Founding Fortunes is Peter Radcliffe's affectionate and unflinching account of growing up in Hockley, Birmingham, and stepping into the working world at a time when life on the shop floor was hot, hard, and full of unforgettable characters. Born in the bitter winter of 1947 into a family of resilient women shaped by war and community, Peter carries their ethic of honest graft into a career that takes him from interview day and his first steps into the foundry, through toolrooms and takeovers, to stints in Wales, Ireland, and Limerick. Along the way he meets bosses, workmates, and mentors who loom large — among them W. Howard Robb, Arthur Stokes, and a cast of early workmates whose humour and toughness defined an era. Written as a legacy for his children and grandchildren, Founding Fortunes is a window into a working Britain that no longer exists — and a testament to the people who built it.