33 SYCAMORE

Dale's search for recognition takes him from the working-class streets of Whitley Bay in the North East of England before World War II to Mayfair's prestigious Connaught Hotel as an apprentice chef. After three years RAF National Service, he moves into management but greener grass beckons, so with his young wife, he emigrates to the United States. After three years in hotel and catering in New York and Pennsylvania he returns to the UK and into senior catering management, where his technical and management qualifications steer him into lecturing. Then with an Open University degree, he is appointed a College Head and then Marketing Director in Birmingham. He leaves to develop his own consultancy, while for recreation, he runs ultra-marathons and triathlons. Eventually he retires to concentrate on his jazz group, banjo, conversational French, marathons and golf.