A Geordie All-Rounder: 9 - Serving My Time
...I remember the nearer I got to the Dock Gates the more crowded the roads became as hundreds of hob-nailed booted workers rushed to get in the' Gates' before the starting buzzer sounded. Later, I learnt latecomers weren't admitted for 30 minutes after the buzzer stopped, with appropriate loss of pay...
All-round sportsman Malcolm Scott remembers going to work as an apprentice at the famous Readheads shipyard.
In July 1951 I left school after very little career guidance which was the norm at the time. My father had convinced me of the need 'to serve my time' which he said "would lead to a job for life." Woodwork was one of my favourite lessons at school and my Grandfather Scott and two of my uncles were wood craftsmen so we decided to aim for an apprentice joiner.
I then learnt that apprenticeships didn't start until you were sixteen years of age, so another temporary job was needed. That turned out to be a messenger at Binns, the largest retail store in the town, hi my naivety I thought of being an apprentice joiner at Binns only to be told "we don't have such apprentices here."
However, my time wasn't wasted; I learnt about the world of work and made several friends. One of them was another messenger named Billy Childs. He came from Hebburn and, like me, played football and cricket. Billy left Binns about the same time as I did and went on to serve his time as an electrician at Reyrolles. Many years later he captained the firm's cricket team in the Tyneside Senior League.
An apprenticeship to be a joiner was not easy to find in 1952. A reply from Readheads, the well-known shipbuilding company in Commercial Road, said they could offer me training as a fitter-turner but not as a joiner. After talking this over with my parents we decided to say yes to five years' training with the town's largest shipbuilder.
The history of Readheads goes back to 1872, and the Company has had a major influence on the social and economic development of the town. One of the town's parks is named after the Company. During the 1939-45 war, Readheads built over 30 ships and provided employment for over 2,000 workers.
I started there in May 1952. Getting up at 6:30 am didn't impress me. Like hundreds of others I travelled to work on my bike. Down Reed Street bank, left into Frederick Street and then right into Bertram Street and straight on towards the large cranes that stretched skywards. I remember the nearer I got to the Dock Gates the more crowded the roads became as hundreds of hob-nailed booted workers rushed to get in the' Gates' before the starting buzzer sounded. Later, I learnt latecomers weren't admitted for 30 minutes after the buzzer stopped, with appropriate loss of pay.
What a shock I got during my first day at Readheads. Standing all day was bad enough but the dirt, noise and strong language were all new to me. Compared to Binns, I was now working longer hours and doing heavier work in a dangerous environment, yet I got paid little more!
At first I was detailed to work in the stores, to learn about the different tools and raw materials and what went where. Like all newcomers, I was sent on 'errands' for long stands and short weights. After working in the stores, I was transferred to the machine shop for training in the operation of drilling machines, and lathes etc. (I thought what if Geo. Wyatt could see me now). Working with qualified fitters in the fitting shop followed and then as a' grease monkey' down in the ship's engine room, which brought a whole new experience to life.
