Information Circular

Items listed in chronological sequence

30 July 2010 – Lab memories from Margaret Hamilton

I have just found your site, and believe I qualify as an HMSOldie! I started in the Cornwall House HMSO Lab in 1954 as an Assistant Examiner and worked there until 1983 when I was made redundant on refusing to relocate to Norwich. Over the years I worked in most of the labs including: Paper; Office Requisites; Customs and Security. I frequently visited the out stations at Alperton and Wembley and latterly the telephone directory printing presses at York and Gateshead. When I left I had reached the lofty rank of Senior Examiner!

The introduction of quality assurance changed our methods of working, BUT there was nothing to substitute for the ‘Bailey Bum’ when testing toilet ‘tissue’! I have many fond memories of the Lab and my colleagues and would love to know what they are up to now.

On leaving the lab I worked for a number of years in charity fund raising. I now live in Warwickshire.

I have just set up a Facebook group for ex HMSO Lab members please join on http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=141846119172794  and share your news and photos.

Best wishes, Margaret Hamilton

Margaret. Excellent! You are a most worthy addition to HMSOldies. I remember you from Cornwall House  — I was in ITW1c 1963-5 (with Mrs Wilhelmina Robbie), then Supplies (Charlie Lloyd's S6 section, then S4 with Norman Parker), used to deal with John Smith on Litho testing, occasionally with JS Pugh, D Puncher, HS Todd, Mrs EJ Macdonald, SM Goldfarb, JF Pell, JOP Jones, VH Rees, and the only two I know to have survived, in Norwich, Brian D Whitefield and Alan Java. And, of course, Gordon Robbie's Uncle Norman was i/c Lab. Admin at the time. Later, of course there were other worthies  — Cook, Sentinella. And of course the originator of the ‘Bailey Bum’, Miss Valerie Bailey, is still in Norfolk, with her sister Adrienne. Lovely to hear from you  — and I will have a look at your website. Best wishes from sunny Norfolk to sunny Warwickshire  — and with fond memories of Good Old Waterloo. Reg

23 July 2010 – From Stuart McLaren

Ever-keen to blow my own vuvuzela please check out

http://www.heritagecity.org/research-centre/whos-who.htm

Where there are links to three of my mini Norfolk biographies: John Hunt, Private Abigail and Obadiah Short.
Best wishes, Stuart McLaren

21 July 2010 – Leading With Your Chin

Many thanks to all of those who sent in their good wishes for the sixth birthday of HMSOldies on 15 July. Especial thanks to those of you who put money over the bar of the Ribs of Beef for The Management to have a drink. Oh how we shared that J2o. Not too late, for those of you who ‘forgot.’ Just tell Paula that it’s for ‘those noisy, boring old blokes who come in on Mondays.’

But at least we have never claimed to be ‘interesting’.

More than can be said by Q&C IRM.

Who they? You may well ask.

I was taking the spiders out of my hair, post Allotment duty, this morning when my wife shouted up the stairs ‘A man has left you some bits of paper and ran off . . .’ And what did I find? Gold, pure gold.  A document headed Issue 1 (was there an Issue 2?) was undated, but the four-pager started with the words ‘Oh no! . . . another newsletter. We can hear the chorus of voices now. Believe us, you have our sympathy, which is why these newsletters are going to be different; we’re going to make them interesting!’

Who remembers what IRM was? I hope Richard Archer, who was in charge of it, Alan Cole, who was in charge of him, and Newsletter authors J Blow and R Black (John and Ron, I think). I pluck four sentences from the Newsletter at random . . . ‘In HMSO there are two types of dialect. That which is due to external influences, and that which is due to internal isolation . . . The internally generated dialect is due to meeting the needs of a particular limited area with no regard for the benefits gained from sharing valuable resources. This type of dialect must wherever possible be removed.’

And there’s a back-page joke. ‘Do you know what jargon is? It’s the terminology or idiom of a particular activity or group, isn’t it? No, it’s what residents of Norfolk do to keep fit.’

Moving on . . . there was also, in this bundle of goods, a Staff Cost Ready Reckoner for 1974.

Hourly rate for a Senior Principal outside London was £5.89. Paperkeeper was £1.17. Joe Cole was £32,854.

Happy days, G. Rastard

19 July 2010 – From David Silver

Happy birthday — I know I am late, but it is winter down here and we slow up even more! Would also like to say how much we appreciate the web site out here in the colonies. I never fail to have memories of my time with HMSO and of the people I worked with. Not sure when we will be in UK again but be assured I will try to catch up with you if we do, assuming I did not disgrace myself too much last year. Will not mention World Cup or Cricket. Though I still support West Ham. Does any other oldie support them?
Very best wishes to everybody, David Silver
 
Hello David, Thank you for your kind words, and good to hear that you are enjoying the winter. Very sticky over here at the moment  — the pubs nearly running out of  £   3.50 Fosters. It would be great to see you back. I missed your last trip (Jury duty) but understand that you behaved considerably better than Peter Mac. Not difficult. As to World Cup etc. surely you know that the British National Sports are Computer Games and Wii? And we will seek out West Hammers for you  — surely Peter Bradbury is not alone?
All the best. Reg

Reg Belcher 1947-2010

Ann Clancy has passed on the sad news that Reg Belcher has died following a short illness. His funeral will be held at 1030 on Monday 19 July 2010 at Earlham Crematorium, Norwich.

Reg had been a Printing Officer working in HMSO Norwich. He left for work which necessitated commuting to London for some years, and was Chairman of the Norwich and District Photographic Society.

15 July 2010 - Mike Beresford Responds

G’day (thought I'd better say that!). In response to your SO Review cover photo from 1978 [see Picture Gallery] — crew are left to right, me, Larry Doyle, one I can't remember (although I bet it comes in time), Dave Prudames and Colin Clarke (cox). There’s a little story about those regattas. I was in Trevor Priddle's (say a big hello to him for me!) PP5a and we were allowed to use flextime to go rowing. Once interest started and the next regatta planned we canvassed all the areas in HMSO to supply squads. Many replied but they were worried that we five 'old hands' would be miles away the best side so we trained everyone. Took individual time off to make sure every crew — including a ladies crew — received training. We didn’t train ourselves and got beaten! Boy was that a wake up (you must remember I was a regular rugby player and rock climber) so took this seriously. We all agreed to put the work in and won the next. Great stuff! As me and Colin worked on PP5a — and that was the Parliament stuff — we had to get dispensation to be away together. Trevor always backed us up — a really good manager!

I agree, we all went to same pubs, how didn’t we meet? Or did we but don’t remember? The Victoria  and Bishop's Finger  were favourites. A McLeod we were always bumping into. Every name you say I seem to recall — you must realise this is all a bit of a shock as I haven’t seen any of these people for nearly thirty years! Hey — what about the wine bar in the Strand? Owned by Frank McKlintock, Captain of Arsenal and of Scotland. We used to see Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and many others in there too!

Peter Turner I knew for years — and I'm sure he will remember me. We were the main choirmasters for the Rugby Club at Bystanders and between us there was no song we didn’t know. I was a favourite 'cos I always drove the bus, long before D&D became serious, I had an aversion to drinking and driving so always made sure I drove. Southwold, Colchester,done them all!

Peter wrote the team Rugby song, called ‘Angie Ripon’. I still remember the words. He was hooker — funny that — I always wondered. Give him my best! Tell him I lost track of Gordon Johnson, Peter Barham (whose wife Jill worked the bar at the Golden Star ) and John and Carol Marshall, oh yes, John and Fiona Currie — any news appreciated.

Once I find the HMSO rowing pic — its in colour too! (and any others) I will send on. Oh yes, the Dave from Wolves was David Owen. He used to sit in PP5D, the then new investigation team for Computer typesetting. His boss was Frank something. A lovely man.  Ken Hutchings was our Director.

Did you know that when Bemrose of Derby won a tender for overnight work for Parliament that they were able to do the work owing to new invention called the Facsimile machine? But it was only three pages a minute, so they had a rep collect the copy, go to the London Office, fax the first half and rep took the rest in his car and met a driver on the motorway and by the time it got to Derby they already had the first half proofed and the second followed. In the new age of emails, Blackberry and Ipads this seems silly — but it happened!

If any of this helps — or other details I may have locked away in my brain — please ask. Next trip back I’ll see if I can fit Norwich on the itinerary! Enough for today! Keep in touch, Mike Beresford

Hello again Mike, Amazing what the memory can spill out. I have spoken today to Ernie Downs, who remembers you, and to the Manager of The Reindeer pub in Norwich, for whom Peter Turner does a turn and he will mention our contact. As for the rest, I'll leave it to HMSOldies readers. Doesn't do to get too excited at our age. Thank you for your continued interest. And please scan a current photo so that we can compare grey hairs. Facial, I mean. Reg

15 July 2010 - From Mary Robinson in Melbourne

Hello Reg, You must be fit if you are playing with grandchildren. All is well down here in Melbourne — we have at last had some rain, but still in drought conditions. Plenty of sun and blue skies though. Are there any bits of HMSO left apart from the Oldies? Had a few short trips away in Victoria — might be over next year if they don't freeze the pension again. It's election year here both State and Federal. We have to vote or else receive a fine. Not much to choose between the parties. Take care. Luv, Mary
 
Hello Mary, Good to hear from the Land of the Rising Temperature. It's been tropical over here as well; my beans are wilting (and I mean on the allotment). St Crispins is about a third full of TSO and Banner staff, and there is a handful of people acting as the HMSO 'rump' in Norwich. Sovereign House looks like a bomb site, and the Anglia Square end of Magdalen Street reminds me of post –war Tooting. If you make it next year we'll sort out a lunchtime  — if you are really lucky I'll get George Rokhar along! All the best. Reg

14 July 2010 - From John Wellington Wells

Our occasional correspondent John Wellington Wells recalls HMSO days past . . .

The thing about the S. O. was that it wasn't quite part of the Whitehall establishment. Oh, it was Civil Service within the meaning of the Act, but you could tell when you dealt with OGDs with your Pubns or Supplies hat on that you were regarded as Not Quite One of Us. Trade, in fact. You can confirm this by looking at the Controllers foisted off on us over the years — there were a few, no doubt, who were not Under Secretaries who had blotted their copybooks, but on the whole we got the Whitehall left-overs who had enough brownie points for a CB but hadn't a chance of heading a real Government Department.

And our buildings tended to emphasise this fact. Those that were not grimly Dickensian were a caricature of the commercial office blocks of their era. Atlantic House, you will recall, had a splendid front entrance on Holborn Viaduct, but had plainly been equipped by a stair manufacturer with too much stock on his hands. To get to any office on any floor you had to go down a flight of steps at either end of the corridor. The poor old messengers had to have a fleet of trolleys with a complex interchange system at each staircase. Gavrelle House, by contrast, was splendidly level, with rather fetching parquet floors, but had the world's most unnerving lifts. I don't say they regularly trapped people, but their convulsive juddering provoked Grave Concern, not alleviated by their propensity to make noises like the Tardis taking off. And they never got the heating to work properly. And then — ah , the white heat of the technological revolution —  we got that 1960s wonder, Sovereign House, which, looking back, we now realise was the origin of global warming. The solar gain in Sovereign House during a hot summer bounced upwards, ripped chunks out of the ozone layer, and melted large swathes of Antarctica. On the other hand, Sovereign House had a bar — the admirable Sovereign Club. Can you imagine such a thing in a government building today? My present employer is under pressure to declare our HQ a dry zone, and even — oh, CRS, listen and tremble! — to forbid drinking at lunchtime. A small prize will be awarded for the most artistic impression of Alec Gravatt, Arnold Martyn or Stan Smith being told they would have to stick to lemonade at the Craven Club.

What other buildings of delight did we have? I pass lightly over Cornwall House; there is enough suffering in the world without dwelling on it. I never saw Gee Street, Shepherdess Walk, Alperton or Wembley. Anyone care to draft an entry for Pevsner’s Guides? What else? Oh, yes — St Crispins. Not, it has to be admitted, a bad building. I was there during the period when London staff were dispersed up there before their families were shipped up to join them. We happened to be next to the typing pool, and it was amusing to see how the chaps from London, their wives left behind, were oblivious to the glamorous typists sashaying past on Monday, allured by Wednesday, and in danger of whiplash by Friday, swivelling their heads at the passing parade. My chief gripe about the place was its wilful lack of an apostrophe, but then, coming back to my starting point, this rather pointed up our non-U status. I don't believe you will see a plaque in Whitehall reading "Her Majestys Treasury". But that's the S.O. for you — think of the ink saved in leaving out apostrophes.

JWW, Perfect. (Can't get that picture of a dry Stan Smith out of the mind. I had lunch with Messrs Macdonald, Bindloss recently to celebrate the 90th birthday of RA Warren (ex Rank Xerox) who came along with his daughter — the wife of the doctor who tended Stan in his last days. Warren in good form).

 

14 July 2010 - From Ian Loughlin

Hi Reg, Happy birthday! You don't look a day over 5 to me but then again I do need specs. Currently fostering three little girls, 7, 4 and 2. Very challenging and exhausting but great fun. Ian

Ian, Good to hear from you, albeit humbled that you are doing something worthwhile. I won't say 'at last' because, in your previous incarnation as Ian Smith, looking after DHSS Norcross was as worthy as it gets . . . Must go  — granddaughters (6 and 4) in need of a reminder of how tough it was Down South (‘Electricity? My dad used to put on his nylon shirt and run a comb up it quickly. Only way we could see our way to the outside lav . . .’ etc. You think you had it hard Up North). I digress . . . All the best to the Saintly Shirley. Reg

14 July 2010 - From Mike Beresford

Hello Reg, I was recommended to your site after contacting Bystanders in Norwich. Your email was forwarded by return! I worked in PP5a — Atlantic House for about 4 years and moved into a new section at Atlantic house to be dispersed to Norwich. I worked with Judy Tassell and the Pubns crowd (John Bevin and Irene Syrett — I recall as being there then — and possibly Alex McLeod rings a bell) and our boss was the famous Eddie Sergeant. I was one of Eddie's Boys who won the printing trades Rowing Regatta with Larry Doyle, Dave Prudames, Colin Clarke (Cox) and a fourth member I can’t call to mind (yet!). I’ll try to dig out the picture and send it! I still have my ‘Eddie's Boys’ HMSO T-shirt! I was also instrumental (with Larry Doyle) is setting up HMSO evening cricket matches one summer. While at Atlantic house we used to go to the Queen Victoria  pub beside Hambros in the city (and some wine bars) with Dave (Wolverhampton) — I’ll have to try to remember all the names as some worked in Inspection and some at SSPP.

After dispersal I was still in PP and (as HMSO didn’t play rugby) I played rugby for Bystanders (founder member) and when I returned to London — I came back one weekend to guest as scrum half in the only match HMSO ever won!

Oh yes — I also returned one week, to go to Newmarket Races with the HMSO crowd which I think Judy Tassell organised. I won £21 on the last race! YES I DID! After losing £19. 50 at the previous 6 races. I never betted again!

That's all for now! This caught me by surprise — so I’ll try to find some info among all my old boxes — and see if I can remind some HMSOldies of the swinging days in Atlantic House — with Drug Squad on top floor, people using our corridor as a shortcut from Holborn Viaduct to Farringdon Road — with toilets en route! The intro of passes was a temporary obstacle which became a challenge for city folk trying to make the 5.15 from Farringdon Road. We of course were much too sophisticated for that! We had a drink in Smithfield Market or Barts — and took a later transport! Enough for now – if this rings any bells with anyone — feel free to email! In the meantime — Ill have a better look at site and see what bells it rings! I’ll be back! Mike Beresford

Hello Mike, Well I'm damned. How we managed to avoid each other for all those years is a mystery. Just your good luck, I suppose. I worked (if you'll excuse the expression) in Cornwall House 1963-65; Atlantic 1965-68; Sovereign and St Crispins 1968-96. One of the first people I met in Atlantic was Judy Tassell (or was she still Cotton then?). I used to lunch with Tommy Taylor in the  Queen Victoria, and with others such as Bob Dwyer, Bill Williamson and Peter Bradbury in  The Bishop's Finger and   The Printer's Devil. In Norwich, I was a regular in the  Golden Star (still there, Pete Turner has been through plenty of pubs since, and is still around) and was Chairman/Secretary/all-night barman at The Bystanders (now gone from 5 Thorpe Road but the people are still mostly here. Remember Derek Sang  — rugby player from Inverness?). In St Crispins I worked with Trevor Priddle and Albert During (both still around Norwich) on Print Sales and Marketing. Larry Doyle was the Print Accountant. I spent some time in London again working with (against?) Alan Davis and alongside Alec McLeod (still golfing in Kent) and latterly Gerry Aldus.

I will let Mistress Tassell (with whom I have been in recent correspondence) and Larry Doyle know that you are safely far enough away not to call round for dinner . . . All the best, Reg

14 July 2010 - Sue Holden (Morgan) writes from Northern Ireland

Reg, We are  battening down the hatches in Moira, away from the madness and mayhem (much worse this year than for a number of years) of what's going on in other areas of Northern Ireland. This happens in very specific areas and you wouldn't know it was happening from the genteel confines of our lovely village which is in Co Down — just! — with the Co Armagh border on the outskirts of the village.
 
Having experienced a very welcome early bath from the Health Service in Oct 2007, I enjoyed a frolicsome first year or so of freedom — one frolic being a cruise to the Norwegian fjords with Isobel Williamson. Our taste for cruising had been inspired a couple of years previously by a crossing of the Atlantic to New York on the Queen Mary.  (Of course we also have many friends in common who are wont to extol the pleasures of cruising!)
 
I've now lived in Northern Ireland longer than in anywhere else in my life so, being by now well imbued with the prevailing protestant work ethic, I decided to train for my next 'career' and have recently successfully completed the first year of a 2-year postgraduate qualification in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I shall shortly be let loose on the unsuspecting population as part of a year's work placement in a local health centre taking referrals for therapy from the GPs there. This is in addition to a further year's course of study. As my partner Steve is still beavering away in the civil service here, I am pleased that I had the prescience to realise that we would indeed need an additional source of income to supplement what threaten to be increasingly eroded civil service pensions!
 
Apart from the studying I manage to do a bit of voluntary work and get to spend time at our apartment in south-west France. Both of my parents are still with us though increasingly tottery. Now there's a man — Jim Holden — who's had great value from his Civil Service pension — 31 years so far! Jim and Anne feel very blessed to have the enjoyment of both their nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The latter are my grandchildren — three gorgeous girls who are 16, 14 and 9 this year — who are also privileged to know their great-grandparents so well. Sue
 
Sue, Perfect  — thank you. Just what we want. Good to hear that you continue to make yourself useful, and are keeping the little grey cells active. As the son of a man born in Belfast in 1905, I know what you mean about those he called 'the wicked few.' Good to remember your father. I recall him first at an event with Bob Norris and Tom Harris, around 1969. I believe that 'The Lion And Albert' were involved . . . Can't believe that you are a grandmother  — but then, can't believe that I'm a grandfather either. All the best. Reg

14 July 2010 - From Richard Nelson

Thursday 15th?

Richard Nelson

Richard, You get the prize. I have had 20+ responses and you are the first to notice the Deliberate Mistake. I have by no means the silky smoothness of our current Secretary for State for Education, Mr Michael Gove, so will not take the blame. It was all down to a Temporary Clerical Assistant (now sacked with no pension) who spends 18 hours a day proof-reading this stuff. Want a job? If not, I'll buy you a pint at our 7th anniversary (Saturday 15 July 2011). All the best. Reg

14 July 2010 - From Simon Gibbons

Hi Reg, Good to hear from you — hope you are keeping well. Not seen you about on your travels for some time. Are you taking a different route these days, or just not as mobile? Are you able to re-size the pic supplied? It’s so small, it’s almost impossible to identify anybody therein. If one tries to enlarge it, it becomes very pixelated (is there such a word?), so much so that it becomes totally blurred — shame, as it would have been good to have seen some old faces again (old, as in familiar!). Regards, Simon

Hello Simon, Good to hear from you. I did see you recently, hurrying from Anglia Square car park at around 0930 hours. This being 'Summer' I have been doing an early-morning turn at the allotment (and incidentally pass Richard Weston on his way to work on occasions. It does me good to see you lads still at it!). The mysteries of Collages are lost on me. I found that if I put the whole of HMSOldies photos onto Google Picasa I could make up a montage, but who knows how it can be enlarged once sent? All the best- and thank you for keeping in touch. Reg

14 July 2010 – From Duncan Dawdry

Hello Reg. I know that by HMSOldies standards, I am (at 52) still a young whippersnapper, but even my eyes have deteriorated well past the point where I could make out any detail in that postage-stamp collage you sent. All I can say is that it appears to include the late Maurice Chevalier in a big black hat (presumably before he was late), a topless person that I am hoping is female, a wanted poster and a pint of what looks like 1977 vintage Norwich Bitter. If I have won a prize for this, please take it straight to Oxfam so they can sell it again.
Regards, Duncan
 
Duncan, 52? to me you will still be the 26 year-old that saved the 1983 General Election by getting the stocks out of Wembley despite Paddy Burgoyne . . . a long story, and you know it well. Yours is the best answer yet. I like the M. Chevalier reference (despite the fact that he was a Nazi collaborator  — alleged). The topless person was an Accountant . . . a Director . . . and male . . . and spot on with the pint. I'll have the prize laundered and taken to Oxfam as suggested. So you are ahead of the game so far. Congratulations on keeping your wit and brain cells in these difficult times. Reg

14 July 2010 - From Keith Batchelor

Reminds me of my first day at Atlantic House — Who's who and where is everything!
 
Keep up the good work. Regards, Keith

Keith, Says it all! Thanks for remembering. Reg

13 July 2010 – Trevor Lock, from Bob Allder

It is with sadness that I have to advise you of the passing of Trevor Lock on Tuesday 29 June at St Christopher's Hospice. His funeral is on Monday 19 July 2010. For those of you who knew him and may wish to attend his funeral, a copy of the funeral notice is obtainable from the Editor at Reg.Walker@HMSOldies.co.uk

13 July 2010 – From Paul Barnett

You live!

Things I have been doing . . .

Meeting Bill Shatner, he spent the first half of the meeting on a horse

Talking to Ozzy Osbourne at E3, nice chap

Travelling to Korea and appearing on Korean TV with dancing Romans

Introducing the new Star Wars trailer in LA in front of far too many Star wars fans

Eating Pigs Brain pasta in Washington DC

Visiting the Russian games show in Moscow and almost being eaten by wild dogs

Narrowly avoided the riots in LA when the Lakers won a basketball match

Gave advise in what additional features to add to Tiger Woods online golf game, the ideas hit the gutter every 15 minutes

Meeting the guys from Penny arcade and finding out that they are great fans of my games

Giving a talk at lift (a crazy Euro conference) that seemed to go over very well

Appearing on the late show turning Jay Leno into a goblin

Other than that, not much.

Love and American understanding of Soccer to you (did you know the English gave it the name soccer — apparently so)

Hello Paul, Oh dear. If only you had kept your nose clean as I told you all those years ago you could be sitting in a nice IT section somewhere telling people to switch it off and switch it on again instead of all that boring stuff. Never mind  — you'll get there. I like the Shatner man in Boston Legal but I suppose he was in Star Trek mode when you met. The other activities seem much too dangerous for an English person. Surely you have not gone native? Let me know when you are next around Norwich so that I can persuade you away from this hedonistic existence. All the best. Reg

13 July 2010 – From Norbert Carnegie

Dear Reg — and 'All' at HMSOldies, Happy Birthday from me.

Your anniversary coincides, almost, with a musical anniversary of mine. Just about 37 years ago, two much-liked and respected members of the Graphic Design (GD) studio in London decided to set off for pastures new. Tony Garrett had a job in London awaiting him, while Adrian Young was bound for a similarly-exciting job in Australia his homeland. The wise heads in GD chose a suitable pub (near Clerkenwell Green) for a joint send-off evening. They spotted that said pub had a piano. Knowing that Gerry Watt (my colleague in the then-recently-created Forms Design team) had played the piano in a 1960s 'Merseybeat' group, they suggested that he add a musical element to the evening. For reasons I cannot now remember, I kept a guitar in the office: it proved popular with the more musical of our colleagues who liked the occasional strum. (I was in my sixth year of being an absolute beginner: good thing it was a guitar and not a Hammond organ or a trumpet.) Gerry was keen and suggested that the guitar and I should join the musical fray. The evening, as I recall, went well and Gerry's repertoire of rock and roll, country and western, and 'beat' songs were just right. Of my contribution, I recall nothing — apart from enjoying the beer on offer.

Now for the 'anniversary' element. Gerry and I have kept in touch socially and musically over the years and are currently members of a little (traditional) jazz group based in Old Costessey. With an excellent clarinet player and his banjo-playing wife (lots of experience in playing in bands in London), we have had weekly sessions for the last couple of years. We have even been asked to play at a few functions — although that was never the intended purpose of the band! Just a bonus. So, it is just another example of 'new' things which come along in what is supposed to be retirement. As I've said to you before, 'they' didn't tell me it was supposed to be busy like this.
 
Again, many thanks for all the work you do on this fine venture.
Best wishes, Nodge

Hello Nodge, Thank you. A fine reminiscence. I must look out for your group. Keep a date open in July 2014 and we'll get you to play at the HMSOldies 10th birthday . . . All the best. Reg

13 July 2010 - From David Poole

Reg, Congratulations on your sixth this Thursday have a drink on me Roy P will pay I am sure.

Where do we start with our 2010 news update? I guess with a rather cold winter which seemed to go on longer than usual — obviously not the freezing conditions we remember from the UK but still cold enough to have the central heating working overtime.
 
We met up with John Balls and his wife during their annual visit to Benidorm in January. Spring was late on the scene much the same as the UK, we decided to visit many of our favourite holiday destinations in the UK during April and May, drove through France with about four stops, then on to Dover. Most of our time was in the west country after a few days on the Isle of Wight, visited hotels where we spent holidays over 40 years ago in Looe, Polperro, Ilfracombe and then on to visit our two eldest grandaughters in Newquay. Enjoyed plenty of Cream Teas and Pasties whilst in the area.
 
Spent a few days in Norwich then down to our sons in multicultural Tooting, must say we prefer our eldest sons location in Grand Cayman. Life in Spain has been more expensive due to the exchange rate problems have had to stop paying more that two euros for a bottle of wine and come down to the 1.50 range. However the rate is now on its way up again.
 
Life is good here in Spain apart from the four funerals and a wedding, no there has not been a wedding or a christening recently — the age group we are involved in on a day to day basis it is bonus to wake up each day. Joking aside, people are in good health if a little overweight. The health service in our experience is excellent, we have brand new state of the art hospital in Denia which serves us very well — cleanliness is unbelievable. Even the lift buttons get cleaned every hour!
 
We have half of our familly arriving in August (from Cayman) and the elder girls from Newquay. Have a Christmas cruise planned which takes in New Year as well, then for 2011 we have a Golden Wedding celebration in March to organise. Not sure yet what form this will take, did not realise that my 7/6 licence was going to last this long (it was a very good buy). Regards to all HMSOldies Dave and Pat Poole
 
Hello Dave, Thank you for your thorough and interesting report from the Land of the World Cup Winners. I have copied to Roy Plackett so that he can prize open his purse to buy all HMSOldies a pint or several on Thursday. Good to hear that you are still active. The only quibble I have is your perceived slight to my home town, the jewel of South London  — Tooting. Where else has two Underground Stations, three Commons, three Markets and seven cinemas  — no, second thoughts, no cinemas left now. Tesco, Bingo Hall, Bank of Baroda and four bomb sites. I digress. I really feel for you, paying all that money for wine. We'll soon be up to the £   4  pint of  beer over here.
Keep at it . . . and all the best. Reg



13 July 2010 – From Susan Curran

Bonjour Reg, We’re in France, just got here yesterday after a fortnight back in Norwich. Sun shining, just been swimming.  Watched the WC Final in Rouen, not impressive.  Next plan, outside for a drink in the heat. Visitors always welcome . . . All best, Paul and Susan
 
Bon Chance (check spelling) Susan and Paul, Good to hear that you are on good form. Coincidentally, my search through old papers today threw up a yellowing card headed 'You are invited to attend the I Survived the 1995 Banner Roadshow Party at the Ferryboat Inn  — A Simmonds/Bayley production: No free bar . . . Friday 31 March 1995.'

Time flies . . .

All the best  — and thanks. You, and George Rokahr, tied for the first response. Reg



13 July 2010 - From George Rokahr

Reg, You said HMSOldies is 6 on 16 July and you are short of copy and photographs. Well, you've two photos of my right foot and you know that I'm getting bloody hungry waiting for friend Ekers to get back to Norwich. George

George, You are quite right, but I am afraid that you are losing your razor-sharp critical faculties. My note mentioned 'Thursday 16 July' when, of course, the Thursday is 15 July. You wouldn't have missed this when you were ADOS1. No prize  — but when Brian Ekers surfaces we'll stump up for a half of Norwich Bitter. Reg

13 July 2010 - Happy Birthday To Us

HMSOldies is Six on Thursday 16 July 2010. Celebrations are taking the usual form. We are remiss as regards photos, but our Tech Division is working on it. Meanwhile — we are short of copy. What are you up to? All contributions — no matter how brief — will be most welcome.
Reg Walker_Editor

13 July 2010 – From Fred Howe

Hi Reg. I was interested to see a note from a ‘John’ Newman on the website. I joined HMSO early 1950 at the Abbey Orchard Street Press as an apprentice and remember ‘Albert’ Newman, a Machine Room apprentice. Another apprentice in that area was interested in swimming and body-building, and would walk around the Press lifting weights and flexing his muscles. Another was ‘Trunky’, who had an argument with a small printing press and unfortunately lost the tip of his finger. If John/Albert shares these memories, then there are many more tales from the ‘Abbey’ of over 60 years ago! Fred Howe.

Hello Fred, Good memories! I see from the staff list that this year  — 2010 — you celebrate 60 years since starting with HMSO. All the best, and thank you for the contact. Reg

25 June 2010 - From John Newman

Hi, I remember Mr Buck, he was my Overseer all the time I was at Drury Lane. His sidekick in the Office was ‘Wag Bennet’! Regards, John

John, I knew that there would be a point of contact somewhere in the list of names  — James Ernest Buck was born 10 December 1903 and joined HMSO in 1932. A couple of generations away. By the way, are you still in London? All the best. Reg

Reg, No, I am living in Castle Hedingham, Essex and have been since 1974. I converted to litho in 1973. I had my own print shop In Halstead (Colne Valley Printers Ltd) for nearly 20 years. I have been retired now for 11 years, I’m 76 now. My wife reckons I am still 15 from the neck up and 76 from the neck down! I still do a bit of design work for a couple of people, one of whom is a local historian. Printing to me was never like going to work, I loved it! Regards, John

Thanks John, Good to hear that you are keeping up the old skills. Reg

24 June 2010 - From John Newman

Hi, I have just found your website. I was an apprentice Machine Manager at HMSO Press Drury Lane and Abbey Orchard Street, starting in October 1949 with a break in my 7 years to do my National Service. Was ‘banged out’ at Drury Lane in 1958. Is there anyone belonging to this ‘organisation’ that was around at that time? Nice to hear from someone. A.J. Newman

Hello John, Good to hear from you. We will publish your note to see if any of your contemporaries responds. I worked with Norman 'Chester' Willmott, Winnie Jennings and John McGarry in the 1960s. They were at Drury Lane at one stage, as was Dave Martin (to whom I have copied this note) in the days of Charlie Walker, who continued with HMSO well into his 70s. The 1952 Staff List shows that AW Bridger, JY Waddell, WD White, GE Hunt, HT Wilmer, WJ Benson, AS Pocock, AGH Steer, TH Dunn, IJ Harvey, AF Gibbs, HCR Kent, P Howden and JE Buck were among the Overseers. All the best, Reg

19 Jun 2010 – From Billy Stevenson

Dear Reg, In your correspondence with J.S. Nash, 7 June 2010, you mention the price of a pint of Guinness, at that time “28 half crowns and two bob.” It reminded me of a story I heard back in old money days.

An old lady goes in to a grocer’s shop in Belfast and asks for three pots of Marmalade. The Grocer fetches them and says “There we are, three elevens are thirty three pence. Three and thruppence, how’s your son in Canada?”

Regards to you and the team. Billy

Dear Billy, Excellent! the perfect Belfast story   — my father (1905-1998 ex-Agnes Street off the Shankill) would have loved it. Makes you laugh till the tears come, and then you wonder what you're laughing at. Genius! Reg

11 June 2010 - From Debs Green

Hi Reg, I was interested to see the articles from both Roy Arscott & Alison Womack. I worked in Pubns Registry firstly with Dave Martin as the section boss, then followed by Dave Hardstaff (aka "Stiff stick"). When I worked in the Pubns Registry with Alison, all of the staff in there (except Alison) smoked like chimneys (myself, Jack Daniels and Betty Brewer) as you could freely do at HMSO in the 1980s. I offer belated apologies to Alison for subjecting her to my constant "puffing". I did actually give up in 1986 and have not smoked since!

Regards, Deborah Green (nee Taylor)

PS The Pipe Smoker’s daughter!

Hello Debs, Good to hear from you. I saw Alison recently and she appears not to have suffered from the 'kippering.' Good to hear that you have kept off the weed   — all the more for dad's pipe! All the best, Reg

Neil J Hacker 1947-2010

Sue Whitaker has reported the sad news that Neil died suddenly over the weekend 5-6 June 2010.

Following a private funeral there will be a memorial service at Norwich Cathedral at 1530 hours on Wednesday 16 June, followed by a cream tea. Neil's widow Barbara is keen for anyone who would like to attend to do so.

Neil worked in HMSO Norwich, mainly with Audit and latterly with Information Services.



Keith Champ-ionship: Golf Charity Day – Further Details

Hopefully you have all had time to check your diaries and obtain permission from the wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend to attend this wonderful occasion whether it is for golf only, the whole day or just the dinner in the evening.

As you can imagine organising something on this scale takes a lot of planning so it would be great if I could start receiving entry forms so that we can let RNGC know the numbers for the golf and the dinner – we need to arrange tee off times for groups of 4 for the golf and let them know how many for dinner.

Can I please ask that if you would like to attend, to fill in the entry form which can be downloaded at www.keithchampionship.co.uk/contact.html (if dinner only then please state if you require a vegetarian option or have any food allergies so that I can let the caterers know) and return it to me by 25th June.

Your help with a speedy response is greatly appreciated.

Les Trutch (www.lestrutchsingsswing.co.uk) has kindly agreed to sing for us after the meal – check his website out and have a listen – he is also entering a four ball so a big thank you to Les for his help in adding to this great day.

Raffle prizes for the day already include a web cam, printer/scanner, golf trolley, golf umbrellas, Champagne and everyone playing will be receiving a Keith Champ”ionship” pitch mark repairer as a thank you for attending – more to be announced later.

Please forward this information on to anyone you think might be interested.

Adrian McCrum, Customer Account Executive/Print Buyer, CDS Print Logistics (01603 878322).

7 June 2010 - Treasure!

From the Editor to John Stewart Nash, or do you prefer CRS? CTO? Surely not ADS12?

As my Dear Dead Daddy from (and, unfortunately, here the alliteration falls down) Belfast would have said 'What about ye? A fine set of documents there you have, so you do.' Or some such.

Excellent meeting with son Panache (his Box 500 Code Name, as you may recall). He has turned into a fine young Gentleman. Mother's influence, obviously. He indulged me for far longer than his Flextime from BT (is that Bernard Terry? I don't know these new Contractors) should allow. We discussed Nat Gonella, Reg 'Mr Confidentiality' Dixon, Charlie Lloyd, Stan Smith, Ramsay Macdonald and who knows who else he had never heard of, and all he drank was Coca-Cola (whatever that is). What a star? Especially as Guinness was £3.60 the pint. (28 half-crowns and two bob. Unbelievable. Could have got a house in Tooting for that in the 1950s — but a pint of Guinness would have been less damp).

I, of course, digress.

The Brown Attache accompanying young P contained gems beyond the Dream of Olwen. Incidentally, said case was monogrammed 'P.I.' Was this 'Rockford P.I' or did it once belong to Peter Ingatestone, the disgraced EAC of whom we are honour bound never to mention. — nor the goat.

Anyway, documents to hand:

Aspects of HM Stationery Office Policy (1963)
History of Dispersal 1963-1969
1-4 Reports Controller HMSO (1881)
Controller's Reports 1881-1904
HMSO Guide 1925
HMSO General Office Instructions (1929)
The Hutchinson Report (Stationery and Printing; 1960)
The Post Office: A Historical Summary (1911)
And — the piste de resistance (yes, I did French 'O' Level in 1962) — the Contract Specimen Book, Scale 2, Miscellaneous Items. The first 200 pages of which comprises blank sheets with an ENM Numbering Machine imprint in the top right. Magic!

Enough for now. These volumes are safely in the HMSOldies Basement Library and anyone wishing to peruse a page is welcome to do so, £5 per 15 minutes. Leave your name with the Bar Manager at the Fat Cat. Your 10% is secure. I have also copied to Williamson and Riley, who inhabited the CRS-in-Exile coven in Norwich. Mrs Walker also keeps up, occasionally, with Rita Stevenson — but whither the rest?

Off to wither the rest . . .

ITW1c (W Robbie, AJ Mew, W Jennings, EE Ayres . . .)

Keith Champ-ionship: Golf Charity Day 27 August 2010

Good afternoon Reg. At long last I have great pleasure in announcing the “Keith Champ-ionship 2010” to be held at Royal Norwich Golf Club on 27 August. I would be very grateful if you would publish this for people that knew Keith to see if they would like to attend.

Keith Champ sadly died in April 2009 and we asked ourselves what could we do to remember him, and raise some money for charity. The outcome is a charity golf day in his memory, which was Keith’s passion, and after two months of planning here is the launch.

We hope that we have covered everything on the website (see below) but all contact details are there should there be any questions. I know that not everyone will be able to attend but may want to donate to the charity Keith’s wife Linda has selected so there is a link on the webpage which will forward them onto Keith’s Cancer Research donation page.

Thank you for your help on advertising this event — it really is appreciated. This is the link with all of the information required: www.keithchampionship.co.uk

Best regards, Adrian

Adrian McCrum, Customer Account Executive/Print Buyer, CDS Print Logistics

Hello Adrian. Well done on your excellently-produced website for this very worthy cause. Personally, I am to Golf what Tiger Woods is to celibacy, so I won't be playing  — but I could well turn up with your father and a few other layabouts for 19 pints at the first hole (or should that be 19 holes at the first pint?). I have copied this note to a few well-known HMSO hole-in-oners in case they miss the Oldies splash. Best wishes, Reg

18 May 2010 – From Stuart McLaren

Hi Reg, I'm always interested in the goings on of members of my old publications team. Most are probably actionable but I spotted one today that is actually in a good cause. Roger Fenton was the last to join and the last to leave my team as it was unceremoniously dismantled in 1997. Now Roger is getting ready to hike the length of Hadrian's Wall with five chums to raise money for Help for Heroes, beginning on 6 June. If you want to sponsor Roger visit www.justgiving.com and enter the name of team leader Jason Kercher or pick up a sponsorship form from Simpsons Jewellers on White Lion Street. Best wishes, Stuart McLaren

Thank you Stuart. A good cause indeed. Reg

 
RDO Waltham 1935-2010

The EDP   dated 14 May 2010 carried the sad news that Dick Waltham died on 6 May, aged 74. There will be a Thanksgiving Service at All Saints Church, Chedgrave, Norfolk on Tuesday 25 May at 1445 hours. Dick joined Business Supplies in Norwich in January 1989 as Head of Laboratory.

Brian Whitefield adds:  Hi Reg, It came as a surprise to the staff in Lab when Dick was appointed Head of Laboratory. A Naval Architect who had served an apprenticeship at Chatham Dockyard, he had no experience of laboratory work. He had, however, considerable experience in Quality Assurance and enthusiastically resurrected work in that area that having been wholeheartedly embraced in the early 70's foundered when those proposing it found that there was no staff saving and heavy travelling costs much of which was on foreign travel. He had the good sense on general work to rely on those who really knew what it was about and supported them fully. He was also very keen that staff working in compartmentalised areas socialised for the good of the whole.
 
His background came in very useful once when interviewing candidates — one of whom had been working on off-shore oil surveys and was very surprised to be asked for his opinion on the various types of sonar available for the work.
 
Generally, he was well respected by the staff. Dick made no secret of the fact that in applying for the job he was looking for a ticket to retirement in East Anglia where he had family and at the earliest opportunity retired gladly. Who could blame him, even if he was leaving a sinking ship?
 
I shall be attending the memorial service provided I can get away in time from an earlier funeral that day.

1 May 2010 - Good Manners

Perhaps it is the current climate of politicians pouring syrup over the voters and something else over their opponents, but we thought that this note from Dan Lavery, who recently retired from TSO, was especially cheering. A bit of old-world courtesy and thoughtfulness from over the water. Almost makes us wish we were back at work . . .

Dan's note says it all:

'Mr W, as a man who brought much style and laughter to a sometimes bland world I thought you might like to see that professional courtesy and earned respect is not yet dead.

Below is a copy of a letter of thanks from the CEO of the NI Assembly. I received the original signed and framed version at a 'thank you' lunch in the Members' restaurant yesterday. The lunch was followed by an extended gathering event (tea and biscuits), where I was once again thanked in a very touching speech on behalf of the NIA management and the Assembly team. I was presented with a Stormont book with a personal signed message of thanks from the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and the Speaker.

After the very dignified events, we of course gathered up the stalwarts (young and old) and retired to the grand old 'Duke of York' and lowered the tone well into the early hours! But I thought you would enjoy the fact that looking after your punters still draws genuine appreciation in today's material world. It meant a lot to me and will add to the panache and treasured memories you continue to manage and distribute to the old guard!

Regards, Dan L'

* * *

Mr Dan Lavery
Director of Operations for Ireland and Scotland
The Stationery Office
16 Arthur Street
Belfast
BT2 4GD

Dear Dan

Thank you most sincerely for the work, time and commitment you have given to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

When you first came to work with us in 1998, the Northern Ireland Assembly was a very different place and it is fair to say that we have had our ups and downs since then. However, through all the peaks and troughs that political life brings your professionalism and dedication to providing a first-class service has never faltered.

The service provided by TSO is quite simply part of the fabric of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Every day, the Official Report, Committee Reports and the many other publications that are essential to the smooth running of a Legislature arrived on time, every time. However, we would not want you to think that the sometimes long and unsociable hours that it took to make this happen have gone unnoticed. I can assure you that they have not.

Anyone who has ever worked with you will be familiar with the unique way in which you approach your work. As the face of TSO, you brought a very personal touch to your service. Your passion, attention to detail and constant drive for perfection became your trademark as our relationship with TSO developed and grew. Itís safe to say that you also always brought a tremendous sense of fun, optimism, enthusiasm and generosity which is a rare combination.

On behalf of everyone at the Assembly — thank you and all our very best wishes for the future.

Kind regards

Trevor Reaney
Clerk to the Assembly/Director General
Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX

29 April 2010 – Remembering Ivy Lee

Phillip Brooks writes:  Ivy was one of the first people I met in Atlantic House along with Nora Henderson and Gladys Batty. Certainly a formidable presence in Publications but was well regarded by colleagues and departments alike. I recall her section being headed by Ted Webster (EO) and Len Ashworth worked with her. Names from the past! I heard that Ivy was living a very active life well into her nineties so she has done well. Very sad news all the same.

(Agnes) Ivy Lee 1915-2010

We are sad to record, following a note from Judy Tassell, the passing of the Publications Division legend Ivy Lee;

'Just a quick note for the Oldies site to let you know that Ivy Lee died this morning (27 April 2010) in hospital after a short illness. Ivy would have been 95 in August.'

Later:  'Just heard from Jean Whitefield that Ivy's funeral is not until 20th May. It is at 1.45pm at Eltham Crematorium. No flowers, donations to Cancer Research UK can be sent via the undertaker: Francis Chappell & Sons, 40 High Street, Sidcup DA14 6EH.' Judy

27 April 2010 – From Billy Stevenson

Hi Reg, I first became aware of HMSO at the time of the Profumo Scandal. I was working in the Provisions Department, of the Army & Navy Stores in London and we were almost neighbours of the Palace of Westminster. Our customers at that time included many members of the aristocracy, Whitehall mandarins and senior civil servants, so it is quite possible that some of the people involved in the abovedebacle  were customers.

The late 1950’s and early 60’s were a very relaxed and civilised period in Britain. It was possible to walk about London day or night without fear of coming to any harm. National Security seemed secure.

I remember one occasion I had to deliver a dozen eggs to the Third Secretary at the Foreign Office. I just walked into Downing Street and entered the hallowed halls of the F.O. and was wandering around looking for the Office of this august person, when a very polite gentleman inquired if I was lost. I explained the nature of my business and he very kindly said he would get the package to the person concerned. This couldn’t happen today. One wouldn’t get past the barrier.

Anyhow the ensuing enquiry report on Profumo et al was published by HMSO and was probably one of their best sellers. The newspapers certainly had a field day and it was the number one talking point in London for quite a while. Since those were the days of hot metal in the Print Trade I often wondered how many people were employed in HMSO at that time, and how many man-hours (or should I say person-hours) were spent on producing the Denning Report.

That was long long ago but I discovered years later that a lot of HMSO’s time and resources would be employed on producing government reports. Many of which would be devoted to the happenings in Northern Ireland and I would be a tiny part of the resources employed. So it was that in 1974 I joined HMSO in the Belfast Bookshop

The Director at that time was Roy Stonehouse. Then I think Phil Collins was the HEO for publishing, John Hirst for the Warehouse in Newtownards. Tim Williams headed the PS & F. Jeannie Eastwood and Margaret Anderson made up the team. Doreen Green was there, I’m not sure in what capacity, she later became PA to Phil.

In the Bookshop the line up was Kay Hirst (Manager) Maura Fitzpatrick and Tom McCann in Bookshop Accounts. Tom Roberts was the Bookseller, Alec Bell, Bob McMurdo, Ted Rainey, Chris Agnew, a chap called Kavanagh, Charlie McGrillen, Richard Neill a student at Loughborough working his holidays. He later became a teacher at Portora Royal School where Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett once attended. For me this was the beginning of many happy years.

Kind Regards to all, Billy Stevenson
 
Billy, What a fine reminiscence. You mention some good names from the mists of time, and I am sure that you will be pleased to know that the Director of your ' youth'  in the office, Roy Stonehouse, is still alive and kicking on the Island of North Uist. He was in correspondence with me earlier this year. Army and Navy Stores, Victoria Street, had just about the best Tobacco section in London. Now sadly transformed into a Departmental store selling three hundred and ninety nine shades of sunglasses, shoes and handbags  — just like anywhere else on the High Streets of UK+NI. The Albert pub, opposite, is still a fine establishment though.

Happy days indeed. My parents were employed as upholsterers in the Savoy Hotel Group before and after WW2 and they made sure I knew where ' the real London'  was to be found  — just like the real Belfast. Was it Gilpins, or Melliors, that my Uncle Frank worked as an Irish French Polisher?  Don't get me started. Agnes Street, the Ulster Sports Club, Ravenhill Road, and we haven't even mentioned the Kitchen Bar. Keep 'em coming  — and thank you. Reg

25 April 2010 – Ken Rhodes

Isobel Williamson, Peter Macdonald, Dave Forbes, John Saville, Gavin Turner, Reg Walker and around 150 others attended Ken's funeral at Kensal Green Cemetery on 23 April 2010. The Officiant, Michael Williams, introduced The Tabard Singers, who performed 'The Long Day Closes' by Sir Arthur Sullivan. A personal tribute was read by Raymond Coles and Simon Jones read from Shakespeare. Following the committal, the Tabard Singers saw us off with a spirited rendition of Cole Porter's 'Let's Do It.'

Most of us made our way to The Savile Club for a fine reception and an outstanding vocal performance by Ken's friend Sir John Tomlinson, who sang works from Mozart, Schubert and Wagner — Ken's particular favourite. It could not have been a coincidence that the music greeting us on Kensal Green Underground Station was a recording of orchestral Wagner. Ken is obviously still able to exert his cultural influence from above!

Among the written tributes received by HMSOldies is the following from his Edinburgh colleague Andy Baptie:

Dear Reg, Thank you for letting me know about Ken.

I worked with Ken on a management project for over a period which lasted about a year. I got to know him well and enjoyed his company. He was quite a unique character and I used to phone him now and again with oddments of news I thought would interest him. I will miss the talks we had when these occasions arose and he brought me up to date with his activities. One thing I never could quite believe about him was that he had been a serving soldier with the Black Watch Regiment but he was proud of his association with them. I often use to wonder what they thought of his accent — and his not being Scottish!

When Ken became Director of the Edinburgh office I was able to renew our friendship as I was the manager of the Press there and over the years our paths used to cross on numerous occasions. He became a member of the local golfing set-up but he never regarded himself as a very competent exponent of the game and on the contrary decried his attempts to reach any acceptable standard!

Andy Baptie

Lovely  — thanks Andy. I can add this to one of Ken's own stories, where he caught a Warehouseman moving his (that is, 'the Director's') ball out of the rough and nearer to the hole . . . doubtless on the grounds that a Happy Director results in a Happy Warehouse! All the best, Reg

21 April 2010 – From 'Billy' Stevenson

Dear Reg, I was delighted to come across your Website by accident. I am one of the older surviving oldies. I was with the Belfast Office from 1974 until HMSO was privatised in 1996. Regards. William 'Billy' Stevenson

Hello Billy, Good to hear from a Belfast man. I used to visit quite frequently, when Phil Collins, Bob Barnard, Vi Wilson and Malcolm McNeill were Directors. I used to go out to the Warehouse occasionally, and the OMTS section. Please feel free to write again. We will publish your note so that old friends can see that you are still about! Best wishes, Reg

Ken Rhodes 1932-2010

We are sad to report the sudden death of Ken Rhodes at his home in London.

The funeral will take place on Friday 23 April at the West London Crematorium, Kensal Rise. A Memorial Service is being planned for Suffolk at a date to be arranged.

Later information:  The Announcements column ofThe Guardian  dated Saturday 17 April contained the following:

'Kenneth John Rhodes. 13/01/1932-02/04/2010. Much loved uncle and good friend to his legions of devotees. Funeral Friday 23 April 2010 at West London Crematorium at 2 p.m. No flowers but donations to Learning Through Action, commensurate with the generosity of the man himself. Please forward donations to LTA Centre, High Close, Wiltshire Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1TT.'

Kensal Green Cemetery (020 8969 0152) is in Harrow Road, London W10 4RA. There is a nearby Underground and Rail station – Kensal Green.

Further information:

The short committal service at Kensal Green will be followed by an appreciation – tea and a song recital – for Ken's friends at The Savile Club, 69 Brook Street. John Saville  has been asked to let the organisers have an idea of numbers, so if you intend to go to the Savile Club and have not notified the organisers separately, please let me know ( Reg.Walker@HMSOldies.org.uk  ) of your intentions by the evening of Monday 19 April and I will pass them on to John.

8 April 2010 – From Alison Womack

Hallo Reg, It was good to have news of Roy over in foreign parts recently, and if you think he'd be interested do forward this on to him. I well remember working with him and with Dave Martin in Pubns. We soon became known amongst ourselves as "A", "M" and "W": (and this so amused my long-standing partner that he refers to me as "W" at intervals even now!) Roy mentioned the bicentenary concert at St Peter Mancroft — I wonder if its programme was one which he gave me to proof-read, and in which I was chuffed to spot the Vaughan Williams "Fantasia on Christmas Cards"! Good wishes, Alison.

Hello Alison, A good reminiscence, which I have passed on to Roy and Dave. I like the 'Christmas Cards'. Another friend of mine used to mutter about going as a child to see Crooner's Stainifiction, but I suspect that this is an urban myth! All the best. Reg

2 April 2010 – From Terry Peck

Hello HMSOldies, Just happened upon your website, and found it very nostalgic. I worked at HMSO Harrow Press from July 1961 until March 1974. Started as an apprentice compositor, and left as a monotype keyboard operator.

I can add a couple of pieces to the photographs (Alan Lynch). c1960 Harrow Press (1 of 2). The apprentice with Ted Withey is Alan 'Bert' Day. He was a couple of years ahead of me, renowned for his Brylcreemed flashy hair and his tin tea mug, which had a piece of brass rule attached to the handle via a length of page cord. The chap working on the random — he is locking up pages of telephone directory, which had 'springs' put round them and were then sent on galleys to the foundry — his name was Jim Brookes. Ted Withey was still working on the London Gazette   when I started there in 1961 — and I think he must have retired sometime during 1962. I remember him as being rather unpleasant to apprentices, and would shout at them frequently.

The two apprentices at the stone were not apprentices at all, but were Tony Tebbutt (left) then in his mid-thirties and Tom Seymour (in his late 40s or early 50s) — both were journeymen. Tony lived (for some time at least) in a caravan set on a field at the T-junction where Oxhey Lane meets Little Oxhey Lane — on the road to Watford. He eventually emigrated to New Zealand — as did a number of people from HMSO Harrow. I have a distant memory of Alan Lynch — he was some years my senior and probably finishing his time as I was starting.

Hope I have given some information which may be of use. I have very many memories of HMSO during the 60s and early 70s. If you would like any more let me know. Regards, Terry Peck, Roade, Northampton.

Hello Terry, Many thanks for your most welcome note. Your added information will add to the story of Harrow Press and may encourage other survivors to make contact. I have copied to Alan Lynch, as I am sure that he will be interested in your comments. We will be pleased to receive any further reminiscences  — and photos  — should you wish to send them. Best wishes  — and I hope the weather on this Easter weekend is better where you are than it is in wet Norwich. Reg

Alan Lynch adds:  Thanks Reg for sending the email from Terry. I can just remember him starting at the frame. Terry certainly needs to be complimented for having such an excellent memory for people, especially when, like me, he ended up staring most of the time at a Monotype paper ribbon.

26 March 2010 – The Quiet Man (not)

The Belfast grapevine (Guinnessvine?) tells us that the area around Arthur Street will soon become eerily quiet.

Dan Lavery is leaving TSO.

Will he feature as an interrogator on Dragon's Den or does he intend to spend more time in his Gentleman's Club (The Garrick)?

Watch this space.

Dan Lavery adds:  Now gone Mr W. Thank you for the kind wishes, please pass on my regards to all the old team. I hope we can catch up sometime in the not too distant future. To use an old line, to you and all the guys, 'thanks for the memories', it was great!

26 March 2010 – Nodge's Notable Quotes

Today Ken Arnoldi celebrates his 80th birthday — Happy Birthday Ken! When Ken was a mere 39, a new young designer fresh out of college, Nodge Carnegie, joined him in the Graphic Design Studio in Atlantic House. How do we know all this? Well Nodge recorded much of his time in GD in a remarkable series of volumes which became known as his "Quote Books". He rarely let a quip or repartee pass him by and the first of what we hope will become regular instalments can now be found in the Memories section.

13 March 2010 – From Stuart McLaren

Reg, The HMSO Lord Mayor's Procession float of 1978 was a bit before my time, but I do know if there was the slightest chance of dressing up as a Frenchman then the legendary Len Gain could not have been far away. He did transfer from Norwich to Manchester, but in the late 1980s or early 1990s, I think. Many will no doubt recall, as though in a surreal dream, Len dressed in stripy T-shirt, false moustache and beret wandering around St Crispins with a bottle of red wine on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, soliciting kisses from all the female staff, and he wasn't even collecting for charity!
 
Incidentally, the 1978 float appears to be celebrating the twinning of Norwich with Rouen rather than HMSO per se. I believe the first (and last) float that promoted HMSO as a local commercial enterprise underwhelmed the thronged boulevards of Norwich in the late 1980s, marshalled by an energetic young lady named Libby Rose.

Hello Stuart, Thank you for recalling the spirit of Leonard Bertram Gain. He joined S7b in Atlantic House from a clerical job in Charlton Gasworks on 3 July 1967 and transferred to Norwich with RS1b (I was EO at the time) in October 1968. Other COs on the section were John Stanger, Ernie Millington, AC 'Jock' Barr and NA 'Chester' Willmott. Winnie Houldsworth (Bill's mother) was CA. Len and Jock told numerous wartime-based tales of what might now be called 'adult pursuits' which Len was to have the opportunity of re-telling when he moved to Pubns. There are still several people who blanch at the memory of his campaign to get a Flagpole erected outside St Crispins. I seem to recall that Alan Cole had something to do with the other HMSO float and will jog his memory. Best wishes, Reg

13 March 2010 – From Stuart McLaren (2)

Reg, I'm afraid my memory of names and designations isn't quite as clear as yours. I first came across Len Gain when I moved from (Arthur ?'s) S22A in Supply Division (the section where time stood still) to Sheila ?'s P1A in Pubns in 1988. At that time Len had a rather murky fish tank on the cabinet behind his desk. So murky was it that I was never able to ascertain to my complete satisfaction whether it contained any living specimens. He also had a clock made out of a 78 rpm record and a toy windmill with wooden Christmas carollers on it that spun away crazily when placed above an air conditioning outlet. He bequeathed both items to me when he decamped to Manchester as well as his prized collection of Winifred Atwell and Charlie Kunz records. The clock and windmill broke during a house move years ago but I still have the miniature carollers, who still get together each festive season for a mute wassail on my mantelpiece. Len was a fanatical royalist and numerous photos of the royal family adorned his workspace. I was told that during the Queen's visit to Norwich in 1986 to mark HMSO's bicentenary, Special Branch were detailed to keep a watch on Len in case he tried to leap up and kiss Her Majesty, as he did to every other female that came within his orbit.

Stuart, That would have been Arthur Littlejohn  — an excellent sportsman in his day; he still lives in Wymondham. Sheila Blowers was probably P1a. She is currently running her own British Standards Compliance Consultancy in Norwich. Len must have picked up the fish tank on his way from the First to the Second Floor in Sovereign House. I have vague memory of the wind-propelled carollers. And, by the way, if you need any more Atwell/Kunz records I have some on the shelves. Real pianists, before Russ Conway was a twinkle  — but perhaps without the sophistication of Earl Hines, Basie and Peterson. I certainly remember Len's Royalist streak, and you are right about his having a special observer. Had he known, I am sure that he would have made the most of it. If he is still around, he will be 85 on 28 April. Only 15 years until HM's telegram . . . All the best, Reg

10 March 2010 – From Roy Arscott

Hello again Reg, Thanks for your reply to my email and thanks, also, for putting me in touch with Dave Martin.  You will know, of course, that he and I worked closely together for a period in eighties and we have now exchanged a couple of 'catching up' emails. Great. Best wishes, Roy

8 March 2010 – Still Stationery

Our Charity Shop Personal Shopper writes: Imagine my joy at encountering HMSO relics — two for 49p — in the excellent Oxfam, St Giles Street, Norwich. Code 28-627 from April 1980; Code 28-606 from April 1984. Nurse, the screens!

Who kept them for so long? Why? Who gave them to Oxfam? Why? Who was daft enough to buy them — Oh yes, that was me.

And the Magdalen Street Oxfam has a rare, unused, in the original cellophane, version of the 1980s Bluestripe HMSO tie at a prohibitive £2.99. I did not purchase — do you think I'm stupid? Reg

3 March 2010 – From Roy Arscott

Hi Reg, There is a possibility that you may just remember me! I have no claim to fame within HMSO (other than that I knew you!). I retired in 1995, having joined the department in 1970, starting in the Reprographic Centre in Basildon and moving to Norwich with dispersal. In 2001 my wife, Jill, and I made the move to southwest France that we had always coveted. We have since lived in the little rural village of Belpech in the Aude — part of the region of Longuedoc-Roussillon. The benefits of living here have been so much publicised that further detail is unnecessary but suffice to say that life here is little short of idyllic; we can see the Pyrenees from our sejour windows and just over an hour's driving takes across the border into Spain. We rarely visit the UK and the thought of moving back to what the country has become is appalling!

Trawling through your site I see many, many names of people I knew and liked — and a few that I knew and didn't like! My one reason, perhaps, for a very tiny slot in HMSO history is my direction of the Sovereign Singers from the time of my move to Norwich to just before I retired. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed that there was no mention whatsoever of the choir in your site. I like to think that we developed into quite an accomplished choir and became quite well known in Norwich. In fact, I think we were more recognised by the musical society in Norfolk than we ever were within the department! Having said that we were extremely well treated by our President, the much decorated Ken Allen, whom we all loved and respected; he was really very good to us. I have warm memories of summer parties he used to hold in his house for all the choir — in those days between thirty and forty members. I well remember one of those occasions when he announced that he expected us to perform in his garden to all his neighbours! We were totally unprepared but I think we made a good impression! One of the highlights was perhaps our production of the Bicentenary Concert in 1986 in St Peter Mancroft in Norwich, where we performed, amongst other works, a piece especially written for the occasion by David Berwick.

Memories. Some very good — some, frankly, not good. I still keep in touch with David Berwick and exchange Christmas cards with David Howes, CEO of Welfare in those days. After all this time I prefer to hang on to the good memories and forget the bad. My very best wishes to you and to anyone else who might be interested in receiving them. Roy Arscott

Hello Roy, I certainly remember you  — both at Basildon and in Publications. And, if course, in the Sovereign Singers. I will leave Dave Martin to add a few words as to how the Singers are doing these days. He still runs up the octaves, as do Reg Andrews and Phil Leach. Not sure whether Valerie Bailey still sings. We will see who responds to your timely message. Surprised that you find more to attract you in France than you did in Mundesley . . . the Manor Hotel . . . the fish and chips. Bliss! All the best to you and to Jill. Reg

Dave Martin adds:  Roy has it right when he laments — and deals with — the omission of any mention of Sovereign Singers in HMSOldies. Certainly I greatly enjoyed my years making music with the choir under Roy's more than capable wielding of the conductor's baton. I am sure that enjoyment was shared not only by the other singers but also by those who came to listen.

After Sovereign Singers were no more, Reg Andrews and I continued singing for some years under Martin Wyatt's (another former Sovereign Singer) direction at St Gregory's Choral Society until that was disbanded in 2003. I believe Reg is still musically active with a small choir in central Norwich.

Though I still sing regularly with a Norwich choir, I rarely encounter any former Sovereign Singers. I did talk with David Berwick some months ago and I also met Cym Cant by chance near Tesco in Guildhall Hill. Steve Adcock I see very occasionally around Long Stratton as he also lives here but that is about the sum total.

24 February 2010 – From George Rokahr

Dear Reg, I have just seen the e-mail from Cecil Hughes dated 8 February about Bill Ford's return to Norfolk. If you've got an address for him, I'll pop round and see him.
 
Josephine sent me a report by Fred Stubbs about HMSO winning first prize in the 1978 Lord Mayor's Street Procession. Fred asked if anybody could identify any more of the people on the float. The other person dressed up as a civil servant (apart from me) was Alan Milburn. I recognise one of the other HMSO people dressed up as a Frenchman but I'm damned if I can remember his name. He was transferred to Manchester because he was there when I was transferred there in 1986.

I can tell you a bit more about the float in 1978 because I organised the thing. Fred Stubbs was quite right in his description of the float. What Fred didn't tell you was that he fell off the float in St Stephens. He managed to get back on again but as he fell off, he took about 8 feet of the side of the float with him. We couldn't put it back! We got 30 quid as our first prize. We agreed in the organising committee that we would buy a tree with the money. I therefore bought that big prickly fir tree that is planted by the former warehouse door in St Crispins because the PSA gardening expert guaranteed that the thing would grow to at least 30 feet and block out a lot of light — and it has!

Hello George, Good to hear from you after all these years. Also good to be reminded of the Float. We will see if anyone comes up with the missing name. It all seems a long time ago  — but then, 22 years is long enough. All the best to you and yours. Hope to hear more from you in the future: we are short on salacious reminiscences! Reg

Stop Press: Gerry Aldus , John Rumball and Robin Kelly have remembered (and George has confirmed) that the man masquerading as  Un Francais was printer, union man and all-round good chap Terry Holcroft. Is he still in the Manchester area?

20 February 2010 - From Bob Avery

Dear Reg, Thanks for your congratulations, 44 years is correct and quite enough. Less said about the "send off" the better, the recent picture you sent of the Sovereign Club looks quite lively in comparison!

Meanwhile, attending the funeral of one of our church's congregation, the eulogy contained references to her working for The Stationery Office. The family also provided a biography with more details which your readers, although probably too young to remember her, may find still find interesting in a social or HMSO historical context.

Irene Alice Winifred Sheldrake (nee Brookman) 22.08.1913 – 26.09.2009

It appears that Irene worked for HMSO for around five years before April 1939, when she left to get married "as they didn’t employ married women in those days". This changed with the declaration of war in September and Irene went back to work at HMSO. In 1941 the Stationery Office was damaged by fire bombs. Much of it was wooden as it was the old royal stables. The staff had to move to flats in Oxford Street opposite Selfridges and took turns fire watching at night. Irene finally left HMSO in September 1942 to start a family.

Finally, I have just seen the latest references from Stuart McLaren about the winding up of the old TSO pension scheme. For my sins, I am still one of this scheme's (TSOPS) trustees and understand and share his frustration with the time this is taking, but it is not for the want of effort on the trustees part. He and the other deferred pensioners should be happy to know that TSOPS has been accepted into the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) which has two benefits. The FAS is a government backed scheme and is thus secure and the FAS provides pensioners with more of your pension entitlement than you would have got if the scheme just wound up and bought annuities with the funds. The last piece of the puzzle is the process of actually transferring the assets and liabilities of TSOPS to the FAS, which we hope to complete this year, providing the forthcoming election does not throw another regulatory spanner in the works.

Hello Bob, A lovely piece on Mrs Sheldrake, thank you. I am sure that she would have been before most of our readers' time, but several will remember the Oxford Street office. I am sure that many will also appreciate your good work on TSOPS. Luckily for me, I left before 'the experts' took us on . . . Best wishes. Reg

18 February 2010 - From Bob Avery

Dear Reg, I retired back in October 2009 and have just got around to getting myself onto the internet, which is why you haven’t had anything from me recently. Catching up on your information circulars since then has prompted a number of things.

Firstly the sad passing of Ray Miller. Although our official HMSO paths rarely crossed, my connection with him was during his Presidency of the Civil Service (Norwich) Rugby Club. The rugby club was set up in the early 1980’s largely by the efforts of HMSO’s Andy Polley with a core of other HMSO players, Terry Butler, Terry Tavener and myself. The rugby club provided an outlet for many Norwich rugby enthusiasts. Unlike John Wellington Wells Hockey club (October information circular), we got a team out most weeks and sometimes we won! Ray Miller followed a line of HMSO Controllers as President of the Rugby Club, but unlike his predecessors he actually turned up to home matches and functions and bought beer. Regardless of the results Ray was always in jovial mood, especially when cradling a scotch. His support was always welcome and that of his wife Audrey who invariably provided his taxi home. Happy days. Regards, Bob Avery

Hello Bob, First of all, congratulations on the retirement. 44 years with both SOs  — HM and T  — according to my staff list. I hope they gave you a good send-off. Remember the days when such events were held the Sovereign Club? A sad looking place these days. By the way, I like the 'rtd' in your email address. A fine reminiscence of Ray, thank you. I certainly have good memories of 'clubbable' Ray from when I was Secretary of the Bystanders Society  — a haunt of many an Anglia Television/Norwich Union/HMSO etc employee looking for non-Watney sociability. Best wishes  — and I can tell you from experience that the first 14 years goes like a flash. Reg

16 February 2010 – HMSO in Literature

Ever on the look-out for references to HMSO (well, it’s easier than getting a life) we were pleased to hear the reference in John le Carré’s The Honourable Schoolboy  when it was broadcast on Radio 4 recently. In this connection, we are indebted to Stuart McLaren, who recalled that John Hadfield’s 1959 novel Love on a Branch Line  also makes mention of the old firm.

The story revolves around events in East Anglia, with many of the protagonists working in the Civil Service. And there, on page 245 of the hardback published by the Alastair Press, we find the following:

‘I understand,’ I said, ‘that you are actually on the permanent staff of the Stationery Office: you are only on loan to our Ministry.’ He (Mr Quirk) nodded. ‘On loan for seventeen years, so far.’ ‘You will automatically go back to the Stationery Office, then. There’s no need at all for you to worry about the future.’ He clutched the cricket ball in tense fingers.’

No mention of which job Mr Quirk returned to, or whether he is still getting his pension.

Any other references to HMSO in Literature would be welcomed. Possibly even more gripping than those mentioned above, but we somehow doubt it.

(Ed.)

13 February 2010 – From Stuart McLaren

Reg, Speaking of references to HMSO in literature (viz. in John le Carre's The Honourable Schoolboy  ), my favourite is in John Hadfield's Love on a Branch Line , which was published by Hutchinson in 1959 and made into a TV series first broadcast on BBC One in 1994. This heady mix of cricket, bureaucratic ineptitude, steam trains, jazz and sex set somewhere in East Anglia in the 1950s has a minor character named Quirk, played in the TV series by the lugubrious Stephen Moore — better known as the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy . Quirk is assistant to Professor Pollux, head of the Department of Output Statistics, which had been decanted from Whitehall to the country estate of Lord Flamborough during the Second World War and then quietly forgotten about. Quirk is described as being "on loan from the Stationery Office, and as there's no job for him there they've been quite content to leave him where he is." I believe Quirk may have been the inspiration for a number of HMSO deputy directors over the years. Best wishes, Stuart McLaren

Stuart, Great stuff! I must look out for a copy during my second-hand bookshop visits. I have a vague memory of the television series, but must have missed the reference. Reg

12 February 2010 – From Stuart McLaren

Hi Reg, I've just come across a cartoon by Osbert Lancaster which references HMSO. It features on the dust jacket and inside a book by C. Northcote Parkinson (of "Parkinson's Law" fame) entitled The Law of Delay, which was published in 1970 by John Murray.

The cartoon illustrates what Parkinson defined as "Negation by Delay" (ND): "The theory of ND depends upon establishing a rough idea of what amount of delay will equal negation. If we suppose a drowning man will call for help, evoking the reply 'In due course', a judicious pause of five minutes may constitute for all practical purposes, a negative response."

Those waiting for the TSO Pension scheme to be wound up will appreciate the concept. Best wishes, Stuart McLaren

Hello Stuart, Well found  — and very appropriate. This is the second such HMSO mention this month: Radio Four's 'Smiley Season' made brief reference in a recent version of 'The Honourable Schoolboy.' Perhaps we are gaining popularity now that we are 14 years into history. All the best. Reg

8 February 2010 – From Cecil Hughes: Bill's Back

Cecil Hughes has passed on the following news. Bill's full address is obtainable from The Editor.

‘Hi Reg, I'm sure that you will remember Bill Ford — an Edinburgh lad who retired from the old firm in Norwich many years ago. He moved to Kelso some years ago, but advancing years (84) and deteriorating health have persuaded him to return to Norwich. He is now living in Rackheath, where I visited him today (8 February 2010). He is cheerful but a bit lonely and will be glad to see visitors at any time. Best wishes, Cecil’

8 February 2010 - From Brian Ekers re George Rose

Reg, Further to a recent entry concerning George Rose. A distant relative of mine was instrumental in my joining HMSO Drury Lane Press as an apprentice in 1952. The relatives name was Percy Rose, he was a linotype operator at Drury Lane and had a long career at Drury Lane Press, retiring around the early 1980s I think. His father (very possibly a compositor) also was a long-term employee of HMSO in London print and could be the George Rose mentioned in the enquiry. Brian Ekers.

8 February 2010 – From Stuart McLaren: HMSO Roll of Honour

Has anyone ever come across an HMSO Roll of Honour of HMSO for the Second World War? As many of you will remember a Roll of Honour plaque for Great War casualties used to reside in the foyer of Sovereign House in Norwich having previously been held at various London offices.

(see http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/NorwichHMSO.html
for more information).

Following privatisation in 1996 it moved with the residual HMSO to St Clements House, Colegate, Norwich. Following OPSI/HMSO's merger with The National Archives in 2006, it moved again, this time to The National Archives building in Kew, Surrey. I understand it has yet to find a permament resting place there and is currently "in store" so there is nowhere for people to lay a wreathe of poppies for Remembrance Day. Alan Pawsey tells me that The National Archives are considering creating a single war memorial composed of the names of employees from its three constituent parts, the Public Record Office, HMSO and the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. Unfortunately, they are finding if difficult to come up with a definitive list of names. No list of HMSO employees who died on active service or as civilians during air raids on HMSO buildings has yet come to light. Any clues? Best wishes, Stuart McLaren

Stuart. Thank you. We will see if anyone has the appropriate information. Reg

8 February 2010 – From Chris Cole

Reg, Never thought I would be an OLDY, but there you are. Retired from 3MSPSL (HMSO Manchester Press) in September 2009. At 65 you have to go. As you may recall, or may not, I spent most of my thirty-odd years in Tech Services, and then transferred to Manchester. Spent three years on "sabbatical" with Bob Mills and Johnny Brook before returning to the fold. I have been lucky, printing when I started was as in the late 1800s, my first job was cleaning glass and making film, wet plate, for the gallery cameras, cyanide etc for those that can remember. The first Journeyman to get a degree in Printing. Joined HMSO in 1975.

I have had a great time in HMSO, it's a long story from the day I joined HMSO, been round the world several times, all at the tax-payers' expense. Manchester was in the 19th century when I first went there, and when I left we were in the 21st with every form of printing there is, screen, flexo, offset, intaglio, paper and plastic. Now just retired and enjoying it. Give my regards to all who may have known me. Being retired it's great to look back, but one does miss the people. Kind regards, Chris Cole

Hello Chris, Great to hear from you. I certainly remember you in Tech, and occasionally wonder what you and the other Manchester Survivors are up to. I have heard, in the past, from Roy Mynott and Keith Mayhew, and we covered the story of Johnny Brook's new career. Have you heard from him lately? He was an excellent salesman, and I accompanied him on a trip to Vehicle Inspectorate, Swansea, on one memorable occasion. And what of Bob Mills? The first time I saw him, in a Norwich pub, I could tell he was a salesman (that was a compliment in those days)  — he even acted as 'Landlord' to Eric Hendry and Gerry Aldus when they stayed in Theydon Bois during their exile to London. Doubtless he is still following International Cricket.

My Green Book tells me that you joined HMSO 25 years ago come 10 March next. I'm afraid we have no Carriage Clocks left to send you, but I am sure that old colleagues will be pleased to read your note on HMSOldies. We may have an informal lunchtime in Norwich during early Summer (arrangements yet to be made), and it would be good to see you again if you can make it. Best wishes, and keep enjoying it. The first fifteen years just fly by . . . Reg

Rational Thinking

Our occasional correspondent, Conway Stewart — we can’t find him in the Staff List, it might be a pen-name — is usually so vitriolic he makes Jimmy Wheeler sound like Mabel Constanduros (one for the teenagers there).

However, he has at last produced something printable, and as a recent survey indicates that HMSOldies readership comprises 68% born in 1942 or before, this may bring back memories. He is indebted to Ben Schott for the information:

‘The following is the basic weekly food ration for an adult in 1942, supplemented by a system of monthly points for additional purchases:

Meat to the value of 1s 2d; Bacon and ham 4 oz; Butter 2 oz, Cheese 2-8 oz; Margarine 4 oz; Cooking fat 4 oz; Milk 2-3 pints; Sugar 8 oz; Tea 2 oz; Eggs 1. Monthly ration: Preserves 1 lb; Dried eggs 1 packet; Sweets 12 oz.’

What has this to do with HMSO? Well, who do you think printed the Ration Books? Remember this list when you are heaving a great trolley around Iceland on Two-for-One day, and join the fight for a slimmer Britain by signing up on www.bringbackrationingandsavetheplanet.com

David Currie 1924-2010

Jim MacCallum passed on the following sad news on 27 January 2010: 

'Dave Currie has died after a short illness.  He was very well known throughout HMSO. Having joined the office in Edinburgh, he then served for some time in Atlantic House, Sovereign House and finally back to Edinburgh. He joined HMSO in 1950 and was promoted to HEO (Computer Services) in 1968. He recently had a very severe stroke and had he survived it would have meant spending the rest of his life in nursing homes etc being looked after by medical staff — and that would have been very difficult for Dave to have come to terms with.

As it happens, the monthly old boys lunches in Edinburgh have come to an end. Our lunch last Christmas had only four of us there, so we decided that enough was enough so that Xmas lunch was the last. We have been meeting monthly since 1983 — so we have had a good crack of the whip.  I will miss the camaraderie but it was a long way for me in particular to travel — especially in the winter. Andy Baptie is also not having an easy time of it. He is in Liberton Hospital and the last time I 'phoned the hospital they said he was due to come home shortly. They have told me that before so I take it with a pinch of salt. Sorry not to have some cheery news for you — but at our age you can't expect anything else!'

Hello Jim, Sad news indeed. I have happy memories of times with him on two three-week  'Cost and Management Accountancy' courses in London in the early 1970s. He was very good company  — especially at a wine tasting we attended at the Civil Service Club (where the over-keen organiser unveiled 48 bottles for tasting  — among what turned out to be a dozen participants). Sad to see that your meetings have come to an end. I can understand why, especially at this time of year. You might rally for a Summer event if the mood takes you  — if so, we would enjoy any report you may wish to send. Take care, and belated good wishes for 2010. Reg

25 January 2010 – From Sid Brooks

Dear Reg, The piece about the 50,000,000 Insurance Cards jogged a memory of my early days when I had the job of publishing Statutory Instruments.  In one short period in1948 we had overwhelming numbers of them (many very large) all being produced at the same time at the Drury Lane Press in connection with the start of the National Insurance Scheme and the National Health Service. The overtime there was phenomenal and the paper store at Wembley was virtually emptied! When all the excitement was over I spoke to my opposite number (Waddell?) at Drury Lane and ask how they had managed to cope with such an unprecedented workload. "No problem" was the reply, "some of us were here when Lloyd George produced his schemes and we planned accordingly"! Kindest Regards as ever, Sid

Dear Sid, A lovely reminiscence, which fits well on HMSOldies. And what a wonderful memory you must have. I went to my 1954 Staff list and, under Grade II Overseers there was the name: James Young Waddell, working at Drury Lane in the Linotype Department. He was born in 1904, joined HMSO in 1930, and was at the time on a pay scale between £  685-£  800. A lifetime (or more) ago and recalled in an instant! Very best wishes, and thank you. Reg

15 January 2010 - From Paul Williams

Dear Mr Walker, I am researching my family history. George Rose, my Great Grandfather I believe was employed as a compositor in Shepherdess Walk, from about 1890 until about 1925. I have been told he then became a manager of a HMSO works in Hackney until his death in 1931. All this is based on verbal testimony and I would be grateful of any hard evidence. Is it possible you might be able to help.
Regards, Paul Williams

Hello Paul, Thank you for your note. I am afraid that HMSOldies does not keep formal records of HMSO employees, and that our informal information only stretches back into living memory. If you have not tried National Archives at Kew I suggest you access their website and take it from there. We will post a note onto the HMSOldies website just in case any of our readers has information.

The HMSO History (ISBN 0 11 701304 8) contains the following note:
'The National Insurance Act of 1911 meant having to deliver 50 million membership cards and other forms to 20,000 addresses. For the distribution of forms on this scale they acquired a sausage and meat factory in Shepherdess Walk in North London, where they installed mechanical addressing and warehousing equipment. It was known to Stationery Office staff as ''The Ice Well''.'

'1919: SO takes over India Office Library from Eyre and Spottiswoode . . . 1922: War Office Press taken over from Harrison and Sons . . . 1923 SO assumes responsibility for Admiralty Chart Establishment production at Cricklewood (until 1929) . . .1927: SO takes over British Museum Bindery.'

I am sorry not to have been more help. Good luck in your quest! Reg Walker



Changes to Name or Status

We seem to remember that this was the paragraph heading used in HMSO Information Circulars. It has yet to be used by HMSOldies. We have had a surfeit of Deaths, and one Birth (to Mr and Mrs David Horn) but no 'Changes.' Until now:

Ian and Shirley Smith both worked for HMSO in Manchester and Norwich. Shirley left the office in Norwich, and Ian survived two years with the post-privatisation organisation in Manchester. Now living in Oldham, they have decided to change the family name by Deed Poll from Smith to Loughlin with immediate effect.

In answer to the obvious question, Loughlin was indeed the surname proudly borne by Shirley before marriage.

Lucien Basle: Funeral arrangements

Further to earlier information published in this Information Circular, the Eastern Daily Press  dated 7 January 2010 carried the following notice:

'Lucien Basle, of Godfrey Place, Sprowston, passed away at NNUH on 12 December 2009 aged 83. Funeral mass at St. George's RC Church, Sprowston Road, Norwich on Monday 18 January at 10 a.m. followed by cremation at Earlham Crematorium. Any enquiries to John Brown Funeral services (telephone 01603 419397)'. 



Lena McDonald 1938-2009

We are sad to report the following from the Eastern Daily Press  dated 5 January 2010:

'Lena McDonald: peacefully passed away at the NNUH on 22 December 2009 aged 71. The funeral service will take place at St. Faith's crematorium on Friday 15 January at 10.15 a.m. Family flowers only . . . donations to McMillan Cancer Support c/o Gordon Barber Funeral Home, 317 Aylsham Road, Norwich NR3 2AB.'

Lena worked in HMSO Reprographic Unit and was married to Jim, who died in January 2009.'

Raymond Miller 1925-2009

Sad news from Karen Sullivan: 'Ray Miller (ex Head of Engineering Services and Safety Adviser) died last week (Tues 29 Dec I believe). He spent Christmas with his stepdaughter (Audrey’s oldest daughter, Deborah who also used to work at HMSO). He was taken ill, went into hospital given antibiotics and went home but unfortunately passed away. He had been getting gradually more frail over the past few months and the few chats I had with him by our cars on our drives were few and far between. I do not have any details re the funeral but apparently a notice will appear in the EDP. Regards Karen.'

The Norwich Evening News  dated 6 January gives the following details: Funeral to take place at Colney Woodland Burial Park on Friday 15 January at 1.30pm. Family flowers only.

Ray joined HMSO in 1962 and transferred to Norwich with Works Division. He lived in Reepham with his wife Audrey, who died in 2009.

Lucien Yves Basle – funeral arrangements revised information

Ian Hatfield has, on 22 December, given the following revised information regarding Lucien's funeral arrangements:

‘Further to my earlier message, I have heard today that Lucien's solicitors have cancelled the funeral on 4 January and for the time being are not making any alternative arrangements. I am not aware of why this has happened.'

Lucien Yves Basle 1926-2009

We are sad to record the following, reported by Ian Hatfield:

'Just a brief note to let you and others that might have known him, know that Lucien, former Paperkeeper in Business Supplies died peacefully in the NN university Hospital on 12 December, aged 83. Lucien joined HMSO in 1974. His funeral will be at St George's RC church Sprowston Road, on Monday 4 January 2010, at 10am.

Happy Christmas to yourself and all the HMSOldies'. Ian Hatfield

Good to hear from you, albeit with sad news. I remember Lucien well, from the old days in Office Services, where he worked with Pat Hampson, Bob Alexander, Sam Smithson, Fred Boldero, Ralph Dye, Basil Woodhouse and many others long gone. Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Reg

John (Shaun) Struthers 1929-2009

We are sad to record the following entry from the Deaths column of the Eastern Daily Press  dated 15 December 2009:

‘John (Shaun) Struthers on November 30th in hospital. Ex HMSO; late of Pelham Road, Norwich. Funeral Service at Earlham Crematorium on Monday 21 December at 3.45 pm. Family flowers only.’

Shaun was born on 2 January 1929, in Northern Ireland. He joined the RAF band at an early age, taking his B flat bass to several countries worldwide before settling in North London, where he worked for the Decca Record Company. In 1966 he joined HMSO, working in the Accounts Department in Wembley. Dispersal to Norwich brought promotion to Sovereign House Cashier. He was a keen pipesmoker, becoming the first Treasurer (subsequently Secretary) of the Pipe Club of Norfolk in 1973 [see Picture Gallery]. Neighbours to his flat in Pelham Grove were often entertained by his post-Mill Tavern serenades played on his electronic organ.

15 December 2009 - From Mary Robinson

Wishing all oldies a very happy Christmas and a good 2010. Very hot: 40 tomorrow. I would prefer below zero, but can't have it all ways. Luv Mary

Hello Mary, My word, you suffer for your pleasure down there. Many thanks for your good wishes, which are heartily reciprocated. Have a good Christmas and a cool (weather, that is) New Year.  Audax at Fidelis, as they say in Brisbane. Reg

13 December 2009 – Anyone Free on Fri 18 December?

Hi Reg, Firstly, Seasons Greetings to you and all your readers. At this time of year I am always reminded of the HMSO Christmas Lunches, particularly those which were held in the Belmonte  on Prince of Wales Road. Obviously, everyone was keen to get back as soon as possible, but for whatever reason the staff always seemed to take their time serving, with the average lunch taking as long as 4 hours.

Do you know whether anyone is planning to meet at The Eagle  any time before Christmas? If not, can I suggest 4.0pm onwards on Friday 18th December. Regards, Andy Taylor

Hello Andy, Good to hear from you. Thank you for your Season's Greetings. I remember those lunches. Can't remember whether I was invited, or just turned up. I seem to remember some photographs . . . Pre-Christmas is difficult for some of us, but Marian Fox has asked the same question. What we can do is to publish your note on HMSOldies and see what response we receive. Best wishes to you and yours. Reg

Piers Mawhood

We are sad to learn of the death of Piers Mawhood who worked in Graphic Design, Atlantic House, from 1974 until dispersal to Norwich in 1978.

Nodge Carnegie has added his own thoughts:

‘I had the highest regard and great affection for Piers during his time in the GD studio. He was serious, intense and creative when it came to design and I always had the impression that he was capable of much more than the work in hand allowed. Certainly, his talents went way beyond what the day job required. Among the many 'treasures' retained from GD days is a Christmas card from Piers, one of those reduced-to-a-minimum images which manages to convey much more than it shows. (Peter Branfield had this skill; a different way of 'seeing', mentally filtering, and making images.) We shared a passion for the music of Vaughan Williams — me venturing tentatively beyond old favourites such as 'The Wasps', the Fantasia on 'Greensleeves', and the Tallis Fantasia, and Piers as a life-long listener. He was so enthusiastic, articulate and precise that he opened up all sorts of musical avenues for me to explore.

Piers listened to many types of music beyond that of VW and 20th century British composers, though. He was a regular lunchtime visitor to GD6 — the forms design room. Piers, Gerry [Watt] and I had wonderful, enjoyable and often hilarious talks about the pop music, folk club music, and jazz of our younger days. One such conversation brought about an unforgettable gem. In characteristic fashion (I'm sorry to admit), I was raving on about some half-forgotten group or singer of the mid-1960s. Piers smiled and described this as 'Nodge-stalgia' — which Gerry immediately approved of and endorsed. He was, as Ken [Arnoldi] might say, a gent and a scholar. A wonderful man.
 
It comes as a shock when colleagues 'go', more so when such folks made such a significant impression. My thoughts will be with his widow; I met her a couple of times and thought that she and Piers were made for each other.’

10 December 2009 – From Chris Joyce

Hello Reg, I found this website when googling the name of an ex-manager of the ADP team based at Cornwall House. We were responsible under Sid Brooks and Leon de Brunner for the implementation (eventually!) of the MDC project that moved the operation to Nine Elms Lane. Has anyone else from that outfit made contact with HMSOldies? I'd like to know what happened to (some of) them! For the record, I left Nine Elms in 1996 and now live in Swanage during the summer and Phuket, Thailand during the winter. Regards, Chris Joyce

Hello Chris, What a welcome surprise! I was only talking to Alan Cole and Chris Penn the other day about old times at Cornwall House . . . the Publications Distribution Project Team for the 'new' (and now demolished) Main Distribution Centre at Nine Elms. Other famous names were John Owen, Ranee Fernando, Bob White, Gavin Turner, John Tunbridge, and John Balls, to whom I reported.  Apart from John Owen and Ranee, from whom I have not heard, I know that the others are still around. Swanage and Phuket sounds idyllic compared with Waterloo and Nine Elms. I knew you would make good! Best wishes, and please keep in touch. Reg

John Norman (Jack) Palmer 1926-2009

We are sad to report that Jack died on 5 December 2009. Pat Kennedy spoke to his widow, Marie, and reports as follows:

'Jack died in hospital on Saturday morning 5 December 2009 and his funeral will be at the St Faiths Crematorium, Norwich at 12.30pm on Monday 21 December. Jack was 82, born 12 December 1926 and joined HMSO in 1955. He was formerly Deputy Director, Print Procurement Division and he previously worked in Accounts Division.'

9 December 2009 - Information for Imminent Pensioners

4 December 2009 – From Geoff Palmer

Hi, I am trying to find Michael John Harrington. We worked together at Drury Lane and Pocock Street from 1957 to 1964 in the Composing Room. I have spoken to the other Michael [Terry] Harrington and he suggested that I contact you. Look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Geoff Palmer

Hello Geoff, Thank you for your note, which we will add to HMSOldies and see who surfaces! All the best. Reg



Joseph West 1926-2009

Judy Tassell has alerted us to the following article, which appeared in The Daily Telegraph  dated 3 December 2009;

‘The family values David Beckham preaches to his sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz in Los Angeles come from his upbringing, so the death of the man he regarded as his mentor will hit him hard. Beckham learned of the death of Joe West, his 83 year old maternal grandfather, soon after arriving in South Africa . . . Beckham was christened David Robert Joseph Beckham — taking his Grandfather’s name — by parents Ted and Sandra, who moved to Chingford, Essex, where the youngster soon displayed his unique skills . . Beckham’s devotion to his grandfather was shown when the player went to Buckingham Palace with his wife to collect his OBE in 2003. The family arrived in two chauffeur-driven Bentleys, one for the Beckhams and one for his grandparents, Joe and Peggy. And in 2006 he is said to have chartered a private jet to get him to his birthday party. Beckham often cited his grandfather as his sporting inspiration (he took him to matches and encouraged him to attend the Tottenham Hotspur school of excellence) and eldest son Brooklyn also has the middle name Joseph.’

Joe West [see Picture Gallery], who is understood to have been unwell for some time, was employed by HMSO in Cornwall House for many years, and became Imperial Father of the SOGAT Chapel.

Tony Gummett adds:  I was sorry to see that Joe West had died. Although as IFOC he always represented his SOGAT members strenuously, on the many occasions we had to face up to each other, I always found we could settle issues amicably (even if some took time to resolve: one particularly serious dispute comes to mind). In those days, of course, David Beckham had not yet become 'news', but I can well understand the regard with which he held his Grandfather.

Brian Whitefield adds:  I too had experience of working with Joe West. He was one of the SOGAT representatives on the Cornwall House Canteen Committee, presided over by Reg Higgs and later Andrew McDonald, on which I represented the IPCS. One of his colleagues was loud, voluble, spoke like a Peter Sellars caricature of a union official and was always going on about how the canteen should better serve his members. More than once to Reg's relief Joe told him to shut up because his members didn't use the canteen, being better served by their exclusive ground mess room (and its supplies of dubious origin). Joe must have mellowed in his political views in later life. The man I knew would never have deigned to set foot in Buck House.
Happy Christmas, Brian

Hello Brian, Good to hear from you  — especially about Cornwall House days. I recently came across someone who worked at the Reveille, the other side of Stamford Street, where many from the warehouse would also lunch. The place is now a Gymnasium. The indignity! All the best, and a Happy Christmas to you too. Reg

Alec F Thorington 1936-2009

Chris Ladbrooke (office2office) has alerted us to the sad news that Alec died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 21 November 2009. He joined HMSO in 1985 and worked in various sections, retiring from S16.

As reported in the EDP, 'a celebration of his life will be held at Colney Wood on Friday 4 December at 2.15 pm . . . donations, if desired, to the Renal Fund at NNUH'.

Professor Paul Radbourne adds:

Hello Reg. I was enormously saddened to read about Alec Thorington today. He was perhaps one of the most humourous people I ever met. But he didn't retire from S16.

Alec last worked with me in S1 after they reorganised Supply Division before privatisation.



25 November 2009 – From Roy Stonehouse, North Uist

In October 2009 Geoff Bedford told me that he had encountered, quite by accident, Roy Stonehouse and family in a layby at Tyndrum. They were on their way to Dublin for a holiday. To cut a long story short, we tracked down his address on the Isle of North Uist, and wrote to him. Roy was born in 1916 and joined the public service in 1934. He moved to HMSO in 1956, and had a varied career, as can be seen from his letter, reproduced below:

Dear Reg, I am indeed the Stonehouse of Manchester, Belfast and the Western Region — Bristol and Cardiff. I never worked at Atlantic House or Norwich, but obviously spent a fair amount of time there on visits and meetings etc. Cornwall House I did visit twice whilst Warehouse Manager at Manchester, and remember John Brookbank well. We went together on the plane once to Edinburgh from London — he was on a panel for Warehouse Supervisors.

Like Charles (Charlie to me) Bradshaw, I have serious eye trouble — blind in the left and currently having monthly injections into the right to arrest macular degeneration. My wife Jean is also not well and I am her carer.

But enough of that stuff. We still get around, but the last visit to Norfolk was a spur of the moment visit to see Geoff Bedford on the way back from Germany in 2005 or 2006. But long journeys are becoming a problem as neither of us is currently driving — although my GP told me recently that I could. It was indeed a million to one chance when we met Geoff recently at Tyndrum.

Since retiring we have gardened as a hobby and travelled the world. We visited and travelled the length of Malaysia, Australia for three months, New Zealand twice, South Africa, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands twice . . . America about ten times, Mexico twice, Hawaii five or six times, Argentina, ten days above the Arctic Circle, all independently and by car.

Our entertainment here in The Outer Hebrides is negligible — reading, watching television etc etc. but we are still followers of Manchester United — always on the television (I was born not a mile from the Ground). My first visit was in 1923 when my Dad took me!

I hope you will excuse the scrawl [ in fact the letter is impeccably hand-written  — RW ]   and the drivel but I am finding it difficult to see what I am writing any longer. But I am hoping things will improve, and so does the eye specialist.

Once again, nice of you to write. I would like to have a copy of your regular reports and become a member but unfortunately not a very active one, I’m afraid.

Yours sincerely, Roy Stonehouse

PS I would be interested to know about the previous Controller, Cliff Bayliss, and also Jack Cherns. Sorry to hear about Andy Woolway, who worked at Manchester with me.

22 November 2009 – Ernest Bray and CRS

Hello Reg, Just spotted your request for info about Ernest Bray and happily I worked with him. When I joined HMSO at Cavendish Square Ernie was an unestablished CO working in the Castings and Allocation Section in Accounts Division — in essence paying contractors' bills for printing work. Norman Reeves was the senior CO with Trevor Wainwright his deputy. Ernie took me under his wing and soon showed me the mysteries of accounts work. Cav Square of course was heavily bomb damaged and we soon moved to Bainbridge Street. Eventually C & A Section were early occupants in Atlantic House and in one of the many divisional transfers Ernie moved into Supplies in 'WAG' Garwood's area from where he retired (in the early 60's I believe). One of the "old school" and a thoroughly decent character who helped mould my early career.

Re the CRS Farewell photo [see Picture Gallery, 1978: CRS Farewell Party (1) ] I can now provide details of the group line-up:

Back: Keith Battye, John Nash, Frank Wright, Bill Chisholm, Arnold Martyn, Tim Cutbill
Middle: Stan Smith, Alec Gravatt, Mabel Denton, Kay Jordan
Front: Tim Riley, Jack Ruskin, Keith Batchelor, Brian Gardener

The mystery is where was George (noble duke of) York in this picture? Perhaps he took this one, for a second shot does exist with him in it! Hope this info is of some interest and that you and the rest of the "gang" are OK.

Regards, John Nash on the Isle of Wight

A most welcome surprise note from John Nash, who many will remember from CRS and as Chief Training Officer in Norwich. He now lives in self-imposed exile as Honorary Lieutenant-General of the Isle of Wight. My old schoolfriend will be delighted to hear that someone remembers his grandfather, Ernest Bray. And I am relieved to be reminded that Jack's surname [see Picture Gallery, 1978: CRS Farewell Party (1) ] was Ruskin. We had remembered Bill Chisholm, but did not update the photo caption at the time. I understand that George York is still thriving, somewhere in the West of England. Reg

13 November 2009 – From Mary Robinson (in Australia)

Hello Reg, Nice to receive your note.  Afraid that, as before, the goings on in the Typing Pools remain just a memory.  In 1998, when I was in the UK, there was a reunion and 70 of the girls enjoyed a 'down memory lane' experience. They came from all over the UK — they were a grand bunch of girls.

It ain't 'arf 'ot 'ere, Five days on the trot over 30 degrees, followed by 6 days over 35 degrees and summer doesn’t start until 1 December. Already two big fires, but no loss of property or life. It is not a good outlook for this World Class City of Sport.

I wouldn't win any prizes for my garden: most of it got burnt and almost dead. With this heat wave we are very limited with the use of water and no rain again for weeks.

Swine Flu is on the decline at the moment and almost everyone is lining up for the vaccination. Hope everyone stays free. Take care. Luv Mary

Hello Mary, Great to hear from you. Without wishing to rub it in, I am sitting beside the fire and it has been raining on and off all day. And there is more to come. You will see the reports on HMSOldies from Philip Marriage's lengthy stay in your backyard (if you can call 7,741,220 cubic kilometres a back yard) and I have asked him to add your note. HMSOldies is becoming transcontinental. Keep out of the sun  — I will send you an ice parcel when the snow arrives  — when our garden looks at its best. Best wishes. Reg

13 November 2009 - From Ivor Hosgood

Dear Music-lovers, The trustees are delighted to announce details of the second of two concerts featuring up-and-coming young musicians. This will be on Sunday 6 December at the United Reformed Church, Princes Street, Norwich, at 2.30 pm. (Doors open at 2.00 pm)

Appearing are Maxim Calver (Violoncello) with Stella Calver (Piano) James Maragone (Oboe) with Marie Atter (Piano) Hannah Parry-Ridout (Organ) George Stronge (Trumpet) with Henry Macey (Piano) and Georgina Whitehead (Classical Guitar). Music to be performed include works by Bach, Bridge, Bruhns, Dring, Elgar, Goedicke, Gottermann, Hayden, Ponce, Sachse, Saint-Saëns and Vierne. Programme may be subject to alteration.

Admission is by programme at £6 each (Under 18s, £3 each) which may be reserved by ordering directly from the trust or purchased at the door. Prices include post-concert light refreshments.

Yours sincerely, Ivor Hosgood MBE
Chairman-Secretary, The Norfolk Youth Music Trust
Tel. 01603-279742
Website: www.norfolk-youth-music-trust.org.uk

12 November 2009 – Blooming Good Show

Thanks to all of those who voted for Terry Bane's 'Norwich In Bloom' photograph in the Amberol competition. He won first prize, as the following website shows.

http://www.norwichinbloom.co.uk/AmberolPhotoCompetition2008.html

7 November 2009 - Adventure before Dementia

Hi Reg, I must say I was surprised to discover my daily jottings to you and others whilst in Oz, appearing in nail-biting instalments on HMSOldies [see Memories 'Marriage Lines' entries]. However as someone emailed me later, it makes a welcome relief from all the obits. I think the 'Memories' section is the appropriate place for them, perhaps consolidated into one document for those soporifically challenged.

There was one part of our trip which might be of more general interest, at least to the very oldest of your readership. We stayed a few days in Lilli Pilli, near Batesmans Bay on Australia's east coast, not far from the home of John Pitson. John worked for HMSO 1938-64 first as an apprenticed compositor at Harrow Press, then typographer for 13 years in the embryonic Design Studio under Harry Carter, then for a short while in Printing & Binding Division (as it was in those days) before immigrating to Australia to set up a Graphic Design Studio at the AGPS — Australia's equivalent to HMSO.

It was due to John's efforts that I spent my entire career with HMSO. I wrote to John Westwood, the then Head of Typographic Design and Layout, asking about opportunities for graphic designers with HMSO and he very kindly agreed to meet me and, more importantly, to show me the studio. It was John Pitson who took me around and, as we finished, asked if I would be interested in a secondment — if it could be arranged — to the studio from my apprenticeship as a compositor at St Stephen's Press. It was agreed and I spent six months working there in 1964. Shortly after a vacancy occurred, to which I was successful, and the rest is history.

My designer friend, Adrian Young (who worked for short periods for both HMSO and AGPS) and I visited John Pitson at his retirement home in Broulee and spent an hour or so reminiscing about old times touching on working with Harry Carter ("a gentleman and scholar"), plus the other early HMSO designers like David Napthine, Arthur Phillips, Albert Hyde and artist Sydney Stead, then later Heads Alan Dodson and John Westwood. He particularly asked to be remembered to designer Jeffrey Tabberner who visited him in Australia some years earlier. He had a high regard for them all.

John is 91 now and, on his own admittance, a bit wobbly on his feet but he made us most welcome and showed us around his house, built as part of a retirement village. He was keen to show us his paintings, lining the walls of his converted garage and his latest work, almost finished, which he was expecting to raffle for a local charity. He uses another room, complete with easel and paints in which to work. As well as spending a good deal of his time painting he also enjoys regular games of snooker with his pals in the nearby community hall. He seemed pleased we'd visited and his parting shot was "Nice to know that you're not forgotten. Good on ya". Philip Marriage

Philip, Yes, your Newsletters are well received  —several readers have been to/have relations in Australia, and other are interested in 'nature.' Some are even interested in Wineries . . . Nice piece re Mr Pitson. My 1961 Staff List has him working as HTO in Layout on a pay scale of £1222-£1430. Born 15 July 1918, established 18 May 1948, HTO 12 May 1954. D Napthine and N Akehurst were TOs in Layout at the time. SB Stead was Leading Illustrator. Albert Hyde: wasn't he the HMSO man in MOD Woolwich in the 1960s? All the best, Reg

31 October 2009 – From John Wellington Wells: It’ll Never
                                                                                    Catch On?

Technology's a marvellous thing. You would, for instance, be deprived of the pleasure of reading this without it, and some may feel there are even greater benefits than that. But technology comes at a price. Thirty years ago we were not besieged by emails or driven mad by mobiles – but this is standard grumpy old man stuff (though none the worse for that). My purpose today is to look back at some of HMSO's earlier flirtations with technology. I remember a special fax room, in which lived a closely guarded machine that at the press of a button could send from Norwich to London page after page of black smudges with perfect fidelity.  Senior officers were privileged to have a loudspeaker phone, the size of a suitcase, which enabled them to give an uncanny impression of someone speaking an unknown language from the bottom of a municipal swimming pool. The remote meeting table extended the idea of conference calls, and overcame the echo by dint of heavily padded walls which reduced the crispest voice to an ominous murmur.

Over at the CRS dem room – ah, but mention of CRS reminds me: originally the initials stood for Co-ordination of Reproduction Systems, but some smutty-minded folk seem to have seen a double meaning, and the title was changed to Co-ordination of Reprographic Systems. CRS's enemies in Supplies eventually managed to get the whole outfit abolished, but the initials live on in the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité, who are the French riot police – even scarier than Stan Smith after lunch or Jonathan Holtom in his motorbike gear. Where was I? Yes, the dem room, where Frank Wright once got his tie caught in the rollers of a litho printer, making me an instant convert to bow ties, which though a touch precious are at least AdMulti proof. The high-tech of 1975 was represented by word processing machines with the new tape cassette technology replacing paper tape, and I'm not sure there wasn't even a very early form of floppy disk – so early, indeed, that it was, well – floppy.

But not all was new. Let's hear it for carbon paper, for OHMS envelopes, for huge adding machines powered by vast levers, manual typewriters (why can't I bring myself to throw my old Olivetti portable out?), phones with dials, switchboard operators, briefcases with the Royal cipher on the front, Kalamazoos, telexes, Government Issue loo rolls, ashtrays, linoleum – and admit that despite the 53 unread new emails in your inbox today, modern office life has some advantages.

29 October 2009 – Marriage Lines

The Editor writes:
As it is apparent that Philip is intent on writing the definitive 'Guide to Down Under' (mine is entitled 'Prosthesis for Pleasure and Profit' but that's a whole other story) we have allocated him a prime spot in the Memories section.

The first 12 items from Phil the Pom were originally published in the IC. They have been removed from the IC and now appear in collected form as one item in Memories. Each later (previously unpublished) report appears (or will eventually appear) as an individual item in Memories. See What’s New for full listing.

Eventually the whole saga may be available in book form, provisional title: 'Phil the Pom and the Folding Biro Snake'.

28 October 2009 – Norwich In Bloom

Those of you living in or near Norwich and wishing to vote for a local
man (Terry Blane) might wish to click the link
http://www.amberol.com/review/?id=82

An excellent picture of Norwich Castle and surrounding floral display
has been submitted as an entry to the Amberol Hanging Basket
Competition, and Terry needs our votes. It's easy...... but please
hurry: votes need to be in by 30 October 2009.

Must be good – Robert Stutely is a sponsor, and the prize will be
donated to Norwich in Bloom.

28 October 2009 – Do You Remember Ernest Bray?

Does anyone out there remember Ernest? His Grandson has contacted me with the information that he worked in Atlantic House – G Floor – in the 1950s. He retired in the late '50s, he might possibly have been Industrial, or non-Established.

If anyone can recall anything about Ernest, please send me an email with whatever details – Reg.Walker@hmsoldies.org.uk

Profuse thanks, and a great deal of wonderment, is the prize!

Reg



16 October 2009 – Norfolk Youth Music Trust Young Musicians'
                                                                             Concerts 2009

The trustees are delighted to announce details of the first of two concerts featuring up-and-coming young musicians. This will be on Sunday 8 November at the United Reformed Church, Princes Street, Norwich, at 2.30 p.m. (Doors open at 2.00 p.m.) The second event is on Sunday 6 December at the same location at the same time.

Appearing are CARYS CHANEY (Flute) with Benjamin Lee (Piano); TOM ISAAC (Violoncello); KENNY O’NEILL (Piano); KATE STURMAN (Bassoon); and TAVERHAM HALL PREPARATORY SCHOOL CHAPEL CHOIR, Norwich, directed by William Drew-Batty.

Carys Chaney is the winner of the trust's 2009-10 scholarship awarded to the most promising student at the University of East Anglia. The remaining artists are either winners of the Norfolk Young Musician Competition (which is sponsored by the Michael Badminton Young Musician Trust) or recipients of grants from this trust.

Music to be performed includes works by Bach, Bloch, Chaminade, Popper, Rachmaninov and Scansan. Programme may be subject to alteration.

Admission is by programme at £6.00 each (Under 18s, £3.00 each) which may be reserved by ordering directly from the trust (further information available from Ivor Hosgood, tel. 01603 279742, www.norfolk-youth-music-trust.org.uk ) or purchased at the door. Prices include post-concert light refreshments.

16 October 2009 – From John Wellington Wells: Information
                                                                                      Circulars

Dear Editor, We note the ICs on your site, but what about Office Notices? At a DWC meeting we once asked Ralph Chisholm the difference, and he engagingly confessed that he'd never been quite sure, but thought that perhaps Office Notices were reserved for the more formal announcements. We'd certainly never have got away in Office Notices with the juvenile prank we conceived in Atlantic House circa 1973 of listing in the London Supplement of the IC meetings of "The Hockey Club", which was, in far-from-sober fact, non-existent and merely a cover for a small but dedicated group of boozers to advertise to those in the know forthcoming séances at selected watering holes.We were mightily nonplussed when someone wrote to the secretary (i.e. me, if memory serves) expressing an interest in playing, ahem, hockey. I think we fobbed the poor innocent off with some rubbish about arranging fixtures for next year's season (as if we had the smallest idea when the hockey season is, if, indeed there is such a thing).

If anyone would care to resuscitate the Hockey Club for my contemporaries, will he please pack the defibrillator, a stretcher or two, an optional Zimmer frame and several cases of some suitable beverage, and perhaps a book of rules and some hockey sticks?
 
I have the honour to remain, etc., etc.



Steven Carruthers 1961–2009

It is with deep regret that we report the death of Steven Carruthers. Steve joined HMSO in 1995 working in the Editorial team in Publications Division. He left TSO sometime after privatisation and after periods working for Scholastic and Cambridge University Press achieved his dream job on House of Commons Hansard. Steve was, however, seriously ill last year and took early retirement from the House at Easter this year, returning to live with his parents in Derby.

Although his health had improved during the year he died suddenly at home on 28 September. His funeral will be at 2.00pm on 14 October at Markeaton Crematorium, Derby. Any donations are invited to Diabetes UK or the Terence Higgins Trust.

10 October 2009 – Bob Avery’s Swappe Shoppe

Dear Reg, Whilst clearing out some of the accumulated detritus of my 40 plus year with HMSO/TSO I came across the following on scraps of paper, presumably cut out of an SO Review circa June 1979.

Under the heading SWAPPE SHOPPE and attributed to a certain Ned Ludd, I wondered whether your readers would still find them funny, so here goes.

• Will exchange slightly soiled Management Accounting System (complete with Life Membership of Norwich Samaritans) for old-fashioned Double Entry Book-keeping Ledger and scrap pad. Condition immaterial. Apply ADF15.

• For Sale: 8 cwts of rotted down Trawl Applications and Transfer Requests. Makes excellent compost. £10 ono. Apply ADPS83.

• For Sale: Heavily soiled but otherwise in excellent condition stock-issue Straight-Jacket (Senior Officer Grade), Linen Gag and Dental Clamp. Apply in strictest confidence to Deputy Assistant Senior Chief Welfare Officer.

• Ex-Work Study Team. Hand crafted Luxury Mediaeval Rack, Egg Timer and Thumb Screws. Apply Obadiah Grope, 5th Floor Ladies' Toilet, Sovereign House.

• Frustrated and Bored? Contact your Floor Representative about the St Crispin's Escape Committee.

• A few seats/beds are still available on the Senior Officers' Annual Outing to the Fakenham Over-Eighties Massage Parlour and Gymnastic Club. Apply in steady handwriting to Departmental Mortician, Office Services Division.

• 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'. Mint condition, never used. Apply IR 43.

• Hours of Fun. Boxful assorted pegs and various size round-hole board. Hammer supplied. Also pins, blindfolds and updated staff lists. Never a dull moment. Apply PS 88F.

• For Sale: John Bull Printing Outfit, ink pad, most letters. Apply WM Basildon Press.

• Painting By Numbers Introductory Set. Will swap for Set 2, or why? GD 59.

• Left-handed biros guaranteed leak-proof (no ink). Ideal for confidential work, major decisions etc. Apply S79.

Property:

• To let: 400,000 ft office/warehouse space desirable site South London. Formerly in use as hospital, lunatic asylum etc. (One very small) part double-glazed. Ref. CH.

• Suit Ambitious Market Gardener: Large, multi-level greenhouse/propagation unit, central Norwich. Catches sun all day, handy car parking. (Possible share with ice-cream wholesaler Oct-May). Ref. SH.

• Historic Example of New Brutalism School - 'A Passing Monument to Cheap Design' (Pevsner), Hermetically-sealed open plan structure, ideal conversion aquarium, sub aqua etc. Ref. St C.

• Elegant EC1. Stone's Throw from Ancient Market (and vice versa). Rapidly diminishing floor space as major tenants quit. Buy now and get in on the first floor! Ref. AH.

Oh, the old ones are the best!! Regards.

Bob Avery

Hello Bob. Lovely stuff! Brings back happy memories. Any old photos among your souvenirs? All the best. Reg

Ruby F Bridges 1923-2009

Jack Payne (lately of PP and Works) has sent us the following sad news:

Jeffrey Bridges wrote to me saying his Mother, Ruby, died on the 8th
September 2009. Some of you may have known Ruby when she worked in Atlantic House in the 40/50s.Her maiden name was Hodgson, and she joined HMSO in October 1943, being promoted to CO in 1946.  Her father worked in Registry. A lot of people will know her husband, Ted, who worked in PP.

Both my wife and I are keeping well. We celebrated our 60th wedding
anniversary in August.

I browse your site every few weeks and recognise a few of the names
Appearing – John Barker, George Billson, Alex Mackie, Alex Smith, Jim MacCullum, Pat Kennedy to name a few.

Good luck for the future. Jack Payne

Hello Jack. Good to hear from you, albeit with sad news. I didn't know Ruby, but please extend our sympathies to her son. We will put your note (to which I have added a couple of dates) onto HMSOldies.

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary. I am sure that many readers will remember you from the good old days . . . .

Best wishes. Reg



9 October 2009 – From Steve Johnson

Hi Reg. I have obtained a useful telephone number for the 'Hopeful Pensioner' for DWP as I had difficulties myself. It is 0845 6001405. I now have a quote from Capita.

Steve Johnson

Hello Steve. Excellent! Thank you. We will publish on HMSOldies. Good to hear from you, and all the best. Reg



Sidney Beaumont Porter 1923-2009

We have received the following sad news from Fred Howe:

On behalf of his wife Jean, I would like to inform any of Syd's
friends and colleagues that he sadly passed away on 29th September after having suffered from Ischaemic heart condition.

Syd joined HMSO in 1949 and was promoted to Works Overseer. He spent many years at Harrow Press and SSPP Pocock Street.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday 13th October at 1 pm in the East Chapel of Breakspear Crematorium, Ruislip.

7 October 2009 – A Hopeful Pensioner Writes (Part 2)

Reg – I have had a reply from PPPA to say they no longer deal with HMSO and I need to contact DWP. I have so done and will contact you again when I have confirmation that I have finally reached a meaningful point of contact for ex-HMSO staff.

Regards, 'Avaricious Accountant'

6 October 2009 – A Hopeful Pensioner Writes. . .

Following information was sent in response to item dated 2 October 2009  – 'Surely You Are Not That Old? '

I contacted Capita by email and received a comprehensive reply: they only pay the money out and have no record of me. I have therefore emailed pensions@pppa.mod.uk and await their reply.

As regards PPPA:
1.  PPPA now stands for People, Pay and Pensions Agency – their website is easiest found by typing in the words.
2.  The PPPA phone number in Ian Billings’ masterwork was one ' 7 ' light. It should be 0800 345 7772.

Cheers, 'Avaricious Accountant'

5 October 2009 – From Norman Armstrong

Dear Reg, I am just catching up with the latest news in HMSOldies. Quite a lot has been happening, and recorded on the web since I last logged in.

I had fallen behind with events as Shirley and I went 'walk about' for quite a while in the Southern Hemisphere. Apart from the sightseeing and experiencing the various cultures it also gave us the opportunity to spend some quality time with our son Paul and his wife Michelle who are now living in New Zealand. Following that we then went to the other extreme and travelled up to the Arctic Circle for more sightseeing. So all in all, shoe leather is wearing thin.

I was sad to learn of the death of Jim McDonald, for whom I had great respect. On one occasion Jim stayed overnight in the Old Inn Hotel, Crawfordsburn, which at that time was considered a 'safe area' in Northern Ireland. As we lived only a fifteen-minute walk away in Helen’s Bay we had him down for tea. He expressed the wish to stroll down, but as it was a dark winter’s night and no streetlights, I agreed to meet him. After a lovely evening he made his way back to the Old Inn and returned to Norwich the next day.

However, disaster struck the following night when a terrorist bomb, so strong that even the windows and doors of our house shook, hit a nearby senior civil servant's house. Needless to say when Jim heard the news he was not amused – especially on our definition of a 'safe area'.

It was interesting to read Bob Avery's account of his sojourn in Belfast and I was impressed by him remembering so many names from the past. Yes, I did cajole him to take over as Scout Master of the Helen's Bay Scout Troop, where he proved very popular and had a vast experience of youth work. All those boys are now scattered worldwide but sadly over time numbers dwindled and the Troop is no more.

The Mourne Mountains Walk – 20 miles including 12 steeply rising and descending peaks – was quite a challenge. In his recollection of that day, as I remember, which he neglected to mention, the night before the Walk he met up with a group of complete strangers and stayed overnight with them in Newcastle, Co. Down. During the 'Troubles' this was not a very wise decision, especially for someone with an English accent and a short back and sides haircut. I was very relieved when he reported for work on Monday morning, unscathed and jubilant, clutching his Certificate.

It was also good to read about David Mears through HMSOldies. I knew David from my Norwich days. He also took part in the Belfast Exchange Scheme. No doubt he enjoyed the experience but I suspect he suffered an odd bout of homesickness.

Joe Bishop was another volunteer, and despite the 'Troubles', Belfast City Centre was his chosen place of abode, close to IDB House. Not for him the quiet safety of suburban living. I worked with Joe as a rookie Printing Officer in Norwich and it was he and Peter Bradbury who taught me the intricacies of Print Ordering and ensured I made no howlers. Not only that, they me made feel so welcome and part of the team. For a newcomer from Northern Ireland joining HMSO in late 1969, this was greatly appreciated.

Keep up the good work. Norman

Hello Norman. Great to hear from you, and for news of your successful world trip. Sounds fascinating. We went to Sheringham with the family this year. Curiously, this was probably less eventful.

I always love to read of Belfast reminiscences. I spent some very sociable nights in the New Inn......and other places. Makes me feel guilty that I don't hop on a plane and re-visit. But Ryanair.......enough said. Pity they don't run a ferry from Yarmouth.

I will pass on your good words to Peter Bradbury when I see him next. Best wishes. Reg

2 October 2009 – Surely You Are Not That Old?

Several concerned readers (alright, one avaricious accountant) have asked to be reminded of the sound advice given by Ian Billings in 2007. As a consequence, we reproduce his original article. Not much has changed. . . . .you are reminded that monthly payslips are a thing of the past, so no looking forlornly at the doormat on the last day of the month.

Dear Reg, URGENT MESSAGE FOR FORMER HMSO EMPLOYEES WHO RETIRED BEFORE AGE 50, AND DID NOT TRANSFER THEIR HMSO PENSION TO ANOTHER EMPLOYER — especially those expecting to receive their pension soon!

When we left HMSO the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme was administered by the Paymaster's Office at Crawley. Our termination letter from HR told us that we "should make application for payment one month before your 60th birthday".

I don't recall receiving anything from the Cabinet Office (which took responsibility for HMSO and former HMSO staff) to say that pensions administration was being transferred to Capita or the Pay Pension & Personnel Agency, but it has. Unfortunately only some of the information has been passed to Capita: for other imminent pensioners they have no information at all.

If Capita do have your details they will be able to action your pension, and they will probably ask you to contact them again 3 months before your 60th birthday.

If they do not have your details you must contact PPPA as soon as possible as they first have to retrieve your records from Cabinet Office, and then set about calculating the pension and lump sum payable. If writing to them it would be helpful to include a copy of the 'Superannuation Award Statement' produced by HR just before you left HMSO. Retrieval and calculation of pension entitlement may take several months, so it is important to take action early.

Please ensure that colleagues who do not regularly visit HMSOldies especially those who do not have internet access are made aware of this situation — print out this page and give it to them! Redundancy money may be running out, and we don't want anybody to be left destitute by Civil Service inefficiency do we?

What to do

You should contact Capita immediately to find out if they have any record of you. Contact details are:

• Telephone: 08701 699700 or 01325 745088 or 01325 745727
• Email: csp.enquiries@capita.co.uk
• Write to: Capita Hartshead, PO Box 215, Mowden Hall, Darlington,
           Co. Durham, DL3 9GT.
• Online http://csp.capitahartshead.co.uk (no www.)

If Capita have no record, contact PPPA. Note this is Team 2C — Capita may say Team 1A but 2C deals with Cabinet Office employees.
• Telephone: 0800 345 772
• Email: pensions@pppa.mod.uk
• Write to: Team 2C, Pay, Pension & Personnel Agency, PO Box 38, Cheadle
   Hulme, SK8 7NU

Good luck, and do let Reg know how you get on!
Ian Billings



1 October 2009 – Only 84 Shopping Days Left

Reg, It's that time of year again! Could you please put a note on the Oldies website reminding folk that the Original Norwich Charity Christmas Card shop is open for business again from Monday 19 October at the Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich.

Last year nearly £46,000 was distributed to over 20 charities - a full 100% of sales proceeds.  All costs were met by sponsorship and fundraising. As well as packs, individual cards are available.

Many thanks. Jeanne Southgate



1 October 2009 – A Harrowing Experience

A philatelic correspondent is after an image of HMSO Harrow from the 1960s/70s - but we have none on the website so if you could put out a plea then I would be grateful.  Of course HP in the 80s when we closed it was pretty much like HP in the 20s when we took it over, so almost any pic of the outside would do. The correspondence concerns 'stamping to order', ie applying postage indicators to envelopes and so on for private customers which stopped in the 70s. So if anybody has any pictures or stories about that I would also be interested. (OSA permitting of course!)

Ian Billings

And an ex-employee responds. . . . .

I have a story about 'stamping to order' from time when I was Manager (I use the term loosely) of Harrow Security Press. I am not sure whether it should be made public but will leave the Editor to decide whether to publish and be damned. Briefly . . .

One Friday afternoon, I took a call from a stamp dealer who was a regular customer for stamping to order. He wanted a repeat order ‘exactly the same as last time’. That seemed simple enough until he insisted it should be for the same value stamp in the same colour as last time.  I repeated that back as something along the lines of 'the same value as last time in the appropriate colour for that value'.

My suspicions were raised when he insisted on the exactly the same colour as last time. To cut a long story short, I then had to make an embarrassing call to the Post Office explaining that we had printed a batch of envelopes in the wrong colour and we were being asked to produce some more. I am not quite sure whether they would have increased the rarity value of the original envelopes or reduced their value but the stamp dealer was obviously keen to have more of the same.

He did in fact shoot himself in the foot because the Post Office sent someone to recover the envelopes that were printed in error. Apart from that, I heard no more except that I expect KA noted my E5 and my departure from Press Management for ever was hastened.

Robert Stutely

30 September 2009 – From Les Birch: Cornwall House

Dear Reg, All this talk of Cornwall House reminded me that I had taken a photo of the place from my bedroom window in the Union Jack Club a couple of years ago. (Photo will be added later  )

Jim McCallum's reminiscences brought to my mind my own stay there in 1951 when, having been sent down as a raw EO from Nottingham, I was put in charge of Foreign Books and Periodicals. The seat had been vacant for about 6 months and was in complete chaos - nobody knew how to order Foreign Periodicals, not even Bert Leader who was HEO i/c. The only saving grace was a TCIII, or perhaps TCII, by the name of Adam Szanser. He was a Pole who had been at Warsaw University before the war, either as a graduate or lecturer, had joined the Polish Army just in time for it to be overwhelmed by the German invasion of September 1939 and had then escaped via South Eastern Europe to England, where he rejoined the Polish Forces and reached the rank of Major. He spoke most European languages and was the official HMSO translator, even managing to translate those languages which he did not speak. He approached me one day seeking my advice whether he should apply for a post with the National Physical Laboratory who were setting up a unit to examine the possibilities of computerised translations and I had no hesitation in telling him to go for it. He got the job and many years later, when I had risen to the dizzy heights of ADE1, he came back to see me in Atlantic House. He was by then a Principal Scientific Officer, which I think outranked SEO, and he just came back to thank me for my original support.
 
The only other saving grace for me at Cornwall House at that time was that it was a 2d. bus ride from an unfurnished flat I had been lucky enough to secure off the Walworth Road. This made my total daily travelling expenses 4d., which if my maths are correct is the equivalent of one and two thirds of a new penny. But then the salary was not all that hot in those days.

Yours aye, Les

29 September 2009 – Homo Stationaris

Good morning Reg! I just wanted to take you gently to task over your recent Cornwall House piece (see article 19 September 2009  –The Question Before Us Today Is. . . . . . )

Homo Stationaris should have the stationaris spelled with a lower case S, as per the international rules of binomial nomenclature. But what is even worse is that it should have been stationeris with an E, not an a; you made them stationary men, not stationery men!

Mind you I don't recall ever seeing much movement along the director's corridor of a Friday PM when I was in Supply Division in the late 80's, maybe your name was correct after all!

Regards, Paul Radbourne

Good afternoon, Professor Paul. Begob, you have us bang to rights on the niceties, and thank you for it. I have passed to our Production staff for info but we must first consult the Author*, who prefers to remain unanimous, onus probandi ope et consilio opere citato, as we used to say in Tooting whilst queuing for the pie and eels.

Many thanks for the contact. Good to hear from you. And your memory is too good. By the way, put the words HMSO Norwich into Google......and one of the sites will show the current look of Sov. House from the inside. Much tidier than I remember......

But......Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit! Abeo. Die dulci fruere......

And, in the immortal words of Spike Jones, 'he didn't even say goodbye.......' Reg.

* We bearded the Author of the piece in the bowels of his subterranean library and he immediately conceded. 'Stationanaris v Stationationeris: bang to rights, and remind me to run up an article on authors and reviewers who thought the former was apropos.'



28 September 2009 – Jesse Vincent Phillips

From Gwen Page came the following:

I wonder whether you have any information about my father, Jesse Vincent Phillips, who worked at Atlantic House as a Stationery Officer for many years. He left around 1968 when he was past retirement age. I know very little about his life as I was quite young when he died and would love to learn more about what he did.
Kind regards. Gwen Page (née Phillips)
 
Hello Gwen. Thank you for contacting HMSOldies. We always much appreciate people who are tracing their friends and relatives. We do not keep 'Official Records' (that is down to the Public Records Office in Kew).
 
However, we have some old Staff Lists, and I can tell you that from the 1961 Staff List:

'J V Phillips was a disestablished ex-serviceman working in Printing and Binding. Date of birth 18 March 1894. Established Civil Servant 22 August 1950. Joined HMSO 13 July 1942.'
 
'Names' from his generation include Charlie Robbs, Eddie Sargeant, E J Smith, Bernard Downing, Peter Vivian, John Rome, Reg Hearsey, Reg Canning, John Comber. However, the likelihood of any of his contemporaries reading this (we will publish on HMSOldies ) and reporting back, is remote.
 
If he was a Printing Officer in Atlantic House (I worked there 1965-1968) I imagine he was one of we £10 Burton-suited types who arrived just before 0835 hours each morning......signed on with a proper pen and ink.......sat at a desk with a big black telephone and piles of papers until 1700 hours when we got the towel and soap, washed and went down the Tube to wherever. Not forgetting a possible pint or two for lunch in 'The Printer's Devil'..............
 
Possibly your father's Technical Officer (Manager) was Reg Vine.....Buck Currie.....Bill Bisset.....Les Knight.....Ted Cletheroe.....Don Arthur.....Jack Towe.....W W Hulbert.....Andy Fisher....or George Travell.
 
I am afraid that's all I can offer, but I will pass your note on to a few inky-fingered printers from the old days and publish on HMSOldies to see who might recall your father.
 
Best wishes. Reg Walker

24 September 2009 – Jack Keating’s Florida Letter

In the past I have mentioned alligators and snakes being in and around the lakes where I live; well the alligators are getting closer. A few weeks back one was spotted coming from the back of a house a few doors away from me. What was strange was the fact that at the back of my house is a fence and no water. So what was the alligator doing there? Two guys spotted it and one ran in to get his camera. By the time he came out the alligator had crossed the road, walked between two houses and slid into a pond across the road. It walked past a golf cart and the guy whose cart it was estimated that it was at least seven feet long. I wish I had seen it.
 
Let’s get the weather out of the way . . . it is gorgeous! The daytime temperatures have fallen into the high eighties Fahrenheit and the lows are now in the mid to low seventies. The average highs and lows for this time of year are 87F and 71F respectively. Despite the heavy rain we had in May we are still 7 inches below normal for the year to date. So far we have not been bothered by any hurricanes but the season is not quite over yet.
 
On Saturday we are going down to one of the Disney resorts to stay with a friend, Andy, from England. Andy, who is a postal worker, has a time share property in Disney and at present is on a Disney cruise with his girlfriend. Andy has very kindly booked us a room for the night so I can have a few beers without having to worry about driving home. We will stay on the Sunday as well and get home later that evening. This will be the second time I have stayed with him when he has been staying in Disney.
 
In November I have another friend, Andrew North, coming over from England to stay with us for ten days. Andrew and I first met when we worked for Her Majesty’s Stationery Office in the early 1990s. This will be Andrew’s third visit and I am so pleased that he takes the time and money on air fares to come and see me.
 
At the beginning of August Val and I were visiting some friends who are staying in the western part of up-state New York. They have a trailer which they use for a few months during the summer. It is about 20 miles from Niagara Falls. While there we looked at a 38-foot trailer situated on its own land which was for sale. We made a ridiculous offer on it and it was accepted. So we decided to go back up again during September and take possession of it.  To cut a long story short we found so much wrong with it that we backed out. These were things that we had not noticed during our cursory look at the property. So instead of spending a few days in New York State cleaning up a trailer for the winter we headed down through New Jersey to see Val’s mother.
 
Best wishes, Jack.

Another world........we are having problems with spiders, and there was a plague of ladybirds on the North coast of Norfolk recently. Can you send us some alligators and snakes to relieve the monotony? And you talk about weather......it has been 70F all this week and people are stripping off.
Keep 'em coming. All the best, Reg

23 September 2009 – Diverse Ex Machinery

John Butler joined HMSO on 8 October 1962 and was immediately immersed into the world of Supplies Machinery – Henry Roe as Director; Peter George as DD (whatever happened to his daughter Susan?); Sam White (soon to be replaced by GC 'Cyril' Clarke) as ADS1; Charlie Lloyd as S6 and his own, his very own, Margaret Crawley as S5, Doris Main, Peter Finlayson, Chris Lovibond, Clive Almond, that bloke who worked with Bob 'Flogger' Flook and was the grandson of Cyril Pengelly. But I, of course, digress. Not before remembering Chester Willmott, Kath Daviss, Margaret Chamney, Lil Norris . . . stop it at once.

John has supplied photographs, just published in the Picture Gallery dated 1967 [Photo 1, 2 and 3], which contain at least the following personnel: Roy Banks, John Beagle, John Block, John Beattie, John Butler, John Childs, Eileen Cowan, Martyn East, Jonathan Holtom, Carol Horney, Christine Horney, John Childs, John Lorrimore, Jim McGregor, WAL 'Bill' Norton, Alex Okediachi, Barbara Penn, Helen Smith, John Stanger, Gordon Stein, Judith (Cotton) Tassell, Tommy Taylor, Harry J Teedon, Arthur Shutler, 'Lucky' John White, Isobel (Bond) Williamson – and some bloke nicking a gin from the bar in Room E88.

A small prize for any other names. A large prize for anyone who knows where Helen Smith might be. She owes me for a tea.

Gerald Gordon Tyson 1930-2009
 
We have received the following sad news from Cecil Hughes:

'You recently asked for news and unfortunately I have some sad information. Gerald Tyson, after a very long fight against bowel cancer, died in hospital on Sunday 20 September 2009.
 
Gerald joined HMSO in 1966, and he and I worked in the same section in Norwich for a long time, being involved in what became known as the 'M&S' purchasing experiment. This was probably the vanguard of the more commercial approach to HMSO's buying methods.
 
Gerald was transferred to the PC in London where he served until his retirement to Woodford Green and subsequently to Clacton-on-Sea. He was a valued and hard working colleague and friend who will be sadly missed.

The funeral for Gerald Tyson is on Wednesday 7 October at 12.30pm at the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, St. John's Road, Epping, CM16 5DN. This will be followed by committal at Pardon Wood Crematorium, Harlow at 2pm. No flowers, please but donations, if desired, to Cancer Research c/o Daniel Robinson & Sons Ltd. 146 High Street, Epping, CM16 4AG.

Sincerely, Cecil Hughes.'

23 September 2009 – From Jim MacCallum

Hi Reg, I have just seen the long 'memo' about Cornwall House. I kept thinking that the commercially published books section would be mentioned – but I suppose it was not big enough to be considered!!!

I spent about four or five years in that very section and enjoyed it very much – except that it was a very cold office and in spite of many complaints, nothing was ever done about it!!! Glad to see that it is still standing. When views of that part of London appear on TV I try to see if indeed it is still there but I have never seen it.

Some of names of those who worked in Books section in my time were Harry Jackson, Les Birch, Alex Laing, Bert Leader, Phil Collins and Jack Cherns. Happy days!!!!!
 
Orra best, Jim.
 
Hello Jim. More memories! Thank you. When I worked in the next room to P5 (Leo Bertram Mills) in 1963 the EOs were Alex Laing, Laurie Andrew and Len Capper. Dave Martin and his wife Moira are the only survivors I see these days: doubtless John Terry, Jim Neumann, Mrs Button, Mrs Fairservice, Joan Quilter, Vi Vago and others are long gone. From your list, I see Les Birch once a year and occasionally see Harry Jackson in Norwich.

As you say, happy days......all smoking, tea for tuppence, towel and RNIB-produced soap provided free, and a job as long as you signed in by 0835. All the best. Reg

22 September 2009 – From Tony Gummett

Dear Reg, Having (for my misdemeanours) served two terms in Cornwall House (Atlantic House, Bristol and Cardiff between times), I was amused by John Wells’ memories of his service there. And like him could never find out what the FO got up to on the third floor!
 
I am not surprised that it is the only 'old' HMSO building still standing in London, as it was built  like a fortress  (remember the riveted concrete pillars along the corridors holding up heavy concrete beams?) and withstood the impact of a flying bomb (V1) during the war. Rather interestingly it was, I understand,  built for H.M. Stationery Office but being completed in the middle of the 1914–18 war was used for several years as an army hospital, known as King George's Hospital.
 
The building is now actually an annexe of King's College (part of the  University of London). I only know this as some years ago one of my daughters did some post-graduate studies there. All best wishes.

Derek Carter 1935-2009
 
The following message was received from Dave Owen on 21 September 2009:
 
I am sorry to have to tell you that Derek passed away on Saturday 19th September, after a short illness.
 
His wife, Christine, informed me this morning. He had been admitted to Priscilla Bacon Lodge the day before to be assessed as to equipment and help required to make him more comfortable.
 
Derek joined HMSO as an accountant in 1983, being promoted SEO in 1985, and, as far as I know his last job was in Finance Division, working on Budgets.
 
When I have details of the funeral arrangements I will let you know. Meanwhile, would be pleased if you could post the news on the website.
 
Many thanks, Dave Owen.

Linda Lenton adds . . . . .

Derek's funeral is taking place on Wednesday 30th September at 10am at St Stephen's Church, Rampant Horse Street, Norwich.

The question before us today is: how does Cornwall House
                                                                       get away with it?

Comfortable old Atlantic House has been torn down and replaced with a Brave-New-World monster; you'd be hard put to find the site of Gavrelle House in the new all singing all dancing Bunhill Row, Nine Elms – cut down. Harrow Press – one with Nineveh and Tyre and one peers from the carriage window whizzing past on the West Coast line trying to make out its stately old outlines. On occasion we even pass Shepherdess Walk or Gee Street without seeing signs of Homo Stationaris, but there, in the primest site of all sits the sullen lump of Cornwall House, not conspicuously improved by a coat of slightly lurid paint, and we ask – how? We don't ask the why, for we have inside information: it is now occupied by the University of London, though for what purpose we are not told. As the main building of the University is the forbidding Stalinist slab in Malet Street perhaps the Faculty has a warped taste for grim architecture. Maybe I'm prejudiced as the last stint I did there was in an office favoured by the resident tomcat, which defied all attempts to keep it out (we decided it must be able to fly and get through keyholes at night) with the result that the air-freshener was in constant play and the windows open even in January. There were parts of the building that smelled better, I admit. The book storage area outside the lair of Messrs Beaumont and Markham had that incomparable smell of books – as well it might, as they were custodians of the world's second largest publishing catalogue – and, while we're at it, why don't modern books smell so nice? Some of them are positively offensive to the nose, whereas the Pubns blue bag of the day's new issues used to be an olfactory treat. But I digress, no apology required, constant digression being the saving grace of senile reminiscence. Where was I? Oh, yes, Cornwall House. Did we ever know just what went on on the out-of-bounds Third Floor, where the lifts didn’t stop and the Foreign Office did whatever it did (and where does it do it now, we ask)?

If we aren't careful those clowns at the Department of Culture will slap a Grade II Listed sticker on the place and it will become illegal to knock it down, rather than a public service, but then perhaps we who Remember should nod wisely and think of things that jolly well ought to be part, however tiny and off-the-wall, of our collective memory, such as Alec Gravatt's Rep London Unit, and  (did I dream this, or was it really there?) Manny Goldstein's library where all sorts of second-hand books were all too readily available, starting a lifetime's addiction. Do I really need that 1964 edition of Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice  which occupies two inches of valuable shelf-space, even though it contains the invaluable information that it is Unparliamentary for one Honourable Member to call another a 'slubberdegullion' or a 'rednecked rustiguts.' The latter reminds me of the great Beachcomber in the Daily Express, and his operatic tenor, Rustiguzzi, and his ballerina Tumbelova, but this takes us off topic as they say on the web, and could lure us into a debate on whether the Czechs are right to call the author of Harry Potter 'J K Rowlingová' – which they do, cross my heart and hope to die.  My abiding memory of the Rep London Unit is the dup op who declined my request to print something on 120 gramme paper on her AdMulti 1250 because 'it bends me blades', and we couldn't have that. There was the bookshop accounts section, which got into such a muddle that they had to set up another section to do the accounts section's accounts. There was Retail Enquiries under the formidable Miss Dore-Boize, on the door of which someone had neatly inscribed "Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch' entrate" (look it up – you've got a computer, haven't you?) What else? Oh yes, the Annexe. That fragrant bit of the building overlooking the end of the bridge where Messrs Brooks, de Brunner, Turner and the bookshop project team held sway and the air was laden with the scent of Lapsang Souchong tea. I understand the University hasn't got that bit. I wonder who has, and what goes on in it now?

John Wellington Wells



The Good, the Bad and the Windy

The newspapers have carried items by or about three ex HMSO ‘names’ lately.

Scott McKenzie, who joined PS in 1990, was pictured in his capacity as Churchwarden of St. Andrew’s Church, Wickmere, which has undergone major renovation work.

Francis Meynell, who was HMSO Honorary Typographical Advisor 1945–1966 was a director of the Daily Herald  and, according to his MI5 file reported in The Guardian, ‘in 1920 he was given £40,000 of gems by Lenin’s Soviet regime and smuggled them into the country to help keep the radical publication afloat. Meynell’s file describes him as an ardent Sinn Feiner and extreme Socialist who, in his youth, had tried, but failed, to derail a troop train.’

And the Eastern Daily Press  carried a letter from Gordon Robbie, who joined HMSO in 1961, concerning the use of wind-power to generate electricity.

Frank Hallett: Memorial Dinner 9 October 2009

Frank Hallett died in June 2009, and his close friend and colleague John Eveson is hosting an appreciation, in London, of Frank's life on 9 October 2009. John would much appreciate any memories you might have of Frank for use in his address on the night..........or indeed your attendance at the event. Please contact HMSOldies for more information.



Bob Avery remembers.........Belfast

In the mid 1970s HMSO instigated a Belfast Exchange scheme "to give some relief to the Officers working in Belfast during 'the Troubles'." So in 1976 I volunteered for my first two weeks, swapping with John Straghan.

IDB House, a T-shaped building, was the home of HMSO's Belfast Office. The top of the T faced Chichester Street, with the Rep. Unit on the right, two floors above the Bookshop, Print and Supplies on the left and the Admin. Offices in between. The rest of the building housed a number of Northern Ireland Departments, notably Finance, with a large canteen on the 6th floor. The building was a cornerstone of the "Security Zone", with the Crown Court on the next corner, which explained why the internal corridor between Reception and the Bookshop was packed with sandbags like a First World War trench.
 
I was put on Norman Armstrong's (TO) Statutory Print Buying team with Terry Brown and Brian Watt (POs). The rest of the Printing and Binding establishment at the time was Ron Reddick (HTO), Dan Conner (Binding TO) with the legendary columnist Norman T. Glenn (alias Antrim or Ninty) and Eddie Nolan (POs), and Tony Lindsay (TO) with, I think, Larry Gould and Walter Roberts (POs) and Moira Fitzpatrick (CO).
 
Impressed by the different environment and change of duties experienced during this exchange visit and, at the time, keen to avoid being "dispersed" to Norwich, 10th January 1977 found me starting two years detached duty in Belfast.
 
Jeannie Eastwood (PS & F) had arranged accommodation for me, (a bedroom in a large house down the Lisburn Road, with live-in landlord in the next bedroom and all shared facilities, with the other three guys on the first floor, and only 20 minutes walk to the Office), great.
 
There had been a couple of changes since my earlier visit, Terry Brown had left to join what was then the Royal Ulster Constabulary and I think Walter Roberts had moved to Norwich, to be replaced by Alex McCartney. "Antrim" Glenn relinquished his column, passed on his pen to Brian Watt and "Norn Iron News" was born. (A copy of one edition I still have).
 
Bob Barnard was Director and Ms Phil Collins Deputy Director. Ron Reddick was still HTO until his move to Parly Press when he was replaced by Brian Brown.
 
Part of the attraction of the Belfast Office were the Sports & Social Committee arranged activities, lunch time table tennis in the games room, the annual sports challenge and the Christmas dinner.
 
I particularly remember the sports challenge getting drawn against Ron Reddick in the badminton. Having played a bit with the Venture Scouts I thought I stood a good chance. I should have guessed something was up when Ron turned up in "whites". After thrashing me he suggested that I was not up to his "County" standard!
 
Arranging the Christmas dinner was another challenge, for although sectarian differences were not apparent in the Office, in organising external events they had to be considered. As a neutral "Brit" I had been asked to chair the Sports & Social Committee deliberations. It became apparent that following the repeated bombing of the Europa Hotel, neutral venues where few and far between, so we decided on somewhere central the first year but only the print buyers turned up. Next year we chose a location in a different part of town and Supplies and the Rep. Unit turned up. To his credit and the appreciation of the staff, so did Bob Barnard. For safety's sake his transport home was arranged soon after the meal was finished, so I hope he remembers more of it than me.
 
Meanwhile the exchange visits were still continuing and I know John Rumball still has vivid recollections of his, largely because he got "put-up" in the front room of the house I was staying in. I won't go into the detail of where we got invited to on his first night or the content of Ron Reddick's induction welcome the following morning, because John is still dining out on it. However due to John's culinary skill there are four Northern Ireland lads who would take John's turmeric chicken over chicken nuggets every time.
 
My time in Belfast would not be complete without remembering the character and wit of John Straghan, especially during the bomb scare induced long lunch times in the Midnight bar, or the dry humour of Norman Armstrong. For it was Norman who introduced me to the Mourne Wall walk, 22 miles around a reservoir in the Mountains of Mourne in a day. He forgot to mention that thousands of people would take part, including serious runners, the wall actually went over seven or eight peaks approx 2000 feet and in parts you were going to be walking in single file on top of a foot wide dry stone wall. We had travelled separately and I had not seen him at him start, however crawling my way up the penultimate peak, Norman comes striding past me, "Sorry no time to stop, see you on Monday". I did finish the course but Norman had the bragging rights. Norman also persuaded me to run his local Scout Troop for a year, so I hope the youth of Helen's Bay, including his son, derived some benefit from it.
 
Although he joined some months after my detached duty was over, I am indebted to Peter McAuley's "Grand Oul Times" article for reminding me of the names of others I remember during my two years:
Supplies: Doug Biscombe, Cathy Carnduff, Elizabeth Hood, Marjorie McAlister, Margaret Kerr, Jim Hocking, Phil Gormley, Joanne Rogan, Daphne Donnan
Mr Belfast Gazette: Roy Dubois
Bookshop: Tommy Roberts and Charlie McGrillen
Rep. Unit: Michael Blair, Ray Megahey and Lofty (I didn't find out his last name either).

Peter was right – the other attraction of the Rep. Unit was the bevy of gorgeous young ladies, but we were instructed to deal only with the supervisors in case we got distracted, so most remained nameless visions of beauty. I met up with Peter McAuley several times later in our roles as Trade Union Reps especially in the run up to Privatisation.
 
January 1979, my time was up, ITW Cornwall House was now at Nine Elms and most of P&B had dispersed to Norwich. Decisions, decisions, but they will have to keep for next time.
 
Bob Avery, Systems Manager, Parliamentary Press

3 September 2009: Rex Middleton 1925-2009
 
This is to let you know that my dad (Rex Middleton) passed away this morning following a long illness, he died peacefully in his sleep at The Old Vicarage nursing home in Ludham. Unfortunately he had Alzheimers, but he was happy and comfortable in his own world. Those people who may remember my dad probably worked with him at Atlantic House between 1966-68 and then on dispersal to Norwich where he worked with Arthur Baptiste, George Rokahr, Harry Currie, Annette Conn to name but a few. As far as I can remember he prepared tenders for huge quantities of envelopes, naturally he didn't tell me much more due to the Official Secrets Act! Dad's funeral (burial) will be held on Monday 28 Sept at 12.00 at St Peters Church, Spixworth, any friends and colleagues welcome. Funeral Directors are Peter Taylors in Norwich.
 
Kind regards, Paula Middleton

Geoffrey Nelson 1924-2009

The Eastern Daily Press  has alerted us to the sad passing of another ex HMSO friend – Geoff Nelson – who joined the office in 1971 with his (late) wife Mary – she was the Keyholder Messenger in Norvic House during the early days. Geoff was promoted into Supplies Office Machinery where he worked, in what he always referred to as 'the good times' with Messrs McGarry, Slaughter, Reed, Storey and many others.

Geoff died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 27 August 2009 and will be cremated at 1030 hours on Wednesday 9 September 2009 at Earlham Crematorium, Norwich.

1 Sept 2009 – UNA: Marguerite Finn writes . . .

I hope you are well and enjoying this sunny weekend (in East Anglia, anyway!). I am writing to let you know of an interesting talk coming up on Friday 18 September. It takes place at 1pm in the Friends Meeting House in Upper Goat Lane, Norwich. It is the AGM of the United Nations Association (UNA) and the speaker will be Dr Ian Gibson whose topic will be "Whatever happened to ethical foreign policy?" With his insider knowledge of the workings of parliament – it should be an interesting talk!

Marguerite; Vice-Chair UNA (Norwich & District Branch) 2008-2009

Further information can be obtained directly from Marguerite or as a message via The Editor.

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