Michael Wilson
Michael belongs to: The Doxford Engine Friends Association
Michael was born in West Sussex and went to school in London. He came to the North East to study at South Shields Marine College. He is an engineer in the merchant navy.
Michael was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 26 January 2006. The interview took place at Sunderland Museum and lasted 25 minutes and 9 seconds.
Training and apprenticeship
"Well, it involved a four and half year apprenticeship broken into three phases"
Well, it involved a four and half year apprenticeship broken into three phases. The first two years was doing an ordinary national diploma in engineering, which involved a range of subjects from mathematics, applied heat, mechanics, electricity, workshop technology, electrical work and practical work, and that was over a two year period, so that was full time at college. Then I was employed by Shell tankers UK under the alternative training scheme. And at the end of the two year period, we went to sea on Shell tanker’s ships for a period of a year. So, that was doing general work and learning one’s trade and then at the end of a year, well at the end of the third year period, then went back to South Shields College to do another year in practical work where I got involved in building the single cylinder Doxford engine at the college.
Well, we actually went last year, the middle of last year, I actually saw it run, which is the first time I’ve actually seen it run, because when, at the year, in my year at college there, we had it erected, built, but there was still the associated pipe work, wasn’t completed. So I never actually saw it run, and I’ve never had the opportunity up until last year to see it run, but how much longer it will be there for, because I think the college are going to move it on elsewhere, so I’m not quite sure myself. And then, as I said, did a year at college, and did a further six months at sea where I did my final phase and eventually was promoted to junior engineer.
Michael has 16 memories in the memorynet:
Michael's memories with a Change theme:
Changes in the merchant navy- Leisure time and crew sizes
- Living conditions in the merchant navy
- Decline of the British shipping industry
Michael's other memories:
- Training and apprenticeship
- Following his father to sea
- First voyage and New York
- Communication from sea
- Safety at sea
- Meeting George Gardner in Shanghai
- Joining the Doxford Engine Friends Association
The Doxford engine at South Shields College- Students at South Shields College
- Apprenticeship agreement
- Photograph of michael
- Continuous Certificate of Discharge
This memory has these themes:
Lifestyles | Skills | Training | Work
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