John Watson
John belongs to: The Doxford Engine Friends Association
John was born in 1936 in Hendon. He started his apprenticeship at Doxford's in 1952 with the intention of going to sea. John has no regrets about the people he has met, and friends he has made.
John was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 26 January 2006. The interview took place at Sunderland Museum and lasted 21 minutes and 13 seconds.
Sounds and atmosphere in the Doxford Works
"The Doxford Works? Yes, working on the stocks, where you couldn’t hear yourself speak for riveters"
The Doxford Works? Yes, working on the stocks, where you couldn’t hear yourself speak for riveters, caulkers. When I first went down to the quay there were riveters, and you had riveters’ catchers and, working with holes, and the noise was just tremendous. And the old shipyard workers had worked there for years, they were totally deaf, they couldn’t hear a thing. But it was amazing because they could understand themselves in the noise, but when you got a quietness, when it was quiet, they couldn’t understand you, you know. Night shift- that was something else, like, you know, working on nights. And putting bed plates in in the snow, you know, and coming down and working with candles because there was no light, you know. And working in double bottoms, putting balls up where it was wet, crawling about. But still, you had a good time. We thought everybody else, like, you know, everyone was great to work in the shipyards with. Characters, plenty of characters, lot of characters.
John has 14 memories in the memorynet:
John's memories with a Danger theme:
AsbestosJohn's other memories:
Doxford's referenceThis memory has these themes:
Community | Environment | Sounds and Smells | Work
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