One moment you're hyping up your company's latest computer product, the next you're fixing fences on the outskirts of Bradford.Despite his remarkable disappearing act performed about a year ago, Microdigital's David Atkins was spotted by a RISC OS user working for Shipley Community Housing Trust. Leading a team of five youngsters, David is responsible for removing nearby eyesores and tidying up estates in the area.
According to Bradford's Telegraph and Argus, project manager David and his gang of environmental assistants will be doing landscaping work, planting trees and shrubs, and installing fences. The team will use cash from the government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, and the housing trust.
David's boss and head of operations at the housing trust James Healy said: "Creating more attractive neighbourhoods is one of our key priorities."
One RISC OS user said he had been trying to get in touch with David to arrange for some work to be carried out, although hadn't had much luck. He added: "You might say Dave's gone to ground."
In July 2005, Microdigital were sought by bailiffs after they were taken to court by RISC OS users demanding refunds for their Omega computers; the company later disappeared. The Omega's designer, David Prosser, is said to be living in the Bradford area and working as a freelance electronic engineer. David Atkins, pictured above, is believed to be refusing to talk about anything Microdigital related.Links
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A better scan of Dave's photo is due early next week