Keith Atkinson
Keith belongs to: The Doxford Engine Friends Association
Keith served his apprenticeship in various departments at Doxford's, leaving in 1959. He spent time at sea with the Bank Line working through the ranks to become Chief Engineer Officer. Keith has spent the last 20 years working in marine consultation and surveying.
Keith was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 9 March 2006. The interview took place at Sunderland Museum and lasted 29 minutes and 57 seconds.
Uncle Ted
"Well, at 15, I came out of school and wondered, you know, obviously what, where you’re going from there"
Well, at 15, I came out of school and wondered, you know, obviously what, where you’re going from there, and looked around and my uncle, my Uncle Ted, he was a, he was a superintendent with the BP Tanker company, and he was an ideal mentor in a way because he had a huge house with a nice big car and big rich pile carpets, and I think, you know, to look up to that, you sort of would think, “well, if I can aspire to that one day, it would be brilliant.”
So my father suggested that a good way forward might be to start an apprenticeship, an engineering apprenticeship. So I then applied to Doxford’s, William Doxford’s, the shipbuilders and engineers to see if I could get a start there as an apprentice fitter and turner.
Keith has 12 memories in the memorynet:
Keith's memories with a Danger theme:
Keith's other memories:
His father- Uncle Ted
- Starting at Doxford's
- Finishing apprenticeship and going to sea
- First voyage with the Bank Line
- Returning to work in the North East
- The value of a Doxford's apprenticeship
- Skills and experiences from Doxford's apprenticeship
- The atmosphere at Doxford's
Apprenticeship certificate- Doxford's reference
This memory has these themes:
Relationships | Training | Work
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