|
Ian B. Jones (Updated Bio 15/05/2024)
My career has followed the path of many Nat. Phil. classmates – moving into the erstwhile new field of ‘Computers', now called I.T.
Graduation was followed by a year at Jordanhill College to obtain a Scottish Secondary Teacher's Certificate. Thereafter I spent a year at my old school, Ardrossan Academy, teaching physics. Financial considerations and a feeling of lacking experience of the world outside academia resulted in my joining IBM Greenock in 1966 as a computer programmer. After promotion to senior programmer, my work involved operating system software development based on large multi-user computer systems, and included lengthy assignments to the United States and Geneva.
In 1972 I returned to education, taking a post as lecturer in Computer Education at Jordanhill College, followed by a move in 1982 to The Queen's College, Glasgow as senior lecturer in Computing and Director of the Computer Centre, then as Head of Computing and Audiovisual Services.
I was awarded a research M.Sc. in Computing Science from Glasgow University in 1989 for some original development work in interactive video. I sometimes reflect on how primitive my early work seems now, in comparison with the extent and complexity of educational material now freely available on the Web.
I became Head of University Computer Services for Glasgow Caledonian University when the College merged with Glasgow Polytechnic to form the new University in 1991, then took a window for early retirement in 1995.
My early retirement years were spent in part-time college lecturing, computer consultancy and website development. I also enjoyed cruising with my late wife of 35 years, Anne, who died of motor neurone disease in 2002. I have no immediate family.
I always had a strong interest in 'projectile' sports, having obtained a 'Blue' in small-bore rifle shooting while at University. I was introduced to archery in 1974. After 4 years, I was shooting regularly in World Record Qualifying Tournaments, then became a qualified archery coach, then Scottish Archery International for three years, then Scottish Archery Team Manager for two years, followed by Scottish Archery Tournament Organiser for a further two years.
I was Captain three times of the oldest archery club in the world – the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers, older than the Royal Company of Archers.
In 2004 I met up again with Colin Gibson's widow, Dorothy, following which we jointly moved house from Largs and Ayr respectively to live happily as partners in Seamill in Ayrshire, close to the West Kilbride golf course.
Together we have enjoyed many cruise holidays abroad. However, a few recent health considerations mean that domestic land-based holidays are now the interesting norm for us.
I continue to play golf and bridge, and also develop and maintain several websites, including this GU Reunion site, and those of the Largs Operatic Society, and the Largs Bridge Club (a member since 1965, after some mis-spent hours in the early 1960's in the Bridge Room of the G.U. Union).
Computer and I.T. trouble-shooting for friends is a regular activity which increasingly becomes more challenging, as social media and nefarious activity pervade the computing and smartphone universe.
|
 |
