After a remarkably inglorious school career – much of which was spent outside the headmaster’s office – I received the following advice from the careers master! “Leave this school at your earliest convenience, Griffin!”
My dad – realising he had an uphill task ahead of him – took my alarm clock along to my job interview at Mawdsleys in Dursley. It was a Smiths wind up alarm clock, beloved of on-screen bomb makers, that I had converted to be self-winding with the aid of my Meccano set. Suddenly, I was an apprentice toolmaker.
I loved making useful things and I especially loved learning about science and engineering. Mawdsleys were very good to me and funded ten years of further education, after which I served twenty-five years as a merchant navy engineering officer, before starting my business.
Tomcat, with the help of my wonderful staff, has grown into a much-respected international company, but never did I expect to receive an honour from the King for what I see as doing my job. For that, I have to thank Thomas Baker, an eight-year-old with Angelman’s syndrome, whom I came to look upon as my son.
Tom taught me that people with intellectual or physical difficulties can overcome their challenges and achieve far beyond their expectations if only they are given their own, personal helping hand. That is something Tomcat has always done so well, and I believe was the reason for the honour more so than the engineering, though we are very proud of that too.
Receiving my MBE at Windsor Castle from Her Majesty the Princess Royal was an unexpected and memorable experience in one of the most beautiful settings in England. It was a memory I am most grateful for and will cherish forever.