A television history of Britain at work in the 20th century: The Shipbuilders Once Britain made 80 per cent of the world's ships. Now it is only two per cent. The first of this 11-part series has rare archive film, including a 1906 launch at Barrow. The men who worked on the ships describe life in the yards. 'Shipbuilding was mass unemployment in the 30s. Poor working conditions. It was a hard industry. No pensions. You could be laid off at an hour's notice'. (SHIPWRIGHT) The men feared new methods and tools would take away their work. What managers feared was the foreign competition which threatened for so long, and overtook them in the late 50s.
Together their stories help explain how a once great industry lost its lead, and why distrust still exists today. Narrator John Woodvine
Music by CARL DAVIS. Played by THE grime-THORPE COLLIERY BAND. Film editor DAVE LEE Assistant producer MAGGIE BROOKS Producer ANGELA HOLDSWORTH
Executive producer PETER PAGNAMENTA
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