Hi Reg, An another year and another annual lunch, a convivial meal at the Racecourse. An enjoyable carvery on a half-term holiday: so lots grandparents and grandchildren. Attendees Linda Blake, Ian Dougall, Geoff Mickleburgh, Geoff Sinden, Rod Durkin, Alan Crabtree and Brian Cockram. We are all in reasonable health. Although age continues to take its…
Author: Robert Stutely
Cecil Hedley Hughes
1928-2025 The sad news that Cecil (known to many as Hedley) died at NNUH on 27 February 2025 was passed on by his friend Roy Plackett. Cecil was born on 14 December 1928 and joined the Print section at HMSO Edinburgh in August 1954, finally working as HTO in Norwich from January 1975. He worked…
Fri 14 February 2025 – from ‘English Jack’ [Keating]
Good morning, Reg. I trust this missive finds you and the other guys of HMSOldies in the rudest of health. It leaves me feeling older and achier every day. I wish they would find a cure for old age! Below is something for you to peruse. I’ve got too much time on my hands these…
David John Balls
1934-2025 The sad news that David – always known to us as John – died on 5 February 2025 was conveyed by his son. John was born on 26 February 1934 and joined HMSO Norwich on 1 July 1965. His early days were spent in Computer Management. He also held senior roles in Management Services, headed…
31 Jan 2025 – From ‘English Jack’ {Keating]
Good afternoon, Reg and the HMSOldies staff, You wait all year for correspondence from me and then two turn up almost at once. Over the last week or so a few things have caught my eye. The first one was about accents, British accents. It was an article I read in the BBC about what…
Gordon Grant Robbie
1936-2025 The sad news that Gordon died, at NNUH, on the evening of Thursday 23 January 2025 was reported by Lynda Marshall. His last hours were calm and peaceful, with his family around him. Gordon joined HMSO London in January 1961, as Executive Officer in Accounts Division. His final post was in Publications Division, Norwich,…
17 January 2025 – From Nodge Carnegie
Dear Philip and Reg, Hope you are well. I hope you like one or other or both of these pictures showing Bleeding Heart Yard (in 1972) and St Mary Woolnoth (19 August 2014). ‘Found’ this image of Bleeding Heart Yard (1972) in my book on British Woodcuts. The print is by an artist new to…
Eric George Pointer
1937-2025 The sad news that Eric Pointer died on 17 January 2025 was reported in the Eastern Daily Press. Eric joined HMSO in July 1966 and worked as PB8 in Finance and Planning, Norwich. Brian Cockram adds: Barbara saw the obituary notice for Eric Pointer in the Eastern Daily Press. I worked with Eric…
15 January 2025 – From Tony Garrett
Hello, hope you’re surviving 2025. So far! Happy New Year, if it isn’t too late, anyway. LINOTYPE: The film – In Search of the Eighth Wonder of the World (2020) Don’t know if you ever worked with these Linotype machines but we used them in my early days at New Society magazine, not that I…
Norma Peggy Groom
1933–2024 John Betts has passed on the sad news that Norma died, at home in South Africa in November 2024. Norma was born on 8 March 1933 and joined HMSO in April 1958. She worked in Duplicating Division, which later became Reprographic Division with the move to Basildon. She transferred to Norwich following dispersal and eventually…