Bill Bendelow
Bill belongs to: The Doxford Engine Friends Association
Bill was born in Sunderland in 1927. He served his apprenticeship at the Doxford Engine Works, starting fifth January 1942. After five years at sea he returned to Doxford's where he worked until its closure in March 1987. Bill was the last person to leave Doxford's and was given the task of switching off the power to the works.
Bill was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 26 January 2006. The interview took place at Sunderland Museum and lasted 40 minutes and 53 seconds.
What does the sea mean to you?
"Well, my first experience of the sea, and in fact it was as a child going down to the sea, to go down to the beach"
Well, my first experience of the sea, and in fact it was as a child going down to the sea, to go down to the beach. And then as you get older, you notice that there’s, there’s a river that goes out to sea, you’ve got your the piers, you’ve got the shipyards and then you realise that well, this is where, this is where you live, you know, you’ve got to be involved in. There’s ever so many people worked in the shipyards and the engine works, and the fact that my father worked at Doxford’s. He was the slinger for the big crane down at the quay, the big hundred tonne crane, he was a slinger for that and you just felt as though there had to be a Doxford’s. And go to, and going to sea was one of the things that were part of your ambition.
Bill has 13 memories in the memorynet:
Bill's memories with a Environment theme:
Bill's other memories:
First day at Doxford’s- Packing in the sea
- Returning to Doxford's after the merchant navy
- Staying until the closure of Doxford's
- The Doxford Apprentices football team
- Industrial action at Doxford's
- The Doxford Engine Friends Association
- What does the sea mean to you?
- First trip to sea
50th birthday card- Workers at Doxford's
- Last day at Doxford's
This memory has these themes:
Community | Lifestyles | The North East | Work
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