I suggested last week that I was starting what seemed like a mini-tour over the next few weeks. Well, not everything goes to plan. My father died on Saturday night and suddenly what seemed important last week is less so now.
This is not the place for an eulogy about my father. But amongst the many things I might say about him is one that is relevant to the themes I address here.
My dad was an electrical engineer, and from what I can tell, a very able one. He went to university in WW2 because it was thought that the country needed engineers and his national service was then an engineering apprenticeship because he was a chronic asthmatic throughout his life, which did not stop him reaching 92. Once that apprenticeship was done he joined the then new nationalised Central Electricity Generating Board. Ten years or so later he switched to a regional electricity board, still specialising in power distribution. He felt most comfortable with 440,000 volts. 240 volts always seemed to worry him much more, rather oddly.
But my point is this: he brought me up thinking that working in the public interest was the best thing anyone could do. He actually did not want me to be a private sector accountant because he doubted this was best for the public interest. And when Thatcher came along he was baffled that people suddenly required what he thought to be extraordinary salaries for roles that the very same people had so recently been doing for far less.
I think he was right. And he heavily influenced my thinking. And my belief that money is a very poor indicator of value.
Right at the end of his life - just a few months ago - he said he was proud of what I'd done. He recognised being an accountant could be in the public interest, after all. We made our peace on that one.
We did not always agree, but I'll miss him.
And if moderation gets a bit amiss on occasions in the next week or two, this might also be why. There are other things to think about right now, as well as the tour.
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I’m sorry to hear this. Same employer as I had so I know the circumstances. He had probably retired before the whole shebang was sold off but I changed from being an employee of the CEGB to National Power to Nuclear Electric to British Energy to Electricite de France in short space of time without even moving office.
He did indeed get out before all the changes – which were anathema to him
Sorry to hear that Richard. Family first.
P.S. I believe 440kv is transmitted at very low currents – lower that 240v anyway.
I will take your word re 440kv: one if his things was sub-station and line design. The details are simply not known to me.
“I believe 440kv is transmitted at very low currents — lower that 240v anyway”
Well power is amps time volts. Power is what we want, of course. So if you increase the voltage by 2000 times you only have to send current at 1/2000 of the original amperage to deliver the same power.
It’s truly wonderful what we half know about electricity isn’t it. Makes you realise just how fragile our society is when most of us know sod all about the basic elements of our infrastructure.
The next dark ages could be very dark indeed.
The 400 (+) kV grid in the UK carries up to 1000 amps on each of its 3 phases.
David Wilson says:
“The 400 (+) kV grid in the UK carries up to 1000 amps on each of its 3 phases.”
Thankyou, David. It would need to or we’d all be living in an indistinguishable glimmer consumed by darkness when the sun goes down, and, more to the point these days, the internet wouldn’t work and very little else besides.
Indeed you will miss him. As will your family.
My thoughts will remain with you for the next weeks, while you adjust to the empty space where something important was located – and is no longer.
Peace and love
Jeni
My sympathies to you concerning your Father.
May you have the strength to get through his loss.
Sending my sincere condolences to you and your family.
Richard,
May I offer my sincere condolences to you and your family.
John S Warren
Richard,
I’m very sorry to hear that. He was clearly a very fine man. Best wishes to you and your family.
Thanks to you and all else who comment – not much time to do so today
Sorry for your loss Richard.
Your father sounds like someone who would have been part of the early socialist movement from which I benefitted so much and am very grateful for. I wonder if he ever read The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist?
Kindest regards
I will never know the answer to that to be honest
He didn’t much discuss politics
He lived it instead
Actions speak louder than words. Respect to him.
Thoughts with you, and glad you made your peace on that perception of the public interest – always a good thing to be able to achieve. Best wishes, and strength for the coming few weeks.
Richard, I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you peace as you move through these early days and weeks, adjusting, without your father there.
Thanks
Hi Richard,
My sincere condolences for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Neil
Sorry for your loss. He raised a fine son.
@ Richard
Sending my sincere condolences to you and your family.
I’d like to add my condolences too Richard. I think I may be in the same position too in respect of my mother (88) pretty soon.
Your father sounds very much like her (and my father too) in his outlook and political views. In fact, they met through both working for the CEGB.
Interesting – they were all much of an age! Good luck with caring fro your mum
I’m sorry about your loss. Your Dad did a good job in raising you to be public spirited like himself. I had an uncle who was a electrical engineer and he started out his career in power transmission. He saw the invention of electricity and its distribution to the many as a powerful tool for improving human beings’ lives and therefore a worthy cause to devote effort to. In the same way devoting effort to disseminating ideas that will benefit the many amounts to exactly the same thing. Of course you’ll not be able to do it without shocking some people but a jolting out of complacent thinking is justified given the current level of socially created ills around us.
Richard, your Dad sounds as if he was a fine man and I haven’t the slightest doubt you will miss him sorely. May the fact that he got to say he was proud of you will keep him in your heart, just as my Dad saying the same to me just before he died did.
Many condolences
Nick
Thanks Nick
Richard, my sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of your father. He left his mark on you in that you are looking towards a better society with what your tax research is trying to achieve. Mel
My sincere condolences.
Again condolances to you and yours, from my own experience all I can say is give yourself time to say in your own way goodbye to your dad.
Desp
Richard; my condolences to you and your family.
Thanks
Sorry to hear your sad news. Condolences to you and your family. This, and the other blog on banking brings back memories of my own father and his father; both served during the Wars and both worked in “Finance” – my grandfather as an agent for Liverpool Victoria and my dad for the Savings Bank of Glasgow – both founded in the early 19C to assist the poor. Different times, different mores.
Indeed
Thanks
“And when Thatcher came along he was baffled that people suddenly required what he thought to be extraordinary salaries for roles that the very same people had so recently been doing for far less…”
My old man who was of the same generation said he “…couldn’t see how one man could be worth ten times the wages of another; no matter what he did…”
– He will you with you the rest of your life Richard.
Best regards to you and yours.
Thanks Ken
Having known full well since relatively early childhood that one’s parents will die does not one iota seem to diminish the surprise and the sadness when it happens. Even at a ripe old age it still comes as a watershed.
Thinking of you. (Much difference that makes. )
It does
I am touched by the reaction here
Every best wish to you ar a difficult time
You were proud of him
He was proud of you
That’s what will get you through this
My sincere condolences for your loss Richard. Take the time you need. We will still be here when you return. Bless you.
Do you not know that a man is not dead as long as his name is spoken?
– Terry Pratchett. Going Postal.
Nice idea
Thanks
My condolences Richard. Losing a loved one leaves a hole even when they lived a long life.
I am sorry to hear you lost your dad, Richard. I know he lived to a ‘ripe old age’ of 92, but somehow that can make the loss harder, because you’ve had him in your life for such a long time. It sounds as if he was a principled man, and you’ve certainly inherited his sense of principle. All the best to you and your family.
I suspect he defined himself by his principles
He did not shout about them
He simply lived them
It’s not a bad way of evidencing them
Sorry for your loss, Richard.
So lucky you had such a wonderful person as your father for so many years.
Best regards,
Javier
Good to be reminded that ‘serving the public’ is something to be admired. and not despised as is too often the case.
Im sure he would have recognised and been proud that you have done just that with your life.
Time to raise a glass to you both
Sorry to hear about your father. How pleasing it is for us to read about the appreciation you and he had for each other.
Please accept my and my family’s condolences on your sad loss.
Very sorry for your sad loss Richard, hope you find strength and comfort from your family and friends. I don’t write very much anymore, I stick to reading the views, as there are far more educated and intelligent commenters here on the subject of tax etc, but on this occasion I can pass my sympathy to you. God bless.
Thanks
Richard,
So sorry. Condolences to you and yours. You’ll be in my prayers.
Thanks
Dear Richard
My thoughts are with you and your family at this heartbreaking time! Our parents are so special, everything is put into context when we lose one or both of them because there is no pain greater than loss of loved ones, all other parts of our life seem insignificant. Sending you all hugs x
Lisa
Thank you
Can I thank everyone?
To use a Quaker term, I have felt held in the light
So sorry for your loss. A sad time for you and all his family and circle. Some of us were lucky enough to grow up in the world that he helped to build, and are grateful for it.
Please accept my condolences on your, and your family’s, loss. Your dad sounds terrific; the Real McCoy.
In a sense, he still lives on in you. Not because of a few genes he’s passed on – everyone who has kids does that; big deal – but because of the ideals and principles he helped you develop. That’s way, WAY more potent than passing on a bit of eye-colouring or what have you. So every time you help someone think for themselves, question and attempt to understand ‘yuk’ stuff like economics, even just a tiny bit, that’s in part your dad living on beyond the grave.
May your God walk with you during this entirely natural but very sad time.
Thanks
We were quite alike in some ways
I have been happy about it post my teenage years!
[…] Group of MEPs (of which Labour MEPs are members) on ‘Who stole our future?’. It seems that the tour has resumed despite recent events in my life. That is because I feel that it’s appropriate to do so. I will […]
My sincere condolences Richard.
My sympathy to you and your family.
His – and your – belief that working working in the public interest is a good thing, when shared by government is what I think led to a period when most people had never had it so good: the general decline of that idea is what has led to only being a few in that position.