Your post really brought memories back for me Elizabeth. My older brother started work as an apprentice welder, at the beginning of WW2. it was all he was offered. Both he and his friend wanted to train as electricians. His friend’s father worked as a crane driver and knew people who helped him get an an electrical apprenticeship. My mother was quite upset as she said your father, in the Royal Navy was on the Russian Convoys , no one to speak for you! Many years later his house needed all the electrics upgraded. He bought technical books, read them and re wired his house. All inspected and passed by a qualified electrical company. I have to mention he also painted beautiful water colour paintings.