After demobilisation, he worked at local ship repairers before obtaining employment at a Jarrow Chemical Works, Lennig & Co., later renamed Rohm & Haas, a British depot of a large American Chemical Manufacturers.
He started in the maintenance department, going on over the years progressively to Charge man, then Foreman until after over 30 years, he was promoted to an executive position.
He married Doreen Yorston, who was born in South Shields on 3rd July 1935, on 29th December 1956. They had two children, Karen born on 4th Jan 1961 and Warren, born 15th June 1966.
The youngest son Donald was born on 3rd September 1938 and was one year old when the 2nd World War was declared, so in his first few years a lot of his time was spent in and out of air-raid shelters when South Shields was undergoing severe bombings, and later his Mother took him and Kenneth to London for safety.
During his later school years, he also passed the 11 plus examination and attended the local High School. He developed into a good quality sportsman, at running, hurdling, soccer and rugby. He represented Durham County at hurdling in the National Schools Championships, which were held at Ashington, Northumberland. Always involved in athletics and rugby, he played for the Town Schools rugby team and then later for the local under 18 team Westonians and shared the club record as points scorer. Then when he started his apprenticeship he played for the local Marine School, where he attended while studying for his Engineering Certificates.
Donald also served his apprenticeship at the Tyne Dock Engineering Dockyard and after he had served his time he went to sea as a Junior Engineer in ESSO steam tankers until he had enough sea service to sit his examination for his 2nd Engineer’s Certificate. After more sea service he also gained his Chief Engineer’s Certificate of Competency.
He continued his sea going experience which included being a 2nd Engineer on board the steam tanker ESSO NORWAY when, on one trip from the Persian Gulf and when in the Arabian Sea, an explosion occurred in the engine room when he was on duty, and although three members of the crew were killed, Donald had a miraculous escape and later volunteered to stand by and assist with the salvage operation after the vessel had beached..
He later served in the coastal colliers and obtained his Chief Engineer’s Certificate for motor ships.
Having had a long service at sea, he came ashore and obtained a position with Trinity House based at the Tower Hill, London headquarters, as a Deck and Engine Superintendent. This entailed traveling to ports in the U.K. to superintend repairs to Trinity House tenders and Light-Vessels.
