1938 - born Church Lawford Near Rugby,Warwickshire,England. of Irish parents Masie & John Collins. mother from County Galway(nee GALVIN), Father from County Cork.

1938-1943 - lived in various villages in and around Rugby area,Church Lawford,Pailton & Lillington near Leamington.

1943 - Moved to Coventry,lived at 93 Paynes Lane.Hillfields district of Coventry,which was badly bombed during the war

1943-1949 - Attended ST. Marys R.C. Infants & Junior School, South Street Hillfields.

1946 - Moved address to 33 Yardley Street,Hillfields.

1949 - moved to 19,Wren Street,Hillfields/ Lower Stoke area of Coventry.

1949 - October moved my schooling from ST. Marys R.C. School to Frederick Bird Secondry Modern Boys School.

1949 - 1950, Class Form 1B, Class position Number 1

1950 - 1951, Class Form 2A, Class position Number 1

1951- 1952, Class Form 3A, Class position Number 1

1952 - 1953, Class Form 4A, Class position Number 1

1953 - Left Frederick Bird School end of July.

1953 - Started Engineering Apprenticeship at Wickman Machine Tools,Banner Lane,Tile Hill district of Coventry. 19th August.

1954 - Signed Indentures to serve 5 Year Apprenticeship,May 5th.

1954 - 1959.Trained in various Departments of Factory,both Workshop and Drawing offices - Machine Tool Design and Small Tool Design Office,Cutting Tool Division,Torrington Ave,Tile Hill,

1959 - May 5th, Finished my Apprenticeship,coming out of my time in the Small Tools Design Office.

1959 - November 5th, Called up to do 2 Years NATIONAL SERVICE in H.M. Forces, Royal Corps of Signals at Catterick in North Yorkshire.

1960 - Married March 5th, during my time at Catterick,at Our Lady of the Assumption,Wife Doreen(nee Wilde).

1960 - June/July posted to Germany to continue my National Service after Trade Training as a Radio Mechanic at Catterick for approx 6 months, first posting to Osnabruck for a fortnight,temporary holding area and then on to Munster,West Falia.

1961 - August - BERLIN WALL built during my term in Germany.

1961 - October 31st, Discharged from National Service.

1961 - November, Recommenced my Enginerring Career at WICKMAN WIMET, Torrington Ave Coventry.

1961 - 1962 Lived at 12a Browns Lane,Allesley,Coventry.

1962 - First Daughter, Jaqueline Born 26th of July at Gulson Road,Hospital,Coventry(thurs).

1962-1966 - Attended Lanchester College,Coventry,Evening Courses in Production Engineering HNC.

1963 - Moved to 136 Jardine Crescent, Tile Hill,Coventry.

1966 - Second Daughter born, Christine,at Gulson Road, Hospital,March 27th,(Sunday evening).