Son of Icarus: Growing up in Post-war England

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Icarus was the mythical young man who fashioned wings from feathers and wax, but flew too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt and a fall to his death. Something like this happened to my father whilst on active service in the RAF. This memoir re-creates the post-Second World War period as seen through the eyes of one of the many sons of Icarus born in England just before the beginning of the war. Our family was torn apart in 1942 by the death of my father. I and two siblings were brought up by my mother and grandmother. Mum sent my brother and me to Vanbrugh Castle School, a boys’ boarding school run by the RAF Benevolent Fund. Because I was determined to live an active outdoor life, I left school as soon as I could. After false starts in practical forestry and farming, I determined that I would need an undergraduate degree to make meaningful contributions in these fields. I endured a difficult and protracted higher education, including university entrance and undergraduate studies. During it, I discovered an enduring interest in marine biology and changed course to become a research scientist in in this field. Because of my commitment to marine biology I found postgraduate studies a breeze. Marine biology research includes both field and lab work, so I was able to achieve my earlier dream of an active outdoor life.