What begins on the fish docks of Fleetwood becomes an extraordinary journey through the industrial world of the twentieth century. From unloading trawlers in Lancashire to commissioning oxygen plants behind the Iron Curtain, from strikes in communist Romania to oil exploration in Indonesia, this memoir recounts the adventures of a young engineer working at the sharp end of global industry. Funny, insightful and often unbelievable, An Engineer's Tale offers a rare glimpse into a vanished era when engineers travelled the world solving problems, navigating political intrigue, and occasionally finding themselves in situations far beyond their job descriptions. In many ways the book preserves a disappearing era when engineers were expected not merely to understand machines, but to navigate cultures, politics, bureaucracy, and occasional chaos. A true story of engineering, travel and adventure. A warm, witty, highly readable memoir that combines engineering, travel, history, and human observation into an engaging record of an extraordinary working life.