Salford Docks
Postcard c1927 of the New Dock Offices. Photo courtesy of Mrs Smith.
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Mr and Mrs Colin Hannay - Office WorkBorn 1920s. Interviewed in 1990 - T101  Click here to listen to this extract in RealAudio format.Mr Hannay: Incidentally, for the clerical staff you had to pass an examination before they'd even take you on, and then at eighteen you have a second examination to sit before they'd put you on the permanent staff. Q: What happened if you failed the second exam ? Mr Hannay: Out, yes. Most of them found work on the docks, possibly outside, checking or something like that, but to go on to the clerical staff, which meant being on superannuation fund at eighteen, you had to pass the examination. So two exams, one when you first started, and the second one at eighteen. These days, it - this was dropped, of course, after the war, the examinations finished and people just started and ... Q: What training did they provide? Were you expected to go and learn it elsewhere? Mrs Hannay: You were expected to be able to do your job when you got there - I started as a shorthand typist, and that's what I had to do. |