Created an implement or tool that can change for the better the lives of millions of poor people in developing countries around the world.
A desert. Worked in the south of Iran for a year in the early 70's and also spent a lot of time in the south of Namibia doing photography. The harshness, wide expanses, unspoiled beauty and the never ending fight for survival of all living things make it a very special place. One can get close to nature and really find peace of mind there.
Reader's Digest published a book in 1999 with the title “The World in our Hands” which features a small insert on the Q Drum in a chapter illustrating that the high technology available today isn't necessarily what is needed to solve the problems with which we are confronted in everyday life. We hold the future of this planet in our hands but never in the history of mankind has so much damage been inflicted on our environment as in the latter half of this (previous) century. The problem of population growth, poverty and environmental degradation has long been recognised as a serious threat to our planet and I would love to see a change in people’s attitude towards the preservation of the environment.
An article ‘Time running out for Earth’ appeared in the Sunday Times on a report released by the WWF prior to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002: 'If Mankind continues to exploit the world’s natural resources at its present rate, we will have to colonise two planets in outer space within the next 50 years to survive'. People will come and they will go but there is only one Blue Planet.
After qualifying as a civil engineer in 1969 I worked for various consulting firms and gained experience in the geometric design of freeways, in particular in the application of the principles of The Aesthetics of Freeway Design, and also the design of reinforced concrete as well as prestessed concrete bridges, retaining walls and various other structures.
While doing my military training in the Naval Gymnasium after school (1963) I developed a passion for sailing and after qualifying and working for a few years left for Europe and spent two years sailing from the UK down to the Mediterranean. Worked for a year in Iran supervising the construction of roads in the oilfields, travelled through Scandinavia and returned to South Africa in 1975. Spent the next five years designing roads and bridges and spent a year (1980) sailing through the West Indies before starting my own business developing GRP waterproofing membranes for the building industry and patented a Wall Protective Layer for squash courts. During this period I was part owner of a sailing yacht in the Med which was used for sailing holidays.
In 1992 I got involved in developing and marketing the Q Drum untill a few years ago and since then has been practising as a civil engineer again up to the present.
