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7 February 2011
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TYPES OF JOBS IN THE SHIPYARD (11 CLIPS)
Video clip of "The Trainee Draughtsman" (Image: Bill Stephenson)

The Trainee Draughtsman
Bill Stephenson remembers what it was like to be a trainee draughtsman working in the shipyard drawing office. He recalls having to go to night school three nights a week over a period of four years.

Video clip of "The Plater's Job" (Image: Derek Griggs)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.
Video clip of "Boy Labourers" (Image: Ged Lalor)Boy Labourers
Ged Lalor remembers working as a boy labourer on a wage of £1 a day. He talks about the plater's shed which was cold and bleak even in summer, and the appalling health and safety record it had.
Video clip of "A Plater's Life" (Image: John McKever)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.
Video clip of "The Modern Apprentice" (Image: Mel Davis)The Modern Apprentice
Mel Davis explains how the modern apprentice system works. He describes how 17 year olds go through rigorous training programmes and college courses. Mel also talks about new opportunities for adult apprentices in the modern shipyard.
Video clip of "My Father Was A Boilerman.." (Image: Mick Doolan)My Father Was a Boilerman…
Mick Doolan remembers how his father worked in the shipyards cleaning out the boilers. He vividly recalls the deafening noise and the constant clanging and banging which made his father deaf.
Video clip of "A Foot Up The Ladder - An Office Junior" (Image: Patricia Armstrong)
A Foot on the Ladder - An Office Junior
Patricia Armstrong describes how she got her first job in the office in 1951. She recalls how she had to fill in work sheets and make the tea for the directors.
Video clip of "Life as a Telephonist" (Image: Patricia Armstrong)Life As a Telephonist
Patricia Armstrong describes life as a telephonist at Swan Hunter's. She recalls having to work on a system that looked like an archaic knitting machine.
Video clip of "Old Style Apprenticeships" (Image: Ted Davey)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.
Video clip of "Life at Clellands" (Image: Tony Hall)Life at Clellands
Tony Hall describes life as a fitter and working conditions in the 1970s. He also remembers the drinking culture that made the yard a colourful and lively place to be.
Video clip of "Ragging" (Image: Warren Young)Ragging
Warren Young talks about his typical day in the shipyard when he was working as a ragger. He remembers the long days and the 44 hour weeks in the yard, and recalls how the men would be docked an hour's pay if they were 15 minutes late for work.


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