John Filbey

I joined OCL as Computer Operations Manager in Beagle House (London) in 1978.  I stayed with the company until 1984, when I left to take-up the position of Systems & Operations Manager with McDermott International in Dubai, UAE.  This involved providing IT and Telecommunications support for their large fabrication yard, where they built oilfield structures, including giant platforms. With my wife Sharon, who also worked at OCL, providing secretarial services for the Datacentre and my two children, I spent nearly three years there.

On my return in 1987, we bought a house in Chineham, just outside Basingstoke, where I have continued to live.

From 1987-1990, I worked as an IT Consultant with Andersen Consulting, at their newly formed IT Consultancy Division (TSF), based in Chiswick.

In 1990, I left to take up the position of Data Centre Manager with Prudential Holborn in Reading, which included the creation of a new Datacentre. In 1992, when they outsourced the facility, I moved to Hoskyns (later Capgemini) as an IT Consultant, where I stayed until I retired in 2009. Whilst at Capgemini I met up with Martin Paradine, who was a Shift Manager at OCL, when I was there.

Since retirement, I have taken up some part-time jobs, including support for the 2011 Census, as a GCSE Invigilator at a local School and as a Warden for the local Chineham Parish Council.

I spend much of my time gardening, watching Rugby and enjoy going on holiday.  Sadly, Sharon died suddenly in April, 2024, but I am fortunate to have my daughter Sara living nearby, to provide any support I need. 

The photo shows me at Geiranger, Norway while on a cruise to the Fjords on Cunard's Queen Anne in 2024.  You can just see the Queen Anne in the background, sorry P&O!