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.
Finishing apprenticeship and going to sea
"Then we passed on then to the erecting shop and I worked in the erecting shop"
Then we passed on then to the erecting shop and I worked in the erecting shop, putting these, erecting these engines and dismantling them and obviously putting them through the, the, the tests. It was interesting to note that at the, the, the peak of the operations, there could well have been four or five, six engines being built at a time, which is a sign of the amount of work that was going through Doxford’s at that time.
Finishing off in the erecting shop, we used to get various superintendents passing through, obviously looking at the engines for their, for their, for their owners, and obviously the apprentices who were coming out at the time, at the particular time were obviously under the scrutiny of these superintendents, and they were looking around to see who might be suitable material for their shipping companies.
And such as it was with, with, with my case, Andrew Weir who, a very regular customer with, with Doxford’s and had a history of building engines at Doxford’s going back many, many years. And the superintendent there, called me over and one of them had a chat and said, “well, don’t you come along with us?” So there it was, and I ended up by sailing with the Bank Line, and that was, that was in July in 1959 that I set sail on my first voyage.
Keith has 12 memories in the memorynet:
Keith's memories with a Training theme:
Uncle Ted- Starting at Doxford's
- Finishing apprenticeship and going to sea
- The value of a Doxford's apprenticeship
- Skills and experiences from Doxford's apprenticeship
Apprenticeship certificate- Doxford's reference
Keith's other memories:
This memory has these themes:
Change | The North East | Training | Work
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