Author: Robert Stutely

This private publication tells the story of graphic design in HMSO from the inception of the Typographic Design and Layout Section in 1946 under Harry Carter, through to 1995 and the studio prior to privatisation. It comprises contemporary articles and personal reminiscences by some of those involved, at all levels, including specially written pieces by…

OMRS Typewriter Repair Shop – more efficient on keyboards than Jools Holland. (Photo from Reg Walker)

Archie ‘Dave’ Davison was in charge of the OMTS Clerical Section for several years, and Betty Chambers moved from Contracts Division to work with him. (Photo from Reg Walker)

Now where did I store the transverse occluded butterfly grips for the Ellams duplicator? (Photo from Reg Walker)

Staff Suggestion presentation to George Wheeldon, (OMTS Basildon), 17 February 1977 by Deputy Controller ARH Glover (obviously with a train to catch from Laindon Station). Also CW Blundell, GB Furn, Frank Meads (HEO Basildon) and Albert Rose (OMTS Foreman). (Photo from Reg Walker)

In 1977 OMTS Craftsman George Wheeldon, who worked in Basildon, was presented with £183 from the Staff Suggestion Fund for a machine modification that was to save some £1800 in the first year of application. Deputy Controller ARH Glover made the presentation. To the left of the picture is George Macaulay and to the right…

This photo – commissioned by HMSO from Tom Mackie, a local landscape and architectural photographer – shows HMSO’s headquarter’s building apparently in a parkland setting, but actually taken from the busy St Crispins roundabout. Tom was born in Philadelphia and began his photographic career in California before settling in Norfolk. He undertook a number of…

This photo from November 1966 shows the site of the new HMSO Sovereign House in Norwich, looking northwards up St George Street towards the Odeon cinema, which stands at the junction of St George Street and the present St Botolph Street. The north-south line of the building runs roughly parallel with the upper part of…

A group of ex HMSO graphic designers at The Type Museum, Stockwell, London. From the left: Jeffrey Tabberner (later OUP), John Hughes, Vera Brice (now at Harper Collins), Clive McDonald (kneeling), Alan Stephens, Cedric Knight, Ken Arnoldi, Fred Stubbs, John Westwood, and John Saville. (Photo from Philip Marriage)

This view was taken from the (then) Layout Section on H floor of Atlantic House. (Photo from Philip Marriage)