The World of Work

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0:00:11 > 0:00:14MUSIC

0:02:42 > 0:02:46Millions of bombs fell on Britain during World War II.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49They caused havoc, fire and death.

0:02:49 > 0:02:52They left hundreds of thousands homeless.

0:02:52 > 0:02:55But of all the bombs dropped, it was those that did not explode

0:02:55 > 0:02:57that created the most difficult problems,

0:02:57 > 0:03:00problems that still exist.

0:03:00 > 0:03:03For even today, the war against the unexploded bomb

0:03:03 > 0:03:07is still being fought daily by a handful of picked men

0:03:07 > 0:03:10and this is a war not fought without casualties.

0:03:12 > 0:03:17In three years, the Royal Navy's own bomb and mine disposal section

0:03:17 > 0:03:19dealt with nearly 24,000 explosive objects

0:03:19 > 0:03:23in the sea and on the foreshore of Britain and the Mediterranean.

0:03:23 > 0:03:25Mines are still being washed up on the beaches

0:03:25 > 0:03:27and it's the Navy's job to tackle them.

0:03:38 > 0:03:41Corroded and barnacle encrusted from years in the sea,

0:03:41 > 0:03:44they can be tricky jobs.

0:03:44 > 0:03:4639-year-old Lieutenant Charles Lawrence MBE

0:03:46 > 0:03:49from Tenby, South Wales, father of four children,

0:03:49 > 0:03:51has been on this work for ten years.

0:03:59 > 0:04:01With the fuse battery of the mine out,

0:04:01 > 0:04:05he cuts the connecting leads then sets about removing the detonator.

0:04:13 > 0:04:15Since their formation in 1940,

0:04:15 > 0:04:20the bomb disposal unit of the Royal Engineers has lost 397 men.

0:04:21 > 0:04:25All reports of suspected unexploded bombs on civilian property

0:04:25 > 0:04:26that come into Horsham

0:04:26 > 0:04:30are investigated by one of the bomb disposal unit's teams.

0:04:30 > 0:04:31Pipes are sunk over the area

0:04:31 > 0:04:34and electrical detectors are lowered into the ground.

0:04:34 > 0:04:37If there is anything resembling a bomb down there,

0:04:37 > 0:04:38it'll be detected.

0:04:41 > 0:04:44When its position is fixed, the slow process of digging begins.

0:04:45 > 0:04:49These teams, working under bomb disposal sergeants, are civilians,

0:04:49 > 0:04:51many of them ex-prisoners of war.

0:05:01 > 0:05:03Nearby houses are evacuated for the day.

0:05:06 > 0:05:07The local police go from door to door

0:05:07 > 0:05:10to make sure that everyone is out of the area.

0:05:13 > 0:05:16Slowly, the bomb comes out from where it's lain since 1941.

0:05:25 > 0:05:28It's taken these ten men seven months to unearth it,

0:05:28 > 0:05:30at a cost of nearly £5,000.

0:05:33 > 0:05:35As it is lowered, soon to be destroyed,

0:05:35 > 0:05:38the bomb disposal unit have won another victory

0:05:38 > 0:05:40in the war against the unexploded bomb,

0:05:42 > 0:05:45a war that has earnt its men 12 George Medals

0:05:45 > 0:05:47and countless other decorations.

0:05:47 > 0:05:50Their gallantry is today commemorated by a centrepiece

0:05:50 > 0:05:52presented to the mess of their Horsham headquarters,

0:05:52 > 0:05:55a gallantry summed up in two words,

0:05:55 > 0:05:57which tell the official story of their achievement -

0:05:57 > 0:05:59rendered safe.

0:05:59 > 0:06:02MUSIC

0:06:09 > 0:06:11MUSIC

0:06:35 > 0:06:37Come on boy, look sharp!

0:06:37 > 0:06:39Fall in on the end of the line.

0:06:39 > 0:06:40Hurry up!

0:06:40 > 0:06:42Drop your bag on the floor.

0:06:42 > 0:06:44Drop your bag, lad!

0:06:44 > 0:06:46Stand at ease, turn your feet off, in other words.

0:06:46 > 0:06:47Right, now pay attention to me.

0:06:47 > 0:06:49From now on, you will be known as a squad.

0:06:49 > 0:06:52Hands out your pocket, you, for a start.

0:06:53 > 0:06:55All right, we've got 12 weeks training ahead of us

0:06:55 > 0:06:56and tomorrow we start.

0:06:56 > 0:07:00I expect you to work hard, help me as much as you can, is that clear?

0:07:00 > 0:07:03Work with him, he said, and he meant work.

0:07:03 > 0:07:06Right, regimental questions! Pay attention the whole squad.

0:07:07 > 0:07:10Right, what's the full title of the regiment, you?

0:07:10 > 0:07:12Grenadier Guards, Sergeant.

0:07:12 > 0:07:14- Full title of the regiment? - I don't know, Sergeant.

0:07:14 > 0:07:16Well, you should know by now.

0:07:16 > 0:07:19Full title is the First All Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards.

0:07:19 > 0:07:21- Do you all understand?- Aye!

0:07:21 > 0:07:24Foot guards! We weren't up to much with our feet at first.

0:07:24 > 0:07:26But after a few weeks, we began to look more like it.

0:07:27 > 0:07:31By the right, quick march, left, right...

0:07:56 > 0:08:00WHISTLING

0:08:00 > 0:08:03MUSIC

0:08:13 > 0:08:16My first job is always to take over from the day staff.

0:08:16 > 0:08:18It really takes about a quarter of an hour

0:08:18 > 0:08:20to hear what's been happening during the day.

0:08:25 > 0:08:27When you start working on the wards,

0:08:27 > 0:08:30your life becomes a succession of going on and off duty.

0:08:30 > 0:08:33Once you get used to the routine, it's not too bad.

0:08:34 > 0:08:37Nurses work much more reasonable hours now.

0:08:37 > 0:08:39Here we work a 45-hour-week

0:08:39 > 0:08:42and some hospitals don't do more than 44 hours.

0:08:46 > 0:08:49On the wards, there are so many things to do -

0:08:49 > 0:08:52Taking temperature, pulse and respiration,

0:08:53 > 0:08:58giving out medicines, and, of course, making beds.

0:08:58 > 0:09:01There are more than 1,100 beds in our hospital group

0:09:01 > 0:09:03and about 800 nurses to make them.

0:09:05 > 0:09:08And when you come off duty, there's always the chance

0:09:08 > 0:09:11that somebody will be waiting for you in the nurses home.

0:09:11 > 0:09:14Well, it's a nice place to wait and a girl must change.

0:09:17 > 0:09:19And when we relax in our sitting room,

0:09:19 > 0:09:21we don't talk shop, much more likely shopping!

0:09:21 > 0:09:25And a nurse today has more money to shop with.

0:09:25 > 0:09:27I get a training allowance of £6-a-week.

0:09:27 > 0:09:30Though, about half of that is taken for board and lodging.

0:09:30 > 0:09:33When I'm qualified, I shall get nearly £10-a-week.

0:09:52 > 0:09:55Dave and Jean, are both from Aberdeen, by the way,

0:09:55 > 0:09:58find they have few friends outside other police families.

0:09:58 > 0:10:02On the credit side, they have this modern three-roomed flat rent and rate free,

0:10:02 > 0:10:06security for Dave in his job, promotion prospects,

0:10:06 > 0:10:10pension and a current take home wage packet of about £18-a-week.

0:10:15 > 0:10:20Biggest drawback is the shift work, which makes family life difficult.

0:10:20 > 0:10:21And shift work limits social life.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28A PC's duties are many, helping kids cross the road.

0:10:28 > 0:10:31There's a shortage of civilian crossing patrols, too.

0:10:31 > 0:10:33If a PC is known to be near an incident,

0:10:33 > 0:10:35he may be summoned by phone from HQ.

0:10:42 > 0:10:45They see themselves, not solely as crime busters,

0:10:45 > 0:10:49but as social engineers, helping us cope with the complex laws

0:10:49 > 0:10:51and regulations of our society.

0:10:53 > 0:10:56Home at a reasonable hour tonight,

0:10:56 > 0:10:59but its back to late turn tomorrow, 10pm to 6am,

0:10:59 > 0:11:03a sleep and breakfast at three in the afternoon.

0:11:04 > 0:11:08Oh, well, that's a policeman's lot and a policeman's wife's lot, too.

0:11:08 > 0:11:11MUSIC

0:11:34 > 0:11:36There are twice as many women as men

0:11:36 > 0:11:38among London's 1,200 traffic wardens,

0:11:38 > 0:11:40though outside London, it's the other way round.

0:11:40 > 0:11:43Though there have been men wardens since 1960,

0:11:43 > 0:11:47the women didn't come on the scene until four years later.

0:11:47 > 0:11:49Most women wardens are married

0:11:49 > 0:11:51with families who are old enough to be left.

0:11:51 > 0:11:53There are fewer single girls,

0:11:53 > 0:11:56but its rather a case of if the cap fits!

0:11:59 > 0:12:01Many are attracted by the hours,

0:12:01 > 0:12:03which can be made to fit in with home life.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05They work early and late shifts alternate weeks.

0:12:05 > 0:12:08Others go for the pay.

0:12:08 > 0:12:11Men and women alike get about £16-a-week in central London

0:12:11 > 0:12:14and about £15 in the suburbs.

0:12:14 > 0:12:18Irene Harris is one of Britain's 5,000 traffic wardens.

0:12:18 > 0:12:21She's one of the girls, who, in theory, no motorist loves,

0:12:21 > 0:12:24though, more often than not, she's a motorist's wife or girlfriend.

0:12:24 > 0:12:27BRASS BAND MUSIC

0:12:29 > 0:12:31I passed my course all right, nearly two years ago

0:12:31 > 0:12:34and I've been pounding the warden's beat ever since.

0:12:34 > 0:12:37You might not believe it but we walk about ten miles a day.

0:12:37 > 0:12:38Mind you, I like the life,

0:12:38 > 0:12:41even though my poor feet do ache all the time.

0:12:45 > 0:12:48Some things we have to do, like moving on a motorist

0:12:48 > 0:12:51who's trying to park on a double yellow line.

0:12:51 > 0:12:54I find women much easier than men to deal with.

0:12:54 > 0:12:57I often think how different it is on my beat in Soho

0:12:57 > 0:12:58when I'm off duty.

0:12:58 > 0:13:00Sometimes I get a chance to see it

0:13:00 > 0:13:02when we go up in our old car for a night out.

0:13:03 > 0:13:06I've had a parking ticket in my time, before I was a warden.

0:13:06 > 0:13:10PIANO MUSIC

0:13:12 > 0:13:13I usually find a space to park

0:13:13 > 0:13:17but it takes a lot of looking for before we can go off on a spree.

0:13:17 > 0:13:19MUSIC

0:13:22 > 0:13:24MUSIC

0:13:26 > 0:13:28There are less than 4,000 sweeps in the country,

0:13:28 > 0:13:31which makes it a pretty exclusive calling.

0:13:31 > 0:13:32Skilful and resilient,

0:13:32 > 0:13:36the sweep adapts his technique to the demands of a modern age.

0:13:36 > 0:13:39In the 19th century, small boys, or even girls,

0:13:39 > 0:13:41were shoved up inside chimneys to clean them

0:13:41 > 0:13:44and it took a public outcry to put an end to the practice.

0:13:44 > 0:13:46MUSIC

0:13:52 > 0:13:53With a chimney of this sort,

0:13:53 > 0:13:56the sweep cleans from outside and just as well.

0:13:56 > 0:13:57He could get lost in this one!

0:13:59 > 0:14:02With this type of chimney, a heavy ball is used

0:14:02 > 0:14:04to weight the brush on its way down.

0:14:04 > 0:14:07But it's useful too, to let the sweep's mate know he's ready.

0:14:07 > 0:14:10Three quarters of them work on their own account.

0:14:10 > 0:14:13So far as the big contract jobs are concerned,

0:14:13 > 0:14:15the summer is the brisk time for the trade.

0:14:15 > 0:14:16And in the summer,

0:14:16 > 0:14:19it's more comfortable to be cleaning the chimney from outside

0:14:19 > 0:14:21than the boiler flu inside.

0:14:21 > 0:14:23Though this chap doesn't seem to mind.

0:14:24 > 0:14:27Wearing a mask is a matter of personal choice.

0:14:27 > 0:14:29Some do, some don't.

0:14:29 > 0:14:32This is no sort of job for a man with claustrophobia!

0:15:07 > 0:15:11Since 1950, more than 550 mills have been closed

0:15:11 > 0:15:14and converted for all sorts of light industries.

0:15:14 > 0:15:17Operatives have been taught new skills,

0:15:17 > 0:15:19which has often led to a new way of life.

0:15:20 > 0:15:23The biggest group of converted mills includes one at Lee,

0:15:23 > 0:15:26where wiring systems for motor cars are made.

0:15:26 > 0:15:29They are assembled by girls who, yesterday,

0:15:29 > 0:15:31would have worked in a cotton mill,

0:15:31 > 0:15:34but have proved that Lancashire skill and craftsmanship

0:15:34 > 0:15:36are quickly adaptable.

0:15:47 > 0:15:49Most of the mills which still produce cotton

0:15:49 > 0:15:53have brought their equipment and conditions of work up-to-date,

0:15:53 > 0:15:55like this 100-year-old mill at Hythe,

0:15:55 > 0:15:56just over the Cheshire border,

0:15:56 > 0:15:59which used to employ about 3,000 operatives

0:15:59 > 0:16:02and today, with vastly increased production,

0:16:02 > 0:16:06still needs 2,400 to keep the modern machines running.

0:16:12 > 0:16:14Many of the workers and their families

0:16:14 > 0:16:16have been with this mill for generations.

0:16:16 > 0:16:17Like Eleanor Pleasance,

0:16:17 > 0:16:20who's worked in the carding room for more than 50 years.

0:16:20 > 0:16:24With her family, she's given the mill over 350 years of service.

0:16:24 > 0:16:27Today, many of the operatives come from far-away places

0:16:27 > 0:16:29such as Pakistan and Italy.

0:16:30 > 0:16:34Here, in this light airy spinning room, each machine is equipped

0:16:34 > 0:16:39with a monster vacuum cleaner designed to pick up the cotton dust

0:16:39 > 0:16:42before it's had time to settle and become a menace to health.

0:16:42 > 0:16:45MUSIC

0:16:57 > 0:17:00More mechanisation means more safety precautions to be enforced.

0:17:00 > 0:17:04The first factory inspectors were appointed more than 100 years ago,

0:17:04 > 0:17:06in the days when child labour was a scandal.

0:17:06 > 0:17:09Today, there are nearly 500 factory inspectors in Britain

0:17:09 > 0:17:11and one of their main jobs

0:17:11 > 0:17:13is to see that safety regulations are observed.

0:17:20 > 0:17:23On visits to factories, the inspector ensures that safety guards

0:17:23 > 0:17:26are being used properly and are in working order.

0:17:26 > 0:17:28Here, he tests the guard on a hydraulic press

0:17:28 > 0:17:30to make sure the machine won't operate

0:17:30 > 0:17:32unless the guard is in position.

0:17:33 > 0:17:35There can be risks too in the laundry,

0:17:35 > 0:17:37where many of the machines are hand operated.

0:17:39 > 0:17:43This ironing machine should stop if a hand touches the safety guard

0:17:43 > 0:17:45and there must be no space in which fingers can get caught.

0:17:46 > 0:17:50The first woman inspector was appointed more than 72 years ago.

0:17:50 > 0:17:52Today, there are 56 of them.

0:17:53 > 0:17:56The mechanical presser is made so that it will not start up

0:17:56 > 0:17:59unless two buttons are pressed at the same time.

0:18:04 > 0:18:07But even with safety devices, accidents can happen

0:18:07 > 0:18:10and trainees get advice from the inspector on how to avoid them.

0:18:25 > 0:18:29All the time, top priority is safety and more safety

0:18:29 > 0:18:31while the men put on their protective clothing.

0:18:31 > 0:18:34It's all rather like the old ammunition factories,

0:18:34 > 0:18:37where a man takes 999 extra precautions to make sure

0:18:37 > 0:18:41he doesn't come undone on the one chance in a thousand or a million.

0:18:41 > 0:18:44And in this case, he needs a lifeline.

0:19:05 > 0:19:07Armed with a light and an air pipe,

0:19:07 > 0:19:09he goes right down into one of the boilers

0:19:09 > 0:19:13and carries out an inspection when the flow is turned off.

0:19:13 > 0:19:15The water and the steam have, anyway, never been in touch

0:19:15 > 0:19:18with anything from the reactor, and are perfectly safe.

0:19:18 > 0:19:22The gas which goes round in a cycle of its own, could be radioactive,

0:19:22 > 0:19:25so although it's never likely to reach him, the man is protected.

0:19:26 > 0:19:28When he has finished his stint,

0:19:28 > 0:19:30he gets out of the gear, he limbers up,

0:19:30 > 0:19:33he takes a shower to make sure that no dust has settled on him.

0:19:36 > 0:19:38He gives his hands a special test.

0:19:38 > 0:19:40MUSIC

0:19:49 > 0:19:53In cells with massive concrete walls, five foot six inches thick,

0:19:53 > 0:19:56heavily radiated materials are checked by mechanical hands.

0:19:56 > 0:19:59But the checking instruments that go into these cells

0:19:59 > 0:20:01must later be decontaminated or cleaned.

0:20:01 > 0:20:05And for this job, an operator gets into a pressurised suit.

0:20:05 > 0:20:08The air is continually pumped in under pressure

0:20:08 > 0:20:10and escapes through a vent in the suit

0:20:10 > 0:20:11as he moves into the contaminated area.

0:20:15 > 0:20:17The heavily radiated materials

0:20:17 > 0:20:19are removed from the cells mechanically.

0:20:23 > 0:20:25Then, the contaminated testing equipment

0:20:25 > 0:20:27is brought through to the cleaning bay.

0:20:27 > 0:20:29The compressed air escaping from the operator's suit,

0:20:29 > 0:20:32prevents any of the radioactive dust from getting in.

0:20:54 > 0:20:575,000 people work in this building.

0:20:57 > 0:20:59If they all arrived at once, it would mean chaos,

0:20:59 > 0:21:01so staff arrivals are staggered.

0:21:01 > 0:21:05Some start at 8.40am and others at 9.05am.

0:21:05 > 0:21:07In the big company world of the day,

0:21:07 > 0:21:09you can measure the corridors in miles...

0:21:11 > 0:21:13..and the office lighting in lumens,

0:21:13 > 0:21:16to give just the right amount without glare at desk level,

0:21:16 > 0:21:17as here, in the typing pool,

0:21:17 > 0:21:20where mechanisation has moved in with the girls.

0:21:21 > 0:21:23The whole building is also linked for mail deliveries.

0:21:23 > 0:21:26There's an automatic despatch system with receiving points

0:21:26 > 0:21:29on all floors linked to the post room.

0:21:29 > 0:21:32You address the container by dialling a combination,

0:21:32 > 0:21:34a code of letters and numbers,

0:21:34 > 0:21:39and away it goes on compressed air to any one of 44 stations

0:21:39 > 0:21:41serving hundreds of offices.

0:21:46 > 0:21:49In the computer room, the robots are busy on company accounts,

0:21:49 > 0:21:51tax returns, sales figures

0:21:51 > 0:21:55and the rest of the complex arithmetic of a vast concern.

0:21:55 > 0:21:58They are also wages clerks, working out salaries and wages,

0:21:58 > 0:22:01deductions and take home pay and they don't make mistakes!

0:22:05 > 0:22:08And here's something for the "Hello" girls,

0:22:08 > 0:22:10a telephone exchange with a difference.

0:22:10 > 0:22:15250 lines, 4,500 extensions and not a cord insight.

0:22:15 > 0:22:17It's one of the most up-to-date in the world

0:22:17 > 0:22:19where the girls tap in keys to put you through.

0:22:21 > 0:22:23For the 19 operators,

0:22:23 > 0:22:2615-minute breaks every two to two and a half hours

0:22:26 > 0:22:29and a rest room where the only numbers are pretty ones!

0:22:31 > 0:22:34They've got their own help-yourself restaurants,

0:22:34 > 0:22:36serving three-course lunches free on the firm!

0:22:45 > 0:22:47And what better in the lunch hour

0:22:47 > 0:22:49than to see what your artistic friends on the staff

0:22:49 > 0:22:51have been up to in their spare time.

0:22:56 > 0:22:58Or to take a dip in the office pool.

0:22:58 > 0:23:00Wendy is a member of the staff swimming club

0:23:00 > 0:23:02and uses the pool often.

0:23:02 > 0:23:04It's built to international standards

0:23:04 > 0:23:07and has a spectators gallery and electronic race timing equipment.

0:23:16 > 0:23:18And after work?

0:23:18 > 0:23:20In the evening, another part of this office with a difference

0:23:20 > 0:23:22comes to life.

0:23:22 > 0:23:23The recreation area.

0:23:23 > 0:23:26It's all part of a plan, encouraged by the local authority,

0:23:26 > 0:23:28to make sure the neighbourhood

0:23:28 > 0:23:31doesn't become just a dead place after office hours.

0:23:31 > 0:23:33Here, you'll find nearly every sport in the book

0:23:33 > 0:23:36and it all helps, of course, to keep a healthy, efficient staff.

0:23:36 > 0:23:39MUSIC

0:23:54 > 0:23:57It's always late in the afternoon that three young matadors

0:23:57 > 0:23:59go into the arena to kill two bulls each.

0:23:59 > 0:24:03Theirs is a profession with the highest death rate in the world

0:24:03 > 0:24:04and some of the richest rewards.

0:24:04 > 0:24:07CHEERING

0:24:08 > 0:24:11A profession that only the Spanish temperament can master.

0:24:11 > 0:24:13At least that's what Spaniards said

0:24:13 > 0:24:17before a young Englishman named Vincent Hitchcock came on the scene.

0:24:24 > 0:24:26After four years, he retired to a farm in Kent,

0:24:26 > 0:24:28where he now lives with his wife, Jacqueline,

0:24:28 > 0:24:30and their three small daughters.

0:24:30 > 0:24:33He'd killed 180 bulls at nearly 80 bull fights.

0:24:33 > 0:24:35Twice, he was almost fatally gored.

0:24:35 > 0:24:37He'd been earning 15,000 a year.

0:24:43 > 0:24:46But as Jacqueline gave his matador's jacket an occasional airing,

0:24:46 > 0:24:48she wondered how long her husband would resist

0:24:48 > 0:24:50the call of the bull ring.

0:24:50 > 0:24:53Now, today, at 31, Hitchcock is determined to make a comeback.

0:25:01 > 0:25:03It all began with a letter from his manager in Madrid.

0:25:03 > 0:25:06"Prove that you can face a bull again", said his manager,

0:25:06 > 0:25:08"and fat contracts are waiting."

0:25:16 > 0:25:20Back in Madrid, El Ingles now has to face his tienta.

0:25:20 > 0:25:23And often, a fighting cow can be more dangerous than a bull,

0:25:23 > 0:25:25for she's usually been fought before,

0:25:25 > 0:25:28while the bull first sees the torero's cape in the bull ring.

0:25:28 > 0:25:29Under the eyes of the head cowboy,

0:25:29 > 0:25:32two cows and steers are herded into the corral.

0:25:32 > 0:25:35MUSIC

0:25:43 > 0:25:46A nine-year-old, this spitting vicious little beast

0:25:46 > 0:25:48has obviously been fought before.

0:25:48 > 0:25:50Notice how she hooks.

0:25:50 > 0:25:53She's after the man and not the cape, and Hitchcock knows it.

0:25:55 > 0:25:58He's too slow! He's caught and half tossed!

0:25:58 > 0:26:00Nothing serious though, just torn trousers.

0:26:02 > 0:26:04Everything is ready.

0:26:04 > 0:26:07The crowds flock to the bullring.

0:26:07 > 0:26:09The three matadors lead in their teams of six men.

0:26:12 > 0:26:15Behind come the mules, which will drag the dead bulls from the arena.

0:26:20 > 0:26:21In comes the first bull,

0:26:21 > 0:26:23knowing, perhaps subconsciously,

0:26:23 > 0:26:26that he's going to fight for his life, but can't win.

0:26:27 > 0:26:31As the toreros play the bull, Hitchcock weighs up his tactics.

0:26:35 > 0:26:37And now, his time has come.

0:26:37 > 0:26:38Out he goes into the arena.

0:26:41 > 0:26:45For Hitchcock the Englishman, this is his moment of truth!

0:26:45 > 0:26:48MUSIC

0:27:07 > 0:27:10But perhaps the most exciting job is riding the Wall of Death.

0:27:11 > 0:27:14Here at Southend, 55-year-old Tornado Smith

0:27:14 > 0:27:16is ready for his day's work.

0:27:16 > 0:27:19He's in the super-tax class.

0:27:19 > 0:27:23His two assistants, 22-year-old ex-shop assistant Irene Taplin

0:27:23 > 0:27:26and 24-year-old ex-telephonist Yvonne Stag,

0:27:26 > 0:27:28get their machines going for a warming up session.

0:27:31 > 0:27:33First, it's the two girls on the back and front

0:27:33 > 0:27:34of Tornado Smith's bike.

0:27:34 > 0:27:36Perfect balance is essential.

0:27:39 > 0:27:42Yes, it needs tremendous concentration,

0:27:42 > 0:27:43split-second timing

0:27:43 > 0:27:48and a highly critical control of speed to keep these bikes going.

0:27:48 > 0:27:49It's sheer skill,

0:27:49 > 0:27:51learnt the hard way from hours and hours of practice.

0:27:51 > 0:27:55MUSIC

0:27:56 > 0:27:59Round and round they go, turning, twisting.

0:27:59 > 0:28:00Never time for second thoughts.

0:28:02 > 0:28:04Well, there's a lot to be said for exciting jobs,

0:28:04 > 0:28:08providing, of course, that you never get bored with the thrills.

0:28:46 > 0:28:48Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd