Peter Hedley on Shipbuilding

I joined John Samuel Whites in July 1953 and I left in 1960, but during the five years, my five years would have been between 1953 and 1958 as an apprentice and then the two years after that I was a Draftsman.

Lisa: How was the apprenticeship … how was it organised for you?

Well, earlier to us, myself joining you used to be on indentures but they, for some reason, had finished the indentures so one went down there and had an interview and you were either accepted or not accepted.

However, I was accepted, and I took up the five-year apprenticeship as a Marine Engineer, starting off in the Fitting Shop with Jack Blackwall who was the Charge Man there and we went through the Condenser Shop and a little bit in the Turbine Shop and of course we made boilers and all the parts.

So, the ships were built over on the East Cowes side, launched and came underneath the big crane which is still there, and all the engine works, and the fitting out was done on the west bank.

I didn’t work on the ship itself, but I was in the Shops making the various components.