New member Steve Lines presented a synopsis of his life to the club at our last meeting.
Born in Walsall in the Black Country of England in 1953 Steve told us how he grew up in a “world of makers “as many of his relations worked in the Austin car factory in Birmingham or associated industries. His father was a fitter and turner and his mum looked after the family home and Steve and his younger brother Andrew. While at school at the early age of 16 he and his Dad restored a “clapped out “1961 Reliant using his part time job money.
He joined the Royal Engineers cadet force and loved the structure and discipline of the army. He went on to train as a teacher at Shoreditch College London majoring in Science and Technology which led him onto a number teaching roles in English and New Zealand schools. His move to the area was as Head of Technology at Howick College and following that to avoid “drowning in paperwork” became the Graphics Teacher at Somerville Intermediate. It was here that he made the acquaintance of President Gavin.
Whilst at High Wycombe he met and married Sarah and they have 2 children Rebecca and Tom both of whom are married. Steve and Sarah have 3 grandchildren in Rebecca’s family and he says Tom is still practising! They love travelling and Steve is also an avid sailor. Since retiring from teaching in 2017 he enjoys “giving back” to the community and is a Board member of the Howick Menzshed organization. He is looking forward to continuing to serve the community through his Rotary membership.
A big welcome to Steve and Sarah!
The full text of his presentation is in Read More.
Speech for Rotary
President Gavin , Fellow Rotarians and invited guests.
As a new member to Rotary, I am delighted to have been asked to present a short synopsis of who I am so that you can get to know me a little better and hopefully in turn I can get to know a little better.
So here we go :-
I am Steve Lines born 17 / 07 / 1953 in Walsall, slightly North of Birmingham and in the County of Staffordshire. Walsall is at the heart of what is affectionately known as the Black Country due to all the heavy industry in the area and all of the soot that was deposited on the buildings during the late 18h and early 19th centuries.
I came into a world of makers, many of my relations worked at the Austin motor works in Birmingham or associated industries. My father was a Fitter and Turner and my mother looked after the household, providing for my younger brother Andrew and me. They were a great hard working couple
I progress to the local high school where I was an average student and ended up in 1971 with University entrance and entry into London University and teachers college.
During my later school years I had a number of part time jobs, including a market boy. My part time employment provided the funds for my first car a three wheel Reliant circa 1961 with a clapped out engine and a rusty chassis. This became a great father and son project, with the body removed, new chassis fitted and engine and gearbox reconditioned I was mobile. What a great way to learn auto engineering a passion of mine to this day. By 16 I was the only student at school to own a car.
I am Steve Lines born 17 / 07 / 1953 in Walsall, slightly North of Birmingham and in the County of Staffordshire. Walsall is at the heart of what is affectionately known as the Black Country due to all the heavy industry in the area and all of the soot that was deposited on the buildings during the late 18h and early 19th centuries.
I came into a world of makers, many of my relations worked at the Austin motor works in Birmingham or associated industries. My father was a Fitter and Turner and my mother looked after the household, providing for my younger brother Andrew and me. They were a great hard working couple
I progress to the local high school where I was an average student and ended up in 1971 with University entrance and entry into London University and teachers college.
During my later school years I had a number of part time jobs, including a market boy. My part time employment provided the funds for my first car a three wheel Reliant circa 1961 with a clapped out engine and a rusty chassis. This became a great father and son project, with the body removed, new chassis fitted and engine and gearbox reconditioned I was mobile. What a great way to learn auto engineering a passion of mine to this day. By 16 I was the only student at school to own a car.
I can remember during a holiday period being asked to work at the meat factory, which supplied the various products for the stall. My first job was to go and unload a truck in the loading bay, I am sure it was a test, as when I opened the doors of the truck , there was 300 Pigs heads and I sware every one of them was looking at me. I later joined Poultry and Cheese Company and I learnt the patter for selling poultry Oven ready Freddies they were called.( Example expand)
At the time I became a member of Her Majesties Armed forces, Meet corporal Lines of the Royal engineers Cadet force. I loved the discipline and structure of the army. I can remember taking all my brass buckles to school and using polishing machines in the Metalwork class to add that extra lustre. A friend and I sat for hours bulling up our boots with the preferred Kiwi boot polish, Corporal Dawes coming to attention on parade and the shell of polish cracked like an eggshell on his toecap that he had lovingly prepared for this special parade.
It is here that the love of passing skills onto others that lead me into teaching, together with a good piece of advice from my then A level engineering teacher, when I told him I was thinking of going to Dudley teachers college. Expand Nay lad its time to pull away from the apron strings you need to go to Shoreditch College London. He was so right.
So 1971 I left home and had three fantastic years at Shoreditch college just outside of London. I majored in Science and Technology as well as Handicraft mainly Engineering and Electronics.
Teaching practice was always stressful but on the whole the best part of the year. There are a many examples of the funny side of teaching practice, what you should realise is that I wasn’t much older than the students I was teaching at the time
Teaching Practice stories Old Woking (Example expand)
At the time I became a member of Her Majesties Armed forces, Meet corporal Lines of the Royal engineers Cadet force. I loved the discipline and structure of the army. I can remember taking all my brass buckles to school and using polishing machines in the Metalwork class to add that extra lustre. A friend and I sat for hours bulling up our boots with the preferred Kiwi boot polish, Corporal Dawes coming to attention on parade and the shell of polish cracked like an eggshell on his toecap that he had lovingly prepared for this special parade.
It is here that the love of passing skills onto others that lead me into teaching, together with a good piece of advice from my then A level engineering teacher, when I told him I was thinking of going to Dudley teachers college. Expand Nay lad its time to pull away from the apron strings you need to go to Shoreditch College London. He was so right.
So 1971 I left home and had three fantastic years at Shoreditch college just outside of London. I majored in Science and Technology as well as Handicraft mainly Engineering and Electronics.
Teaching practice was always stressful but on the whole the best part of the year. There are a many examples of the funny side of teaching practice, what you should realise is that I wasn’t much older than the students I was teaching at the time
Teaching Practice stories Old Woking (Example expand)
Leaving Uni I was offered a position at my final teaching practice school in High Wycombe, which I accepted as a metalwork teacher . I got into mountain climbing and weekends would be in Snowdonia with parties of school children. Camping in snow and scraping ice off the inside of the tent I must have been mad !! Another major mile stone was that I met Sarah my wonderful wife there, I left after 2 years for promotion as head of Metalwork and later a Head of a year group at Hatters Lane School. Sarah and I married in High Wycombe in 1978 and I became a Dean .
I was affectionately known as Mr Trips and enjoyed many excursions with students throughout Europe.
Skin Head story. (Gavin Watson Expand)
Sarah’s mother lived in Montreux Switzerland and we were often skiing there or hiking in the mountains. Christmases were always special and surreal with the white Christmas snow and the winter sports.
I was affectionately known as Mr Trips and enjoyed many excursions with students throughout Europe.
Skin Head story. (Gavin Watson Expand)
Sarah’s mother lived in Montreux Switzerland and we were often skiing there or hiking in the mountains. Christmases were always special and surreal with the white Christmas snow and the winter sports.
We were blessed with 2 wonderful children Rebecca our eldest and Tom. We are both exceedingly proud of them as they forge ahead in their chosen careers. Rebecca now 39 and with Sam her husband has blessed us with 3 grand Children Iris Imogen and Isaac. Tom 36 and Christina his wife are married and live in Onehunga and are practising.
My lovely late mother in law ( I always joked with her that she was a Test pilot in a broom factory), she was however a wonderful mentor and friend who I miss terribly. Although she was born in Australia, I forgive her, she decided to come back and visit New Zealand where she was bought up and with little persuasion asked us to join her for a 3month tour. I had a contact in Auckland we had taught in Buckinghamshire and during our stop off in Auckland I looked him up at his school. I met the principal and was offered a job for the following year at Rosehill College as a Dean The rest is history!!
We sold up in the UK and moved to New Zealand in November 1990. We had friends in Te Akau and we stayed with them until we had purchased a house in Half-moon Bay. I must tell you about the difficulty with Maori spelling and pronunciation. NGARUAWAHIA. (Expand)
I developed at this time a love for sailing and all things to do with the Ocean I had taken diving lessons as we travelled through Australia. (Expand Story if time. ) My first summer at Rosehill I was invited to sail to the Great Barrier Island for a diving expedition with the DP and another crewmember from Rosehill. That was it, I was hooked. We sailed as a crew for a few seasons, I learnt the art of fishing ( I am still nuts about fishing and sailing but I had to give up the scuba as my wet suit shrank.)
Sailing became a very important part of my life and thanks to a most supportive family I have been on a number blue water adventures, from sailing back to New Zealand from Tonga to recently sailing from Ireland to Scotland with my brother The year before Covid I was asked to crew by my dear friend Don Brazier the catamaran Katipo up to Vanuatu. This was another great adventure. Sarah joined me in New Caledonia for a lovely holiday.
My lovely late mother in law ( I always joked with her that she was a Test pilot in a broom factory), she was however a wonderful mentor and friend who I miss terribly. Although she was born in Australia, I forgive her, she decided to come back and visit New Zealand where she was bought up and with little persuasion asked us to join her for a 3month tour. I had a contact in Auckland we had taught in Buckinghamshire and during our stop off in Auckland I looked him up at his school. I met the principal and was offered a job for the following year at Rosehill College as a Dean The rest is history!!
We sold up in the UK and moved to New Zealand in November 1990. We had friends in Te Akau and we stayed with them until we had purchased a house in Half-moon Bay. I must tell you about the difficulty with Maori spelling and pronunciation. NGARUAWAHIA. (Expand)
I developed at this time a love for sailing and all things to do with the Ocean I had taken diving lessons as we travelled through Australia. (Expand Story if time. ) My first summer at Rosehill I was invited to sail to the Great Barrier Island for a diving expedition with the DP and another crewmember from Rosehill. That was it, I was hooked. We sailed as a crew for a few seasons, I learnt the art of fishing ( I am still nuts about fishing and sailing but I had to give up the scuba as my wet suit shrank.)
Sailing became a very important part of my life and thanks to a most supportive family I have been on a number blue water adventures, from sailing back to New Zealand from Tonga to recently sailing from Ireland to Scotland with my brother The year before Covid I was asked to crew by my dear friend Don Brazier the catamaran Katipo up to Vanuatu. This was another great adventure. Sarah joined me in New Caledonia for a lovely holiday.
I finished at Rosehill in the late 90’s and became Head of Technology at Howick College. I saw the transition from School Cert and Bursary into NCEA level 1 2 and 3. I was part of the team that designed and fitted out a new series of workshops and introduced digital electronics and Graphics into the department. I really enjoyed my teaching there especially sharing in the success of many successful students, I was, however getting restless , drowning in paper work and admin and with that decided to throw in the towel and get back into the classroom. I applied and accepted a position at Somerville Intermediate as their Graphics teacher. I loved it, loved the age group. Highlights including meeting President Gavin and working with a fantastic , dedicated group of teachers. I thoroughly enjoyed the school.
I retired from teaching in December 2017 and wanted to give something back to this wonderful area that has been so good to Sarah and me. I joined Rotary this year, thank you for inviting me into the fold. I am also heavily involved with the setting up of the Menz Shed at the Colonial Village where I am a board member and head workshop trainer. My hobbies also include my beloved sports car Rupert as well as relaxing at our bach in Waiheke
Sarah and I have enjoyed many holidays throughout NZ and the Pacific. We both a have love for the southern hemisphere and hope to continue our travels Covid permitting. We celebrate 43 years of marriage this year and we look forward to any future challenges.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to give you an insight into our lives and I hope you have enjoyed my presentation.
I am happy to expand on any points if time permits.
I retired from teaching in December 2017 and wanted to give something back to this wonderful area that has been so good to Sarah and me. I joined Rotary this year, thank you for inviting me into the fold. I am also heavily involved with the setting up of the Menz Shed at the Colonial Village where I am a board member and head workshop trainer. My hobbies also include my beloved sports car Rupert as well as relaxing at our bach in Waiheke
Sarah and I have enjoyed many holidays throughout NZ and the Pacific. We both a have love for the southern hemisphere and hope to continue our travels Covid permitting. We celebrate 43 years of marriage this year and we look forward to any future challenges.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to give you an insight into our lives and I hope you have enjoyed my presentation.
I am happy to expand on any points if time permits.
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