A very interesting letter from @betateach (see letter here) and I totally concur with most of what he/she says, especially with regards to experience versus paper qualifications.
What does confuse me is that he/she does not reveal their name, or the name of the grandfather of whom they are obviously very proud.
I joined the oil industry in 1958 and converted to the domestic oil heating market with Shell Mex & BP in 1965. At that time Saab owned Electro Oil burners – if my memory serves me right – and EOGB was a commercial development of Electro Oil much later. OFTEC was not formed until 1991, of which I became an inspector in 2006. The time scales are all a little confused to my fading mind and it would be interesting if we could be given a few names.
The first inspector that I can remember for OFTEC was Charles Black who was affectionally known as Blackie, and he travelled countrywide in his camper van testing installers. Incidentally, Blackie was laid to rest only this week, (May 4) to the great sadness of us all who knew him.
Kind regards,
Clive King
FIDHEE
Oil heating consultant