John Burn
John belongs to: The Coble and Keelboat Society
John grew up in Tynemouth. He spent his spare time as a child sailing. John followed his father into piloting ships on the Tyne.
John was interviewed by Kylea Little on 3 March 2006. The interview took place at Discovery Museum History Office and lasted 1 hour, 0 minute and 12 seconds.
Returning to the pilot service
"Our intention, of course, was to get our sea time in as quickly as possible"
Our intention, of course, was to get our sea time in as quickly as possible between certificates because the whole idea was to be as ready as quick as possible to be able to get back into the pilot’s service. And, because when your turn came up you either took it or you lost it. And the other problem was that there was an age limit for getting back into the pilot’s service, and many, many, many pilot apprentices from the Tyne never got back because they were too old by the time their turn, you know, vacancy was there. And that’s why there were, you find Tyne pilots apprentices in harbour masters and pilot’s jobs all over the world, I found that when I went to sea myself.
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