What is your trade

[Marc van Aalderen]

Well, I grew up in a Garage. Running around in overalls at the age of 4. After high school I studied Mechanical Engineering. My father then went in the transmission business, repairing and rebuilding automatic and manual transmissions. I joined the company after graduating as a mechanical engineer. Took over the company when my dad retired and after 15 years sold it to a competitor as I'd had enough from our government, my 8 employees and lots of stress. Took a job with the buyer of my company. Started a new company for them in rebuilding valve bodies for automatics. Still enjoying my job a lot.
Been collecting fire arms and military stuff since my teens. Started with vehicles some 15 years ago. Collection keeps growing, latest vehicle purchased is a Daimler Armoured Car for restoration.
Married to a lovely wife and we have two beautiful daughters, aged 19 and 14. Life is good

[Richard Farrant]

Started off as an apprentice Agricultural Machinery engineer with a Massey Ferguson main dealer, mainly on tractors and combine harvesters and a bit of plant. After 7 years the company closed the depot so I changed jobs and went to work at a large army workshops (REME) just down the road. I had initially applied for an apprenticeship there. Worked on heavy plant, cranes, trucks, armour, rebuilding engines, you name it we did it. I worked there for 22 years, last 6 years as chargehand of my vehicle section. The workshop closed as it was in the path of a new railway so I decide to go it alone and start my own business, FV Restorations & Repairs, doing repair work on collectors military vehicles, starting off mobile and going out doing repairs. My goal was to do restoration work which I was able to start after a year or so. Have been doing this since 1996 now and it is very satisfying and you make contact with some very interesting people.
This year is now my 39th year of full time working on military vehicles.

regards, Richard

[Ryan]

After finishing high school I started working for Ford Mo Co as an engine assembler on the I6 line. During my time there I did two long stints as a Group leader in two sections of the line and as a repair operator of short blocks. Spent 17 years building I6 engines, from the EF/XG Falcons to the FG. In Ford speak thats EA77/EB2 engines to Orion.
Nowadays I'm Team leader of the FPV V8 assembly line.
Technically my trade is a vehicle builder, but engine plant is my home. 18 years and counting.