norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
I have received a few comments about my School Leaving Certificate, delighted to say, all nice, but I have been giving more thought about those days.
Golden Hillock Road School was surrounded by industry, and my school friends, who left school that December, went straight into work, mainly factories, or railway. (Trust me to start work in a music store!).
I left school, and the following day I commenced work in the music store, aged 15 and two months. It was immediately prior to Christmas, and all that I did was make tea, and sweep up, but I was surrounded by customers and musical instruments. I thought I was in heaven.
In 1948 the UK was still recovering from a world war, but we were still a world power in industry, and Birmingham was at the heart of it.
B.S.A; I.C.I; Fisher & Ludlow; Rover; Singer; James; Austin; Serck; Bakelite; Lucas; Dunlop; l..M.S & G.W.R sheds, and marshalling yards; Hercules & Royal Enfield; Cadburys; Castle Bromwich Aircraft factory, and hundreds of other industries, business', shops, 60 or so cinemas. Everyone could find employment. The evening newspapers would be full with 'Situations Vacant' adverts.
To be out of work, or not having a roof over your head, was by choice. One could walk out of a job on the Friday, and start work elsewhere on the Monday. This would have been true of many cities around the U.K.
Sadly, nearly all of the mentioned brand names, now lost, in the mist of time, or overseas competition.
It is an illustration of how Birmingham, and the world has changed.
Give me my Golden Hillock School Leaving Certificate, and that era, over any modern qualification.
Arguably, todays youth has greater worldly opportunities, but whatever their background/qualifications, they also have the huge worry of holding a job down, and keeping a roof over their head. I now have children, and adult working grandchildren, all with excellent college/university qualifications. No job, or profession, can now be called 'A job for life' .
Of course, if one has never known it, one does not miss it.
Eddie
Golden Hillock Road School was surrounded by industry, and my school friends, who left school that December, went straight into work, mainly factories, or railway. (Trust me to start work in a music store!).
I left school, and the following day I commenced work in the music store, aged 15 and two months. It was immediately prior to Christmas, and all that I did was make tea, and sweep up, but I was surrounded by customers and musical instruments. I thought I was in heaven.
In 1948 the UK was still recovering from a world war, but we were still a world power in industry, and Birmingham was at the heart of it.
B.S.A; I.C.I; Fisher & Ludlow; Rover; Singer; James; Austin; Serck; Bakelite; Lucas; Dunlop; l..M.S & G.W.R sheds, and marshalling yards; Hercules & Royal Enfield; Cadburys; Castle Bromwich Aircraft factory, and hundreds of other industries, business', shops, 60 or so cinemas. Everyone could find employment. The evening newspapers would be full with 'Situations Vacant' adverts.
To be out of work, or not having a roof over your head, was by choice. One could walk out of a job on the Friday, and start work elsewhere on the Monday. This would have been true of many cities around the U.K.
Sadly, nearly all of the mentioned brand names, now lost, in the mist of time, or overseas competition.
It is an illustration of how Birmingham, and the world has changed.
Give me my Golden Hillock School Leaving Certificate, and that era, over any modern qualification.
Arguably, todays youth has greater worldly opportunities, but whatever their background/qualifications, they also have the huge worry of holding a job down, and keeping a roof over their head. I now have children, and adult working grandchildren, all with excellent college/university qualifications. No job, or profession, can now be called 'A job for life' .
Of course, if one has never known it, one does not miss it.
Eddie
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