Apprentice Sports

I started my apprenticeship in September 1966 and cannot ever remember any sports meetings. Does anyone know when they stopped?

There is mention of Apprentice sports in the CET from 1942 to 1993, it might have gone beyond these years but not reported. There does not seem to be any reports between 1951 and 1965. In 1966 there is an advert placed by a local automobile manufacturer for a PT Instructor who was capable of assisting in apprentice workshops on fitting etc. It appears to be the larger manufacturers in Coventry. Where did you work, Mick ?

Wickman Ltd, Banner Lane. We had an apprentice football team that played against other Coventry factories. We also took part in orienteering competitions. In 1968 I was chosen to represent Wickman on an Outward Bound course (a full month away).

Orienteering in the context of apprentices does not crop up very often, although the Droobers occur as the sports' premier exponents in their own branch of athletics. I wonder if the apprentices had their own championships? How many in a team? And where would that it be held? I have seen most types of sport medals presented but not any for the orienteers. It must have been a challenge for the instructors to teach?

Hi Harrier. I'm not sure there was a championship as such but I am sure us Wickie apprentices did not take it to seriously. My very distant memory of 50 odd years ago informs me that 8 or 9 of us piled in the works minibus on a Friday and headed off to North Wales for the weekend, where we joined lots of other Coventry apprentices in the bun fight for the best place to sleep in an old barn.