Working at Pedigree Dolls in the late sixties (I think I am making a model cylinder vacuum cleaner!)

Back in the sixties I worked in the design and development department of a small toy company model making and sculpting clay figures. this company was taken over by Lines Bros Ltd (at that time claimed to be the largest toy maker in the world) who owned International Model Aircraft, Tri-ang Toys, Dinky Toys and Pedigree Dolls. I spent some time at Pedigree Dolls working on Cindy Dolls, Captain Scarlet and action man type figures. As a result of losses overseas Lines Bros. Ltd  were in financial trouble and in 1971 they called in the Official Receiver. The Group was broken up and sold off. I moved to Lesney's (Matchbox) and was there for several years sculpturing all their model soldier range.  In 1978 I was starting a family and I realized there really was not enough money in the toy industry so decided to move on. I applied to Ford's design studio and went for an interview taking some of my soldiers. They must have been impressed as they asked me to start the next Monday!

At the Dunton studios we designed all Ford front wheel drive vehicles for the whole world. it was a very stimulating and challenging environment with constantly changing technology. By the nineties we were using advanced computer modelling programs such as HOLOS, UMESS and ALIAS. I adapted well and achieved the dizzy heights of Master Modeller. I have finally taken early retirement and can now devote my time to sculpting soldiers.