Bartrams and Austin & Pickersgills

A tribute to the Greatest Shipbuilders in the World

[@Derekwile-c4b]

Thanks for this Ron. My Dad -now 89 - worked his whole life in Bartrams, Thomsons then Pickies until they closed it down. Broke his heart when that happened. Took me out on sea trials once when I was 15 - made a huge impression on me. Will share this with him to to try and resurrect some happy times for him -he's been lost since our Mum passed away 5 yrs ago. Thanks again. God Bless.

[@ROKERROOSTER]

Hi Derek, really pleased you enjoyed it and hope your dad sees something that stirs his memory. I also set up a Facebook page about Pickies that includes lots of stories and pictures from way back. It's called Friends of Austin and Pickersgills and your dad might enjoy having a browse through it. Cheers for now.

[@markbeale7390]

Fantastic, photos and music sez it all.

[@carrie-annfosberry3256]

That's my grandad Gerard/Gerry Boyle at 2.26 on the left with his cap raised, lovely to see him again, thankyou for this

[@colmanian]

Spotted my Grandad Bob Colman in there 😊 thanks so much for posting this.

[@ROKERROOSTER]

Pleased you enjoyed it Ian 🙂

[@DesAngus]

Great video Ron brought tears to my eyes remembering my late father Desi Angus fitter/engineer worked all the yards on the Wear often away on sea trials ended up staying at Pickies till the end. When i left school in 1966 told me to stay away from the yards said there was no future how correct!

[@justincase6645]

My auntie worked at MetFab, then Bartrams and A&P , remember the shipyard traffic up and down Saint Lukes Road all going one way in the morning and the other way in the evening , that would have been during the early 70's , back when Sunderland was Sunderland !❤

[@craighix]

Was telling my four year old today how her grandad worked at the shipyards when I was little and then decided to search KZbin for a video. She was delighted to see a picture of him at 4:05. Brian Hicks on the left of the picture in front of the Joanna Oldendorff. Many thanks for posting this.

[@ROKERROOSTER]

I remember Brian very well, he was a manager when I was there. The lad next to him is Kenny Treadwell, he was a shipwright and I still keep in touch with him. Pleased you enjoyed the video, it was a pleasure to make.

[@green709050]

I'm on a few of the photos of apprentices from the late 70's and can name a good few of the lads. Brings back fond memories of a job that I enjoyed. Great video!

[@ColinMorrison-l4p]

My dad's on here at 5.54, Eddie Morrison

[@joanalmarghani661]

My grandad and my dad worked atBartrams then pickies my grandad was known as Mr Mac,my dad was Bob mclaurie

[@oldwelder1]

Just come across this Ron brought back lots of memories, started bartram 1965 with first big intake of apprenticeships, cheers and thanks Ken Walton (jonboy) welder

[@ROKERROOSTER]

Hi Ken, been a few years since I saw you, pleased you enjoyed the video. We and Kutchy meet up quite regular in town for a couple of beers, be good if you could join us sometime😉

[@oldwelder1]

@@ROKERROOSTER hi Ron, nice to hear you and kutchy still mates, would be great to see you both but I'm living in bude in Cornwall now been here about 11 years,working away from home took its toll been divorced up there for quite awhile ,still a big sunderland fan hope to be in sunderland early next year hope to meet up if possible, brought back a lot of memories your video,also watched SUNDERLAND OAKS Brill, cheers Ron and take care bezt wishes to you and kutchy 😎

[@jeffreyhodge5564]

Fabulous history of Sunderland ,don’t you just hate what has happened to our de industrialised nation ,a city full of closed shops ,vape outlets and coffee shops ,hopeless way to run an economy ,3places you were guaranteed a job when I left school 1967 ,Pit ,Shipyard or Wollies !cant even do that now ,so sad.

[@hannahclark9679]

Ahh there he is my lovely granda Alfie Jenner bottom left on the footy team picture. 👍🏻

[@davewestaine]

That’s my Dad Dave Weston at 4:12 at the front holding the left hand trophy

[@FulwellMinty]

Brilliant video Ron.

[@kentmere100]

my dad worked there for years, Charlie Wardle a painter. Told some cracking workplace stories

[@ROKERROOSTER]

It was a pleasure to go to work Kevin, there was some great characters there. We still laugh about it today, more than 30 years after closure.

[@kevingray3550]

I think that most people miss how unique Bartrams' yard in the South Dock was. It launched its ship directly in to the North Sea. The brith was effectively on the beach which can be seen a 0.30 - the large expanse of water in the upper half of the shot being the enclosed South Dock. I suppose on other part of the coast much smaller vessels must have been built & launched from the beach in to the sea but I am not aware of any other that launched large ocean going cargo ships in to it. The location of the yard can still be idetified today just to the south of the huge breakwaters that surround the mouth of the River Wear

[@Tristar51]

Any information on any Joiners who worked at Bartrams Yard....my Dad Joe Tweedy worked at Bartrams in the 1940's to the 1960's. Thanks

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

Great video Ron, although I have never heard of them before seeing your video. Did they built a few SD14's? Looks like some in the video. They are proud men steep in tradition by the look of it too. There's no doubt that the British, Scots & Irish made the best ships, pity the Asians squeezed them out of business from the 1970's same thing happened in Australia.

[@ROKERROOSTER]

Hi Dave, yes we built a lot of SD14s averaging 13 each year between the two yards. We have a Facebook page called friends of Austin and Pickersgills, I set it up in 2011 and it is packed with photos and stories that I'm sure you'd enjoy. Regards Ron

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

@@ROKERROOSTER Thank you Ron, the Greeks liked the SD14's, cheap and a basic "no frills" ship.

[@Derekwile-c4b]

loads of sd14's at Pickies

[@joanalmarghani661]

A lot of SD14s

[@graemedouglas3995]

More ships got built on the estates of Sunderland than in the yards with all the knocked off gear