Tony tells us about his long business career, starting in accountancy at an engineering company through selling ducks to Denmark and ending in a company that gave him the opportunity to travel the world and provided vital equipment to the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic. My early life, education and starting my career I was […]
Engineering
A career in the engineering world (1949-1994)
Ken learned heavy engineering with an apprenticeship at Ransomes and Rapier in Ipswich and after national service became a pioneering work study man there, managing the process for projects such as a walking dragline excavator for the Canadian mining industry. He moved to Norfolk to work in the civil engineering industry in North Walsham, in […]
A life in building (1961-2000)
Brian started as a carpentry apprentice and went on to pass the City and Guilds examinations and obtain a Higher Certificate in Construction. After various jobs as trainee estate agent, assistant site manager, civil engineer and building inspector, Brian set up a successful business as architectural technician and building surveyor. Apprenticeship in the building trade […]
A man of many jobs. The sheet metal worker (1935-2016)
Eric had a long career in engineering mainly as a sheet metal worker. He says: I seem to have done many jobs, from repairing cars, to making parts for buses, making Army vehicles, precision sheet metal work, vehicle body work, refrigeration vehicle and aircraft repair, plus a little labour work. I was 14 years old […]
A partnership in Pattern Making (1945-1996)
Derek spent 51 years working as an engineer’s pattern maker, working for companies in Kingston and Norwich before setting up his own business, with his wife Pat. Customers included well known names such as Colman’s, Crane Fruehauf, Bressingham Steam Museum, Mackintosh Confectionery and Mountfield Lawnmowers. Examples of their work can be found around the country, […]
A Woman in a Man’s World (1948-2009)
Moira worked as an upholsterer, then at Boulton & Paul’s engineering and later in cleaning and catering. Her sister also worked at Boulton & Paul’s and occasionally took part in the interview. I left school at 15. I left school on a Friday, and on the Monday I started work and trained to be an […]
An eclectic working life. Engineering and electronic systems (1959-2000)
Alun had an eclectic working life in engineering and electronic systems, including working on document standards in Europe and for the BIS. The formative years I left grammar school in 1959 with one A Level pass, not a very good one. I then went to the local civic college to try and improve on matters […]
An Electrician’s Life on the Railways (1942-1993)
Ron recalls his forays before finishing his apprenticeship, and finding work on the railways as an electrician. Ron details the work he did, the changes to the trains, how the nature of working relationships changed from one location to another and over time. Leaving school I left school at fourteen in 1942, and my first […]
An engineer – loving the sea (1946-2011)
Ken recalls life around ships, engines and peas and beans, from Cornwall to Great Yarmouth and Australia and back. Leaving school for a life at sea In 1946 I left school at the age of fourteen. We’d moved to Cornwall in 1939, away from the front-line East Coast, to join my father who was fishing […]
An Engineer’s driving ambition (1952-2017)
Michael shares his start at work whilst still at school, his engineering apprenticeship and his love of driving. Michael left his hometown of Luton to pursue his career in Norfolk applying his engineering knowledge to vehicles and plastics, and continuing his passion for driving. Beginnings I lived in Luton and from 1952 to 1956 I […]