Fifty years ago there were 3,258 Established Civil Servants employed by HMSO, including 229 EOs, 606 COs, 223 CAs, 694 Duplicator Operators, 114 Copy Typists, 233 Printing and Binding Officers, 55 Paperkeepers, 55 Messengers and 85 Assistant Warehouse Supervisors. Currently – 2024 – the role of Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office is undertaken by…
Author: Robert Stutely
Donald Victor Mash
3 February 1931 – December 2022 On 23 December 2023 Maureen Wickham wrote as follows: Hello Reg, Just wondering if you received my recent email to your other address linked to the Oldies website. I had heard from Don Mash’s daughter to say that Don passed away just before last Christmas aged 91. They had…
Paul Henry Barnard
25 January 1950 – 22 December 2023 Paul’s wife Kate telephoned to tell us the shocking and unexpected news that Paul died at home in Cromer on the evening of Friday 22 December 2023. He had been relaxing with his family during the day, with no obvious major health problems. Paul joined HMSO Norwich as…
16 December 2023 – From John Barker
All the best to you and your family for Christmas Reg. It doesn’t seem possible that HMSO as we knew it went in 1996. Sadly the news from it these days isn’t that cheerful. But it is nice to remember colleagues that aren’t with us any more when they appear on the Oldies for the…
Douglas Charles Kerry 1942–2023
We were sad to hear, from Doug’s wife Ruth Kerry, that Doug died on 8 December 2023. He suffered a chest infection following a long period of pulmonal fibrosis. Doug was born on 18 June 1942, and joined HMSO Computer Division, Norwich, on 1 October 1983. He retired as Director of Information Services following privatisation.…
8 Nov 2023 – From Paul Barnard
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…
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…