity to give an account of their life even if it is intensely boring and irrelevant to the topic under discussion. So a thread devoted to autobiography might satisfy that need.

Can't see the relevance of parsley. I do prefer search engine friendly titles.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I'll lock it for you now Neil, was In two minds myself whether to let it run when I first saw it.

J

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