John Hill is living in South Africa and rebuilding the public transport system in time for the world's biggest football tournament.

CHRIS CORDNER spoke to the man who reckons Pools and Port Elizabeth have a lot in common.

IN THE land of the Springbok, a Hartlepool man proudly remembers his homeland.

John Hill, 56, now lives in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

But mention Hartlepool and happy memories of a childhood growing up in now demolished streets come flooding back.

John is a Poolie through and through.

But his life in 2008 is remarkably different from Owton Manor on a wet spring day.

He lives in the beautiful seaside town of Port Elizabeth which is a host town for games in the FIFA 2010 Football World Cup.

John works for the Algoa bus company, which transports more than 60,000 people every day. That figure is likely to rocket when the world arrives for football of the highest order.

John's travels have taken him all over the world. His latest venture is in South Africa and he headed there just over a year ago to join the Algoa Bus Company.

He said: "I was headhunted to come down to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and help rebuild their public transport, because of the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

"This felt like such a challenge that I could not refuse it, so now I am employed as a public transport specialist with the company.

"We are re-organizing and re-building to meet up to the demands of a modern transport system. This is going to take us to 2010 and beyond so I have actually emigrated here.

"There are worse things one could do!"

John left Hartlepool for good in 1972. He now designs and plans public transport networks.

He said: "I literally have a say in all parts of this project, which entails things like infrastructure rebuilds (bus lanes and stops).

"Then there's the routes and buses and the running of them. Also there are the companies that need to learn how to run to fit the bill!"

John loves his job so much he said: "Truth is at times I still think I'm a kid playing with my train sets, but with buses instead."

The appeal of the homeland still burns strongly in John though.

"I have always thought of West Hartlepool as my home town," he said.

" I was born there and went to school there. And believe it or not no matter where I am in the world I have always been identified as someone from the town by my dialect."

"Over the years, I have returned many times to the Hartlepool! In fact, I am going to put in a visit this year as well. I am planning to be there a day or two in June."

John remembers his childhood on Teesside.

He was born and brought up in Hartlepool and went to Elwick Road School "where I was often told that there was not much to be done about my future - or the town's for that matter!

"In retrospect, you can understand that point of view," he added.
"The town was on its way down. Almost all heavy industries where on their way out!

"Add to that the fact that I was a bit of a wild soul that lived with my old gran you can start to get the picture."

John remembers life in Ladysmith Street which is "gone now but you can still see where most of it was." "I remember the old steel works bridge that went over the steel works so that you could get to the sea! At that time, it seemed a long way to walk but I did it often just to play in the sand and look at the sea.

"Later we moved to Thornton Street so you can say we moved to the town centre in some ways.

"Memories from that time are mostly about school or pubs and I cannot tell you which I was in most of the time!

"I moved from Hartlepool shortly after I left school but from time to time I returned and even stayed for short periods doing all kinds of work"

John tried his hand at everything from being a milkman to a dockhand.

He added: "I even worked in a scrap yard for a time! Anyway, I landed up in Sweden and spent some time as a traveling welding engineer before getting into the business I am still doing today.

"I have for the past 30 years worked with public transport from the bottom up! That means I started as a part time driver and then advanced through the ranks to become responsible for a large part of the public transport system in Gothenburg, in Sweden.

"During those years, I have also assisted other countries as an expert in building new public transport systems."

But despite stays in Scandinavia and now South Africa, good old Blighty holds a strong place in John's heart.

He added: "If you squint your eyes and forget the sun and palm trees, you could even think that it is a lot like Hartlepool. Believe me, there are lots of similarities.

"There is even a place called Sechfeald a short distance from here."

JOHN is one of numerous expats with Hartlepool links who have logged on to the Where In The World link on the Mail's website.

You can do the same.

Click this link to plot your town on our worldwide map.

And why not tell us of your reminiscences about Hartlepool.

We want to hear from expats like John with a story to tell.
Contact Head of Features Chris Cordner on (01429) 239384 or email chris.cordner@northeast-press.co.uk