Interview with Mr John Sawkins, conducted by Professor Tilli Tansey, for the History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group, 17 November 2016, in the School of History, Queen Mary University of London. Transcribed by Mrs Debra Gee, and edited by Professor Tilli Tansey. The project management and the technical support were undertaken by Mr Adam Wilkinson and Mr Alan Yabsley, respectively.
Mr John Sawkins (b. 1946) was apprenticed to Russell Wood Radio & TV Retailer in 1962. After receiving his City & Guilds qualifications in Radio, Television and Colour TV (1962-1968) he worked in the domestic Radio & TV sector from 1968 to 1981, receiving his City & Guilds Digital Logic Techniques qualification in 1980. In 1981 he joined the NIMR Engineering Department (Electronics Section), where he remained until his retirement in May 2011.
The interview is part of the History of the Modern Biomedicine Interviews (Digital Collection).
Access to the transcript of this video interview and its related material:
History of Modern Biomedicine Interviews (Digital Collection), items e2017241-e2017250.
Access to the transcript of a longer, audio interview:
Example of how to cite: Tansey E M (intvr); Yabsley A (prod) (2017) Sawkins, John: 01 - Schoolboy electronics; apprenticeship as TV engineer (17-Nov-2016). History of Modern Biomedicine Interviews (Digital Collection), item e2017242. London: Queen Mary University of London.
Note: Video interviews are conducted following standard oral history methodology, and have received ethical approval (reference QMREC 0642). Video interview transcripts are edited only for clarity and factual accuracy. Related material has been deposited in the Wellcome Library.
© The Trustee of the Wellcome Trust, London, 2017.
Mr Sawkins has contributed to our Wellcome Witness Seminar on Technology, Techniques, and Technicians at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) c.1960-c.2000
