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 Doxford's technical office and sea trials
"However, getting into the technical office was really enjoyable work"
However, getting into the technical office was really enjoyable work, getting out into the shops doing tests, taking all the calculations, readings, indicator card to work out the power of the engine. Then go off on the sea trials for a few days, maybe 24 hours occasionally 48 hours. Mainly local, but some of them in Scotland or Cornwall. Occasionally trouble shooting on ships, go out and meet the ship somewhere, typical example from Rotterdam, sail out of Rotterdam down to Hamburg and then from Hamburg across to Hull and back home having taken various readings and observations on the way to see if any rectification work could be done to improve whatever problem was thought by the engineers of the ship to make things improved. Improved performance, altering count settings to get different times and better fuel burning really. With the cams and the air through the scavenge ports. And these little trips away very interesting, made life interesting you weren’t stuck behind a desk all day, sort of nine to five. It really was enjoyable work. Until such times as there were no more engines to build, no more engines to test.
Derek has 10 memories in the memorynet:
Derek's memories with a Equipment theme:
Equipment in the drawing officeDerek's other memories:
Visit to the Doxford yardThis memory has these themes:
Change | Roles and Routines | Travel | Work
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