My dad worked at Furness shipyard all his working life (45 years) when he had to be off sick for a couple of years with arthritis in his hands and feet (from working in the cold!!). He went back for his last 3 years and when he retired they tried to tell him he had only worked there for 3 years, he was very disappointed having given 45 years of loyal service to be told that. My dad won the cup for the shipyard football team twice and when it was passed on (at the time to be the Littlewoods cup then the Coca Cola cup) my mum was invited to hand it over as the last remaining person to have been involved with it. My dad had died by this time. My dads name was Norman Rigg.
My mam, dad, two older brothers and myself worked at the yard at some time. Margaret Rose Coleman, nee Leek, worked there during the war. Dad, Richard Coleman or (Raxen) as he was known started before the war and continued until after it finished, he was a riveter. Brothers, Bruce and Geoff Coleman, and myself, Brian Coleman, all worked there during the sixties. I remember when the gates opened for the half hour lunch break, it seemed like a thousand workers crossed the road to the ‘TOP HOUSE’ for a couple of pints. The bar top was full from end to end and side to side with freshly pulled pints of beer which all vanished within minutes. You couldn’t be late going back when break was over as the gates were shut and you got locked out. Billingham was very industrial at the time and nearly everyone I grew up with was a burner, welder, shipwright, caulker or something else to do with the steel industry. Hard work but good memories. Shame that so many skilled workers and future generations will never get the opportunity to be involved in shipbuilding again. Not everyone wants to work in IT.
Bill, Tommy McLean left the shipyard and started ay Head Wrightsons at Thornaby in probably 1954-55. I as an apprentice was on the next bench to him. At 17 years of age I was not allowed to work on the machines. One day I asked him to do some machine work for me and he told me to do it by hand, and that was the only way to learn the trade. He was a fine craftsman and was good to learn from. He taught me a lot through my apprenticeship. Sadly he died of lung cancer in 1957ish. His wife told our foreman at that time that his tools should be distributed to the apprentices. I still have some of them now. Re Eddie Alderson, I got the Quality Controllers job which was his after redundancies at F Hills. If you want to get in touch with me ask Sarah from the Picture Stockton team for my e-mail address.
I worked as an apprentice joiner at Furness Shipbuilding from 1953 to 1958 and remember Tommy McClean and Eddie Alderson. Eddie was a water polo player if I remember right. Jack Skinner was the boss during that time. I have just read another article that mentioned Eileen Henry who I remember also. I am now living in Australia but have many happy memories of my time there.
Do you remember Ken Duckers the model maker at Furness Shipyard? Others; Tommy McClean, Eddie Alderson, Joiners on the setting out benches and my uncle Laurence(Sailor) Irwin.
The Furness Shipbuilding Co. built many fine ships, some with long and interesting careers. Their designs and building techniques were ahead of their time. Automated welding and cranage was state of the art. Along with many others I served a five year apprenticeship there as a fitter and turner 1945 to 1950, are there any of you still around, if so please get in touch, the Picture Stockton Team will give you my contact details.
I am in contact with Ray Teale and Harry Rhodes both of whom live in Australia. I also have info on a few others. We are all 80-ish, so hurry don’t leave it too late!
I worked at Haverton Shipyard through the 70s until it closed. I was a caulker. It was hard graft at times, it was ok though. Its a shame its potential wasn’t used.
My dad worked at the yard, he was a marine engineer, Frank McGee. We lived in Eton Terrace High Clarence. Its a crying shame what happened to that yard and shipbuilding in this country. The fabrication shop in picture is the longest in the country, what a waste.
It had been hoped that Swan Hunter on the Tyne might receive a share of the work on the two new aircraft carriers to be built from 2008 for the Royal Navy and that Haverton Hill might receive some of this work. Unfortunately, the final demise of Swan Hunter and the recent dismantling of their yard at Wallsend put paid to this and probably finally sealed the fate of Haverton Hill yard.
What a waste of the most modern shipyard in the uk when Haverton Hill finally closed. The same goes for the work force a good squad of men. Over the last 20 years i”ve worked in a few shipyards that are still open and Haverton beats them hands down.
When I was working at Seal Sands recently I went to the yard for old times sake. I was talking to a chap there , he said they were going to flatten it. Has a date been set yet? What a sad time for all who worked there
My dad worked at Furness shipyard all his working life (45 years) when he had to be off sick for a couple of years with arthritis in his hands and feet (from working in the cold!!). He went back for his last 3 years and when he retired they tried to tell him he had only worked there for 3 years, he was very disappointed having given 45 years of loyal service to be told that. My dad won the cup for the shipyard football team twice and when it was passed on (at the time to be the Littlewoods cup then the Coca Cola cup) my mum was invited to hand it over as the last remaining person to have been involved with it. My dad had died by this time. My dads name was Norman Rigg.
My mam, dad, two older brothers and myself worked at the yard at some time. Margaret Rose Coleman, nee Leek, worked there during the war. Dad, Richard Coleman or (Raxen) as he was known started before the war and continued until after it finished, he was a riveter. Brothers, Bruce and Geoff Coleman, and myself, Brian Coleman, all worked there during the sixties. I remember when the gates opened for the half hour lunch break, it seemed like a thousand workers crossed the road to the ‘TOP HOUSE’ for a couple of pints. The bar top was full from end to end and side to side with freshly pulled pints of beer which all vanished within minutes. You couldn’t be late going back when break was over as the gates were shut and you got locked out. Billingham was very industrial at the time and nearly everyone I grew up with was a burner, welder, shipwright, caulker or something else to do with the steel industry. Hard work but good memories. Shame that so many skilled workers and future generations will never get the opportunity to be involved in shipbuilding again. Not everyone wants to work in IT.
Does anyone remember my dad, Maurice Wharton, a caulker/burner, sometimes known as ginger/red?
Bill, Tommy McLean left the shipyard and started ay Head Wrightsons at Thornaby in probably 1954-55. I as an apprentice was on the next bench to him. At 17 years of age I was not allowed to work on the machines. One day I asked him to do some machine work for me and he told me to do it by hand, and that was the only way to learn the trade. He was a fine craftsman and was good to learn from. He taught me a lot through my apprenticeship. Sadly he died of lung cancer in 1957ish. His wife told our foreman at that time that his tools should be distributed to the apprentices. I still have some of them now. Re Eddie Alderson, I got the Quality Controllers job which was his after redundancies at F Hills. If you want to get in touch with me ask Sarah from the Picture Stockton team for my e-mail address.
I worked as an apprentice joiner at Furness Shipbuilding from 1953 to 1958 and remember Tommy McClean and Eddie Alderson. Eddie was a water polo player if I remember right. Jack Skinner was the boss during that time. I have just read another article that mentioned Eileen Henry who I remember also. I am now living in Australia but have many happy memories of my time there.
My dad worked at Swan Hunters until its close in 79. He was George Wray (1926-2002), a shipwright.
Do you remember Ken Duckers the model maker at Furness Shipyard? Others; Tommy McClean, Eddie Alderson, Joiners on the setting out benches and my uncle Laurence(Sailor) Irwin.
The Furness Shipbuilding Co. built many fine ships, some with long and interesting careers. Their designs and building techniques were ahead of their time. Automated welding and cranage was state of the art. Along with many others I served a five year apprenticeship there as a fitter and turner 1945 to 1950, are there any of you still around, if so please get in touch, the Picture Stockton Team will give you my contact details.
I am in contact with Ray Teale and Harry Rhodes both of whom live in Australia. I also have info on a few others. We are all 80-ish, so hurry don’t leave it too late!
I worked at Haverton Shipyard through the 70s until it closed. I was a caulker. It was hard graft at times, it was ok though. Its a shame its potential wasn’t used.
My dad worked at the yard, he was a marine engineer, Frank McGee. We lived in Eton Terrace High Clarence. Its a crying shame what happened to that yard and shipbuilding in this country. The fabrication shop in picture is the longest in the country, what a waste.
It had been hoped that Swan Hunter on the Tyne might receive a share of the work on the two new aircraft carriers to be built from 2008 for the Royal Navy and that Haverton Hill might receive some of this work. Unfortunately, the final demise of Swan Hunter and the recent dismantling of their yard at Wallsend put paid to this and probably finally sealed the fate of Haverton Hill yard.
What a waste of the most modern shipyard in the uk when Haverton Hill finally closed. The same goes for the work force a good squad of men. Over the last 20 years i”ve worked in a few shipyards that are still open and Haverton beats them hands down.
When I was working at Seal Sands recently I went to the yard for old times sake. I was talking to a chap there , he said they were going to flatten it. Has a date been set yet? What a sad time for all who worked there