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Gavin Cole's OpenLearn Profile

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Profile: Gavin Cole

Gavin Cole

Biography

I grew up in the sixties when kids had a lot more outdoor freedom than they do now and practical skills were a bigger part of our lives. I went to a Technical school and then served an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner. I remained in the manufacturing sector moving eventually from the shop floor to management and then the design office until 2003 when I became a University lecturer. I taught mathematical subjects but the university required lecturers to have a PGCE which is an english based qualification and as I suspected proved to be beyond my abilities. Fortunately I got away with it long to be able to retire! I am still rubbish at english. I am a time served toolmaker by trade and although I came off my tools twenty five years ago I retained aninterest in engineering. I now have a lathe and a mill in my 'man cave' and am currently making parts for sixteeth scale model trams, I also model in 00 gaugemodel railways and try my hand at sewing (my wife offers very patienttution). I also enjoy carpentry but like most mechanical engineers the results would win few awards! I studied with the Open University and achieved a honours degree in engineering twenty years ago which is how I managed to become a lecturer. The Open University taught me many things but above all it showed me the importance of being organised and how much effort that saves.