The Tortelloni Account

A romance Yes But not the usual domestic. This is a tale of boardrooms, business and the perseverance of a young woman in a male dominated environment. The setting is the world of ships and the sea with overtones of major criminal fraud.

Jane Ashton, single mother of a teenage daughter, is employed as a personal assistant, PA, to a wealthy business tycoon, a John Skirton. They are close associates, a working friendship which has matured over several years and provides Jane with an above average income and an exceedingly comfortable lifestyle. Her daughter is at a private school and their home environment in Rochester is a well appointed apartment. Her security of employment appears unexpectedly threatened and then her future prospects are altered in a dramatic fashion. She becomes involved in a Shipping Company and seafaring, opening new and exciting experiences. She is to meet an older man who may become her romantic interest for many years. It is not an easy relationship as their particular personal histories create problems in trust and belief for their joint future together. Jane's daughter, Anne, has an important role within the evolving scene. The circumstance of an only child in a single parent family and her own personal experiences earlier and subsequent to her Mother's first steps in this burgeoning romantic liaison.

A collision between cargo freighters offshore from Beachy Head in the English Channel occurring some twelve years before the period of the storyline features significantly in the romantic saga as does the earlier business activities of Jane's employer mentor.

Cyril J. (Jany) Richmond was born in Northern England in the mill town of Blackburn. His family moved to Ormskirk near Liverpool and most of his schooling followed in this area. He joined the Merchant Navy as a Deck Apprentice at sixteen years plus, sailing in foreign going world wide trading oil tankers. He served in the same shipping company known subsequently as BP for a further fifteen years and rising through the ranks as a Deck Officer. He has a Master Mariner’s Certificate of Competency, possesses a Degree status and is also a qualified Naval Architect. In his thirties he moved into the education, qualification and training sphere for MN Officers working at Colleges in Liverpool, Plymouth and Fleetwood, eventually retiring from full time employment as Principal Lecturer at the Nautical College at Fleetwood, now a Campus part of Blackpool and The Fylde College. He enjoys a long term marriage of over fifty years and is the proud Father of a son who is vastly experienced and successful in business management at a high level within the organisation of a nation wide well known retailer.