I've had some great jobs in my life.

As a school kid/student: supermarket shelf filler, petrol pump attendant, shop assistant, the Christmas post, youth hostel assistant warden, hospital laundry man.

And within my profession, youth and community work: detached worker, youth centre manager, school based youth tutor, university trainer, manager, team manager.

I loved every one of them, especially where my line manager had the strength and confidence to let me express myself, getting more out of me, letting the job grow.

1974-77 in a down town youth centre with great young people: the Seeds, Uptons, Derbyshires, Hudsons, Holmses, Doyles, Byrnes, McGuirks.

About 30 or so young people that I took from childhood to young adulthood including trips to Old Trafford, the theatre, pop concerts, the Lakes and Yorkshire Dales.

We allowed them to grow, make a few mistakes. Sometimes they let us down, most of the time they were brilliant bundles of fun and energy.

They are now all in their 40s and even 50s themselves now.

Then 1995-06, 20+ years on for me, and in charge of the most fantastic group of talented,and imaginative youth workers in a much more rural setting.

Some my age, some a super dynamic energised group of late 20s / early 30s young professionals.

Two of the most fantastic periods of my working life from which I am now retired.

My former staff take me for coffees fairly often now. I was with one this week.

She's now in charge of her own work area. We had a great hour or so; taking the rise out of each other, checking out what we were doing, chewing over old times. Simply brilliant.

So, what is it about working an the opportunities it brings?

I can't say I always enjoyed my working life - especially when the "control freaks" were at work.

What do you enjoy about work, what haven't you? What does work bring us?

What colleagues/bosses will you never forget?