Re; to kevin
Can I be the exception to this theory?...I'm a **** towny!
My dad was a teacher but a hands on engineer and I was getting my hands dirty from an early age...so same theory really!
I spent 5 years in workshops (site for Jung 10 months and rebuild for DAC the rest)...I left this and moved to cornwall and went on the road for Linde. I don't regret a second of it because by christ you HAD to be an imaginative engineer!!.
The poor management and obsessiveness with KPI's drove me out the door in the end. I was clocking 600-700 miles a week(about 300 in my own time!!) and working like a mule for no thanks whatsoever.
I'm happily working for a new start now and am paid well and appreciated!!...as we all should be!!! lol