'... my parents decided there was no future in an academic career'

'... my parents decided there was no future in an academic career'

Peter describes leaving school to start an apprenticeship as a wool merchant.

Peter Layton

Trinity College Dublin

1935

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Peter Layton

Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Life Story

Tremsbﾒ_ttel,Germany

1930s

I stayed at school until 1935,when my parents decided there was no future in an academic career,and I was apprenticed to a wool merchant in Hamburg from 1935 to 1938. Thus started my working life. My payment per month was for the 1st year 19.00 RM (Reichsmaerk), for the 2nd year 26.00 and for the 3rd year 37.00 RM. The owner of the firm was Jewish,and needless to say,he had eventually got into negotiations about liquidation. After 2 years I was deemed to have finished apprenticeship and employed as a clerk.

Irish Research Council for Arts,Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)