I was born in 1941 and after taking my A Levels in 1959 I joined British Thomson-Houston (BTH) Rugby as an indentured apprentice on a five year contract. My father had also been a BTH apprentice in the 1930s so I was following him. His father (my grandfather) had worked at BTH as an engineer at the turn of the century around 1910.
I commenced by staying at Coton House on the Leicester Road and subsequently became a student at the Rugby College of Engineering Technology where I stayed. I remember just after passing my driving test driving into the BTH works.
Unsure why on strike!
I can also tell you about how impressed I was with the support for us apprentices from the “Education Building”, just inside the main entrance to the works. I recall the staff going on strike around 1960 but many of the staff had no idea why – they were just doing what they were told by colleagues!
I became friends with another apprentice and after a year or so we got digs together at 48, Hillmorton Road.
I also spent six months at the transformer factory at Lutterworth where Frank Whittle carried out his overspeed tests on his jet engines. Towards of my apprenticeship I was moved, for six months, to the Military Engineering factory in Leicester where I lived at Fosse Road South off the Hinckley Road.
Out of work activities
Whilst at Rugby I joined the Young Conservatives through which we got to know Roy Wise MP and his wife Cassandra.
I also joined the TA Royal Signals (Port Task Force) in Rugby for a year.
I still have my indentures, originally in the name of BTH, but in 1961 changed to AEI. I also have a metal BTH badge!
Comments
Add a comment about this page