LIFE IN THE SHIPYARDS (17 CLIPS)

A Day In The Life of a Crane Operator Bob Brand describes his job as a crane driver and what it was like work high up, towering over the River Tyne. He recalls how it was a test of his nerve when the high winds swept up the river in winter.

Life in the Yards in the 1950s Bob Timney started work in 1956 as an apprentice. He talks about his typical day, the shifts, and the harsh working conditions, and recalls watching the welders with sparks burning their smocks.

A Woman's Work… Clara Olsen talks about working in a wartime bomb factory before training as a plumber's labourer in the shipyards. She describes the many different ships that she worked on, the rough working conditions and the poor pay.

The Plater's Job Derek Griggs describes the job of a plater in the shipyard, and recalls a typical working day in the 1950s. Derek talks about the working conditions and the tremendous noise in the shipbuilding areas.

The Platers' Shed at Swans Ged Lalor recalls life inside the platers' shed, and remembers hanging around in the freezing cold.

The Welders Ged Lalor remembers the "terrible din" of the welders and the engine room of the ships. He also recalls old men standing around just watching the river go by.

Typical Day at Gregson's Ged Lalor remembers a typical day at Gregson's shipyard. He describes the company wages and shift system, and its strict regime.

First Day Inside the Machine Shop Gordon Scott recalls his apprenticeship and his first days working in the yard feeling like a 'little boy lost'. He also talks about how the older men played a practical joke on him during his first week of work.

Typical Day of a Machine Engineer Gordon Scott describes a typical day working as a machine engineer. It was a dirty job but difficult working conditions and long shifts, but he loved every minute of it.

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.

A Typical Day in the Yards John McMullen describes a typical day in the yards with its long working day. He remembers the work's buzzer going at 7.20am at the start of the shift, and how he clocked off at the end of the day. John recalls how the whole experience felt like one big adventure at first.

Working on HMS Arc Royal John McMullen describes what it was like to build HMS Arc Royal, one of his most memorable experiences. He recalls the ship's launch by the Queen Mother, and how for him it was an immensely humbling experience.

A Typical Day in Today's Yards Mel Davis compares the lives of apprentices in today's yards with those during the last century. He describes a typical working day for the modern apprentice including their shift patterns and health and safety.

In the Office Ron Armstrong talks about a typical day in the shipyard office. There was never a routine week, and the work involved lots of foreign travel.

Old Style Apprenticeships Ted Davey remembers life as an apprentice and the type of jobs he once did. Ted tells the amusing tale of nearly being sacked when he crashed a mechanical vehicle into the shipyard gates.

The Frozen Tyne Ted Davey remembers when blocks of ice floated down the river Tyne during one particularly cold winter. He talks about the braziers and burners that had to be used to keep warm and melt the ice.