John David Armitstead
John David ArmitsteadMy early life was spent living in Morecambe and Lancaster, where I grew up with my younger sister (Maureen) and brother (Andrew). I went to Lancaster Royal Grammar School, and then on to St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, where I obtained my degree in Engineering Science in the summer of 1981.
In September of that year I joined the British Rail Signal & Telecommunications department, on the Engineering Management Training Scheme, based mostly in Leeds and York. Since completion of training I have had posts in the Doncaster area, York, Doncaster (again), Leeds and finally back to York, to work in what was then the Signalling Projects Group.
Privatisation came to us in December 1995, when we became Signalling Control UK, under the same ownership as Westinghouse Signals Limited. In 1998 we merged fully and became part of Westinghouse Signals, which is now known as Westinghouse Rail Systems Limited, part of the Invensys group of companies.
I normally work in the York office of WRSL, on the development, design and testing of railway signalling systems. Sometimes I work away from home, such as in 2008 when I spent several weeks at Lincoln while the old mechanical signalling was replaced by more modern computer-based systems.
I am a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and a Member of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers.
You will have noticed from the contents of this site that I'm also interested in railways outside work. I blame this on living next door to a train driver (known to me as Uncle Bill) when I was very young. I can remember him taking me and my father round the engine sheds at Lancaster (Green Ayre) - it was all steam in those days of course.
I have also developed a passion for travel (which goes well with an interest in railways) and have visited most countries in Europe. I have travelled overland across Asia four times, the first time being a York to Hong Kong journey in 1988, and the most recent York to Vladivostok and Beijing in 2006. Other holiday destinations of mine over the past 10 years or so have included Japan, South Africa and New Zealand.
Nearer to home, I enjoy walking, particularly in hill and mountain areas. Living in York, I am well placed for the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and the Pennines. A few years ago I started to 'bag' the Munros - Scottish mountains over 3000ft/914m (there are 284 of them so it will take some time). I also do some cycling, and in the past few years have completed the Trans-Pennine Trail, C2C and Coast & Castles routes.
About 12 years ago I started looking into my family history, prompted by many questions on where the name Armitstead came from, which I couldn't answer. I have traced back to my 6xgreat-grandfather, Thomas Armitstead, born about 1684, who was a yeoman farmer and lived in Bentham, Yorkshire. I have put details elsewhere on this site.
Musical interests include rock and classical. My teenage years during the seventies coincided with the high-point of prog rock bands such as Genesis and Pink Floyd, which set the direction of my musical tastes. Of current groups, I would name Radiohead, Muse, Coldplay and Elbow among my favourites.
xenophile_x