The following Monday I set off to find fame and fortune and what a place! All those grand offices with beautiful ship models in the windows made me drool. I tried Cunard, Union Castle and Royal Mail Lines only to get the same answer, “Sorry son you’re too young and have no training”. On my way out of Royal Mail, I chatted to the doorman who said “Try the Pool” - that was the shipping federation who handle training and supply crews for most of the ships.
What a difference, “Come on in, take a seat, how can we help?” The reply was the same that I was too young and had to be 17 and 18 for the engine room where I wanted to go. Perhaps it was my crest fallen look. “Don’t worry, leave your name and see how you feel in two years time”. At least it wasn’t NO.
Back home I had to get a job so I could pay my way. Serious advice - get an apprenticeship and learn a proper trade. So I tried several local engineering works, all keen and eager, but my school reports let me down on that score. I thought I had cracked it when I tried the Glacier Metal Co, answered all the questions, filled in the forms and was told that I was just what they wanted, but they wanted to see my school reports. “I don’t have them”, I said thinking what a clever move but only to be told get them and come on back. Needless to say I didn’t bother.
There was plenty of work about if you were prepared to work - with building sites being the most popular. I also did factory labouring, drivers mate and cutting up orders at a timber supplier.
At about this time father and I bought a new Myford ML7 lathe costing £48-5 shillings which hadn’t changed for years. I paid the five shillings. I learned a lot of turning at school (because it was something that I was interested in) and also reading the Model Engineer. I became quite an accomplished turner and took on a few small paying jobs. One Saturday, a chap came to see me as word had got around. He explained that he had a small metal working shop in London and asked if I would like to operate a new Myford lathe that he was buying. I agreed straight away as he offered me one shilling and three pence per hour where as nine pence was the most I had ever earned.
The workshop was a series of basements in Pavilion Road at the back of Harrods (one of their best customers) in Knightsbridge. They made a range of light fittings, plant stands and architectural goods. I did learn a lot of useful things such as tube bending, light presswork, sheet metalwork, gas welding and brazing. The new lathe was on order but meanwhile could I use the old one as nobody there had any idea. It stood in the corner of the main workshop driven from a long line shaft with fast and loose pulleys, flat belts and crossed belts for reverse and not a guard in sight. It really was a thing of beauty. Cast legs were Queen Anne style with lion paws for the feet, all the gearwheels and hand wheels had curved spokes like traction engine flywheels, not surprisingly there was no Maker’s plate but the most strange thing was the saddle traverse. This was a square shaft fitted with a loose crank handle (curved) which when turned to the left, anticlockwise, the saddle moved towards the tailstock and vice versa which was a bit off putting but judging by the chuck jaws I was not the first one to be fooled.
The new lathe that arrived was a Super 7 with every available accessory and in no time at all I had it spewing out all manner of fittings for the lamps and things which they had previously been buying in. The Boss asked me if I would mind showing Tom how it worked? “Sure”, said I (bighead) and training began. Two weeks later the boss's wife who did the books and made lampshades brought round the pay packets and told me that there was something extra in mine. “Thank you”, I said in all innocence.
When I got home and opened the packet the “extra” was my cards. On Monday I went up to Knightsbridge which was an hour's journey by bus and train and as I went down the stairs Tom was working on the Myford. It all went quiet. I walked over to my locker, took out my tools and overalls, turned round and without a word walked out and up the stairs. I realised I had been used as a cheap training scheme and made up my mind then, never again would I be dumped on.
Once again I was looking for work and the greengrocers on the corner wanted a lad. I made a start sorting spuds and cabbages, boiling beetroots, loading the lorry and sweeping up, there must be something else somewhere.
I tried the Army apprentice scheme, but the same old story - school reports. I thought of the Royal Navy as a boy entrant but realised it would mean discipline and I would probably end up being keel hauled!
By now I was 16 and tried the proper Labour Exchange. I got a start at a bakery, cleaning and greasing tins, washing up and sweeping. It was hard work and hot with a 6a.m. start, 5a.m. on a Saturday but I really liked it especially as it was becoming interesting (I can still mould bread by hand, 2 at a time and ice a cake). I stayed there for nearly a year. One noteworthy thing - that September I was caught speeding on my motorbike. Court case in Nov. '54, fined £2-10 shillings and licence endorsed.
Two weeks into March I got home and Mum said that there was a letter for me. Out of the blue, it was from the Shipping Federation. It said that if you still want to join the Merchant Navy, then come for an interview. Off I went bright eyed and bushy tailed. I answered all the questions satisfactorily and was sent to Cable St. for a medical and I passed that. It was then back to the office where I was given a travel warrant, wished the best of luck, and instructed to join the National Sea Training School at Sharpness in Gloucester on 28th of March, two days after my 17th birthday.
Not only did I have a fairy godmother, but she had taken a shine to me as well.