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A Perkin Web Design © 2008

About Antony Perkin

Born 1957 in Bradford, West Yorkshire and educated locally at Wyke Manor Secondary School 1971-1973. We were the first in my year to get the new C.S.E. in Computer Studies.

Joined the Air Training Corp while still at school, went swimming, flew in my first glider and flew a chipmunk trainer. Signed up as a regular airman in the Royal Air Force aged 16, served at bases in the United Kingdom during which I took night school classes at Royal Air Force Wattisham. Promoted to Senior Aircraftsman, joined the walking team and took part in weekend training. One of the highlights of the team was the annual march in The Netherlands. I later received details of a posting to Akrotiri in Cyprus, but  this was cancelled and I stayed at Wattisham for a further two years, did data entry on a VDU linked to the supply mainframe computer until posted to RAF Germany.

Travelled to Canary Islands, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and  Israel.

Learnt computer programming in Basic, Forth and COBOL in the 1980’s

Announced my engagement in 1980 at the top of Scarfell  Pike in the Lake District. I enjoy the countryside, walking and am a life time member of the Youth Hostels Association.

During the 1980’s I worked for a mail order company Damart, a chemist wholesaler and dental retail and wholesaler.

Started home computing with a brand new Sinclair ZX81 in BASIC, sold my first computer program to Sunwin House, West Yorkshire part of the CO-OP for £50. Bought a brand new Jupiter ACE in Forth, borrowed a BBC computer from Boots the Chemist. Bought a Sinclair Spectrum. Bought an Einstein with an internal  3" drive, six months later did my first hardware install. A second 3” disk drive and then this became my first business computer.

During the 1990’s I took the plunge and became self employed. Starting a business called Tyrian Services. Designed my first commercial web site with four pages called "lime scale solutions" which brought in my first web orders.
 
Used the Einstein for two years however found buying new compatible printers expensive. The two 3" drives were also limiting.

Bought a second hand 286 with 12 Mhz Intel CPU.  which had been used at a local school Dixon's CTC Bradford.. Formatted the 10 Mb hard drive and installed Microsoft Windows 3.0 and Microsoft Works 2.0. Unknown to me this computer had a boot virus "Ripper" on the hard drive. This was to cause no end of problems for Microsoft Works. I had to destroy 3 floppy disks and two hard drives.

Upgraded to a faster 286 with 16 Mhz PC.

Was given a 386 with 33 Mhz CPU by a Bradford computer shop called Trilogic who were about to put it in the skip. Installed a CD-ROM and bought my first PC Plus magazine. Was given a 486 with Intel CPU by Trilogic . After six months I swapped the CPU for a faster AMD 66 Mhz. I was also given a computer desk by Trilogic. Built a custom design 586 computer with a AMD 166 Mhz AMD CPU with brand new parts form CCL computers, Bradford. Built a second custom design 586 computer with a AMD 350 Mhz AMD CPU also with brand new parts form CCL computers.

I run a network of Dell Optiplex computers running Microsoft Windows XP Pro, Kubuntu, OpenSuse and Mandriva. Some of these computers run BOINC manager working on medical research 24 hours a day seven days a week.  

Worked with computers since 1975. In 2001 on gaining a CompTIA A+ was sub contracted to Dell as a computer hardware engineer, I have since turned my hand to Web Design, now a webmaster, writer of short computer guides and IT tutor for the charity Age Concern and supporter of Oxfam.