At the age of twenty-one he was in for a shock. Having served five years in an engineering apprenticeship, he was called up for National Service and served two years in the Royal Engineers. Coming from a working-class family and going to school during the latter part of World War two, he was very poorly educated and had no qualifications. On leaving the army he realised he would have to learn fast if he was ever...

At the age of twenty-one he was in for a shock. Having served five years in an engineering apprenticeship, he was called up for National Service and served two years in the Royal Engineers. Coming from a working-class family and going to school during the latter part of World War two, he was very poorly educated and had no qualifications. On leaving the army he realised he would have to learn fast if he was ever to make a million pounds. Unbeknown to him he was an excellent salesman, which would stand him in good stead for future businesses.