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Date of Birth: |
5 May 1957 |
Nationality: |
British |
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Address: |
51 Lakeside |
Tel H: |
01344 429660 |
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Bracknell |
Tel M: |
07850 871055 |
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RG42 2LE |
E-mail: |
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EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
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Bracknell College |
5 GCE ‘O’ Levels & ‘A’ Level – Computer Studies |
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ONC Mechanical Engineering |
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Reading College |
HNC Computer Studies |
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Thames Valley University |
British Computer Society exams & HNC Endorsement – Systems programming |
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Member - British Computer Society, Institute for the
Management Information Systems, |
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CAREER PROFILE
As a Software Professional working in the IT industry for 30 years, I have extensive experience in developing and supporting various products including document production, communication and accounting/database systems. This has involved extensive customer contact at all levels of organisations.
I am able to work alone, as part of, or leading a team. I am self-motivated, and pro-active; generally my enthusiasm motivates the rest of the team.
My technical knowledge includes a range of software and hardware; use of various operating systems; communications protocols; structured design techniques and relational databases. Much of it gained in the airline and defence industries.
I am able to adapt rapidly to new working practices. As a
problem solver I am quick and effective in spotting differences
in patterns and work logically to implement systems, or identify
and rectify problems.
I am also a Councillor at Bracknell Forest Borough Council, and
involved in various local activities.
CAREER SUMMARY
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2004 – |
Self Employed Consultant |
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- Computer support and services |
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2003 – 2004 |
SITA Advanced Travel Solutions |
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- Senior Analyst |
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1998 – 2002 |
Hewlett-Packard UK Ltd (also NCL and ISS) |
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- Applications Specialist |
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1995 – 1998 |
Novus Networks |
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- Senior Software Systems Consultant |
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1994 – 1995 |
Travel Technology Systems |
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- Consultant – Software Systems |
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1988 – 1994 |
TAS – Galileo – Speedwing (A BA/Logica Joint Venture) |
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- Software Consultant |
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1985 – 1987 |
Nest and Blackbird Computing |
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- Proprietor – Freelance Software Developer |
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1980 – 1985 |
Computer Communications Ltd |
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- Team Leader |
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1976 – 1980 |
Marconi Space & Defence Systems |
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- Systems Programmer |
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
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2004 – |
Ask Alvin www.askalvin.biz |
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- Computer Services Consultant |
I advertise in local publications. I also have repeat trade, and referrals from satisfied customers. I am a Bracknell Forest Borough Council Trading Standards Scheme member.
I provide help and expertise to individuals and small companies.
This ranges from software/hardware trouble
shooting and Virus/Spyware
infections to computer and wireless network configuration and the
setting-up of websites.
I supply tuition in computer use.
Most of the work is based around Microsoft operating systems (Vista/XP/2000/98), and products.
I have also provided airline-ticketing consultancy to Datalex (Various Unix and NT systems), and other contract services.
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2003 – 2004 |
SITA Advanced Travel Solutions (formerly Equant Application Services) |
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- Senior Analyst |
SITA ATS (formerly Equant AS) provides business solutions to the travel, hospitality and transportation industries.
I worked both in the development department and in the Customer Applications Group providing customer contact, troubleshooting and support for a range of high profile clients including BA, EL AL and Scandinavian Air Services. (These applications are based on NT/UNIX, SQL, with web services- JSP, Tomcat, Apache etc). Web bookings were held in an Oracle database. A variety of different communications protocols are supported including legacy systems such as ALC.
I also worked on several Multi threaded (SLIQ) Unix systems
– Solaris & AIX. Based on C and Java – Eclipse
IDE).
I took up the CAG position after several months in the development department as a designer and developer.
Achievements include:
The design and construction (ASP, SQL, JavaScript at the client and server ends) of an interface to a Web based Service level Agreement Database. This provides users with the capability to view documents and data relating to the performance of various SITA services.
Customisation of the iTravelDirect product to provide a web based front end for a number of legacy airline booking systems, and in different languages. The product based on Java (Eclipse IDE and ANT), is built on a standard XML platform, and allows websites to be quickly produced for different languages and localities.
1998 – 2002 |
Hewlett-Packard UK Ltd |
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- Applications Specialist - Applications Specialist - Contractor |
Engaged for the first two years on a contract basis the position became permanent. As well as customer contact and support for a Network Management System. I was also involved in further developments and enhancements. The system was built for the MOD/RAF (Uniter). This was subcontracted to HP from the MOD/RAF and Marconi. This required the design, construction, QA and testing of new developments, and the (sometimes lengthy) investigation of defects in the existing software and systems. The system was primarily Unix based, with a 4GL GUI, C and embedded SQL.
Achievements at HP include:
- Software house IPL originally implemented the system, and I was instrumental in taking over the software, and in the process revamping the QA/software control system. A large area of my responsibility was the 4GL GUI.
- To save time in clearing fault messages after fixing automatically reported faults in an error messaging system, using C, 4GL and scripts, I developed and implemented software to enable related messages to be selected and cleared in a simple manner. The resulting method saved up to 66% of operators’ time.
- Responding to issues arising in logging failures during overnight automatic collection of activities from network management information units, I worked with a partner to produce more robust code. I devised a complex process of changing log request timeouts that overcame the failures to ensure completeness and integrity of data.
- To achieve display of the state of synchronisation of activities in a distributed database, I investigated the working of the database and developed a means of displaying status of mirrored activities. This overcame difficulties in establishing the activities of remote stations, which may be impossible in theatre of war.
1999 – 2000 |
Nest Computing Ltd |
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- Proprietor – Freelance Software Developer |
In parallel with contracting to HP I fulfilled a contract with PDI, assisting in developing an Internet on line purchasing system based on Microsoft IIS using C++.
1995 – 1998 |
Equant Application Services (formerly Novus Networks) |
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- Senior Software Systems Consultant |
In this organisation, reporting to the General Manager, I advised and provided consultancy, technical information and services, to all areas of the company operations. I was available for pre-sales technical backup, technical project management/team leading of developments, and first/second line customer support.
Key projects included:
- Implementation of a communications and reservations system for Eurostar UK.
- Consultant and developer in implementation and support of Accommodation Reservations Systems for Jersey Tourism.
- Support and development of a fares database system for Thomas Cook.
- Involvement in creating a QMS system aiming for BS5750.
1994 – 1995 |
Travel Technology Systems |
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- Consultant – Software Systems |
I created message specifications for an Electronic Data Interface between a CRS and tour operator. I also Managed, and guided other staff in the implementation of the EDI system. The system was implemented on AIX with MicroFocus Cobol.
1988 – 1994 |
TAS – Galileo – Speedwing (A BA/Logica Joint Venture) |
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- Software Consultant - Systems Programmer |
Progressing from Programmer to Consultant I gained experience in a variety of projects:
- Leading a project to further develop, re-design, port an Airline Ticketing System from a legacy based environment to a modern IBM PC compatible environment (PC Ticketing). This enabled multi-terminal, multi-site, multi-printer working via the Galileo network.
- Design of a transparent link between PAMS (President Agency Management System) and British Rail software through PC Ticketing and the Travipad.
- Restructuring of the PAMS/BOS (Business Operating System) interface to enable the use of new operating system facilities and ensure compatibility with future releases of the operating system.
- Design of interfaces to Automatic Ticket and Boarding-pass printers for various ticketing systems.
- General consultancy - for example to China Airways in Taipei.
- Involvement in creating and gaining certification for the Speedwing Traivisoft Quality Management System.
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1985 – 1987 |
Nest Computing Ltd |
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- Proprietor – Freelance Software Developer |
I formed the company to create a travel system in conjunction with Blackbird Computing. The contracting assignments and Racal and Northern Telecom (Nortel) provided the funds for a business partner and myself to create and market the travel system.
Blackbird and Nest also worked in partnership with a computer and marketing company, and a London based Travel Agency.
Nest & Blackbird
Design programming and marketing of the Robin Travel system. This used a custom-made Viewdata controller to capture data, allowing the monitoring of sessions with principals such as Skytrack (airline) and TOPS (Tour Operator). Booking data was captured on-line and transferred to files for later document production.
Nest at Racal Communications
Analyst/Programmer and supervision of system testing for the 'Bitstream' project. Bitstream was a background data communication system utilising idle time on telecom lines. The system was designed for use in remote meter reading, freezer alarms etc.
Nest at Northern Telecom
Myself and my Colleage from Blackbird lead the design and programming of the Autodial Backup Supervisor for Barclays Bank and implementation of EFTPOS demonstration software. ABS provides management of alarms from the banks' communications network using data stored in a relational database. A simple operator interface was provided to backup failed leased lines via public network dial-up lines. This involved spending some time at BNR in Canada.
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1980 – 1985 |
Computer Communications Ltd |
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- Team Leader |
Here I was involved in the Design, development and support of Document Printing and Accounting Systems. The first system was based on RT11 and Macro 11. The second system was based on BOS/2000 and MicroCobol. The project was originally based in South Africa. Until 1999 this was the premier accounting/document/ticket production system for UK travel agents.
I was also involved in the design and programming of a PSS X25 communication subsystem for the Travicom 2 communications controller.
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1976 – 1980 |
Marconi Space & Defence Systems |
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- Systems Programmer |
I gained valuable experience in the support and development of the Hydrographical system 'Hydroplot' for the Royal Navy. Hydroplot monitors a ship's navigation equipment and produces real time positional information and logging of data for later processing on magnetic tape.
I was also engaged in support of Torpedo tracking and data reprocessing systems. For a period I was seconded to the technical writing division to produce technical documentation for a battlefield control system. This project was based in the USA.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Enough French and German to get by
in hotels etc.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Politics – Bracknell Forest Borough Councillor – Bracknell Town Councillor –Chairman of Conservative Association - Webmaster for the BCA, and Local MP - School Governor - Local rugby - Morris Dancing - Guitar.
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