I started as a store boy in 66 as i left school. Store boy, as I was too young to start an apprenticeship as Fitter & Turner. Realised it was not the life for me. so joined the RN as an engineer. Did 24 years. Vickers was jaw dropping for a young lad, I delivered plans to the Tank shop, spent ages just walking around.
I was an apprentice here 1967-72. Mainly in 27/29 shop. There was about 18 000 people working there when I started. It was all very old fashioned, beautiful well kept machines some very highly skilled blokes and women. Pity there wasn't more salvaged from the old works, film and artifacts etc.
I started my apprenticeship here in 1971, the training school was above the main store on the top level.I then went into the Pressings Division and after nearly 44 years I am still there, only the company is now called ADM Pressings which is situated at the east end of Michell Bearings (Rolls Royce), this is the only remaining Vickers Armstrong site that is left on Scotswood Road. My name is Dave Bradford
Dave Bradford hi Dave I started at vickers ltd in 1969 I started in 11 shop on horizontal bores and machining tank hulls drive bores and mounting pads. Left there to go to CEGB at ferrybridge in 74 worked there for 37 years and retired now
@@TC-qd1zw Hi, yes I did know Tommy, he was my instructor on the lathes in 1971, other instructors were Terry Graham, John Thompson, Wow this brought back some memories.
I did my apprenticeship at Crayford, 1966 - 70. 5,000 when I started, down to 1,500 and negotiating to take it down to 300. At least 20,000 worked there during the war, when Neville Shute was a draughtsman there.
My parental Grandfather, Thomas Smith also worked there at Elswick as Fitter and Turner on lathes,, my dad also served his time there as a Fitter and Turner on lathes. He spent time in 27 shop, Elswick, just below the underpass at Elswick. He then went into the training school beside the under pass, the old office block. He then went to work at Michells, Scotswood and retired before he was asked back into what was then Rolls Royce. Just next to pressing shop at Paradise Yard which still makes Jaguar parts. My Niece, Nicole Chamberlain started there as a Electrical Engineer, sadly after my dad, her grandfather died. He would have being so proud of her. My dads name was Thomas Smith and I still know a lot of his appentices whom he taught, as Nicole did also. He was very well respected by the lads as he called them. I went into the Construction industry and served my time as a Carpenter and Joiner with John T Bell & Sons, now known as Bellway's. Dad did not want me in a factory and boy am I glad he said so.
Hi, I remember your grandfather he was my instructor in the training school in 1971. I remember him as a very good and helpful man, other instructors were Terry Graham, John Thompson, Bunny Hunter and Les Allan. I moved into the pressings division after my first year, when the factory was pulled down the training school moved into Michell Bearings and a few years later the Pressings Division also moved into the east end of Michell Bearings, I was the toolroom supervisor and used the get my apprentices from them, they were given excellent training as I did from your grandfather. I have just retired last November after 50 years 3 months continual service
I started as a store boy in 66 as i left school. Store boy, as I was too young to start an apprenticeship as Fitter & Turner. Realised it was not the life for me. so joined the RN as an engineer. Did 24 years. Vickers was jaw dropping for a young lad, I delivered plans to the Tank shop, spent ages just walking around.
My grandad Jack Henderson worked here I've got his watch that was given to him for his service. Great videos 👍
I was an apprentice here 1967-72. Mainly in 27/29 shop. There was about 18 000 people working there when I started. It was all very old fashioned, beautiful well kept machines some very highly skilled blokes and women. Pity there wasn't more salvaged from the old works, film and artifacts etc.
John Hall hi John remember working in 27 small machine shop machining billets to length and centring them that would be approximately 1970
I started my apprenticeship here in 1971, the training school was above the main store on the top level.I then went into the Pressings Division and after nearly 44 years I am still there, only the company is now called ADM Pressings which is situated at the east end of Michell Bearings (Rolls Royce), this is the only remaining Vickers Armstrong site that is left on Scotswood Road. My name is Dave Bradford
Dave Bradford hi Dave I started at vickers ltd in 1969 I started in 11 shop on horizontal bores and machining tank hulls drive bores and mounting pads. Left there to go to CEGB at ferrybridge in 74 worked there for 37 years and retired now
Wonder if you knew my dad Thomas Smith trainer on Lathes. He was in the old training school beside the old office oppersite the Forge and Hammer.
@@TC-qd1zw Hi, yes I did know Tommy, he was my instructor on the lathes in 1971, other instructors were Terry Graham, John Thompson, Wow this brought back some memories.
@@divaddrofdarb1955 yes knew Terry and Bunny. Great friends of my dad. Hope you are well.
@@TC-qd1zw Terry Graham was my contact for new apprentices, don't know if you know but Terry and his family was on Family Fortunes a long time ago.
I started as a office boy for Bill Davies in 1965 and left in 2015 when it was Bae Systems.
I did my apprenticeship at Crayford, 1966 - 70. 5,000 when I started, down to 1,500 and negotiating to take it down to 300. At least 20,000 worked there during the war, when Neville Shute was a draughtsman there.
My parental Grandfather, Thomas Smith also worked there at Elswick as Fitter and Turner on lathes,, my dad also served his time there as a Fitter and Turner on lathes. He spent time in 27 shop, Elswick, just below the underpass at Elswick. He then went into the training school beside the under pass, the old office block. He then went to work at Michells, Scotswood and retired before he was asked back into what was then Rolls Royce. Just next to pressing shop at Paradise Yard which still makes Jaguar parts. My Niece, Nicole Chamberlain started there as a Electrical Engineer, sadly after my dad, her grandfather died. He would have being so proud of her. My dads name was Thomas Smith and I still know a lot of his appentices whom he taught, as Nicole did also. He was very well respected by the lads as he called them. I went into the Construction industry and served my time as a Carpenter and Joiner with John T Bell & Sons, now known as Bellway's. Dad did not want me in a factory and boy am I glad he said so.
Hi, I remember your grandfather he was my instructor in the training school in 1971. I remember him as a very good and helpful man, other instructors were Terry Graham, John Thompson, Bunny Hunter and Les Allan. I moved into the pressings division after my first year, when the factory was pulled down the training school moved into Michell Bearings and a few years later the Pressings Division also moved into the east end of Michell Bearings, I was the toolroom supervisor and used the get my apprentices from them, they were given excellent training as I did from your grandfather. I have just retired last November after 50 years 3 months continual service