I watched an interesting programme on BBC2 this evening with Professor Hannah Fry going over the history of passports, both pre and post HMSO. I think the man who escorted her at Thales was “Scotty”, but not ours. Available on BBC iPlayer catch-up. Paul Thank you, Paul. Looks interesting. Brings back memories of what are quickly…
Author: Robert Stutely
28 October 2023 – From Dennis Greeno
Hi Reg, The attached, and a few others, were rescued from a skip a while ago and are now in the Norwich Printing Museum. Do you, or does anybody else, know who used it and how? Regards, Dennis Greeno Hello Dennis, My word, what an elegant piece of binding. Not something I have seen…
Ronald Edward Farebrother 29 August 1930–6 October 2023
We were sad to receive, from his wife Heather Farebrother via John Rumball, the news that Ron died on 6 October 2023. Ron joined HMSO Print on 11 March 1968 and worked in Print Procurement, Norwich. Funeral details can be found here.
Derek Keith Regnier 26 May 1945–21 October 2023
Jim Marshall has passed on the sad news that Derek has died. He joined HMSO on 14 August 1961 and moved to Norwich to work in Print Procurement. The Eastern Daily Press Obituary Notice can be seen here.
11 October 2023 – From Ian Billings
Good morning Reg. With the arrival of the last Phone Book in our area, I was browsing the introduction/history pages and noticed the link to the BT Archive. This page has some photos of Harrow Press from the 1920s (and I have one of the first-edition telephone directories!). I doubt you will be able to…
Michael James Millward Salt 1940–2023
Howard Wheeldon has informed us of the sad news that Mike’s wife Erica telephoned him on 6 August 2023 to let him know that her husband had died peacefully in Norfolk and Norwich Hospital from Alzheimer’s disease with complications. Mike was born on 3 February 1940, joining HMSO in Atlantic House on 1 June 1965. He…
20 August 2023 – From Philip Marriage & Fred Stubbs
Our boss, John Saville, died a year ago today and as a tribute to him, Fred and I thought we would publish for a wider audience a little booklet we produced with John during the Covid Lockdown – our last project together. It’s a collection of terms we remembered from our time as young apprentice…
17 April 2023 – From Richard Nelson
Richard Nelson adds new material 17 August 2023. Hello Reg, A couple of happy things turned up in my “memories folder” from my time with HMSO and TSO. Almost at the start of my HMSO employment in 1978, in the St Crispins studio I am proudly sporting the paper star award for I know not…
30 May 2023 – From Brian Cockram
Hi Reg, Last Thursday, 25 May, six HMSO old boys took themselves off to the delights of Lowestoft by train. A gloriously sunny if breezy day. Our days of paddling and sand castle building are sadly passed (no grandchildren in tow). Instead we had a stroll along the promenade to the Hatfield Hotel where we…
9 June 2023 – Bob Barnard at Ninety
I expect you already have this in hand but some further good news for HMSOldies is the fact that Bob Barnard celebrated his 90th birthday on 30th May 2023, with events in Cambridge and Norwich. Bob and Valerie were both in good form and entertained groups of bridge players, walkers, and former colleagues, plus family. It…