Derek's Story

Derek Robinson grew up against the backdrop of World War II in England. In this memoir, Robinson tells the story of his life and experiences and how the war affected his family. Born in 1934, he was the last of eight children. His father served in the army, and the family lived in different locations in England and Scotland. In Derek's Story, Robinson recalls the days of his carefree youth visiting the local blacksmith, playing in the verdant fields and orchards, and attending school. But life changed for him and others when war began September 3, 1939. He remembers the not-so-pleasant war life filled with ration books, mandatory blackouts, German raids, and watching war planes crash. This memoir follows Robinson as he lands his first job as an eyeglass maker and subsequent jobs at the cotton mills, the gas company, and the ambulance service. Derek's Story tells of his marriage in 1957, moving to Canada in 1965, and starting his own company. Filled with photos and family history, this account chronicles the successes of a man who started his life surrounded by war.