| Description | Tape 1 Side A MICHAEL JOHN KNEEBONE born 12 July 1940 Penryn Cornwall. Eldest of 2 sons. Paternal family came from Falmouth. Father in Royal Navy, worked as rigger, in diving, salvage. He later worked for Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, at Aden refinery with BP. Grandfather was a carriage driver, bus driver. Background to name Kneebone. Maternal family: mother from Penryn, worked in laundry, on land etc. Grandmother worked on land, in mill etc. Knew grandparents well. Family names. Recalls childhood home on council estate. Had happy childhood. Recalls holidays, games in the countryside. Compares with today. Details re council estate, community life, Sunday School etc. Recalls first experience of television. Went to Church of England. Describes father's personality. Got on well with him. Describes discipline at home, school. Comments on discipline today. Describes mother. Own attitude to religion. Father was greatest influence. Explains. Wanted to be an engineer. Served apprenticeship as motor marine engineer. Education: went to secondary modern. Had day-release for apprenticeship. Parents' attitude to education. Comments on negative aspects of fee-paying education, now, pressure on children. Left school at 15. Details re apprenticeship. Lifelong close friendship with former fellow apprentice. Did odd jobs after apprenticeship. Reason for not going on dole. 1960 started work as marine engineer at Eakring. Describes Eakring BP base, equipment, operations etc. Explains process of 'twisting off', 'going fishing', 'torqueing up'. Describes new life at Eakring, first day. First jobs working on engines for the rigs. Rigs were all over the area. Explains work routine. Met wife at Eakring. Her father a driller there. Describes typical day. Details re Paxman engine.
Tape 1 Side B Not aware of Eakring before going to work there. Details re facilities. One big family. Recalls some individuals who worked there. Expected to be with BP for life. Recalls pay, compares with other jobs. Played rugby for local team, socialised with colleagues. Further details of Paxman engine. Lodged in Mansfield. Details. Used canteen at Eakring. Atmosphere at work was relaxed. Working hours. Attitude to work. After a year, worked in Libya for KCA as derrickman 1961-4. Details of responsibilities. Explains term 'making a trip', process of changing the bit, testing. Nationalities of people working there. Didn't get involved with locals. Explains departure from BP. KCA were tougher than BP. 1964-6 went to Das Island, working for a BP company as Assistant Driller. Details re work. Learned to mix mud. Describes make-up of mud, method of weighing, role of mud engineer. Explains enjoyment of Das Island. Well catered for by BP. Details re accommodation, leisure activities. Mentions marriage, wife's name, background. She worked at Eakring. Details re children. One son was a diver with the oil industry. 1967 made redundant, took job in Great Yarmouth with BP Exploration in North Sea as derrickman on Sea Quest. Recalls shift pattern, job routine. Compares with similar work ashore. Everything turns to the right on land or offshore. One big family offshore. Describes. Didn't belong to union - is anti-union. Explains. Had belonged to AEWU. Own, and family's attitudes to politics. No union presence on Sea Quest. Living conditions good there. Details. All workers treated as equals offshore. Had regular boat drills. Details. Compares safety precautions then with now.
Tape 2 Side A 1968-9 worked with Amoseas in Libya as Well Service Operator. Compares with earlier time in Libya. Details re well servicing work. All work was downhole. Describes procedure when there is a break, warning signs with different pumps, use of workover rig. Mentions shorter contracts, improvement for family life. Learned to communicate with Libyan workers. Contact with home was by letters, telephone, tape recordings. 1969-72 went to Bahrein, worked with International Drilling Company as Driller. Explains role. Recalls fire and other drills. Routine in case of blowout. Had wife and family in Bahrein. Joined British Club. Details. Worked for Brown Oil Tools. Broke back in road accident - end of working life at age 32. Brought home, went through rehabilitation. Details. Moved to Guernsey, lived there 27 years. Set up as picture framer. Likes working with hands. Wife worked part-time. Guernsey good for bringing up children. Compares their growing up with own. Now living back near Eakring. Explains. Oil industry experience in retrospect. |