Jacqui Rawlinson

“I went down for a career assessment... I had a number of tests and they found I had a very logical mind, and they suggested computing and a local firm, British Aerospace, which was the British Aircraft Corporation in those days, took me on as a trainee programmer, on the understanding that I would [laughing] provide my own electric typewriter. Can you imagine it?” Jacqui Rawlinson
 
Born 6 May 1951
 
Educated Ashton Kindergarten; St Andrew’s Church of England Infant and Junior school; Ashton-on-Ribble High School; Preston Sixth Form College

Jacqui Rawlinson Tape 1 Listen here:
Going to nursery school, near St Andrews, on a trike. Not allowed on school trips. Salt Street Clinic speech therapy. Brownies Golden Bar badge included skipping. Guides First Class Badge, Firefighter’s Badge. Trefoil Guild... 00:28:47

Jacqui Rawlinson Tape 2 Listen here:
Going to secondary school. Envy of grammar school uniform. Mother in hospital in London. Sister left home at the age of 18 when Jacqui was 16. Jacqui became a trainee computer programmer with British Aerospace at the age... 00:31:16

Jacqui Rawlinson Tape 3 Listen here:
Family didn't treat her differently when growing up. Reactions to her disability. Physical difficulties using a comb binder and changing light bulbs. Friends through church and the Trefoil Guild. Using an electric scooter... 00:09:39

Jacqui Rawlinson Tape 4 Listen here:
A-levels and careers advisers. The Spastics Society assessment. Interview at County Hall for Lancashire County Council. British Aircraft Corporation took JR on as a trainee programmer in 1969. Electric typewriter on loan... 00:31:37

Jacqui Rawlinson Tape 5 Listen here:
Became Chairman of Scope Individual Grants, which had a budget of £220,000 a year. Visit to Buckingham Palace in 2001. St Paul’s Cathedral Hundredth Thanksgiving Service for The Queen Mother, August 2001. Brownie, Guides,... 00:31:32

Jacqui Rawlinson Tape 6 Listen here:
Brownies. Couldn’t get golden bar badge because she couldn’t skip. First Class badge. Camping. Queen’s Guide badge. Path Finder badge. Duke of Edinburgh Award at Buckingham Palace. Munich Olympic Games 1972. Tawny Owl in the... 00:31:30

Jacqui Rawlinson Tape 7 Listen here:
Electric tricycle. Self-catering holidays to Wales, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset. Holidays to Europe and Scandinavia, Israel and Egypt. Commonwealth Knowledge Badge. New Zealand. Melbourne. Phillip Island to see the penguins. 00:31:33

Download the transcript of the Jacqui Rawlinson (PDF, 400kb)