Yves Pochard
I was born in France in the city of Lyon. At the age of 16, I began a 3 year apprenticeship to be a chef in the city of Evian-les-Bains. My first job was to work for the French National Railroad. I then worked in Geneva, Switzerland.
I [preempted] my draft in the French Navy and spent 18 months in the French nuclear program in Tahiti, French Polynesia, after which I returned to France to the city of Toulon, sister city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Around 1972, I went to work for a French cargo ship line, much like United States Merchant Marine. I spent four years in this job transporting railroad cars and locomotives. I guess it was my destiny to be involved with trains, ultimately working for 30 years at Norfolk Southern Railroad. My journey to Norfolk started in 1978 when I went to Manchester, England to work for a French restaurant. A year later in 1979 I immigrated to America (what a country!)
I started building model ships in the mid 1980’s thru the early 1990’s. I made several different models. Then in 1996 I was married, and for more than 20 years, I didn’t create any new ship models. No time and space. It wasn’t until my retirement when I could resume building— with a new work shop in the garage. Finding and joining the HRSMS was a big and positive source of knowledge, with the craftsmanship of its members. I hope to be there for many years.