Life changing moments

[cronullasharks]

Taking my late fathers advice & banging on the door of the Parks Managers Parks department office not for a job , but for advice in a career in Horticulture - 10 times after him being out 9 times he seen me in his office - I told him what I wanted & what the details of an apprenticeships entailed - Liverpool Corporation did them - Huyton UDC did not - I had back then 6 CSE subjects - he was impressed - look they only pay you £3 - 50 indentured per week- { Means you are stuck on that wage for 4 years }-

I can offer you a Student Gardner's title & send you on the same exams on £ 9 .35p per week rising every year for 4 years if you pass you jump up the pay scale .... St Helens Tech day release & Preston Myerscough Horticultural college block weeks .... - all expenses paid for
Yes I would love that - I replied

On trail mind you, the nearest park to you house you can start tomorrow - anyone who bangs on my door that many times must be a good un - ,start tomorrow - on trial mind you
please give your home details to my secretary etc - the rest was history - passed all my exams with distinction got place after 3 months into the Councils Nursery ... moved on ten years later on top grade plus week end duties etc -

The Nursery Foreman made me learn a Latin plant name & the family the plant belonged to in a note book every day in the Nursery .....

The Nursery bosses were the making of me firm, but fair ....
I moved on to better higher jobs ending up in charge of two acres of glasshouses & then retired via ill health ....

I did a horticulture apprenticeship myself when I was younger, you were probably on more money than me (guessing in the 1970s?) than I was in the 2000s ). I couldn’t handle the rubbish money so went and got another job but finished my studies in my own time which was worth it in the end.

 

[Joey66]

I did a horticulture apprenticeship myself when I was younger, you were probably on more money than me (guessing in the 1970s?) than I was in the 2000s ). I couldn’t handle the rubbish money so went and got another job but finished my studies in my own time which was worth it in the end.

I got good money for an apprentice - to a top grade nurseryman plus week end duties time & a half & double time etc eventually became a senior officer - the holidays & pension plan were a big bonus too - so yes my late fathers advice changed my life - my school told me it was going to be a poor career choice too -

I just ignored them ..... Factory fodder back then - we were all told .....or get an apprenticeship .....