The jobs we did before and after our Sea life .

[Michael Black]

Here is my list. There was only one I didn't enjoy. I was certifying lifting equipment, cranes etc, a lot of responsibility, money was rubbish, the manager said you can't do that when I told him I was leaving. No just watch me.
Paper boy
Warehouse lad for the Co-op
Blyth tug boats deckboy
M.N. 69-73 deckboy to EDH with Shaw Savill great runs to Aussie and Kiwi coasts. An excellent education.

Blyth power station started on operation side then maintenance rigge r 73-91
Rigger offshore 92-92
Rigger Press offshore at Wallsend 92-93
Chargehand rigger McNulty offshore 93-99 South Shields
Chargehand rigger Norway 99-2000
Lifting inspection & testing 2000-02
Rigger Amec offshore Wallsend 02-04
Chargehand rigger, foreman rigger McNulty offshore South Shields 04-12
Rigger OGN Wallsend 12-15
Rigger Smulders Wallsend 16-18
Been retired since 2018. Working through my wife's list now.
Been lucky that I've always been in a job, worked with some great people and characters.
Regards Michael

[happy daze john in oz]

When getting ready to leave school we were all offered interviews with prospective businesses.

Not keen on work at that point I considered a position in a government department.
Went for the interview and came away so confused I decided it was not for me.
Looking at govs around the globe now I understand why.

[Doc Vernon]

Funny that John
My first job was in Government Department, but got me in a lot of Trouble ???LOL
Cheers

[j.sabourn]

1947 to 2002 ... paper boy, cobblers boy, butchers boy, 1952 to 2002 , 83 vessels that floated in saltwater of varying descriptions . 2002 to present day sex slave if only in my mind. JS.

[Keith Tindell]

I think we posted before on this JS, but was also a cobblers boy, and was the seed that made me want to go to sea, i would be stood at the bench in the shop, covered in dust and various shoes to repair, and a Polish guy used to come into the shop from time to time, he was in the MN, and would tell us of where he had been in the last 6 months or what ever, and my mind was made up, and 8 weeks later i was bound for Gravesend sea school, and never regretted it. kt

[j.sabourn]

12/6d soled and heeled in leather , with a Phillips rubber stick on sole , on the sole. I used to get a penny bonus on every pair of shoes I brought into the shop. JS

[Keith Tindell]

Who gets shoes repaired today ?, mostly now it seems key cutting, handbag repairs, leather straps etc, so went to sea for 7 years then joined the fire service until retirement at 53. Countless jobs while in the FS, as the duty system allowed, window cleaning, HGV driving, gardening, roofing, painting etc, anything that earned a few bob extra, as by this time had a wife and two kids to keep, should have just left it as a new car every 2 years lol, kt

[j.sabourn]

#108 I used to get 12/- a week for after school hours and Saturday mornings. Starting off with 1 pound in change in cash bag. 0ne time I was 3d short in the change and he only paid me 11/9d that week. When the winter came with all the snow lying I couldn’t get out on the bike , so he said to me throwing an old kit bag at me , it’s shanks pony then. I saw red and told him to collect his own shoes making reference to my 3d short in my wages. And left him to it. I’ve enjoyed the practice of referring to the old money, you should be getting prepared for next month and ditching your euros . Maybe the frogs are the cause of the poor correspondence via email into Europe , by interference of internet , before January 1. Maybe they have visions of another iron curtain. Cheers hope you and pat manage to get to see your grandson ...JS.

[Bryan Portwig]

hi you ever see the link by les pivic - soul of a railway ?

[John Pruden]

from 13 working with my brothers on demolition soon driving cranes then a loading shovel even working with blasters top man burner all the things put to you then at 16 the sea i followed my brothers to the sea blue funnel training school then sea time cut short my father was terminally ill but did a couple of years but money had to come first i was the last at home and i did my duty dad passed when i was 21/22 but i still miss the sea every day but times were different? jp