Transcript

Are there any sounds you associate with Swan Hunters?

Oh yes! The buzzer! The buzzer was the main sound my goodness – you could hear it all around North Tyneside I think y’know – Swan’s Buzzer!  But the sounds on the ship, there was no ear protectors or anything of the sort, and you’ve got the riveters, corkers – that’s the guys with the guns y’know and that was absolutely deafening. I think myself that’s why I have to wear this little thing in my lug now y’know! Yeah they were the main sounds I mean it was absolutely awash with sound from one end of the river to the other in those days. From the naval yard – which was furthest up at that particular time, right down to the mouth of the river and it was just one absolute overwhelming sound y’know, but you never thought anything about it – you worked there and that was it – it didn’t make any difference y’know!

Was it noisy all of the time?

Oh yes, yes ‘cause they went night and day and as soon as day shift finished work never stopped on the ships and of course the ships were right up until the end of the these streets, well I’m saying these streets – the streets that were here – you’ll have seen photographs of the ship virtually appearing at the end of a street! And the guys worked on that all the way, yeah it was very noisy.

So how was it for local residents then?

Well again like the guy I was telling you that was born down here – he was born into it and that was it y’know they didn’t – that was it – that was just everyday workings!