Caithness CWS - Front Page Bulletins - November 2004 - 1955 Apprentices Reunion

Reunion Of 1955 Apprentices Group
The reunion was a great success and all enjoyed it. For many it was their first time together since they finished their apprenticeships.

Photo Gallery

UKAEA hosted a dinner for them in the Pentland Hotel and the icing on the cake wasa phone call from Jim Thompson, one of their group, who now lives in Australia. He spoke to them all including 88 year-old Bill Sutherland, their instructor.

TRAIL-BLAZER - Looking Back To The first Apprentice At Dounreay
This year marks an important milestone in the history of UKAEA craft apprenticeship scheme at Dounreay; it appoints its 1000th apprentice. The identity of this person will be revealed at the annual apprenticeship and trainee certificate presentation awards, to be held insert as appropriate. This person will carry that honour as a badge of pride, and a symbol of a scheme, started in 1955, that gave young people from Caithness and Sutherland, and eventually from further afield, a first-class training in their chosen engineering career. Ten of the first eleven entrants were from Caithness, with Jim Macdonald from Sutherland, completing the number.