Leeds Association of Engineers

I left school at 16 and joined the Royal Navy as a Radio Operator. At 17 I decided that bouncing around the North Sea wasn’t for me and took advantage of the release scheme. I started as an apprentice toolmaker with Esdale Ltd in Heckmondwike and spent the next 12 months learning the various disciplines in a training school run … Continue reading “Steven Rose – Apprenticeship Memories”

My real first introduction to engineering began at Sleaford Secondary School. I sat my Eleven Plus twice and failed so missed out on Sleaford Grammar School. My father was head of department covering woodwork, technical drawing and of course metalwork at Sleaford.We lived in a small village called Dorrington with my brother where we attended middle school. In the summer … Continue reading “Malcolm Murray – My Introduction to Engineering – Chapter 1”

As the recent Christmas season came to a close I was reminded of a Christmas past….. In the early seventies I was an apprentice in the toolroom at Wilsons & Mathiesons Ltd. based in Armley. It was a great place to work, with some excellent toolmakers who were only too pleased to pass on their skills to the younger generation. … Continue reading “Gordon Toulson – A Christmas Past…..”

For me it really started the year I was leaving school. The careers officer, if you could call him that, took a basic look at your qualifications and father’s employment, then told me I should be an engineer. I can’t ever remember being asked what I wanted to do. So that set the stage for me. My first interview was … Continue reading “Andrew Kibler – Apprenticeship Memories – The First Twelve Months”