Derek Denny
Derek belongs to: The Doxford Engine Friends Association
Derek served an apprenticeship at North East Marine before going to sea. He returned to work in the Doxford Drawing Office then transferred to the Technical Office. He worked there until engine building stopped and moved to the Installation Drawing Office in the shipyard until it closed.
Derek was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 26 January 2005. The interview took place at Sunderland Museum and lasted 24 minutes and 47 seconds.
The sound of a Doxford engine at sea
"Going through the Suez Canal. Somehow you could hear the sound of an engine- although you were going very slowly, you could detect a ship which had a Doxford engine"
Going through the Suez Canal. Somehow you could hear the sound of an engine- although you were going very slowly, you could detect a ship which had a Doxford engine in it by the distinct sound of it. They always seemed to run quite smoothly but they had a distinct noise. At sea, it was a noise you learnt to live with. And when it stooped when you were at sea, you woke up. You knew something was wrong. But yes, it had its own distinct sound, which anyone and everyone that knew Doxford’s engines could pick up from quite a distance.
Derek has 10 memories in the memorynet:
Working conditions at sea- The Doxford drawing office
- Equipment in the drawing office
- The Doxford's technical office and sea trials
- Moving to Doxford installation office
- The closure of Doxford's
- Sound of the Doxford engine
- The sound of a Doxford engine at sea
Visit to the Doxford yard- Main gates to the Doxford Engine Works
This memory has these themes:
Environment | Sounds and Smells | Work
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