“IT was one of the saddest days of my life.”

Jack Hanwell pauses as he recalls the tragic events nearly 40 years ago.

Mr Hanwell worked at renowned shipbuilder Swan Hunter, starting as an apprentice electrician.

His tenure saw him oversee projects on a number of vessels, including the warships HMS Illustrious and HMS Cardiff.

It also included HMS Glasgow, a missile destroyer, which was being fitted out at Swan Hunter’s Neptune yard, on the banks of the River Tyne.

As we talk, Mr Hanwell remembers September 23, 1976.

It was 7.55am.

HMS Glasgow lay next to the yard’s south jetty, yards from a platers' shed, berths and crane piers.

Suddenly, fire broke out in two compartments on the vessel's lowest deck.

Eight men were killed, another was rescued after being overcome by smoke, and two firemen were hospitalised.

An official accident report describes the blaze as being rapid and fierce, which was caused by a welder’s torch meeting an undetected oxygen leak.

Mr Hanwell’s voice drops as the memories come back.

He said: “What a sad day; it was one of the saddest days of my life.

“HMS Glasgow became a health and safety landmark.

“The fire was in a compartment I had worked in on another ship.

“Sometimes you would move from ship to ship and work on the same compartment.

“This time, I hadn’t.

“Everyone could see the smoke rising up, but, of course, in those days, there were no mobile phones, so I had no way of telling my family I was ok.”

Mr Hanwell will always remember the tragedy, and for that reason, it feels somewhat insensitive to move the conversation to another topic.

The former council grass cutter is manager at the Advanced Manufacturing Forum and I'm keen to find out how he is working to deliver a bright future for the sector in the North-East.

A business support organisation, the forum is growing its presence across the North-East, helping companies grow.

Associates include wax jacket maker Barbour, based in South Shields, South Tyneside, and Mr Hanwell says it is steadily expanding its 60-strong membership.

He said: “We are all about providing support and opportunities for manufacturing companies and associated members, which are companies that work with manufacturers.

“We do things with various different people; it’s not all just about the metal bashers.

“Barbour is a member, and we’ve got a big food company too.

“But one size doesn’t fit all; what Barbour needs is a lot different to engineering companies.”

The forum helps businesses through a number of means, including talks, which take place every third Wednesday of the month, and it covers areas such as skills, innovation and productivity.

Its next event, scheduled for later this week, will focus on apprenticeships, and the body also runs sub-forums, which look at maintenance, HR and finance.

Such occasions are crucial to raising the organisation’s profile in the region further, with Mr Hanwell drawing upon his own experiences to build its reputation.

He added: “I understand manufacturing and I’ve still got a lot of contacts as a result of my work, which helps.

“It’s all about getting more manufacturers in as members.”

Five minutes with...Jack Hanwell

Favourite North-East building and why? The Sage in Gateshead. It sets the Newcastle/Gateshead quayside off perfectly and it’s not bad inside either. I received my OU degree there so it holds some significance for me as well as being an iconic building.

What was your first job and how much did you get paid? Before starting my apprenticeship at the now defunct Swan Hunter Shipbuilders I worked for a few weeks as a council grass cutter for the princely sum of 6 pounds and 18 shillings (£6.90) per week.

What is the worst job you've had? Selling training courses for a local training provider in the construction/utilities sector. It was a family owned company and the pressures were different to my previous experiences

What would you cook for me if I came around for dinner? Something fish related, perhaps a prawn curry or pan fried sea bass with new potatoes from my garden

What would your superpower be? Invulnerability – I used to think I had it but as you get older you realise that it is the folly of youth. A friend recently told me that the pair of us had a built in ‘deflector shield’ as neither of us has ever been in a fight or assaulted. Strange but true.

Name four people, dead or alive, who would be at your perfect dinner party: Billy Connolly, Peter Beardsley, Rory Gallagher and Bruce Springsteen. I have met one of them (PB) and seen all but Billy Connolly live on many occasions. All four are/were masters of their chosen professions. 

Most expensive thing you've bought - other than car or house - and how much? Our caravan which cost around eight grand nine years ago. While I sometimes complain about the stress of getting from A to B it has followed us the length and breadth of the country to visit places we might otherwise not have seen. 

Who is the best person to follow on Twitter and why? I only started with Facebook 12 months ago and what a potentially dangerous medium that is for the impulsive amongst us. AMF uses Twitter for promoting events but I’m not a great lover of it and leave it to my apprentice to manage. Where do people get the time?

Favourite book? I’ll avoid trying to appear intellectual and go for a book called McCarthy’s Bar, by Pete McCarthy. It has quite a few parallels with my own upbringing, for example the confusion that having a catholic mother and a protestant father brought in what they used to call a mixed marriage in those days. Otherwise most things by Stephen King or the Stieg Larsson trilogy. 

When did you last cry? At the funeral of a 22-year-old family member. Life doesn’t get any worse than the death of a youngster, having their whole future snatched away.

What is your greatest achievement? I raised quite a bit of money for NECCR, the children’s cancer research charity through a series of bike rides and general fund raising activities in my thirties. The efforts of all of those involved led to a new ward of Newcastle’s RVI being opened.

What's the best piece of advice in business you've ever been given? Every person who joins an organisation, particularly an SME, has an effect upon the operation and culture of that company. You never know the full extent of a person’s ability or character until he/she has been with the company for a few months and unless you give them free reign you never will. 

Favourite animal and why? Ollie my pet Labrador who, as the only dog I have ever owned, keeps me fit and sane.

Most famous person on your mobile phone? The BBC’s Steph McGovern, or she will be once we begin to finalise the event she is hosting for AMF on August 19. Her passion is young people and we have asked her to talk about STEM skills and apprenticeships in manufacturing.

What was the last band you saw live? Joe Bonamasa – a true blues virtuoso

Describe your perfect night in: A (fish) meal cooked together with my wife, a good film and a bottle of red – heaven! And if she goes to bed early then watching Newcastle win on Match of the Day would set the seal.

In another life I would be... Hanging up my boots after a long career as Newcastle’s centre forward to open a guitar repair shop.

Who would play you in a film of your life? Not sure about this one, maybe Liam Cunningham.

What irritates you? Hypocrisy, banal disc jockeys, celebrity culture, royalty, right wing politics, Australian fast bowlers, cheating footballers, bigots, endless telephone enquiry processes,  radio adverts, premier league hype, bullies, people set in their ways, the list goes on. Do you think it’s an age thing?

What's your secret talent? It’s well hidden.