I went up to the Voe in February '78 for 2 weeks with Miller Construction and stayed 5 years . I was 22 at the time and it was one of the best times in my life. Myself and my then wife got a wee cottage at Wethersta, near Brae. I think of those times with enormous fondness and the adventure it was for a young man to see this enormous enterprise grow out of the peat. Lots of the guys bitched about the weather, or the "4 week on and one off" trips. I loved every day and knew I was so lucky to be part of it all. Shetlanders are just brilliant people. Warm and funny..."we hae 3 months o' winter and 9 months o' bad weather" I could go on but you get the idea..
Back in the day when plenty well paid jobs were about for anyone wanting them, plus housing was very cheap. Thats why a lot of older people that were part of this kind of industry are well off, with big final salary pensions and a house worth a small fortune. I cant see it ever being like that again for anyone in the UK. Those days are gone. There simply is not the opportunity for young men to walk into jobs like this, plus the cost of housing in relation to wages is a joke and final salary pensions have all but gone.
I still have the magazine we got when the Queen came lost the cheap medal key ring worked for press stayed at toft still remember the bingo at toft/ferth £1000 iam 67 now but it was happy days as of now we used to fly into scater been back since to work on the gas plant
Hey Brian. I still have the Shetland Times newspaper from the Queen's visit in my desk beside me. Its very fragile now and I daren't turn the pages. I worked for Press in the plant shop. I also still have a pen we were given by BP at "First oil Ashore" . I left in '82 and have never been back though I hope to go. I'm still in touch with Roy "Goldfinger" Welford who you may recall sold watches and jewellery in the Wellie bar at Toft.
I went up to the Voe in February '78 for 2 weeks with Miller Construction and stayed 5 years . I was 22 at the time and it was one of the best times in my life. Myself and my then wife got a wee cottage at Wethersta, near Brae. I think of those times with enormous fondness and the adventure it was for a young man to see this enormous enterprise grow out of the peat. Lots of the guys bitched about the weather, or the "4 week on and one off" trips. I loved every day and knew I was so lucky to be part of it all. Shetlanders are just brilliant people. Warm and funny..."we hae 3 months o' winter and 9 months o' bad weather" I could go on but you get the idea..
I was on Sullom Voe oil terminal in 2015, during my contact on AFRAMAX oil tanker. Really huge place.
my late father .louis grindle worked for sullom .voe
1985 .he loved the place so much he moved to lerwick from .south yorkshire .england
Back in the day when plenty well paid jobs were about for anyone wanting them, plus housing was very cheap. Thats why a lot of older people that were part of this kind of industry are well off, with big final salary pensions and a house worth a small fortune. I cant see it ever being like that again for anyone in the UK. Those days are gone. There simply is not the opportunity for young men to walk into jobs like this, plus the cost of housing in relation to wages is a joke and final salary pensions have all but gone.
Hereslea hotel, absolutely brilliant, home from home
Brilliant film, could you make one highlighting the earthmoving and construction with the big machines, trucks cranes etc?.
Remember balance of payments.
I still have the magazine we got when the Queen came lost the cheap medal key ring worked for press stayed at toft still remember the bingo at toft/ferth £1000 iam 67 now but it was happy days as of now we used to fly into scater been back since to work on the gas plant
Hey Brian. I still have the Shetland Times newspaper from the Queen's visit in my desk beside me. Its very fragile now and I daren't turn the pages. I worked for Press in the plant shop. I also still have a pen we were given by BP at "First oil Ashore" . I left in '82 and have never been back though I hope to go. I'm still in touch with Roy "Goldfinger" Welford who you may recall sold watches and jewellery in the Wellie bar at Toft.
I've been back to the shetlands about 5 years ago to the gas plant happy memories take care