10 January 2022
I‘m writing this on January 1. It's exactly 50 years since I turned up at the side entrance of George G.Harrap & Co., at 182-184 High Holborn, London, WC2, on January 1, 1972, having been interviewed and accepted for the job of a "Young Scientific Assistant Editor." January 1 wouldn't become a bank holiday in England until 1974.
I owe my career to Ron Hawkins, the interviewer and my first boss. I also owe a lot to the Harrap family, which owned the business-Mr. Paull, Mr. Ian, and Mr. Olaf-for allowing me a paid apprenticeship and bearing the losses I inevitably incurred through my inexperience.
