Dear Reg, Very many thanks for your birthday wishes – glad to say all well at this end and looking forward to entertaining a few friends at the golf club over the weekend. The ‘do’ would normally have taken place yesterday but Hilary and Colin are in Sardinia until next Saturday and they will travel down here early on Sunday.
I am taking the opportunity to send you this annual photo from Asnelles on 6 June. Apart from the usual girl friends travelling from all over France for the event (well, one from Lannion in Brittany, one from Caen and the other from Asnelles) the Deputy Mayor and my grandson Oliver make up the group. The Deputy is a retired history professor from the Sorbonne in Paris and is also the local historian – interesting chap. The Lannion girl (she on the extreme right) will be in Caerphilly next weekend with their twinning group – the Caerphilly/Lannion Twinning Association was formed some 27 years ago and inevitably I was a founder member. We visit each other on alternate years and since my disabilities have become increasingly difficult they always ensure that I am well looked after on the coach, the ferry and the outings over there.
Please give my best wishes to all surviving friends – hard to believe it is the 96th. today, just 4 away from the ton!
Yours, Les
Hello Les, Excellent news! Very good to hear that the Asnelles trip was the usual success, and that you are celebrating the 96 in typical style. All the very best. Reg.
Tony Smith adds: Reg, I really cannot believe that my first HEO is 96 and still getting along. Was it really 60 years ago next month that I turned up at Gee Street Warehouse in Clerkenwell as a new CO straight out of school and was greeted by Les, who was warehouse manager, with the words ‘You’ll be in charge of three ladies old enough to be your grandmother so don’t boss them about and they’ll look after you!’. I must have taken his advice on board. Thanks Les. Regards, Tony.
Tony, You beat me into HMSO by five years. My first HEO was WJ Jameson (ITW)- then CG Lloyd (S) – both long gone. I remember Gee Street very well, from the warehousing of fit stock Roneo, Gestetner and Ellams duplicators – Les Goss – Bert Swan – Marge Todd – Noel Warr – the memory is filling. The 1961 Staff List has AA Smith on page 10, date of entry 18.8.1958, Pubns EO, sandwiched between MD Lynn (Con) and Miss VE Jones (A). Beneath you (on the page, that is) were Messrs Robbie, Barnard and Eason – above were Southgate, Houldsworth and MacCallum, among many others. Enough reminiscing! Best wishes. Reg.