George Gardner
George belongs to: The Doxford Engine Friends Association
George was born in 1940 in Hendon. He began his apprenticeship in 1956 and finished in 1961. From Doxford's George served in the merchant navy on tramp ships, cargo liners, container ships and oil tankers until he retired in 2005.
George was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 26 January 2006. The interview took place at Sunderland Museum and lasted 31 minutes and 54 seconds.
Benefits of a Doxford apprenticeship
"As one of my colleagues put it, I met him several years ago, one of my ex-apprentice friends"
As one of my colleagues put it, I met him several years ago, one of my ex-apprentice friends, he said, “aye,” he said, he said, “you leave Doxford's,” he says, “you finish your time,” he says, “you think you know it all,” he says, “and then you slowly begin to realise you know bugger all.” It’s a learning process all your life.
But the basics stood me in good stead because I came up having to do things at different times in my life, and I found I was the only person on the ship who knew how to do it. Like fitting a big bearing to a big, to a shaft, you know, a bearing about 18 inches in diameter, a white metal bearing to bed that onto a shaft. No-one else had ever done it. No-one else in the engine had ever done it or seen it done. But I had done this when I was an apprentice and this was 15, 20 years later.
George has 12 memories in the memorynet:
Apprenticeship at Doxford's- Benefits of a Doxford apprenticeship
- The value of a Doxford's apprenticeship
- Safety and accidents at Doxford's
- The smell of whale oil
- Sailing with a Doxford engine
- Conditions on the ship
- Meeting Michael Wilson in Shanghai
Engineer's Certificate- Continuous Certificate of Discharge
- Africa
- Shanghai
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