hi mike
yes that very true right up until the begining of the sixties
some industries would not pay the full rate to people
under the age of 21 years old,when reaching the age of 21
you automatic got the top rates of pay
i worked at radex in edward rd ladywood my eldest
brother ron also worked there he was the electrician
he was 21 years older i was years younger
i could not get the high rate until i was twenty one
my brother done apprentice at the old M,E,B,
in cheston rd as it was then way back
he served is apprenticeship there for five years
before making the grade
my other brother bil he served six years for is plumbing
apprentise ,and i myself served five years apprentice
with the birmingham city council for
interior and exterior painting and decorating
some apprentices in varios trades take about seven years
before quailtifying
i think the goverment should re-introduce the apprentice
schemes back - does anybody agree with this
or are our youth out of control or drugged up or just bone
and pampered by parents
best wishes astonian ;;