Here’s another story of how well I was looked after as an apprentice at Bolson’s shipyard.
I was asked to work overtime one evening to finish a project. I didn’t mind, but by the time I left work for home it was dark and miserable with rain. Even though I had no lights I decided to cycle home to Harbour Road, on the Hamworthy side of the bridge from Number 2 yard at West Quay Road, it wasn’t far. As I rode someone came right across my path also on a bike but this one had lights glowing. It was a policeman lads like me knew well, PC Frazier.
Standing in the rain he took down all the particulars of the offence. Then, when he was gone I cycled the rest of the way home! Eventually I received a summons to the court but before I went, the chief draughtsman at Bolson’s, Mr Wilson, called me into his office. I was worried that I might be in even more trouble but Mr Wilson offered some advice for the hearing. He told me to say that I was working on a very important job, earning dollars for our country to pay back the war debt we owed to America. He reckoned that the magistrates would be impressed and let me off “Scott-free”.
Well it didn’t work out like that. In court I stood in the dock not saying a word while PC Frazier read out the evidence (I think he became a Sergeant soon after that). There were three magistrates on the bench, the main one being Miss Lewellin, who asked why I had decided to ride my bike without lights. I replied that it had been raining at the time so I took a chance. The magistrates had a pow-wow and reached a decision. Miss Lewellin delivered the verdict “You took a chance and you got caught, I fine you ten shillings for no front light and ten shilling for no rear light”. That was harsh seeing as my wages were only nineteen shillings and four pence a week, but I was ready for it and paid up there and then.
Back at work I was sent for by Mr Wilson. “Right Scott” he said “Tell me all about it, did you tell them what I told you to say?” “No sir” I replied, I was a bit scared. Then he gave me a lecture on how to fight my corner and not give in too easily. “Always make your point and talk with authority” he said. How on earth he expected a fifteen year old to talk with confidence over magistrates I don’t know but he grinned and sent me back to work. In those days if you were an apprentice to a good man he would not only be concerned how you made progress at work, but also about your welfare at home.
At the end of the week Mr Wilson called me into his office again and said “Now look Scott remember what I said and you’ll be a stronger person for it” then he opened his wallet and gave me a one pound note. “Buy some lights for bike; I might need you to work overtime again”.
