In 1985 I studied five of the main ports in Japan, to see how new technologies were applied and to see how Japanese ports functioned. At the time British ports were lagging behind the main European ports, particularly in financing and employment policies, and in order to compete the whole British ports structure needed to change. The abolition of the National Dock Labour Scheme in 1989 was the platform to introduce these changes.

In the meantime, after several promotions, l realised that to fulfil my potential l had to leave Tilbury Docks. I left to undertake a new career in Southampton Docks as managing director of the largest privately owned stevedoring company in the port. Some four years later l was approached and undertook the same role with the Port of Southampton's own stevedoring activities. These latter roles allowed me to introduce knowledge gained through my Fellowship experience.

I retired in 2000 and started my own consultancy business, finally hanging up my boots in 2004 after 45 years in the industry. The Fellowship was a career-changing and life-changing moment.