By Post: Lynn Davidson, The Memoir Club, 34 Lynwood Way, South Shields. NE34 8DB
Cheques payable to Lynn Davidson
Telephone: 07552086888
Experience is not a commodity that you
can pay for upfront. It is rather like taking out a life insurance policy and
then listening to friends, colleagues and peers for advice to acquire the
skills necessary to build a successful life.
It can all be achieved when somebody switches on the lights and you then have clear vision to make those important decisions.
INTRODUCTION
You have
the job and then are told you should work your way out of it in four years.
The book
reflects a life’s passage from the unknown to the real world and beyond. It is
about finding one’s feet in life, and eventually taking the plunge and making a
career in an ever-changing corporate world, and then, finally, giving something
back. In 2013 Tony Turnbull had this to say:
Phil has played a major part in assisting the
Sustainable Development Partnership through his input and
considerable skills. He has been the mainstay in becoming involved in
working with community groups and has been instrumental and
influential in making North Tyneside a better place to live.
Tony Turnbull, Sustainable
Development Officer at North Tyneside Council
Family and
work had to be truly juggled at times, you may be in a similar situation at
some stage. How will you cope? There is a great deal of well-trodden experience
in our Uncharted Territory, it literally went on for mile after mile.
The
experiences on life’s journey provided a variety of unplanned circumstances
which had an equal variety of unplanned outcomes. Life can be like that for
many of us.
Your
ambitions can be achieved if you want it. Some of what did happen may help you during
your life and career. You will only know that when you have read the story.
We enjoyed
our journey and we hope you enjoy yours.
REVIEW
Getting to travel to such exotic places, experiencing first
hand their cultures. I think you were born at the right time to have
those many overseas ventures in the business world.
You saw places before they became commercialized in the tourist industry. Your descriptions of places, people …and the food: brought the book alive.
How lucky your wife Eileen was too willing to go wherever
you were sent, which meant you could enjoy the adventures together.
Well done documenting your memoirs Phil. I’m sure there are
more stories to come.
Oh your book, I am just loving reading it, SOOO interesting. What a lovely time you and Eileen had, travelling and living in so many countries, and the interesting people you met. The retired gentleman in India, and for a large gin and tonic, he would talk to you about all the past history, these sort of people are a joy to meet. And not forgetting all the cows Phil.
Throughout all your journeys, Eileen was always there for you, through the highs and lows, and when you would say to her, what should we do? She always said, let's go for it. So many happy times you spent together Phil, and did amazing things, so good memories for you. Joyce Jordan
I have been reading your book again! What a life you have led!! It is certainly interesting and exciting to see you in the business world, on an international stage, with all the political and commercial ramifications. Fitting all in with Eileen, Andrew, and networking too. I am sure many readers would find it most enjoyable and very informative. Such a base for all the deals and businesses of today. Helen Moran
This book gave an insight into the many intricacies of the business world, There were also fascinating glimpses of the social and family life at the time,
A well-written book, eminently readable. Margaret Davidson
A very interesting read which started with your love of cricket and continued with the explanation of your journey through your business life in many different countries. Some of which we have also visited and indeed get a mention in your book. We always enjoyed yours and Eileen's company and meeting Andrew in Dubai.
We did not realise that you had travelled so extensively in the Far East, or for that matter your American connections. I am sure you both enjoyed finding our about the different cultures of the Far East and to a varying extent America.
Before retiring, returning to the UK and starting your own Consultancy must have been quite a challenge, and continuing on to do charitable work.
Again I would like to say we enjoyed your book and hope more folk have the opportunity to read your fascinating journey. Brian and Sheila
Unchartered territory. What a great title!
I found this book enjoyable and informative. A fascinating
journey through a life well lived across the globe and back.
The challenge of being in the right place at the right time
against the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, in the business world.
Yet what goes around, comes around, and so our hero
ultimately finds himself…back home in Tyneside.
Another door is shown to open up. It’s no good, Phil, you’ll never turn the light out.
Your final chapters point to pastures new. So, what comes
next? Surely a sequel simmers on the stove?
Will you expand on further calls to arms? Move seamlessly
from pressurised environments to life in the Voluntary Sector and beyond?
Stands the church clock at ten to three.
Will there be cats to herd?
We wait and see!
Like the late Lord MacLaurin’s memoir, Unchartered Territory combines lessons learned on the cricket pitch and the boardroom and is a seamless memoir.
The opening chapters describe a common theme in
business biographies: School leads to sport to training and to a career. So
far, so formulaic. What is remarkable is the trajectory Phil’s career took.
While pitching and delivering on different continents is commonplace in most
senior commercial leaders now, it was not in the early seventies, doubly so for
one who had not developed through a graduate training programme.
As at the crease, Phil’s sense of timing in
business seems to have been impeccable. To be based at the heart of the much
missed ‘common market’ as it came to life and then to move to Dubai during the
time it was developing into the commercial ‘bridgehead’ to the Middle East (and
not the playground of footballers) shows a keen nose for an
opportunity.
I enjoyed particularly the ‘view from the
boundary’, his prowess in the middle order and determination not to give his
wicket away. There is that delightful whiff of linseed oil and cut grass which inspires
good cricket writing. The same determination infuses the tales from the boardroom
during the latter part of the book.
I finished Unchartered Territory shortly
after reading the late ‘Lord Ted’ Dexter’s memoir. However briefly their sports
careers met, to be able to recount sharing the field with a Cambridge and
Sussex great must have been a great memory among great memories!
Finishing the book I recalled an interview with the
late President Mandela, who described a telephone call with then Prime Minister
John Major; “we spoke briefly of sanctions and of investment, but the majority
of our speeches were about cricket”.
Once again, Phil may be on to something! Richard Beveridge
Don’t put your washing out on a Sunday. Finally someone else had been told the same as I.
Mobile phones – no one had them in the 1970s. Computers were so large, they filled a room.
This is a fascinating tale of an international career during a fast-changing world. Add into the mix a cricketer who played with past masters and ends it with a missing engineer.
The result is a jolly good read. Mary Hamlyn
