WITH reference to The Press item Railway College campaign, especially creating apprenticeships, this makes me reminiscent of my years employed as a cabinet maker apprentice at the now defunct Carriage and Wagon Works at the tender age of 15 years old.

The apprentice school located within the works complex was run by a hands-on instructor, Len Weston, and as a sorcerer’s apprentice he worked wonders.

In training would be carriage builders, not withstanding evening classes held at the Clifford Street Technical College, evidence remains in my possession by way of two tool chests constructed as part of one’s schedule.

Discipline was the key factor and paying sixpence a week into a tool club one built up a selection of necessary woodworking tools to last.

Not only were you taught the art of identifying various plaques of timber on display but at the end of each week time was set aside for you to sharpen and oil your tools ready for the start on each Monday. This came with the phrase “Look after your tools and they will look after you”.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York