Welder’s pride at being asked to name a ship

A CLYDEBANK welder who helped launch Ferguson Marine’s latest - and possibly last - large vessel on the lower Clyde has spoken of her pride at being asked to officially name the ship.

Beth Atkinson, who completed her apprenticeship last year and was given the honour of naming MV Glen Rosa, said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and hopes she and her female colleagues - who joined her on a special podium on Tuesday can inspire future generations in the industry.

The 28-year-old said: “I was taken upstairs and I was told that I’d been picked by management to launch and name the vessel a couple of weeks ago.

“I was a bit overwhelmed, I was like ‘Me? Is it me you want?’

“But it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I would never have knocked it back.

“I got a bit of stick off my colleagues and friends but it was in good jest.

“There aren’t many female apprentices in this yard and I’m the only one on the shop floor, so it was nice to get us up there doing a wee bit. Hopefully, we can inspire the next generation of females at the yard.”

Beth said the negative words aimed at the yard in recent times have not gone unnoticed but she is hopeful of a brighter future.

She added: “We’ve got a reputation just now that we want to change.

“I do think we deserve more contracts, I don’t think the people in here deserve to have the yard shutting with the jobs because the guys I work with are experienced, good qualified tradesmen who have all been teaching the next generation.

“I think the yard should stay open, I think we should get contracts in and I think we should get the work.

“People might not believe us but I think we can prove them wrong.”