January 1978: SO Review

Mike Beresford writes:  I worked in PP5a, Atlantic House, for about four 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 still have my 'Eddie's Boys' HMSO T-shirt!

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. The above poor scan from an old SO Review may bring it all back. Can you put names to all the faces? All the best, Reg

G’day (thought I'd better say that!). In response to your SO Review cover photo from 1978, 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!

(Photo from HMSOldies Archive)

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