INTRODUCTION by Ieuan Simms
HAVING RETURNED TO WALES FROM BEING A NATIONAL SERVICE WARRIOR IN PALESTINE AND EGYPT, I STUDIED PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY AND HAVING QUALIFIED, I GOT A JOB WITH THE ANGLO IRANIAN OIL COMPANY MAKING TEA IN AN OFFICE AT LLANDARCY. A BORING YEAR FOLLOWED IN OIL ACCOUNTS AND SEEKING MORE EXCITEMENT I DID WHAT WAS CONSIDERED BY MY BOSSES TO BE THE UNTHINKABLE. I APPLIED TO GET TRANSFERRED FROM THE STAFF TO THE WORKFORCE OVER THE FENCE IN THE REFINERY. THIS WAS MORE MY STYLE. LOTS OF LOVELY PUMPS, COMPRESSORS AND FURNACES AND A SLIGHT HIKE IN MY WAGES WITH OVERTIME ALSO AVAILABLE.WHAT WOULD YOUR GRANDFATHER SAY ASKED MY SHOCKED BOSS WHO KNEW HIM. (NO, NOT LLOYD GEORGE) AND DO YOU REALISE, YOU'D HAVE TO JOIN A UNION.?? IT'S IT'S IT'S --- HE WAS LOST FOR WORDS.BUT HE FINALLY LET ME GO AND I THRIVED ON AN SO2 PLANT AND BP's NEW BABY, AN AUTOFINER. WHEN I ARRIVED, THERE WAS A BIT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING DUE TO MY BEING SO GREEN.THIS BIG FAT CHAP ENTERED OUR CONTROL ROOM ONE DAY AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS A LOCAL GAFFER IN THE TRANSPORT AND WORKERS BROTHERHOOD.. I'VE COME TO JOIN YOU TO THE UNION SON, HE SAID.OH SAID I. NICE OF YOU TO THINK OF ME BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED AT THE MOMENT THANK YOU.. I ALREADY BELONG TO A DRAMA SOCIETY AND A CYCLING CLUB.A PAINED EXPRESSION BORDERING ON DISBELIEF CROSSED HIS FACE. HE LOOKED AT THE OPERATOR, AND SLOWLY SHAKING HIS HEAD, HE SAID TELL HIM WILL YOU FRANK, . I'LL COME BACK TOMORROW. AND THERE HE WAS, -- GONE. !!
SHORTLY AFTER, I MET REG BEECHAM WHO WILL BE REMEBERED BY TRUE LITTLE ADEN VETERANS AS THE VERY FIRST REFINERY PROCESS SUPT. AND HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD LIKE TO GO AND JOIN HIM IN ADEN AS HE WANTED SOMEONE THERE WHO COULD RUN BP's SECOND AUTOFINER PLANT. THERE'S AN SO2 PLANT THERE AS WELL, HE SAID. YOU'LL LIKE IT. IT WILL BE GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE AROUND WHO'S USED TO THE LEAKS.!! I CONSULTED WITH MY RECENT BRIDE AND SHE SAID I COULD GO AS LONG AS SHE JOINED ME PDQ. SO, I WENT AND MY INTRODUCTION TO ADEN WASN'T VERY PROMISING. IT HAD BEEN COLD LEAVING U.K. AND BEING LOADED WITH ALL THE STUFF ONE THOUGHT ONE WOULD NEED IN THE WILDERNESS, I GOT OFF THE BOAC ARGONAUT AT KHORMAKSAR WEARING A SUIT, MY PULLOVER AND MY OVERCOAT.TALK ABOUT THERMAL SHOCK. I WAS ALMOST DOWN TO MY SINGLET BY THE TIME SHEIKH OTHMAN ROUNDABOUT HOVE IN SIGHT HAVING DITCHED MY OVERCOAT AND PULLOVER SOMEWHERE NEAR CHAMPION LINES,. TO CAP IT ALL, HALF WAY BETWEEN THERE AND WADI HISWA, WE GOT BOGGED DOWN AND HAD TO DIG OUR BUS OUT.BUT I SOON SETTLED IN AND HELPED TO START UP THE REFINERY. I LOVED EVERY BIT OF METAL IN THAT PLACE AND OPERATED ALL THE PLANTS OVER THE YEARS. I HAD GONE OUT IN 1954 FOR SIX MONTHS AND LEFT IN 1970 HAVING BEEN A COMMISSIONING OPERATOR, PLANT OPERATOR, SHIFT CONTROLLER, SENIOR OPERATOR AND FINALLY THE REFINERY MAINTENACE LIAISON OFFICER., MY TWO CHILDREN WERE BORN IN THE LITTLE ADEN REFINERY HOSPITAL, ONE IN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS ADEN COLONY AND THE OTHER IN .THE EMIRATES OF SOUTH ARABIA.!!ALTHOUGH I SUBSEQUENTLY ENJOYED WORKING IN BAGLAN BAY WITH BP CHEMICALS AND LATER DOING A NINE YEAR STINT ON DAS ISLAND IN THE GULF, THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT MY TIME IN ADEN ECLIPSED THEM ALL.