Valerie Allen

I came to my father’s house in Northbridge with my family from Scotland in 1950 when I was eight, on a ship, seeing the world for the first time.

At Fort Street everyone had come from somewhere else, some from overseas after WW2 and some from their own schools.

I don’t remember much: not being bored, dancing in a cheesecloth dress and pink knickers to the ‘Valse des Fleurs’ on a gramophone in an asphalt playground and some of Miss Acason’s sharper moments which included me.

After Fort Street I went to North Sydney GHS then to Sydney University (on a Commonwealth scholarship like many of us) to study science, maths and physics.

After rejecting a job at Woomera and Lucas Heights (no glamour there) I got a job in 1963 as a computer programmer for ICT/ICL and loved it. I don’t think anyone now knows computers went back that far, except as history, like Babbage.

I came to the UK in 1965 to work for ICL and met my husband Tom. We married a few months later and lived near Hampstead in swinging London in the 60’s, though we didn’t swing very hard.

After 4 years we had Emma and 2 years later Imogen.

I was a stay at home mum, working part time, but found a school with the same aims as Fort Street for my daughters when we moved to Reading.

Emma studied physics, became a London media lawyer (contracts for Madonna and Robbie Williams) but changed back to physics and is now working in computing law in San Francisco. Imogen studied Economics, then Environment and was a consultant to the current environment minister Hilary Benn and is now making her living as a painter.

They have flats in London and partners. No grandchildren on the horizon.

We lived an English middle class life, not totally comfortable for a rebellious Australian Scot, but you couldn’t not enjoy it.

Tom became the managing director of the computer company he built up, eventually being awarded ‘Freeman of the City of London’ for his efforts (entitling you to drive sheep over London Bridge + an occasional Lord Mayors dinner).

I became a computer consultant. In case your eyes glaze, I wasn’t technical, just a manager, making sure projects were delivered OK.

Sounds boring but it wasn’t, they were mostly projects for the UK government. Some are: UK Passport Office (I know how it’s done), weekly meetings in Amsterdam on an 8 seater plane across the channel for an international publisher, last 3+ year contract with Department of Trade and Industry (confirmed my distrust of politics).

The one I liked best was the UK Hydrographic Office where sea charts are made. For hundreds of years they were hand painted until 15 years ago when they were digitised. The HO has the original charts made by Captain Cook and Captain Bligh and others, with paintings of skylines (New York looked a bit different hundreds of years ago, just trees). My job was to make sure that computerised versions worked on oil tankers etc.

I was a teacher for a while and also worked for a charity supporting a parliamentary bill called ‘Dignity at Work’, to combat bullying at work. Visits to House of Lords, and seeing the process but it takes ages to introduce legislation.

Tom had become very ill and died in October 2005. He had a memorial service at Magdalen College chapel in Oxford with the Dean of Divinity, black gospel singers and lots of tributes. He would have loved it all (except the religious part).

As a Capricorn, I’m living my life backwards, the responsible bits first then the rebellion. Given a choice I would’ve done it the other way round.

I’m looking for a small cottage in Wales where I can look at the sky and muse on the meaning of life.

I may even chant a Buddhist mantra, surprisingly like a Catholic one, saying just keep trying until you get to heaven.

On the other hand I may just try to build up a good wine cellar and invite a few friends.

A fresh photo has been added.

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