Brian joined British
Rail in September 1989 as a Crossing Keeper at Kintbury Level Crossing,
after several years in the computer industry as a programmer working
predominantly on Railway Signalling systems (spot the theme?). He moved to
Reading Panel in 1990 and spent a very enjoyable 5 years working with many of
those reprobates esteemed colleagues depicted on this site. In 1995 Brian
moved to Swindon as a Relief Controller supervising the Exeter, Cardiff, Cardiff
Valley areas and the Freight desk. Later that year he became the Infrastructure
Performance Manager, also at Swindon, managing the performance regimes for the
Maintenance and Renewals contractors. In 1997 the call of front line operations
became overwhelming (once in the blood…) and Brian returned to his roots as
Crossing Keeper, this time at Colthrop Crossing.
You may remember me as “Big” Brian as I was, at my worst, over 24˝ stone (see photo). In 2001 I decided enough was enough and in 12 months I lost 12 stone through sensible eating and loads of exercise (mainly cycling). I am pleased to report that I am still a trim 12˝ stone having maintained that weight for over three years now.