FROM THE GPO
TO BOAT BUILDING IN CORNWALL

Retraining at Forty-Five

September 4th is a date which to most means nothing, but to me it's the date I changed from a suburban armchair dreamer and became a positive, active individual striving towards a goal of self--sufficiency: I had a good job with the GPO which I had worked in for 17 years. It was secure, financially rewarding with prospects of promotion, but there was a large unfilled part of my life which nagged at my mind.

My contribution to the total life around me was far less than the amount I took out. Pleasure, food, warmth and consumer products all came easy and I felt I was cheating. I had an allotment and we grew most of our own vegetables. I was beginning to look at what we ate and where it came from in a new way. But still the urban 'good life' was not satisfying. I was 45 years old.

I changed my job to a manual, semi-skilled one in a rigging factory and at the same time enquired at the local job-centre about TOPS courses (Training Opportunity Scheme). They told me about training schemes for builders, auto-mechanics, electricians and many more. I considered an agricultural course. Then I asked if there was a list and a large book was produced with hundreds of types of training available. I saw Boat Building and because I have a long connection with the sea and boats (9 years in the Royal Navy from a boy, RYA nightschool and sailing courses) and because I enjoy DIY carpentry I asked to do that course. I had an interview and was put on the wait-ing list.

A few months later I had a letter asking if I was still interested in the course I had applied for and when I answered "Yes" I had a reply by return asking me to take a local examination followed, if successful, by an interview in the area of training which was Cornwall. The exam was some simple maths and a bit of English, and very soon afterwards I was on the overnight train to Truro so as not to lose too much time off work. At the interview in July I was firstly asked about any skills I already had and then it was noted that I was (by then) 46 years old. The reaction of the interviewing board was, 'you are too old, you should not need to get new skills, you should think of retirement'.

I realised I had to sell myself to get a place, but by the end of the interview I was successful. On 25th August last year I received notification of starting the Boat Building course at Falmouth Technical College. Digs had been arranged and there was a travel warrant. On September 4th I was in Falmouth having left behind my wife and sons, our council house and allotment near Heathrow Airport.

I arrived off the overnight train, rushed into college trying not to look too stunned or startled at the return to scholastic surround-ings after 32 years. There were 16 students, large well-equipped workshops and pleasant instructors. The hours were not like school though. 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. 3 days a week and till 7.00 pm Mondays and Thursdays when we had lectures in Timber Technology and Allied Science. The course was 20 weeks at the end of which we got a tool kit and some help and guidance in finding jobs.

I was successful in securing work in Cornwall, and now I am look-ing for a house with a bit of land so that I can bring the family together and we can restart our journey down the road to self- sufficiency.