Tim Lees comes from a strong background of public service, his Dad saw to it that he joined the Scout Association and in particular 17th Medway Scout Group where his dad was the Scout Leader. Tim started as a Cub, then went up to the Scouts and then into the Venture Scouts. Tim gained the Duke of Edinburgh Award at the age of 16 and left full time education.
Tim had a variety of jobs and his Dad got him one at Greenwich Maritime Museum where his dad James Lees was Chief Conservator. Dad James had served on Destroyers in the Royal Navy in WW2 moving on to the Merchant Navy afterwards. Here he developed a keen interest in Ships Rigging. Indeed he went on to be considered one of only two experts in this field. Though no longer in print his definitive work, ‘The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War from 1625 – 1860’ was in every Library in the UK, it being considered a world class authority on the subject.
James Lees must have put his knowledge of rigging and sails to good use when preparing to take a group of Scouts on a two week camping and hiking trip to Germany. He made the tents himself and the cost per lad was just £20! Before we leave the interesting story of Tim’s dad, there exists to this day a memorial to his maritime skills. Tim remembers his father bringing home a bare hull and of his working diligently on the model. Making the cannons, fittings and rigging all by hand. That model ship coloured gold can be seen to this day at the top of Rochester Guildhall.
Coincidentally like Shawn Roberts, Tim also had an ambition to become an RAF Police Officer thinking that Police work combined with foreign travel would be good. He undertook his initial training at RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire. In WW2 RAF Swinderby was home to several Bomber Command Squadrons. Having successfully passed out of initial training Tim decided that the Service Life was not for him so he joined Kent Constabulary His Sgt invited him to his birthday party where he met and fell in love a lovely young lady who he went on to marry, they have been married for 43 years, they have two daughters and three grandchildren. However, much as Tim was happy in the Police the pay in those days was poor and they understandably wanted to buy their own house and raise a family.
Having made enquiries Tim found that a career with the Railway would provide him the opportunity to both advance up through the grades and to be able to save for a house for him and his new wife. In 1982 Tim left the Police and started with the Railway, initially on the platform, he progressed to the Ticket Office, then Signalling and up into Management Grade. From 2004 – 2015 Tim was Route Control Manager for Wessex Trains this was a high powered position and there were only 6 such Managers on the whole network. Tim was in charge of the first truly Integrated Railway Control System to be set up after the Railways were privatised in 1994. Tim was very proud of his work on the new system which revolutionised Train Management it was a period of his working life which gave him great satisfaction. Now with retirement on the horizon Tim’s work is focussed on People and Competency Management
In 1999 Tim he was initiated into St George Abadan Lodge No. 6058. He worked diligently through the three degrees and became Master of the Lodge in 2004. Tim was promoted to Provincial Rank in 2012 and contuse to be an active supporter of the lodge.