Meet the Shedder: Brian Bird
I was born in 1934 in my maternal grandparents’ house which had a profound effect on my later life; the house overlooked a railway line. I’ve been hooked on railways ever since.
My family home was in Hornchurch, then in Essex but now part of Greater London and the site of RAF Hornchurch, one of the Battle of Britain fighter Stations. Growing up I saw many dog fights overhead and collected cartridge cases and pieces of shrapnel.
My first School was Park Lane Infants (not that Park Lane) which was a mile walk away from home. There were no school meals in those days so I did the journey 4 times a day, sometimes to the accompaniment of a “Doodlebug” in the later stages of the war. Lessons were often interrupted and we trooped out to the shelters where we sat on coconut mats that left impressions on bare legs and we sang various songs, like “Ten Green Bottles”. In 1945 I started at Brentwood School, founded in 1557, on a scholarship. Although I had planned to read history at University I left school in 1951 to start 5 years articled to solicitors with offices in Chancery Lane, in the heart of London’s legal district. I attended Law School in two instalments, passed the law exams and became a solicitor in February 1957.
My call up for National Service had been deferred while I studied but in April 1957 I joined the Royal Artillery. I was commissioned and joined an Anti-Aircraft Regiment, seeing active service in Cyprus and then becoming MTO at a Brigade HQ. There I was also Mess Officer and worked with a brilliant Mess Sergeant who had been in the Indian Army. He put on a superb curry once a week. It was amazing how many officers needed to visit HQ on a Wednesday.
Returning to civilian life in 1959 I became a partner in the firm where I had trained and practised In South London. I moved to Felpham in 1969, commuting to London for a time but joined a Chichester law firm as a partner in 1971, becoming senior partner in 1977, the same year as I was Rotary President. I retired in 1998.
I have two daughters, from my first marriage, three grandchildren and a great granddaughter. I have been married to Lyn for 50 years this year.
I have that life-long interest in railways, having for a time been a Trustee and Chairman of the Bluebell Railway. I have built several model railways and locomotive models including live-steam. I served as Secretary and Chairman of Chichester Model Engineers and later, as Chairman of South Downs Light Railway for 10 years and owned, with some friends, a passenger-hauling miniature steam locomotive. I was part of a group that repatriated a locomotive from the USA. It’s now based on the Swanage Railway.
Other interests included sailing (other people’s boats) and following the ups and downs (mostly downs) of West Ham United and Essex County Cricket. I like reading and classical music. Travel, especially by train, has been restricted by ill health but with Lyn I have been on many lines at home and abroad.
I am delighted that we have got Chichester Men’s Shed off the ground. I am proud to have been elected Chairman and I dedicate my time, skills and experience to helping the Shed to prosper and to make a real difference to the lives of many men and women and to the Chichester community.