John Watson. born in Yorkshire, son of a grocer, grew up in the provincial comfort of the prewar years. Whilst dropping out of public school following the threat of expulsion, he describes his adolescent years as "a good time rampant" and devbeloped a rebellious attitude towards authority, although his wayward conduct kept him inside the law. He was "dragooned" into National Service which he describes as service "Forking and Country" and following two occasions of going absent without leave to escape army discipline, he was sent to West Africa (Ghana) - a disciplinary posting for recalcitrant recruits.

On demobilisation, unsettled and dissatisfied with conditions in Britian, he decided to make his fortune in South America. This proved to be a complete disaster and after being incarcerated in a Venezuelan lock-up, he was classified by the authorities as being of no economic value to the republic and told to leave the country.

Arriving in Australia at 22 years old with five quid in his pocket and not knowing a soul, he quickly realised Australia, a young country with plenty of job opportunities had much to offer. He developed a positive vision, set about building a successful business career and became a dynamic force in the maritime industry. He established his own company and became a "Corporate Doctor", contracted to restructure some ailing companies.

Life for John Watson has been packed with many interesting experiences: From a childhood in wartime Yorkshire, an ungovernable adolescence and the ill-starred South American experience to the ultimate successful business career in Australia, and his brush with cancer at 67, His story, "Bred in Yorkshire buttered in Australia", is told with honesty, much humour and some irreverence - all makes interesting reading.