Alan Ferguson "Wingnut"

Wingnut?

What can you say about him? He could work hard for the size he was, but he wasn't cut out for the job being of very light build. Once his health started to deteriorate he still tried but just couldnt do the job and found it increasingly difficult to do.

He was very likeable, and wasn't adverse to a good joke and laugh. He did have a requirement to be accompanied at all times due to his apparent less than perfect hearing, this did cause some a bit of worry at times as he had a habit of disappearing off on his own. He could usually be located back on the crew bus having a sly drink or something to eat. Though if there was mention of a free beer going somewhere, his hearing seemed to improve dramatically.

He did have a passion for cricket, scittles and the like, and did lead an active social life. It was sad to see how that passion was denied him because of ill health.

Even when he was retired on ill health grounds, it was clear that he would have prefered to be doing something to earn his keep, and it was understandable that he felt some resentment over what he felt at "being tossed on the scrapheap of life"

A sad end to the working life of a bloke who did work hard, even if the work was perhaps a good bit harder for him than for some others.

Apart from his personal health problems, he did work when he was able to before his health started failing. Then what he was able to do gradually deminished

On the down side he his time keeping like many peoples left a lot to be desired, he'd turn up at the station well and truly late and start heading for the cabin because he was expecting a tea break. Like we didnt have anywhere to go most days.

Also he wasn't adverse to leaving early whenever the chance arose, many a day when we have languished in the cabin due to there being no work for us to do or a lack of a vehicle, he's turned up late by perhaps half an hour or more and been gone anytime from half nine onwards. Like many the amount of time he robbed at either end of the shift was seldom if ever merited by his actions whilst at work.

Another downside with him, was he was very partial to the old booze and many a weekend shift he'd come to work and you could smell it clearly, nothing like sailing close to the wind and tempting fate. Luckily for him his luck held, unlike some.