Before becoming self-employed Bill Colombi spent 18 years as an Instrumentation & Control Engineer with an Engineering Consultancy company, meeting the needs of industry and the service sector, not only on Teesside, but in all parts of the UK and overseas.  As well as the engineering side, Bill had responsibilities as the Quality Manager and was also involved with many aspects of computerisation and system development within the company. His numerous projects for clients involved automated systems, including a Bar Code reader system on hazardous area Tanker Loading Bays, PLC batch control of fertiliser production and specification, testing and commissioning of a fully Automatic Road Tanker Loading facility. Database development has included a Project Management system, Document Register, Instrument Index and Cable Schedules, Document Retrieval and Training Records. Databases developed directly for clients have included Hazardous Area Equipment databases for recording Inspections of Electrical and Instrumentation Equipment installed in Hazardous Areas (Potentially Explosive Atmospheres) as part of essential plant safety records. Fundamental criteria for all these database applications has been ease of use, minimal training requirements and ensuring that the databases delivered information in a form that is of real value to the end user. Understanding client needs, making system use as intuitive, logical and as consistent as possible, together with rigorous attention to detail, are key aspects of the database design process. As well as being a qualified Instrumentation & Control Engineer Bill is also a qualified teacher in CDT. Interests include: Drama - anything from Performing, Directing and Pantomime Script writing, to set design, building and lighting. Bill is currently 'RESTING'. Recent productions include: Three Course Theatre's production in November 2011 of Peter Ustinov's romantic comedy Romanoff and Juliet which was staged at five venues in the Teesside area and raised over £1000 for each of two charites; The Friends of Murambinda Hospital and the Holistic Cancer Care Centre at James Cook University Hospital. Directing the Nunthorpe Players' production of Oh, What A Lovely War,<poster> performed on 11th-14th May 2011 . Working with a large cast of 12 men and 6 women, all of whom play a series of different parts throughout the show itself, proved quite a challenge. Combined with mustering a scratch band (with Musical Director, pianist,flute/piccolo, clarinet, trumpet and double bass - working with handwritten scores from the original Theatre Workshop production), a projectionist for the series of picture and newspanel slides, a lot of sound effects (mostly carefully timed explosions, a complex lighting plot, a lot of costumes and endless props., all added to the fun of it. At least the scenery didn't have to move - too much. Re-launching Three Course Theatre as an independent charity to raise money through performance for the Friends of Murambinda Hospital (FMH). Under his Direction, in November 2010, Three Course Theatre performed the play The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield at six venues around Teesside / North Yorkshire. to raise funds for FMH. See the Three Course Theatre page for further info. • Directing the farce Diplomatic Baggage by John Chapman, performed in May 2010, at St Mary's Church Hall, Nunthorpe. • Directing The Ass and the Philosophers by Gwenyth Jones, for Three Course Theatre ~ Guisborough Theatre Club on the move. The play was performed at the Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough on 12th November 2009, and at Rushpool Hall on 17th November 2009. The play was part of a Greek themed night out, with profits from the first production going to the mental health charity Middlesbrough Mind and the second performance to the Friends of Murambinda Hospital, Zimbabwe. • Playing Capitano Alberto Bertorelli, the Italian War hero with the bigga da medals, in the Guisborough Theatre Club production of 'Allo, 'Allo - "What a mistaka to make!", July 2009 • Directing the Nunthorpe Players production The Winslow Boy, by Terence Rattigan, performed on 7th-9th May 2009. The £800 profits from this production ( + £150 from the raffle) went to the Friends of Murambinda Hospital for their work in supporting the Murambinda Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe. • Lighting for the Nunthorpe Player's Pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in January 2009. • Mr Brownlow - the kindly old gentleman who transpires to be Oliver's Grandfather in Lionel Barts's Oliver!, with Middlesbrough Operatic Society, performed November 2008 at Middlesbrough Theatre. • Fritz Grotz in the play Surprise Package with the Guisborough Theatre Club, performed in April 2008 • The Sergeant in See How They Run with the Nunthorpe Players • Andrew in The Witness, A musical by Carol & Jimmy Owens, performed by The King's Singers at Middlesbrough Theatre  • Foster Wilson in Annie Get Your Gun with Middlesbrough Operatic Society, performed at Middlesbrough Theatre • Fred Bear in Goldilocks and the Three Bears (also co-author) with The Nunthorpe Players • Juliet, Othello, Ophelia, Macduff and very many other parts in The Compleat Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) with a Reduced Shakespeare Company of Nunthorpe Players (Sarah, Kate and Bill). • The Doctor and Ensemble parts in The Fifteen Streets by Catherine Cookson and adapted by Rob Bettinson. This was an Ian Dickinson production performed at Darlington Civic Theatre, using a mixed cast of professional and local amateur actors. Bill also runs a Play Reading Group under the auspices of the Guisborough U3A (University of the Third Age). Sailing - As a 'Competent Crew' Bill is often available to crew - warm waters preferred! Singing - Bill is a member of: The Harrison Singers and Band, singing bass in the choir and now playing trumpet. Their most recent appearance was a concert in December 2011 at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Coulby Newham. Bill sill plays the clarinet from time to time.. St Mary's Festival Choir (Nunthorpe), which, as well as singing at church festivals is also available for singing at weddings at St Mary's or elsewhere. Bills was a member of The Guisborough Choral Society, singing first bass parts for a couple of years, but found the mid-week commitment didn't fit too well with his other commitments. Information about the society can be found on the Society's web site , which he still maintains. Other - Bill is responsible for maintaining the St Mary's Parish Church, Nunthorpe website, the Guisborough Theatre Club website and the Guisborough Choral Society website.  Bill Colombi BSc (Hons) BEd(Hons) MIET