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.
Sailing with a Doxford engine
"The first ship I ever sailed on was, they were Doxford engines"
The first ship I ever sailed on, they were Doxford engines. There was a massive number of Doxford engines at sea. The first ships I sailed on, they were Doxford’s and the first company I worked with they were almost all Doxford engines. And I sailed on my last Doxford engine in 1965. At that time I was with a company called Holder Brothers and again it was old, bog standard Doxford. And I changed employers there, and I never saw another one, until I saw the engine at Beamish.
I used to enjoy it. There were, there was nothing very technical about them. They were, I remember being able to use a big hammer. Anyone who could use a big hammer was well appreciated- there was lots of that. If that hammer doesn’t work, get a bigger one. There were some big strong boys in those days- I mean, we were all, we were all used working hard, doing heavy work, you know, a lot of us. It was, it was alright, some of it was very taxing, very arduous.
George has 12 memories in the memorynet:
George's memories with a Relationships theme:
Meeting Michael Wilson in ShanghaiGeorge's other memories:
Engineer's Certificate
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