Cultureshock

You need Adobe Flash installed to watch this movie.
Get Adobe Flash

Video transcript

My first morning at work. January 2nd 1959 at 6.45 am I set off for my first day at work at William Doxford and sons Ltd. Engine Works. The working day begun at 7.30 until 5.30pm, five days a week and the wage was £1 2 and 6 a week, or £1.12p which my mam would get and she would allow me to keep 50p.

I crossed Queen Alexandra Bridge to Pallion and along to Watson Street newsagents. My Dad asked me what paper I wanted I said "The Hotspur or The Rover". "Newspaper?" he said, "You don't read comics at work". I ended up with the Daily Mirror!

Down the hill to Doxford's main gate my dad took me to the time office, the boarded up window on the right hand side of the gate, and left me there. I was shown how to clock in and out. Then I was told to make my way to the manager's office where I was told that I was to be the Office Boy for the three managers; Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Adey and Mr. McCoy.

At 7.30 am Mr McCoy told me to go to the Drawing Office and pick up drawings for the Crankshop, "If you don't know where it is, ask" and then deliver them to Mr. Averrie, the Foreman in the Crankshop.

It was the first time in the factory I was terrified by the size of the machines. The bloke on the lathe was my dad and he just winked at me as I went past. At 8.30 I collected the mail from the General Office and distributed it to different offices within the engine works. I made tea for the managers and even washed up. I also had to answered the telephone which was a new experience for me as we didn't have a telephone at home. I delivered drawings all over the factory and it was still only 10 am.

At 10.30 I was asked to go for a medical examination in the first aid room.

As 11.55 approached I went to the manager’s canteen to collect Mr. Adey's lunch. He always had his dinner in his office, he never ate in the canteen. Then I was allowed to go for mine and I walked to the shipyard canteen through the yard. Where for 2 and 6 or 12 and a half p, I got a dinner, a sweet and a mug of tea. Mind you I have never had mashed potatoes served out of an enamel bucket before, and so was the custard. I looked around for a place to sit down when a voice said 'away son sit down, ya dinner's gonna git clay cald man". I had an hour for dinner so I explored on my way back to work, I've always loved steam locomotives and Doxford's had five.

Not a bad morning for a fifteen year old!