| Description | Interview length: 1hr 25min 57secs
Interview summary: Track 1 - Duration 1:09:23
John Burns, born 1950 in Aberdeen, current occupation, Head of Operations at St. Fergus Gas Terminal. Married, one son aged 32, one daughter aged 31. Son employed by National Grid, daughter is an expat. in Spain. Paternal grandfather was coalman in Fraserburgh; paternal grandmother originally from Glasgow was semi-invalid. Maternal grandmother was a farm servant, maternal grandfather died young. (No recollection of profession.) Father born 26 January 1926, coal merchant, mother worked in same family business, previously worked in fish-processing factories in Fraserburgh. Only child born by caesarean section, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, 2.5 months premature. Lived in Fraserburgh since birth. Attended Fraserburgh Infants School, Fraserburgh Central School, Fraserburgh Academy. As apprentice day-release attended Banff and Buchan College. Gained 3 O-levels, Arithmetic, English and unspecified technical subject. Discusses options upon leaving school and sense of achievement surrounding his success without any academic qualifications. Encouraged his children to attend university. Interested and successful in Highland dancing, appeared on the 'White Heather Club' TV show, continued until aged 21-22. Married aged 20, first child born aged 23. Apprentice until aged 20 at CPT Toolmakers in Fraserburgh. Discusses apprenticeship, fellow apprentices, typical tasks and quality of training. Moved to work at St. Fergus Gas Terminal aged 26, most of fellow workers in 1976 had been apprentices or employees of the same company (CPT Toolmakers). Discusses reasons for leaving CPT Toolmakers. Describes meeting wife Marilyn, marriage, children and houses lived in. Talks about unionised workplace at CPT Toolmakers, union membership and increasing strike action in 1970s. Compares the attractions of the oil industry with work at CPT Toolmakers. Describes in detail initial job at St. Fergus as a Process Operator, compares this to current work. Assesses changes in gas supply and delivery from offshore to consumer. Discusses shift rotation, movement between offshore on MCP-01 platform, and onshore at St. Fergus terminal. Considers that his wife has supported and encouraged him in his career, believes standard of living was raised by moving to St. Fergus. Talks about the downsizing of CPT Toolmakers (now called Powerjacks). Wife worked in Mack Fisheries as a secretary until children were born, was housewife and returned to work in her thirties following a HND course in secretarial studies. Wife currently works 3hrs a day as a church parish secretary. Children attended the same schools in Fraserburgh as he did. Son was School Captain (Head Boy) and Athletics Champion. Daughter left school early, later attended Aberdeen College and became a nursery nurse. Daughter worked for Thompsons Holidays as a child-carer, initially in Portugal, then became a Europe-wide manager of children's clubs for the same company. Son graduated in Law with honours from Dundee University, became president of the students association, later gained Masters in Law. Son initially worked as a Parliamentary Assistant for Alex Salmond MP (SNP) then worked for Centrica, which subsequently became National Grid. Describes in detail the stage two construction of St. Fergus and MCP-01, the first gas through the terminal and the development of St. Fergus from conception to current production. Considers that the majority of the construction materials and pre-engineered equipment was made in the UK, often from British Steel products. Currently St. Fergus tries to use locally sourced engineering and services to support the local community, also all staff must live within 20 miles. Describes how there was a mix of French and British supervisors and construction expertise, which has been maintained. Considers that Total was, and has maintained, a very family orientated mentality that has provided for family welfare. Describes in detail the location, development significance, role and day-to-day running of the MCP-01 platform. Discusses life onboard MCP-01. Considers that the standard of living onboard MCP-01 was good. States that many of the construction workers were Mexicans and Spanish working for an American company called Brown & Root. Describes the changes in offshore living since 1976. Believes communal interaction has been reduced to the detriment of morale. Discusses how he separated family life and offshore life. Believes that MCP-01 was unique in that most workers were local from Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Aberdeen, and Buckie. Considers that 50% of the crew were Scottish. Became part of five-man maintenance team for MCP-01, worked 1 week on, 1 off, 1 at St. Fergus. Describes in detail various promotions through his career. Considers all promotions to have been in-house, on merit, never applied for jobs. Describes in detail the bypass of MCP-01. Discusses plans for retirement. Describes the Piper Alpha disaster in detail. Was shift manager on the night of the accident, was called before the Cullen Inquiry. (Becomes emotional) Describes his impressions of Piper Alpha from his visits there; lack of PPE etc. Was very distressed and angered by article written by an Aberdeen MP. Article criticised decisions made onboard MCP-01 on the night of Piper Alpha disaster. Following Piper disaster MCP-01 moved to not-normally-manned. Describes the project which moved MCP-01 to not-normally-manned, then disassembly. Refers to the security measures taken to secure MCP-01 once it was not-normally-manned.
Interview summary: Track 2 - Duration 16:34
Continues the description of the conversion of MCP-01 to not-normally-manned. After the conversion he returned to MCP-01, describes the emotion of returning to MCP-01, believes that the human stories create this feeling. Describes the positive safety culture that now exists. Describes the use of MCP-01 as a helicopter training platform and as a refuelling station for helicopters flying onwards to Alwyn and Frigg fields. Believes contribution of St. Fergus to the UK and local economy is very significant, considers the offshore gas to have been used wisely but believes current high landing tax is damaging the future of St. Fergus. Would liked to have seen the UK oil and gas managed in the same way as the Norwegian method, with increased control of extraction. Believes future for St. Fergus is very bright, discusses new BP de-fossilised fuel project, new pipelines etc. Discusses own legacy, pride, reputation, how he would like to be remembered. Believes he has given a great deal to the industry but received an equal amount in return.
END OF INTERVIEW |