Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 34

Interview
As often happens, the early
signs of Roger Sixsmith’s future
career path were clear to see,
even in his schooldays.
He’d ruled out a life in the air after
spending time as a cadet in the school
Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and
deciding that the Air Force wasn’t going to
be the career for him.
But when he discovered that the Army
section of the Cadets was running an old,
pre-war Ford 8, that really sparked his
interest - and prompted him to switch to
the CCF’s Army section.
In fact, during his last year at school,
he and a group of his 17 year-old mates
clubbed together the-then hefty sum of
half a crown each (now the equivalent
of 12.5 pence) to buy an old Ford of
their own, which they promptly stripped
of its body, pushed across the A4 to
Marlborough Downs, and ran around
there to their hearts’ content.
Forget ‘Elf’n’Safety’ – in those more
liberal and free-wheeling days, the
schoolmasters knew all about the lads’
extra-curricular activity and simply
regarded it as part of their education.
It certainly proved to be a valuable part
of Roger’s, because he decided not to
continue with his A-level studies and,
encouraged by his dad, started to seek out
an apprenticeship in the motor trade.
“I was one of three brothers and because
our father had lived through the Great
Depression of the 1930s, we were all
encouraged to get into good, solid trades
rather than going to university” he says.
Which suited Roger down to the ground
– especially when he managed to secure
a four-year Technical Apprenticeship
with the iconic Jaguar motor company in
Coventry.
It fuelled his love of all things
automotive, and fi rmly set him on his
future course.
Taking fl ight
After undergoing such a prestigious
grounding in his chosen trade, Roger was
frustrated to fi nd that at the end of his
four year apprenticeship in 1967, there
were no suitable vacancies at the Jaguar
Lionel Blair opening IoW Motor Show, Puckpool, 1979
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factory - and indeed, few jobs to be had in
the UK motor industry.
Whilst during the 1950s, the UK had
been the second-largest manufacturer
of cars in the world (after the US), the
60s saw considerably lower growth, as
competitor countries such as France,
Germany and Japan began to develop
their car markets.
Undaunted, the 22 year-old Roger
promptly took his skills Down Under, and
worked in Australia, where one of his
brothers had already emigrated.
“My dad paid the fare for me to go and
while it was a good experience to have
had, I never really felt that Australia was
for me” he recalls.
So, once back in the UK, he had to re-
think . All he knew was that motors were
still his passion, and so in the absence
of any mechanical jobs, he applied for a
sales position with a Jaguar and British
Leyland dealership in Haywards Heath.
And when he wasn’t selling cars, he kept
himself busy as a member of the local
motor club, marshalling at rallies and
doing auto tests.