JOHN McKEVER - PLATER

Early Working Days John McKever remembers joining the shipyards from school in 1964 following in his family's footsteps. He recalls his first job in the office when he was paid a mere £2 and 14 shillings.

A Plater's Life… John McKever describes a typical day in the life of a shipyard plater in the mid 1960s. He explains how the shift system worked and how men could get time and a half at weekends.

Importance of Shipbuilding John McKever talks about the importance of the shipyards for local people. For many including John the yards were a way of life, and this was turned upside down when closures hit hard.

Now and Then - Changes in the Yards John McKever compares the yards today with the traditional yards when he was working. He recalls the tremendous sense of camaraderie amongst the men in the old days.

Characters in the Yards John McKever talks about the many colourful characters in the yards including Jack David, the shipyard poet. He also remembers the impact of job losses and the tragic decline of the industry.