Information Circulars 2013

30 December 2013 – Selfie from Paul Radbourne

Sorry Reg, you did ask for it!

Paul, Excellent! I had almost given up hope. You win the prize as the first – the only – Selfie received this side of 2014. You are looking remarkably clear-skinned, as befits a denizen of the Jewel of the Norfolk Coast. Take care up there – and hope to see you when next we wander the Cromer streets. Reg.

 

 

28 December 2013 – HMSO Edinburgh 1986

Jim Cairns has sent us a photo depicting bicentenary celebrations at HMSO Bankhead Avenue in 1986.

Senga Brawley/Hamilton, John Crosbie, Norrie Veitch, Jim Blair, Kathy Finnie (sticking out of Jim’s shoulder), a lass from the Repro section, Karen Burnett, Gavin Turner, Gordon Walker, John Mills, Sandy Cameron, Dougie Williamson (barely visible), Derek Jackson, Jim Cairns, Ian Hare, and George Wales. In front are Lindsay McCallum/Wilson, and Caroline Croyle.

 

 

24 December 2013 – The Irish Question: Philip Jinman remembers KP – and offers some Tourist Tips

Hi Reg, I used to work with Kelvin in room D70 Atlantic House with Adrian Lambley, Mike Buckingham and Alex McLeod as Technical Officer in the 1970s, and for a very short time with Arthur Baker as HTO and then Frank Glynn. I believe the section was PP7, and there was rivalry between Frank Glynn and Eddie Sargent.

On another tack, I was in Beccles yesterday with my nephew, who owns Ellough Parkway Go Kart Track – Richard Lock – and with David Lock, who owns the Wine Vaults. I took my Grandson Joshua, (son of my eldest daughter Jenny) and youngest daughter Nicola, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable day despite the weather.

Nicola Lee, Joshua Pankhurst, Philip Jinman

The photo below, which though not a ‘Selfie’, is a normal family picture.

David Lock, Joshua Pankhurst, Nicola Lee, Philip Jinman and Roddy Lock

I highly recommend both Ellough Park Race Way and Wine Vaults but I would wouldn’t I!

www.elloughparkraceway.co.uk/
www.beccleswinevaults.co.uk/

and for Taxis in the Lowestoft area try John Lock at: www.515151.co.uk

Hope everybody has a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Philip.

 

Hello Philip, Good to hear from you, and thank you for the shameless plugs, which we will be happy to add to HMSOldies, with your note in response to our item which mentioned Kelvin P Irish. Must try the Vaults when the weather improves – my granddaughters are a little young for the Brooklands Experience as yet. Your note brings back some memories. I also worked with Frank Glynn when he was in Norwich, and had many dealings with Alex McLeod when he worked in PP London during the early 1990s. You also remind me of the IP days: I seem to recall you were there in the mid-1980s, with Graham Boulter – possibly Malcolm McNeill. My main dealings – during the building of the PC at Nine Elms – were with Dave Ware, Graham Boulter, Reg Myers, Glyn Jones, Terry Quinlan – and Dr Farrington. Seems an age ago – but then, I suppose it was. Best wishes to you for the coming festivities, and thank you for making contact. Reg.

 

 

21 December 2013 – From English Jack

Reg, I was just perusing HMSOldies when I came across an article and a picture from 12 November 2013 by Bob Allder. In the picture, seated at the front, was a Kelvin Irish. When I worked in C. Tinling and Co’s printing works in Prescot, just outside Liverpool in the early 1960s, we had a compositor by the name of Ponsford Kelvin Irish join the firm. Because of his initials he was known affectionately as “PK” Irish, no doubt because of the Wrigley’s chewing gum of the same name. We had a dartboard set up in the comp room and played during meal breaks. I wonder if this is the same gentleman?
All the best, Jack [Keating]

Hello Jack, It’s a small world – got to be the same man. Staff List shows Kelvin Ponsford Irish born September 1930 – joined HMSO 1966 – established Printing Officer 1972, working in SSPP. I don’t know when he left/retired from HMSO, but someone out there must! All the very best to you for the forthcoming hostilities. Reg.

 

 

21 December 2013 – Debbie Alden remembers Althea Wells

Hi Reg, Hope you are well, Pauline White and I were chatting about our time at HMSO only the other evening, so I felt the urge to look at the site today. I had to contact you to say how sad I was to read about Althea’s passing [see Obituaries ]. She was a lovely lady, friendly, kind, always happy even when life was difficult. A pleasure to see and speak to at Reception every time you walked in the building.
Regards, Debbie Alden (1989 to 2007)

Hello Debbie, Good to hear from you, and many thanks for your kind words regarding Althea. I am sure that Althea’s daughter Lyn, to whom I have copied your note, will be pleased to know that her mother was so well appreciated. All the best to you for the festivities – and hoping to see you at the next HMSOldies reunion. Reg.

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen

Things have been a little slow in the HMSOldies office of late, but you may find something of interest should you care to read below.

Ever willing to keep up with the times (as long as the times are the 1960s) it occurred to us that it is a trend among bright young things and International Politicians these days to take a ‘Selfie’ – for details see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfie

In this spirit of innovation, and to enable HMSOldies to kick off 2014 ahead of the game, you are invited to send your own Selfie to the Editor. Don’t be shy: it’s not much different to posing for your HMSO pass.

And, by the way, Season’s Greetings from all at HMSOldies, with the special gift of an iffy apostrophe for the pedants among you.

Reg Walker
Editor, HMSOldies

 

 

17 December 2013 – John McGarry at the bar . . . and Shirley Betts at tea

Mike Betts has forwarded these photos depicting happier times in Sovereign House, specifically Supplies Division S11 (Reprographic equipment):

Reg, I saw my sister Shirley last week and she had found this photo of John McGarry when she worked with him in S11C in Sovereign House in the early 1970s. Shirley and John had a similar sense of humour, and Shirley would often twang John’s braces when he was not expecting it! Shirley started to call John ‘Rocky’, and John gave her this signed picture with the caption “To Shirley – Who loves you baby? Rocky”. The man with John at the bar was a representative from Gestetner Ltd, who made cutting edge reprographic equipment – stencil duplicators and scanners.

Shirley has also found this photo of herself when she worked in S11.

Mud in yer eye, Mike

 

 

16 December 2013 – The Shard and Atlantic House

Hi Reg, The images taken at The Ship Inn looked good on the HMSOldies website. I didn’t appreciate that you would also be featuring The Shard in your report and you might be interested in the two attached images of The Shard that I took in close-up when I was walking back to London Bridge station after the HMSOldies reunion on 10 December. I am also attaching a view of the modern-day Atlantic House facade on Holborn Viaduct, that I took on 13 November 2013 that may be of some interest? Pat Kennedy.

 

Hello Pat, Excellent photos: I think HMSOldies would like to see what can be seen from the backyard of Britannia House and many other ex-HMSO buildings. And the Atlantic House frontage is also very interesting. Every time I go past I wish I had a camera with me, and now you have done the job! All the best. Reg.

 

 

13 December 2013 – Anyone out there remember Harrow Press in the 1940s and 1950s?

A long shot, I know, but at a lunch today I was introduced to David Jacob, who told me that his father Percy Jacob had worked for a time in the Print Department at Harrow Press. He has put his trust in the magic that is HMSOldies to see if anyone remembers him.

 

 

10 December 2013 – Second Tuesday in December Society

Another good turnout for our Annual Lunch at The Ship, Borough Road (the nearest decent pub to Britannia House, home of OMTS in the 1990s, in the backyard of which they seem to have built The Shard – see below). By the way, the fish and chips or burger and chips for a fiver was especially good value, washed down with Fullers ESB for those so inclined.

Pat Kennedy made it down by train – not bike – from Saint Albans, and there were contingents from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey and Kent, as evidenced by the photos kindly taken by Pat. In the frame are Messrs Bindloss, Rust, Allman, Wilce, Peers-Jones, Stoten, deBruin, Coveney, Bradbury, Ekers, Kennedy, Plackett, Walker, Mr and Mrs Clift-Jones, and Sue Whitaker. Among those who avoided Snappy Pat were Messrs Pudner, Holmes, Perry, Vallance and Ekers W.

At the time of writing all participants managed to return home unscathed, with a warm glow of nostalgia leavened by the sadness of memories of absent friends.

 

 

7 November 2013 – Ivor Hosgood bows out in style

Ivor Hosgood (late of HMSO Print Procurement) long ago put his interest in all things musical to practical use by putting his weight behind the Norfolk Youth Music Trust. Time flies when you are enjoying yourself, and on 17 November 2013 Ivor finally retired as Chairman/Secretary of the Trust after helping to organise a staggering 266 concerts. He writes as follows:

Dear Reg

As requested, I attach one of the 20 photos taken by Terry Burchell during last Sun’s event.

The Anteros Arts Foundation Exhibition Gallery, 7 Fye Bridge Street, Norwich

(Left to right): Jonathan Wortley (trustee); Mrs Jennifer Hosgood (trustee); Ivor R.Hosgood MBE (trustee); Matthew Frost (trumpet); Finlay McEwen (saxophone); the Lord Mayor of Norwich (see prog cover); the Lady Mayoress of Norwich (see prog cover); the Sheriff of Norwich (see prog cover); Leona Pang (piano); John Hemmant (Artistic Director/AAF); and George Rolls (Baritone).

(The Sheriff’s Lady is confined to a wheelchair and had already been taken upstairs to the music room, which explains her non-appearance in the photo.)

Yours sincerely, Ivor

 

 

17 November 2013 – Norma Groom writes from Cape Town

Hi Reg, This morning I went onto HMSOldies and was very sad and shocked to read about the death of David Reeve, who worked for me when I was in charge of the Supplies Tender section until I retired in 1991. He was always a hard worker but the love of his life were his cigarettes. He was a person who always seemed to enjoy his own company rather than that of his colleagues, but at times he would show a wicked sense of humour. It is very sad that he died so young, I sincerely hope that he enjoyed his two years of retirement, please send my condolences to his family.

It was lovely to see Duncan Dawdry’s memories of David, I was only thinking of Duncan, Madeleine and Kim the other day, I was very fortunate to have a section of such hard-working people, please convey my best wishes to them if you are in touch with them.

It does not seem possible that Chris and I have been in South Africa for 14 years now, we love our life in the Cape and have made so many friends, My son and all the family are coming here next March so we are busy planning where to take them. Ralph has been several times but his daughter’s boyfriend has never been and is making quite a wish list of things he wants to see and do. Top of the list is Addo Elephant Park in Port Elizabeth. I always enjoy Addo so much: the elephants (there are more than 350) are such awesome animals, and they just roam freely in the park, as do all the other animals. The whales are back in the ocean – we see them from Fish Hoek beach and they come every year from late August until late November. They calf here every year – the female whale always has another female with her when she gives birth, the other female whale acts as a midwife and tosses the newborn baby into the air as soon as it is born. We were very lucky one day when we were on the beach with some South African friends and witnessed the whole thing take place.

Well Reg I am going to close now. I go onto HMSO oldies nearly every week and do enjoy it. Please pass onto Alan and Terry (how did Alan manage to get a picture with Del Steyne), Isobel, Peter, John Eason and Sue Whitaker my best regards. I expect that you know that Dick Moore has been poorly and is waiting for a pacemaker to be fitted.

Kind regards, Norma Groom

 

 

14 November 2013 – Eighty Years in the Bunker: HMSO Golf Society in 1994

Brian Broughton has unearthed this piece of history, which he has posted onto HMSOldies Facebook. There was considerable memory-loss as to the reason for the event, and indeed some of the names (two contributors even suggesting that the late Ronnie Barker had sneaked into the frame) but sterling memory-rattling from Messrs Tate, Moore, Downs and especially Mike Taylor (a three-pipe problem) has, we hope, come up with the goods.

The event was a special meeting at Eaton Golf Club, Norwich, to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of HMSO Golf Society.

In attendance, starting at the top left, were Derek Moore, Colin Reeson (not HMSO employee), Ernie Downs, Brian Broughton, Ed Crickmore, Dick Moore, Derek Newton, Keith Williams, Mike Lovelady, Clive Furness (ex HMSO: moved to NCR pre-dispersal), Ian Quarterman, Bob Laws (IT Consultant), Jim Mowat, Tom Robinson, Ian Hatfield.
Front row: Roger Nash, Don Ray, Archie Foote, Mike Taylor, Brian Puplett (Team Captain), Ernie Thorp, John McKain (HMSO Edinburgh), Pat Tate, Bill Gamble, Pat Gormley.

We trust that there will be a similar line-up taken at the celebration for the 100th anniversary, at Thorpeness, next year.

 

Clive Furness adds: Hi Reg, Thanks for the memories: can’t believe 20 years have passed since the photo was taken. I remember it as though it was yesterday – in fact my wife Lyn took the picture. Looking closely at the photo I had to ask her if she was taking a free kick: a pose along the front row is only normally seen on a football pitch! I for one look forward to celebrating our 100 years in 2014. Thanks again Reg. Clive

Gordon Robbie adds: Reg, Research in the Golf Society archives confirms that this group photograph was, as surmised, taken at our 80th Anniversary meeting at Eaton in 1984, and I agree with the identifications already made of those present. I am having some difficulty accounting for my own absence on that special occasion, but 1984 was the first year of HMSO’s sponsorship of Nigel Smith in the British Touring Car Championship, and, as Head of Publications Publicity Section and the main protagonist of the sponsorship deal, it fell to me and some others of the Publicity and Sales staff to sacrifice our weekends and probably the occasional Friday to attend various race circuits nation-wide to actively promote HMSO’s motoring titles alongside our sponsored driver and car. Ah, the things I had to do to meet the exigencies of the Service – and not even an OBE for my troubles! Cheers, Gordon.

Thanks Gordon, Yes, as you say, some of us put work first, no matter how gruelling – I’ll have a word with the Palace to see if we can get you a People’s OBE, but I had better be quick before the devolution referendum takes place. All the best. Reg

 

 

12 November 2013 – From Bob Allder

Bob Allder has added this 1979 photo of the SSPP Costing Office Technical Staff to his Facebook page. The clerical staff at that time included Pat Ayres, sister of the West Ham footballer Johnny Ayres.

Back row: Trevor Bentley, Cliff Mills, Dave Charlton
Front row, Bob Allder, Kelvin Irish, John Tucker

 

 

4 November 2013 – A small world

Moira and I went to Stresa in Italy in late September. During the flight from Norwich Moira struck up conversation with a young woman sitting to her right. They exchanged names and Moira learnt the woman’s name was Lucy and that she was accompanying her father, Henry, on the trip to Italy as her mother avoids travelling by air. I was not involved in any of the conversation until Moira told me that Lucy knew someone who had worked at HMSO and Moira realised that person was also known to me.

That ‘someone who had worked at HMSO’ turned out to be Jack Keating, who worked in the former Technical Development area and latterly in Pubns Electronic Publishing. Since retirement Jack has been resident in the USA and has contributed several articles to HMSOldies from there. Lucy knew Jack through his son John, with whom Lucy went out for a while before they eventually went their separate ways.

I emailed Jack the news of how we met with Lucy. Jack responded: ‘A small world when you get on a plane and meet someone who knows someone you know. As Lucy told you, she came over when John was with me and stayed with us for two weeks.’

We enjoyed Lucy and Henry’s company, usually at the breakfast table, during our stay in Stresa. The long arm of coincidence aided by memories of Jack worked well!
Dave Martin

 

 

12 October 2013 – They would, wouldn’t they? Billy Stevenson gets excited . . .

Dear Reg, The Profumo saga is in the news again, with Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s forthcoming musical ‘Stephen Ward’ opening in the Aldwych Theatre in December. Our famous best seller Lord Denning’s Report Cmnd 2152 will no doubt be in demand again. We thought the Post Office shares were a bargain, well the above Cmnd paper was going for three Half Crowns at the Holborn Bookshop in 1963. It’s now fetching £25 on Amazon. Just coincidentally Christine Keeler’s new autobiography Secrets and Lies has just been published and is worth the £17.99 for the first paragraph of the Foreword alone. Copyright forbids me including it here. Tickets for the musical are starting at £80, a snip. I’m saving up already.

Yours reminiscently. Billy

 

Hello Billy, Well observed as ever: thank you! I’m off to Waterstone’s to buy a book – where’s that £ 17.99. Reg.

 

 

11 October 2013 – Alan Cole in South Africa

Alan goes to South Africa every January – the mean-spirited among his friends think that it is to avoid buying a drink on his birthday – and this photograph, taken in 2013, shows him with the South African Test Cricketer Dale Steyn, who at the time was rated the best bowler in the world. Cricket fans should see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Steyn

That’s Dale Steyn, not Del Styan, a one-time HMSO employee and Cromer Museum curator. According to Press reports, ‘he is quick, accurate and can swing his balls both ways.’ Steyn, that is. Unless Del can advise otherwise.

 

 

8 October 2013 – Sue Whitaker Tells ’em . . .

Sue Whitaker made most of the local (Norfolk) media outlets today giving her forthright views on the care of the elderly. Good to see that the practice she had working in S10, Office Machinery, has been of use. No disrespect, Mr Townell, or any others in the ‘Is the tea-trolley due yet?’ club.

Courtesy of the Eastern Daily Press : http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/under_fire_norfolk_company_to_keep_contract_to_care_for_vulnerable_people_1_2857541

 

 

Poole Party: September 2013

Roy Plackett has recently returned from missionary work in Spain, spreading the word regarding Arsenal FC, and took in a visit to some old Colonials:

‘We met up with Dave and Pat Poole for lunch and enjoyed a good gossip about friends and ex-colleagues while on hols in Spain. After some 12 years, they are still very much enjoying life in Benitachell but are considering a move back to the UK in the near future. The photo above shows Pat and Dave in the company of Stanley Kelly, retired teacher based in Wymondham.’

 

 

Jim and Ross Richardson with the Golden Girls (and Boys): September 2013

A welcome note from Jim Richardson, resident of Bury, with a couple of photographs showing some familiar smiling faces. Jim writes:
‘Thought you would like news from the Golden Oldies up North. Ross and I travelled up to Edinburgh to see the tattoo, and on the way, we stopped in Newcastle to visit Jimmy Johnson and Terry Edwards.

Terry Edwards, Jenny Edwards, Jim Richardson, Ross Richardson, Jim Johnson, June Johnson

We also had a great birthday celebration this year with the girls from Manchester Reprographic.

Shirley Stopford – 40 for the second time; Frances Holland, Ross Richardson, Marjorie Christopher – 40 for the second time; Sandra Lomax – 35 for the second time).

Hope all is well with you and the rest of the gang: hope to see you sometime in 2014.

Cheers, Jim and Ross Richardson.’

 

 

Susan Curran’s Norwich Book Launch – 17 October 2013

Everyone is welcome to the Lasse Press’s launch of Susan Curran’s The Marriage of Margery Paston (nonfiction about the 15th century Paston family, illustrated in colour with photos of East Anglian stained glass), and Stephen J Dudley’s The Road to Golgotha (a mathematician’s analysis of the chronology of Christ’s life) at St Edmund’s church, Fishergate, Norwich on Thursday 17 October from 5–7 pm. Wine will be available, the books will be at special launch prices, and £2 from each copy sold will go to the Friends of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust. Please pass the word on to anyone who might be interested.

If you can’t make it, you’re welcome to call in at Susan’s (2 St Giles Terrace, Norwich, off Bethel Street almost opposite the Coach and Horses) to see and buy the books at the same prices: we’re usually in during the day, but call first if you’re making at detour (Norwich 665843).

All best, Susan Curran

Good luck with your launch. Reg

 

 

Back to the Front

The Sunday Times Appointments Section dated 22 September 2013 contains news of a post that could well interested many an HMSOldie …PSAOldie …CCTAOldie … . HM Government requires, among other posts, a new Commercial Delivery Director to work within the Crown Commercial Service ‘to bring together Government’s central commercial capability into a single organisation … these roles require outstanding individuals who have carved out reputations for being the best in their field and who are ready to operate on a uniquely complex platform. You will be engaging with blue chip boards, FTSE leaders and respected innovators, not to mention some of the most influential leaders at the heart of Government. Engaging with senior stakeholders will be crucial … you will have outstanding negotiating and influencing skills, state of the art professional expertise, and be in a position to use your track record and experience to date to make a fundamental difference.’

Those interested are encouraged to access the following website for further details:

http://www.ccsappointments.com/sections/the_roles

Should you be successful, please remember who told you about this. My personal expertise (taking Customers to lunch) is somewhat rusty but I am prepared to revitalise it in a good cause …

 

 

Good News Day for one HMSO Pensioner

On 20 September 2013 11:01, Jeremy Lane, lately of Parliamentary Press, contacted us as a follow-up to his earlier note requesting assistance regarding his HMSO pension:

Morning All

Just to let you know I have finally succeeded in tracking my pension down, although it took one very helpful person in the Cabinet Office to finally nail it after 7 months of trying. They now handle ex HMSO staff.

So, if you get any more poor souls like me asking you for help, point them in my direction and I will:

a) pour them a large scotch
b) give them some valium
c) point them in the right direction(s)

Once again, thanks all.

Jeremy

 

Hello Jeremy What excellent news – quite cheered me up. Just shows what can be done with determination, and a helpful and receptive contact … they are out there if we can only find them.
Rest assured that your kind offer will be top of the pile if we get any more such requests. All the best. Reg

 

 

Young Musician’s Concert Sunday 17 November 2013 at 1430 hours

Ivor Hosgood has asked us to let you know that there has been a change of venue for this event.

Regrettably, due to building work at the URC, Princes Street, Norwich (involving, I understand, the installation of a new central-heating system) it will not be possible to use this venue.
However, the trustees have been have been offered the Music Room of The Anteros Arts Foundation (formerly known as ‘The King of Hearts’) 7 Fye Bridge Street, Norwich NR3 1LJ for this event.

Those taking part include the the winners of the Norfolk Young Musician Competition (promoted by the Michael Badminton Young Musician Trust) – trumpeter, Matthew Frost, the saxophonist, Finlay McEwen, and the baritone, George Rolls – and the winner of the trust’s UEA Scholarship awarded to the most promising student at its School of Music, pianist, Leona Pang.
Again, there will be no increase in admission prices (£6.00; under 18s, £3.00) including a copy of the programme. It is hoped to serve post-concert Light Refreshments.

 

 

14 September 2013 – From Luz Rodriguez

Dear Mr Walker, I just saw your amazing YouTube video about the HMSO on Norwich. I would be most grateful if you send me the address of HMSO between 1951 and 1952. I am writing a proposal on Persian paintings and I am reading an article written by B.W. Robinson for the Magazine Le Connosiseur in 1951, which it was printed at the HMSO, but does not have the address.
I am sorry to trouble you. With my warmest thanks for your kindness, Luz

 

Dear Luz Rodriguez, Thank you for your kind words. The answer to your question is that the Headquarters of HMSO moved from Keysign House, Oxford Street, London to Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1 in 1951, where it remained until 1968, when it moved to Sovereign House, Norwich. HMSO managed various printing presses, warehouses and bookshops around the UK until the organisation was sold to private enterprise in 1996. I hope this helps. Good luck with your publishing venture. Reg Walker, Editor, HMSOldies

 

 

3 September 2013 – From Dave Burchell

On Monday 19th August, Steve Linehan, Bob Allder and myself (all ex-compositors) visited the Type Archive at Stockwell. We were invited by Barry Felstead (ex-SSPP) who volunteers there one day each week. We met with Sue Shaw who runs the Archive and who gave us a tour of the main archive which was fascinating. It was literally like going into Aladdin’s Cave and everything to do with the history of typefounding was there.

The Type Archive has been in existence since 1992 and with the aid of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, has been able to acquire complete collections covering the principal chapters of typefounding in Britain. These include:

• traditional typefounding, from Stephenson Blake and Co., Sheffield
• woodletter type, from Robert DeLittle, York
• mechanical typecasting from the Monotype Corporation

These collections date from the sixteenth century to the end of the twentieth century and the archive includes substantial quantities of historical material, including highly important collections of eighteenth and nineteenth century type specimen books and in the case of Monotype, the complete business records of a global institution.

Messrs Felstead, Burchell, Linehan and Allder standing next to a Lion Hand Press

We were fortunate to meet with three ex-Monotype stalwarts: Duncan Avery, Parminder Kumar Rajput and Doug Ellis. Duncan has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Monotype and he was able to show us the ledgers containing the purchase and supply of equipment for all the HMSO Presses from the 1930s and 40s. One interesting entry was for an HMSO Press at Chislehurst in Kent. Casters were installed there in 1943 and removed in 1947. We could find no mention of this in the HMSO Bi-Centenary history book and wondered if anybody could throw any light on this?

It was a memorable visit and a thoroughly enjoyable day out. As a token of our gratitude, we gave the Archive a copy of the HMSO Bi-Centenary history for their records.

Kind regards, Dave

 

Hello Dave, Lovely stuff! Thank you. And an intriguing question regarding Chislehurst. Somebody out there must know something. I’ll let you know if we get a knock at the door from the boys in Millbank. All the best. Reg

Philip Marriage adds: Dave, I visited it back in September 2004, together with a number of other ex HMSO graphic designers and a photo subsequently appeared in the HMSOldies Picture Gallery. It was clear to me that the museum was being run on a shoe-string by a small group of enthusiasts. The main stalwart was the curator Justin Howes who showed us around and demonstrated casting type by hand. I remember Duncan Avery and Parminder Kumar Rajput telling us about cutting new dies for the introduction of the Euro sign for Monotype castors. Tragically Justin died just a few months later of a heart attack at the tender age of 41. I then wondered whether the whole thing would fold without his practical as well as academic drive. Occasional glances at their web-site only led to more unease with regular appeals for money and my last look displayed the message ‘We regret that there is currently no public access to the Museum’. So your snippet was the first positive indication since that time. The fact that the place is still going, even accepting the occasional visitor is welcome news. Tell me were you able to gain access as friends of Barry Felstead or can anyone visit these days? I know somebody who has a special interest in Caslon. It is interesting that you refer to it as The Type Archive whereas I know it as The Type Museum – I presume we are talking about the same place at 100 Hackford Road?

Dave replied: Yes, it is now known as The Type Archive rather than The Type Museum and is still being run by volunteers at 100 Hackford Road. They make their income (apart from donations) by producing the dies for any Monotype typefaces and exotic characters that they are asked for. They have a steady stream of enthusiasts and clients from all over the world. We were invited by Barry Felstead who we knew from SSPP. If you wish to visit, it would be best to write to them in the first instance, as they do not not admit visitors who just ‘turn up’. They have a number of old Adana machines of various shapes and sizes and Sue said they would like to run a workshop on using these. Bob Allder is an old hand on Adana’s having a number himself and I think he will be giving them advice and a helping hand. The volunteers at the Archive have now opened up all the crates they had in store, so they know exactly what they have got in the archive, which is absolutely everything! The wooden boxes holding the dies and punches are works of art in themselves. Sue Shaw runs the place and is very proud of the collection they have there. It will be interesting to see if anyone has any recollections of HMSO being at Chislehurst during the war.

 

 

2 September 2013 – Hmmm . . .

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/tesco_in_talks_over_superstore_in_norwich_s_anglia_square_1_2362023

Judy Pritchard ‪adds: ‬ Perhaps we could ask the planners to save the spiral staircase as a mark of respect to those who served HM in Sovereign House. Maybe rename it the Circumlocution Office, as in Dickens’ “Little Dorrit”. Kind regards, Judy P

Judy, What a good idea. Doubtless Tesco would insist on sponsorship. Perhaps a BOGOF on every floor? Reg

 

 

28 August 2013 – John Barker visits HQ

John joined HMSO in 1962, moving through various Print, Works and Technical jobs, finally working on the COI desk at London Print. He was also a significant player in IPCS activities. Following privatisation he continued his print activities with Colibri Ltd. and even past retirement his interest is unabated, as he and his wife Angela visited the Jarrold Printing Museum during a few days’ break in Norwich.

Some old friends and colleagues joined John and Angela for lunch in the Wig and Pen: Marilyn Nesbit, Anne Eason, Gerry Aldus, Roy Plackett, Peter Bradbury, Alan Cole, Rod Durkin, Philip Marriage and Reg Walker, many of whom are pictured here, in mid-reminisce.

 

 

27 August 2013 – From Les Birch

‪‬Dear Reg, Sorry to have been so uncharacteristically quiet recently but I had been awaiting a decision whether the DDay ProAm was going to be played again this year as Omaha Beach Golf Club had not escaped the financial problems that many golf clubs have been experiencing recently – they even had to get rid of their Director of Golf, a charming chap. The decision has now been taken and the competition will take place as usual on 11/12 October, so once again my apologies for absence from the OB’s lunch – maybe next year. My buggy chauffeur insists that without me the tournament has no meaning so what can I do?

Sad to see the passing of Sid Brooks and Margaret Crawley and dear old Walter from Olivetti – wonder what he got the DSM for, a pretty rare award. He used to come down to Cardiff with Peter Atkins who loved to play Cardiff Golf Club and he would just wander around making his comments on our play in his inimitable way. Peter introduced me to yellow ferrets (chipping in from a bunker) and green ferrets (chipping in from off the green) and the award for that was 25p – Peter would never play without money on the game.

The 91st birthday celebrations went off very well, much muted from last year’s event of course. My daughter and son in law were off chasing polar bears north of Spitzbergen whilst my son and daughter in law were hovering between their apartments in Vienna and Budapest. I had told the locals that they would have to await the 95th. before the next party but they persuaded me that this was really too much of a gamble. The bar bill was just under £200 for 18 of us, and some drank Coke, so all in all not a bad afternoon.

We had what was billed as the last Normandy Veterans Parade in Whitehall on 18 August – less than 100 of us were there, mostly in wheelchairs, only to be told that the really last parade will be next year, the 70th anniversary. It is said that there are now less than 600 left alive of the more than 180,000 Brits who were there in 1944 so we really are becoming something of a rarity.

Enough ramblings for now – you are still doing a fantastic job with the site and I hope you will continue in this way for many years to come.

Best wishes as always, Les

Hello Les, Very pleased to hear from you and that you appear to be on top form. As you say, there is no play without Hamlet, so the golf day it must be. You will be missed at the October lunch, of course.

Mention of the DD Parade always puts things into perspective. This link may also be of interest:

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/campaigns/normandy-voices/

Excellent to hear that you are still celebrating the birthday in good style. Perhaps one year we will bring down a coach-load from London and Norwich. That’ll make a hole in your Bar Kitty! All the very best, and please continue to stay in touch. Reg

 

 

25 August 2013 – Bob’s Big Birthday Bash

We doubt whether, when a young Bob Barnard made his way nervously through the streets of North London on a cold 19 March 1951 to his new job in HMSO’s Duplicating Division (four days after Ernie Uren and 34 days before Mabel Denton for the historians among you), he thought that a mere 62 years later he would be celebrating his eightieth (yes, counting them, eightieth) birthday in the ultra-salubrious Barnard Towers in the Newmarket Road area of Norwich.

And in what company! Photos, courtesy of Alan Pawsey, show that (nearly) everyone who is anyone in Publications Society was there. Those who had been to Royal Garden Parties of old subsequently vouchsafed the opinion that the Barnard catering was distinctly superior, and that the drink flowed to the obvious satisfaction of Scotsmen and Directors of Publications alike. So this leaves the question: exactly what was the reason for the obvious emotion being expressed by Phill Brooks? Was he offering a passionate vote of thanks, or was he proposing an all-out war on Sweet and Maxwell?

 

Happy birthday, Bob – there’s a space reserved on HMSOldies for your 90th.

 

 

25 August 2013 – Farringdon Road Bookstall

One of the delights of working in Atlantic House was the opportunity to spend a lunchtime rummaging through the bookstalls parked in the road near the top of Farringdon Road, a short stroll away.
A few seconds can be seen as part of a film ‘Market Place’, one of the ‘Look at Life’ series made by the Rank Organisation in 1959, now on YouTube, at about 1min 30sec in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMHjsmCjL78

 

I well remember ‘The Barrows.’ Bernard O’Brien introduced me to them in the mid 1960s. Books from the shilling barrows were reduced to sixpence on Thursdays and Fridays. I still have several, including two early 1900s Kelly’s Directories from a barrow-full that would fetch hundreds of pounds these days. And the proprietor’s old mum used to run a barrow alongside selling bits and pieces for cigarette lighters etc. I think they lasted well into the 1970s. Reg

Philip Marriage adds: Your reference Reg to finding hidden gems on the barrows reminded me that I bought a book from them in the mid 1970s which I intended to rebind – I was then attending bookbinding Evening Classes in Bolt Court, off Fleet Street. It’s A New and Complete History of England, From the Earliest Period of Authentic Intelligence to the Present Time, By Temple Sydney, Esq. 1773, London, printed for J. Cooke at Shakespear’s Head, huge 16 by 10 inches.

However it has lain untouched in my loft these past 35 years since we moved to Norwich. I’ve just found it and idly googling the title discovered that a copy is available from Rooke Books for a mere £199.99, or from Live Actioneers.com with an estimate of $362–$543. I can see me heading for Keys the Auctioneers at Aylsham . . .

 

 

23 August 2013 – From Billy Stevenson (The Rock of Gibraltar)

Dear Reg, Further to my earlier mention of the Gibraltar situation, diplomacy doesn’t seem to be working. I have therefore decided to launch a Submarine offensive. We must remember that the Empire is declining. If Gibraltar goes, what next, the Isle of Wight?

Yours Empirically, Billy

 

Hello Billy (or should I call you Admiral?) You look a rare broth of a boy there, and were I a Spanish Privateer I’d turn tail or even turtle at one look of you! All the best. Reg

 

 

21 Aug 2013 – From Gordon Johnson

Dear Reg, I was following some links via Google, when I was directed to your website, and I came across a circular with an entry in it from Mike on 15th July 2010, when he said, amongst other things, he was looking for Gordon Johnson. Can you please tell Mike I’ve been looking for him too, ever since he went off to Oz in the late 80s I think, and then just seemed to disappear off the planet.

I’m in Egypt at the moment, enduring the unrest, but hope to be back in Blighty in November.

Kind regards, Gordon.

 

Hello Gordon. The wonders of modern communication! I picked this up while away for a few days in Dorset – considerably more peaceful than Egypt, I imagine. Unfortunately the address I have for Mike ‘bounced back’ so I am hoping that he reads your note on HMSOldies – or that someone lets me know how he can be contacted these days. If you intend to get up to Norwich upon your return let me know and we’ll see if we can rustle up a few friends in The Golden Star or somewhere like it. All the best, and keep your head down. Reg

 

17 August 2013 – From Jack Keating

Actions speak louder than words; or a picture paints a thousand words! The deed has been done! The wedding went off fine and without any hitches. It was a simple but nice ceremony witnessed by my eldest daughter and son, and took place at the Registrar’s Office in Great Yarmouth on the morning of Monday 12 August 2013 (the Glorious Twelfth). We then held a reception the same evening at the Oaklands Hotel in Norwich for 29 relatives and friends.

Thank you all for your good wishes.

Best wishes, Jack and Kate

Congratulations Jack, could this be the first wedding for publication by HMSOldies? Should we get into partnership with OK magazine? All the best. Reg

 

 

13 August 2013 – From Dave Pelham

Hi Reg, I’ve just been catching up on the news and photos and pleased to see so many of my old friends doing so well. I still see John Rose regularly when I go for my saxophone lesson although I have not been for a while. I hoped to come to the gathering at The Eagle but unfortunately at the same time you were enjoying yourself I was having an operation to remove a tumour from my right kidney. I am glad to say it all went very well and the tumour was benign so I am just getting over the op.

I do want to say thanks to the N&N and all the staff who did a great job and treated me with great care and compassion. There is a lot of moaning about the hospital but I have nothing but praise. From finding the tumour to having the op was less then 3 weeks and I don’t think you would get much better with private treatment.

Anyway all the best, Dave Pelham

 

Hello Dave, Good to hear that you are on the mend, and especially to read your positive comments about NNUH. I’m sure that HMSOldies will be pleased to read something other than bad news! Your mention of saxophone lessons brings on an old regret of mine. I have always wanted to play like Coleman Hawkins but without the need to do something about my complete lack of musical ability. Let me know when you release your first record. A saxophone version of ‘Round Midnight’ would be great. All the best, Reg.

 

 

12 August 2013 – My Biggles experience!

I was treated for my 70th birthday by son Ian and family to a trial lesson at a gliding club (“We teach, we don’t do joyrides”) based near Long Stratton at Tibenham Airfield. This location was a former World War 2 bomber base occupied then by many US Air Force pilots and aircrew commanded by Hollywood legend James Stewart.

Formalities were few. I simply turned up about 20 minutes before flight time of 3pm, gave height and weight details and was logged as Temporary Member of the Gliding Club. With that satisfying various insurance and regulatory requirements I met Steve, my pilot/instructor who promptly strapped a parachute on me and, of course, told me “Don’t worry, you won’t need it.” I’m glad to say he was right, on this occasion at least! Steve then went over with me the locations and functions of the various controls and instruments, after which I got into the front cockpit seat of the glider which had earlier been parked nearby, He also told me that for safety reasons, loose items such as cameras are not permitted in the cockpit area when in flight so my plan to get some aerial shots had to be abandoned.

A trained acrobat or gymnast of 16 to 30 years would probably manage to get into the cockpit seat with ease. Those of 70 or more years, 6ft and a bit (1•83 metres for younger readers) in height and c.15 stones (95 Kg) or any combination of these handicaps are more likely to find themselves reconsidering the wisdom of accepting a glider flight! I expected to find occupying the cockpit seat claustrophobic but that did not happen. With very little delay the towing line was attached to the single-engined tow-plane and we were pulled along the runway. The glider was airborne first then the tow-plane rose off the ground. We were towed to around 2,100 ft and before casting off the tow line. The tow-plane immediately turned away and descended, leaving us floating effortlessly at around 2,000ft. We found one or two areas of lift but in the main, thermal activity was not widespread.

I was offered the opportunity to take control of the aircraft, which I did, though rather inexpertly as might be expected of anyone who has not previously flown an aircraft. However, I was heartened to find that some little familiarity with the controls is fairly quickly gained and the flying process very soon begins to become enjoyable. Forward movement was mostly smooth with only an occasional wobble when the nose dropped or rose and speed increased or decreased accordingly. Turning was a slightly alarming sensation at first but that was soon overcome and my enjoyment rose higher with every passing moment. All too soon the usual 20–25 minutes for a first try training flight was over and Steve very gently set us down on the tarmac on the single wheel positioned on the underside of the fuselage. As momentum slowed Steve turned the glider on to the grass where the aircraft stopped, gently tilting then to rest on one wing. I found getting out was more difficult than getting in had been as gravity does not work in one’s favour when levering oneself upwards!

Finally there was a Training Card for Steve to fill in and give to me together with the information that my non-transferable Temporary Membership lasts for 90 days.

Dave Martin

 

A wonderfully comprehensive report, which I am sure will be of interest to HMSOldies who can read it without submitting to claustrophobia or nose-bleeds. Sounds like a great experience. I was surprised to see just how small these gadgets are – doesn’t do to dwell on what keeps them up there! Did you, perchance, notice whether my gutters need cleaning? Reg

 

 

10 August 2013 – From Billy Stevenson

Dear HMSOldies. While chilling out here in the Costa Calida the word came over the Cyber Wireless that HMSOldies is nine years old. A lot of water has passed through the Stairs of Gibraltar in that time. I hope our Diplomatic Correspondent is on the case. We don’t want any of our oldies stranded at the border. May I add my thanks and very best wishes to you all on the Management Team for all the hard work. Billy.

 

Hello Billy, How very kind – thank you. All the best to you, too, and may the (Gibraltar) monkeys never use you for target practice. Reg

 

 

8 August 2013 – Times Past

So there I was minding my own business when what should pop through the e-letterbox but some photographs of various ex HMSO personnel in a London pub (there’s a novelty) joining Bob Nuttall in a celebration of his retirement from useful employment (well, Government Sales Manager) with Addressograph-Multigraph.

The eagle-eyed will be able to spot Helen George, who found the photos at the bottom of her sock drawer – Mistresses Whitaker and Burgis – Betts, Burroughs, Durkin, Cole – several others hiding under tables, barmen, barrels etc.

Helen reports that Nigel is well, as is his father Arthur George – she has recently been in contact with Anne Batley, Kevin White, Brian Wilson, Rita Tuttle, Janet Grimes – also seen on the Mean Streets (and Meaner Bars) of Norwich have been Karen Sullivan (brother Kevin is thriving), Jim Wretham, Peter Macdonald, Alan Pawsey, Phill Brooks, Dave Martin, Arthur and Kath Holland, Alison Womack, Brian Ekers, Larry Lewendon, Michael Salt, Howard Wheeldon, Roy Plackett, Cecil Hughes, Angela Brandish-Hughes, Peter Bradbury, Roy and Hazel Marchant, Eric Davy, Peter Bradbury, Steve Denmark, Robin Kelly, Alan Low, John Gardiner, Phil Leach, Peter Staples, Nodge Carnegie, Doug Boyd, Roy Keavney, Jim and Lynda Marshall, Christine Hawthorn, Steve Walmsley, Gavin Turner, Harry Currie, Jo Rokahr, Graham Churchard – and several others who have paid for anonymity.

 

 

6 August 2013 – It was twenty years ago today . . .

Twenty years ago today HMSO Books Publicity and Graphic Design departments held a joint lunchtime picnic in the grounds of the redundant St Augustine’s Church just across the road from St Crispins, Norwich. Amongst those spotted here are Sheridan Smith, Judy Phillips, Lisa Hallett, Paeony Lewis, Janice Mather, Heather Coker, Jennifer Hannaford, Margery Kraszewski, Gerry Watt, Fred Stubbs, Dee Smallridge, Richard Nelson, Adrian Bickers, Alison Beaumont, David Deadman and Diane Cowley. All contributed a little something (including entertainment by a juggling Alison) and it was such a pleasant way to spend a lunch hour in the sunshine that further picnics were repeated in later years.

 

 

29 July 2013 – Sovereign Verse

Who would have thought that HMSO was a spawning ground for poets? This heartfelt verse from Chris Gould, lately of Supplies Division, published in the Norwich Evening News dated 29 July 2013, shows a talent missed on his last E5!

 

 

28 July 2013 – From Malcolm Dunsdon

Hi Reg, Trust you are well. I am currently leading H&S for Aviva – with a global role. Regrettable I was not one of the 2000 who are being made redundant so continue to work. Anyway, I thought you may be interested in the following article/link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-whitehall-central-buying-service-to-save-more-for-taxpayers

Sounds like a merger of the old PSA and HMSO and is it the Phoenix arising from the ashes?

Regards, Malcolm Dunsdon

 

Hello Malcolm, Good to hear that you are doing well, despite the implication that you would rather be doing nothing, like so many of us these days. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, you know: many of your old colleagues are forced to play golf, watch cricket, go to the pub, take holidays etc just to pass the time. It’s hell out here, I tell you. Anyway, you are first with the news of the Crown Commercial Service. Not for the first time, printable words fail me. I shall follow its progress with interest. Wonder if some names from our past will feature? All the best, Reg.

 

 

25 July 2013 – Ladies Who Yoga

Valerie Knowles has sent us this photo of four smiling ex HMSO ladies enjoying a post-yoga lunch:

‘We are from L to R : Valerie Knowles, Margaret Perry, Annette Conn and Joyce Parsons (widow of Ron Parsons). The location is Caley’s cafe in Norwich Guildhall. The yoga group was started decades ago (1970’s or 80’s) and HMSO let us use an empty room in Sovereign House every Monday lunchtime for an hour. Eventually, this arrangement ended as space became unavailable and we moved to other premises We still have the same yoga teacher and six ex HMSO staff in the group. The class remains at one hour so that people still at work can attend in their lunch break (with a little flexitime or understanding from supervisors). Wasn’t flexitime great! I think we were lucky to have the best time at HMSO. Valerie’

 

 

18 July 2013 – From Alison Womack

Hallo Reg, I do like the idea of a NAP – particularly for those of us who DO NOT enjoy heatwaves (and who struggle to put one foot in front of the other when the temperature is in the high twenties). How did we ever have time to go to work? I have recently become a Galaxy Tab owner, and find that there is just so much to learn and to play with. Sudoku without paper and pencil is brilliantly addictive.
Otherwise during the last umpteen years my main thrust, apart from family, has been voluntary work. Mostly with the local Blind Association – especially Braille transcription (huge variety of items: reports, correspondence, church services, poems, newsletters, menus, exhibition captions, Christmas cards and so on), plus counting flag day money, some befriending, sorting and selling donated obsolete or foreign coins, and occasional proof reading. I also have a city delivery round twice a year for Norwich Cathedral magazines (it’s frustrating that so many modern blocks of flats have no communal letter box, while their entryphone systems are useless for postal access if no one is at home!)

Keep your editorial flag flying, you and the team are doing a great job.

Alison

 

Hello Alison, Thank you for your kind words, which I have copied to ‘the lads’ who do the difficult stuff. Good to hear that you are keeping active. We will add your note to the communal round-up of responses. You never know: you might get some foreign coins donated (if you still want them). All the best. Reg

Thanks also to the following correspondents who have responded in most cases with kind words, and in some cases mild abuse (still nothing from Gordon . . .). Dave Burchell was first off the blocks: still a working man (TSO London) so he is up before most of us for the daily commute, lucky man – then Sue Prutton, Ian Billings, Mike Betts, Dan Lavery (‘engaged in promoting World Peace and trying to educate the world to the hidden genius that resides within me . . .’ I’m sold, Dan). Phill Brooks, Terry McCrum, Alan Crabtree, Christine Hawthorn, John Rumball (who emailed from Portugal), Gerry Aldus (all the way from just outside Waitrose), Paul Cunningham, Phil Selby, Sharon Lock, Amanda Bergeron (USA), Adele Cook, Charles Lucas, Malcolm Horton – and still they come.

 

 

16 July 2013 – From Ivor Hosgood

 

Hello Ivor, What a wonderful card: thank you. I have passed it on to ‘the lads’ (including Dave Martin, of course, who came on board shortly after the launch and does sterling work on more of the bits I don’t understand). All the best to you and yours. Reg

 

 

5 July 2013 – From Valerie ‪Knowles

‬‬Hi Reg, Congratulations on the 9th birthday of HMSOldies. What a feat of organisation for an ex-civil servant! You have inspired me to send these photos to show what I’m doing with some of my time (volunteer at Strangers’ Hall museum). I’ve been a volunteer there for about 8 years and mostly do gardening but there are often other interesting jobs that pop up to make life interesting! Strangers’ Hall is open 4 days a week for this summer 10–4 on Weds, Thurs, Friday and Sat. I hope some ‘Oldies’ may be enticed to visit.

By the way my Dad was 91 last month and still living on his own with some help from family and a pop-in cleaner and gardener. His mother reached 100 so it’s in the genes.

Hope you and Diane are well. Look forward to bumping into you again one day.

Best wishes, Valerie

 

Hello Valerie, You don’t look a day different from the old HMSO days! I didn’t know that the Strangers’ Hall gardens were so good – must be your influence. Good to hear that your father is in good form. I will pass on the good word to his old friends – Rod Durkin and others. Best wishes. Reg

 

 

15 July 2013 – Happy Birthday To Us

No need to tell you that time flies – nine years ago today the on-line HMSOldies site was born, an idea hatched between Philip Marriage and Robert Stutely. Still going, and no slander or libel writs (yet).
I frequently get stopped in the streets (for all sorts of reasons, but we won’t go into that) and ask how old so-and-so is doing. Perhaps a solution to such questions might lie in the use of the ‘Search This Site’ facility – last entry at the left-hand side of the Main HMSOldies Index:

https://www.hmsoldies.org.uk/

And, when no-one is looking, you could always put in your own name to see how many times you are mentioned. Can you beat Gordon Robbie’s 39 entries (‘not enough’ I hear a cry from Ashwellthorpe)?
Of course, it is also 17 years since the dissolution of HMSO as we knew it. It would be interesting, to me at least, to know what you have been doing for the past 17 years, and how you have coped without free stationery and regular tea-trolleys. Personally, I have spent the time trying to raise interest in a Norwich Apathy Party (NAP). Working slogan: ‘What do we want? Not very much. When do we want it? Whenever it’s convenient.’

Membership forms will be available once I get around to it.

As ever, your contribution is eagerly awaited.

Reg Walker: Editor, HMSOldies
[email protected]

 

 

5 July 2013 – Len Allen and the challenge of the Camino de Santiago

We reported on La Marina resident Len Allen undertaking a 900 km walk along the Camino de Santiago [see 21 March 2013].

The good news is he has completed it and has returned safely home. Len managed a 915 km walk in just 20 days, averaging 45 kms a day. Typically his day would start at 06.00 and he would walk for 4 hours (with his 8-kilo rucksack) covering about 22 km before stopping for breakfast. Len would then push on for 2 to 3 hours before lunch then conclude his day’s walking by 14.00–15.00 where he would spend the night in an Alberque or Hostal. On a few occasions, Len had overnight stays in a Monastery and in a Church. One of the targets set by Len was to see how far he could reasonably push himself and made part of the walk as a personal physical challenge and he is pleased and proud of his achievement. “I could have sat watching football or walking around a snooker table but I wanted something special to celebrate my birthday (60)” he said.

Len started at Pamplona at 05.30 and immediately hit the trail with his walking partner John (who unfortunately had to throw in the towel after 4 days). The first day had just about everything, hills, sharp declines, sun and rain and plenty of mud! After 3 days the blisters began to appear but despite this, he was able to carry on. Although he was unable to take any photos (John took the camera with him!) Len recalls the stunning scenery, the rolling mountains and lush green fields for most of the walk. The stark contrast to this was the heavy commercial and industrial areas around Burgos and Leon. Most days would start off bright but would eventually give way to rain, at times torrential rain which made climbing or descending the mountains particularly tough and Len recalls one range after Rabinal that almost beat him, having to stop 8 times to catch his breath he believed he would never get to the top where he hoped he would encounter some flat ground but what goes up must come down!

Carrying his “You’ll Never Walk Alone” LFC scarf he soon realised how true it all was to be. Along The Way, he met many people of different nationalities including a 69-year-old Spanish lady from Las Palmas who was walking the Camino for the 9th time. Amongst those who Len would often walk or meet up with included a Greek couple, an American mother and daughter, a pair of Swedish ladies, an 84-year-old Canadian, and an Italian who started the walk last year! He was never short of good company and fascinating stories.

The architecture along the Camino and in the larger towns and villages were of particular interest and time was always made to visit the sites. On reaching Santiago Len received his Compestela at the Cathedral and then turned his attention on the walk to Finesterre (End of the Earth). One night was spent there before returning to Santiago and the journey home. Despite enjoying his time on the Camino Len would not undertake it again, “been there, got the T-Shirt etc, never return, it’s not the same the second time around!” but is considering other options for something just as challenging for next year.

Len is now busy collecting all the sponsorship money pledged for The Easy Horse Care Rescue Foundation in Rojales and would like to send his personal thanks for all the support and sponsorship for EHCRF, as he says “that’s what kept me motivated when the going got tough”. He added, “the most important thing to come out of the walk was the 2,000 euros raised for charity”.

See also:http://content.yudu.com/Library/A29p5s/FemaleFocusMagazineJ/resources/24.htm

 

 

13 June 2013 – More From Ken Whitehead

G’day Reg, Funny how you say how clear the memory can be. When I read my email again I thought ‘was it Harry Poole, or Charlie?’ I guess I’ll never know. Another senior moment. But trying to solve it in my mind made other names pop up: Patricia Goodwin, Priscilla Pickup, Jimmy Gates, Fred Fearnley, Miss Carlton, Roy Stonehouse, Roy Pysden, BASmith, Don Brown, Ian, Geoff, Mr Desborough, Jim MacCallum, Kev Carney, Grahame …? I hadn’t thought about it since leaving however I could actually picture the old office layout and building quite clearly. Even Jimmy Gates cooking his breakfast in his room at the back. I could almost smell the bacon. And the tea trolley.

After 50 years and about 40 jobs in several countries, they all must have made an impression on me somehow to stay in my memory. I think we must have started work at 8:15 and you had to sign in the book by 8:18 or you got the red pen. I remember running up those stairs so often just as the pens were switched! I remember Mr Pysden because I happened to win a table tennis tournament and he presented the prize of an alarm clock with the comment that he hoped I would use it to get to work on time in the future!

Other strange terms like M1C, Hollerith, Telex, Civil Defence Exercise – it’s amazing what comes back when your mind starts thinking about that time. I most liked the memory of a telex coming back from ‘Supply?’ in London to something I’d asked, somewhat on the lines of: ‘Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs’. As probably a 17 years old kid I had no idea what it meant so had to ask someone to tell me!

I’ll always be grateful for the time I spent with HMSO. It was an extremely supportive environment and taught me so much. Ken

 

Hello Ken, Phew, you have certainly stirred the memory reservoir now. First of all, I think that I can put your mind at rest: one Henry Poole, born 1896, joined HMSO Manchester as Clerical Officer in 1956 (presumably from another Department), so I think that must be your man. You will be pleased to know that Jim MacCallum is still around, and that I have copied your note to him. Roy Stonehouse made it to a good age (see HMSOldies Obituaries). Roy Pysden died some years ago: he ended up as Director of Contracts at CCTA, the computer procurement agency that grew out of HMSO’s Hollerith section. And if Jimmy Gates is still around he has just celebrated his 115th birthday!

I worked in ‘Supply’ Atlantic House in the mid-1960s and can well believe that some of the old curmudgeons might have adopted a superior attitude to you young ‘uns: especially from ‘The Provinces.’ But lots of them were more than happy to move out of London when dispersal to Norwich came along in 1968. Keep the memory, flowing, Ken, and best wishes. Reg

 

 

12 June 2013 – From Ken Whitehead

G’day Reg, Thanks for your reply [see 27 May 2013]. Even though I was only with HMSO for a few years they were very important to me as I was just a kid on his first job after leaving school. I’d just turned 16 so Chadderton was a special experience for me and I was fortunate to work with many lovely people.

I remember Aggie Smith and Eileen Partington who both mothered me a bit I guess, but especially Harry Poole who taught me my first job. He was a great influence on me, a very polite gentleman. I was shocked by his death only a few months after his retirement and I remembered him when I took early retirement 14 years ago. I still remember many people from those days, Horace Slater, Jack Strange, Harold Lloyd, Arthur Burnell, Eileen Delahunty and many others.

Stocktakes at King St bookshop and then a beer at the Shambles, the drama society, bowls comps, table tennis comps, putting comps, snooker comps, even netball against the girls who we always let win, of course, soccer on Sunday, cricket in summer, CSCA dances – it all made cycling 12 miles to ‘work’ worthwhile!

Regards, Ken

Thank you, Ken. Amazing how clear the memory can be. HMSOldies has various references to NABADS, the theatrical group you mention, and the long-term leading light, Paddy Cochrane. She was replaced as i/c Duplicating Unit by Arthur Burnell, who you mention and who I dealt with in the late 1960s when I was ordering litho consumables. I am sure that your reflections will jog other memories. Best wishes. Reg

 

 

12 June 2013 – Spreadeagled

It is always good to deal with a professional. When I arrived at The Eagle, just before 1230 today, I was relieved to see that Jayne Wilkinson, Dave Martin and Glyn Cooksey were there already. Having received some last-minute apologies I mentioned to Nigel, Manager of The Eagle for all HMSOldies reunions, that we might be low on numbers. ‘I estimate 30’ said he: I had my doubts.

Over the next hour the doors opened to Alan Cole, Ian Hatfield, Danny Greenwood, Brian Ekers, Helen Speechley, Judy Pritchard, Ernie Downs, George James, Jim McGregor, Mal Loveridge, Charles Lucas, Ann Clancy, Pat Tate, Mike Eastwood, Gerry Lucioli, Alan and Janice Pawsey, Mike Woodhouse, Steve Johnson, Viv Jones, Brian and Jean Whitefield, Anne Eason, Phill Brooks, Brian and Barbara Cockram, Jitu Raithatha, and Philip Marriage. Which makes 31.

 

 

7 June 2013 – Sid Brooks 1922–2013

Bob Barnard offers a personal reflection on his friendship with Sid Brooks, who died on 25 May 2013 (see ‘Obituaries ‘)

Sid joined HMSO in November 1946 after serving in North Africa and Italy during WWII. In March 1957, I was transferred to Supplies Division and met him for the first time. He was one of the four EOs working there in S4. Valerie was another and we have been friends with Sid ever since. Sid was a great supporter of the newly formed ladies’ netball team and played in the men’s team against them on several occasions. After his time in Supplies Division at Atlantic House, he was sent to Wembley on promotion to HEO to take charge of the Accounts Section there but he stayed in touch and managed to meet us at Baker Street for regular lunches in Regents Park.

In the 1960s, he returned to Atlantic House becoming a member of the Survey Unit. Then he was promoted to SEO becoming ADP4 in charge of Post and Trade at Cornwall House. While ADP4, Sid was seconded to undertake a confidential study into the possibility of relocating Post and Trade to new premises within 1½ miles of Parliament. This study expanded and ran for a number of years culminating in new purpose-built offices and a warehouse at Nine Elms now the site of the new US Embassy. HMSO vacated Cornwall House in 1984. Mike Lynn succeeded Sid in charge of the new Distribution Centre and Sid became the Director of London Region from where he retired in 1982. He lived to see the beginning and the end of the premises he helped to create at Nine Elms.

Sid had many interests outside the Office. He enjoyed meeting friends for lunch at the Civil Service Club and I last saw him there in January when a group of us celebrated his 91st birthday. We shall miss these events. He was very actively involved with the British Film Institute attending the Cannes Film Festival on several occasions where he particularly enjoyed discussing the films with their directors. He played bridge, was a member of Probus, enjoyed going to the cinema and the theatre and travelling with his second wife, a former professional skater, whom he married in 2000. He also loved Brighton buying a second home in the city in the 1960s and spent every weekend there. About 20 years ago he sold that flat and bought another one at the Rottingdean end of Brighton. This was on the 8th floor of a substantial building facing the sea. Subsequently, the Marina was developed but this did little to spoil his view.

Several months ago he developed an inoperable aneurysm. He died in the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Friday 24 May. The nurses offered to move him to a private room but he refused. From his bed by the window, he could see over the Downs towards Kemp Town and Marine Gate and his last view was over the Brighton countryside he loved.

His passing is very sad and Valerie and I will miss his positive approach to life, his friendly emails and telephone calls and our visits to see him both in London and Brighton. His funeral will be on 14 June.

 

 

31 May 2013 – From Arnold Mackenzie

Hello Reg, I thought you might like to see one of the ‘See you next Tuesday’ group celebrations at the Sovereign Club when Bill Nairn decided he’d had enough. The photo turned up when I was trying to find a picture of Ken Kemp in response to a recent article from you regarding a letter from his son – sorry I couldn’t find it.

All the best, Arnold.

 

Hello Arnold, Good to hear from you, and thank you for the photo. I guess it was taken around 1982, when Bill would have been 60. Memories flood back, especially at the sight of Joe Delaney, pint in hand. I can name them all: yourself, Sue Whitaker on Bill Nairn’s knee, Joe Delaney, George Perryman, Dave Robertson, and Jack Palmer – the ‘see you next Tuesday’ club who met in The Sovereign Club on – Tuesdays. And now I know how Sue got the Norwich County Council cabinet post dealing with Adult Services! All the best. Reg

 

 

27 May 2013 – Ken Whitehead’s memories of destroying passports!

G’day Reg, I recently applied to renew my UK passport and I remembered some trips I did when I was a CO at HMSO Chadderton when I was about 19. I was employed there from leaving school in 1960 to 1964 when I started travelling overseas, later on ending up living in Australia. It made me think of how things have changed since then, security-wise! My memory isn’t clear on some details maybe but I thought I’d share my memories of what may be a forgotten service HMSO did in those days.

I think the passports used to be delivered from the Passport Office in Liverpool to HMSO Chadderton. I was responsible for the receipt of the locked sacks of passports which were loaded into HMSO’s van with Fred Ramsbottom being the driver. We, Fred and myself, with no escort or police, drove to a paper mill near York, where I was responsible to see each bag emptied into the vat for pulping. I remember a paper mill employee on my first trip reminding me to ensure each bag was turned inside out! Funny if it wasn’t true! My best memories were of the trip home. Fred was a bit of an angler so we’d stop somewhere on the Ouse, he’d have a fish for a couple of hours and I’d have a snooze in the sun! No wonder I still like ‘Heartbeat’ on TV, it was a simpler world then!

Regards, Ken Whitehead

Later: I’ve just remembered that the bags weren’t put into our van at Chadderton but went direct in a large van from the Passport Office in Liverpool to the paper mill near York. We met up with the passport office van and supervised the disposal. It seems very odd now that I think about it. So it was more secure than I had earlier remembered. Maybe times weren’t quite as simple then.

 

Hello Ken, Good to hear from you, and I trust all is well. As you say, things seemed much simpler in those days, but then I suppose there were different priorities then – and, as you say in your further recollection, the security arrangements were in fact suitably watertight. Jim McDonald used to coordinate Passport procurement in Print alongside Alex Mackie, Jim Richardson and many others in Manchester Press. I see from an old staff list that you joined HMSO on 29 August 1960 – when The Goon Show, Hancock, Ted Ray and Take It From Here were on the radio – those 53 years have passed in a flash! The list shows you on the same page as other Manchester recruits: Miss Delahunty, Mrs Taylor, Miss Wilkinson, AP Macdonald, HJ Lloyd, Mrs Buckley, JW Little, Miss Upton – where are they now, I wonder? Perhaps they might see your reminiscence on HMSOldies and make contact. All the best. Reg

 

 

Unorganised Reunion: Wednesday 12 June 2013

As mentioned earlier, an informal event will take place at The Eagle, Newmarket Road, Norwich, from 1230 onwards. Absolutely nothing will be provided by the organisers other than uncorroborated scandal. All welcome. Reg

 

 

27 May 2013 – E Sidney Brooks

Gavin Turner offers a personal reflection on his friendship with Sid Brooks, who died on 25 May 2013 (see ‘Obituaries ‘):

Sid was naturally gregarious and I suspect a bit of a flirt as a younger man. His first wife, Gladys, died at a relatively early age, and some time later he married Joyce, I think Sid was transformed. Joyce had been a professional ice-dancer, and mingling with arty types clearly suited Sid. He himself was a film society buff and eventually became a director of the British Film Institute (and a BAFTA voter). When our Project (PDPT) ran into its fallow periods, Sid spent quite a bit of office time on BFI business (the NFT being conveniently just across the road from our office in Cornwall House), and I occupied myself with running choirs and things!

I don’t really remember about Sid’s career before the Pubns Project Team, although I have a vague notion that he was in charge of Cornwall House and was one of those managers who had endless, always unsuccessful battles with Jack Grace, Joe West and SOGAT. The brains behind our Project Team was Conrad Festing, a PA consultant, who was endlessly fizzing with new ideas. Conrad was not a young graduate but unusually for a consultant was well into his forties, and was never one of those consultants with pat pre-packaged solutions, but a deeply thoughtful, stimulating and funny man. Sid’s role was partly to constrain Conrad and to point out why a particular idea wouldn’t work because things were different at HMSO (and boy were they different!). It was an interesting parallel with the negative Yes Minister ideas of Whitehall mandarins: “No minister, you cannot do that, because . . . .” That was the culture. Perhaps with the loss of Conrad once his work was done some of the sparkle went out of the team. One of the reasons why I became a bit of a bull in a china shop later in my career was the influence of consultants like Conrad Festing, Dr David Homes, and Raul Garcia, who always wanted to start with a clean slate. They were not interested in what happened in the past but were just excited by the possibilities of the future. It was very exhilarating. However, I think senior management was unfair to Sid in assuming that it was he that had let the Project run out of steam. Changing and uncertain government dispersal policy, undue deference (before Wapping) to the print unions, and all sorts of other issues beyond Sid’s control made it difficult to move forward. Yes, Sid was well-schooled in the precedent-bound bureaucratic ways of the past (as were most of senior managers above him too), but he had a foot in both camps and was also excited by the new possibilities. In retirement, he always felt a pride in the Publications Centre which he had helped to create. Sid was fun to work with and led a bubbly and good-humoured team.

Here are a couple of pics of Sid with the Publications Distribution Project Team taken in the early 1970s. This first, in the team room at the back of Cornwall House (which looked out over the construction site of the National Theatre), shows Sid on the left, Bob Courtney (Warehouse Manager), Isobel Sabey our clerk, me looking very odd (perhaps I always did look a bit odd in those days!), Leon de Brunner, and Conrad Festing the consultant.

This shows me, Leon, Bob, Conrad, and Sid at Nine Elms, holding copies of our final four volume report, on an old gasworks site which was being cleared and decontaminated for HMSO; it is now being cleared (and no doubt metaphorically decontaminated of SOGAT, bureaucracy and all that as well!) for the new American Embassy – our Distribution Centre which opened in 1982 having already been swept away.

In some ways it was a surprise that Sid lived to such a great age, since in later life he had heart problems which were no doubt smoking-related, and he also developed Parkinsons (although compared with some elderly people I know, it seemed fairly well under control). Sid and Joyce did a lot of travelling in their retirement and particularly enjoyed river cruises. Even when he could no longer get anyone to give him travel insurance, they were still planning future trips. At our twice-yearly lunches, Sid was still a lively conversationalist on politics, social affairs and things artistic. He took pleasure in the fact that his son (I don’t remember how many children there were) was a senior manager with one of the southern rail companies. Sid also had fun going, sometimes abroad, to Joyce’s reunions with old skating colleagues. As they say, Sid did seem to enjoy life to the end.

In short, I have fond memories of working with Sid and meeting up with him in retirement, and Leon de Brunner and I will certainly miss our regular encounters with him.

Gavin

 

 

16 May 2013 – Joe West’s Grandson Retires

The grandson of the onetime HMSO Cornwall House SOGAT Imperial Father of the Chapel has announced his retirement.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22558393 and all Daily and Sunday newspapers.

 

 

30 April 2013 – Edinburgh Reunion

Hi Reg, Another good turn-out at the Alexander Graham Bell. Thanks to all who came along and added to an excellent evening of reminiscences and fun. An especial thanks to Bob Nelson who came all the way from Norwich! Thanks for your help in advertising this, Reg. Next date to be advised.

Best wishes, Jim Cairns

Top: Gordon Walker, Jim Cairns, Ian Fruish and Jim Blair making sure that the bar doesn’t fall over.
Middle left: Sam McMaster, Ron Burnett, Allan Forbes, John Crosby and Gordon Walker had a fine seance.
Middle right: Bob Nelson in unfamiliar serious mode Jim Blair and Malcolm Steven in the background.
Bottom left: Norrie Veitch looks sceptical, while Ron Burnett looks on
Bottom right: ‘Look into my eyes, you are getting sleepy.’ Jim Cairns shows his hypnotist skills to Al Forbes.

 

Hello Jim, Good to see that you hosted the creme de la creme (if I remember my Jean Brodie). Some fine fellows photographed, and I’m pleased to give them full exposure. And especially impressive to see that Bob emulated his Norfolk namesake and navigated his way back to home base. All the very best. Reg

 

 

28 April 2013 – HMSO Golf Society Centenary

Reg, HMSOldies groupies will no doubt remember my February plug for HMSO Golf Society’s celebration next year of our 100th birthday, but in case anyone has forgotten the main celebration is on 3–4 August 2014 at the Thorpeness Hotel & Golf Club and comprises 18 holes of golf and the Centenary Dinner on the 3rd, overnight bed and breakfast in the Hotel, with another 18 holes on the 4th followed by an informal lunch and departure.

The time is now approaching where we will have to firm up some of the details with Thorpeness, particularly the numbers requiring overnight accommodation. With this in mind, I would be very grateful if any former members of the Society who would like to be included in the celebrations could confirm their intention to attend, preferably by email to [email protected], so that I can include them in the numbers and on my email circulation list so that I can inform them directly of further details as they become available. The 2014 charges have not yet been confirmed by Thorpeness but, by way of rough guidance, a similar package (not including lunch on the day of departure) was on offer for £109 last year.

It would be very useful if anyone who has already expressed interest informally to me or any other current Society members could also email me now so that I have definite confirmation of their continuing interest, and their current email address to add to my contact list. Thanks

Gordon Robbie
Honorary Secretary, HMSO Golf Society

 

Hello Gordon, We will certainly be pleased to add your reminder to HMSOldies – the temptation to entitle it ‘Play A Round With Robbie’ is almost too great. Thorpeness is a fascinating place, set in the 1950s. Last time I was there I didn’t see a soul under 60 – no children, no youths – like something out of ‘The Prisoner.’ Enough of my ramblings: we look forward to your photos of the event. All the best.

Reg

 

 

27 April 2013 – HMSO Times Past: 1941–42

This fascinating photograph was provided by Bob Allder. The subject is Albert James Burn, who worked for HMSO briefly during WW2. Albert’s grandson Raymond is a friend of Bob Allder. Raymond takes up the story:

‘This photo is of my grandfather Albert James Burn. It was taken during the war on HMSO premises – about 1941/2. Previously he had his own printing business in Plaistow, in the Barking Road/Ingal Road area, employing some 30 people, but he was force to close due to nearby bombing rendering the premises unsafe. He worked at HMSO until the end of the war. During that period he and my grandmother lived with their daughter in Letchworth, and travelled daily to London. At the end of the war he decided not to reopen the business as was intended, due to the death of his youngest son Laurence, who was a POW and died in Prague on 4th April 1945. Laurence apparently was highly rated in what I think was at a printing college in London and was due to take a fellowship or a high level examination when he was called-up for military service.

Grandfather was a brilliant engineer in having made a special machine which he patented which caused a lot of interest within Heidelberg. My Grandfather is on the left in the picture. He retired to Letchworth and died in 1953 as a result of a motoring accident on his way to holiday in Wales aged 74yrs.’

A wonderful snapshot of a moment in time, reflecting the formal dress effected by office workers, and the desk furniture – stapler, glue-pots, Imperial Manual Typewriter, files and papers – that will be familiar to those of us whose office memories only go back to the 1960s. Does anyone know where this office could have been?

 

 

27 April 2013 – Sweepings from Don Warman’s Floor

When Don Warman moved from London to Norwich in 1968 the Council gave him a decent flat to rent in Churchman Road, but it was completely unfurnished. Therefore Don, as a minor official of the (then) Civil Service Clerical Association, had to find somewhere to file his papers temporarily. The floor was convenient, and a good size, so he used it. Temporarily, you understand.

Last week he told me that he had been having his first clear-up since 1968 and came across an item of such historical interest that HMSOldies was the only Journal of record in which it could be entrusted.

So, for the first time in over 44 years, the proceedings of the 106th Departmental Whitley Council held on 21 November 1968 can be revealed.

Chairman of the Official Side was H Pitchforth. His team comprised Messrs Donaldson, Cherns, Blundell, Dashfield, Macaulay, Norris with WJ Nairn, as Secretary. Staff Side was led by HJ Teedon, supported by Messrs Dwyer (Staff Side President), Birch and Coombs from SCS, Hunter, Hughes, McFarlane and Topham from IPCS, Raywood, Geeves, Woolford, Block and Miss RM Ryan from CSCA; Alexander and Miss Allman from CSU, with P Vivian as Secretary.

Matters discussed were:

New Press at Gateshead.

Post-dispersal Whitley Council (‘a local Staff Side had been set up in London under the Chairmanship of J Pearson . . . D Milford was the Accommodation Officer.

Fulton Committee Report (the minutes gave a reflection of the Management-speak of the time: ‘Meanwhile there was nothing to be done departmentally except for both official and staff sides to maintain a watching brief and prepare for the interesting and challenging tasks which would emerge as the various lines of action were agreed at the centre and passed to Departments for implementation. In reply to a question by the Staff Side the Chairman agreed that implementation would require suitable staff at various levels.’

There was also a Progress Report on the Joint Sub-Committee on the Computer. ‘. . . because of the increasing demand for Bureau facilities and the non-availability of the ICL 1907F until March 1969, the Sub-Committee was informed that an additional ICL 1904E was to be installed at Norvic House on 1 July 1968. When the ICL 1907F is commissioned at Sovereign House in March 1969, work will begin to be transferred to it from the Bunhill Row ICL 1904, which is scheduled to close down May 1969 . . . the ICL 1202 computer and its operators at Atlantic House are due for release in mid-1969 . . . the addition of a further 60 MAs, 6 SMOs and 1 HCO served as witness to the continued expansion of the Wensum/Charles House DPU. The result of CCB ‘trawl’ and subsequent promotion boards was an intake of 17 HEOs and 27 EOs. Approval was given for a further CEO and 3 SEO posts . . . on 16 September 1968, the Bureau was given divisional status under a director of SCEO grade. Staff Side expressed concern about the position of the 6 SMOs promoted on the basis of their suitability for Nicol writing duties. The Chairman agreed that Staff Side would be consulted when a new type of machine not already in use was introduced. Agreement was subsequently reached with Staff Side on a suitable grading (MO) for a Xerox 2400-IV copier.’

Watch this space for the next Warman clean-up – note to self to b/u April 2057.

 

 

26 April 2013 – Annual Lunch for HMSOldies London

Click tor Booking Form (Adobe PDF)

Dear Reg, If I could prevail upon you to post the details of the Annual Lunch for HMSOldies London I would be most grateful. I nearly forgot to send you this! It is very useful being posted here, as if someone has changed their email address without letting me know, at least they can find details of the lunch on HMSOldies.

Bob Allder

 

Hello Bob, It will be a pleasure – a good menu: I wish I could make it myself! We look forward to the photos/report. All the best, and have a good lunch. Reg

 

 

25 April 2013 – Memories of Pocock Street

John Rumball has recently uncovered this intriguing picture, taken in 1987, as he explains:

The photo depicts ingots, all standing type in ‘forme’ together with any case type matter just prior to being sold, thereby recovering a considerable sum – thousands of pounds – for HMSO. A number of formes were sent for display purposes, for example in reception rooms. The one in Mandela Way entrance was unfortunately pie’d and reconfigured by Bob Allder who could tell you more about it. A ‘proclamation’ forme is on display in John Jarrold Printing Museum, Whitefriars, Norwich.

Another story: three pallets of various wooden letter poster type were discovered in a locked room that had not been opened for years. When listed in the auction catalogue numerous graphic art colleges and individuals came to view, guessing that they could not afford them when they came on sale as it was estimated that each pallet would go for many hundreds of pounds. Ron Bent, Frank Grigson and I went down to see the three lots auctioned and were flabbergasted to see that the bidding lasted for about eight minutes with no competition, each lot going for roughly £100. We all said afterwards we wished we had put our hands up to make a bid. Presumably this historical document – ie the auction catalogue – could be viewed at the British Library, and it would probably bring back a lot of memories for anybody who worked at Pocock Street. It would be good to hear from any old Pocockians with memories of the good old days.

Regards, John

 

 

21 April 2013 – Pocock Street Memories

Greetings Reg from (earthquake damaged) Christchurch, New Zealand. Browsing the internet recently I came across your website, HMSOldies, and was most interested to read about Pocock Street Memories.

I had just arrived from Christchurch in 1961 on my OE when St Stephen’s Parliamentary Press had just opened and I obtained a job there as a hand compositor. I worked in the Vote Ship for two years doing Parliamentary Questions and Order Papers and as I remember it when Parliament was not sitting we did work for the War Office and Foreign Office Press. On my return to Christchurch I worked for a time for my previous employer and then started my own printing business ‘Christchurch Printing Company’. I had the business for 25 years then with having some health issues sold it and went to work at a larger printing business – although hand compositors were long gone – I ran the art department until retirement in 2003.

I very much enjoyed my time at Pocock Street (learned the difference between rugby and football) and was able to travel around the UK and see much of the country.

Here is a photo of the 1962 Vote Ship (I am the one in the blue shirt front right).

Best regards, Bruce Galbraith

 

Hello Bruce, What a pleasure to read your email – thank you for making contact. We will see if someone remembers you, and others in your excellent photo. I have also copied to a few people who were around at the time. Although I joined HMSO in 1963 I didn’t get to visit St Stephens until the 1970s when Dave Forbes, Eric Hendry, Andy Fisher, Cecil Pendergast worked there. Old friends McGarry and Willmott had their turns in the Cashiers – and our 1968 staff list gives the names of some Overseers that might just jog the memory: Calvert, Shurmer, Coy, Empleton, Carter, Spearing, Lucking, Jagelman, Jenkins. I’m afraid that the Press is now remodelled as a County Court building, but you will be well aware of the demise of the old HMSO due to privatisation.

A friend of mine has just returned from an extended stay New Zealand, and one of the HMSOldies team, Dave Martin, has a son working there – a lovely place by all accounts, and all the very best to you all in overcoming the ravages of nature, as we are sure you will!

I will let you know if we get any responses. Best wishes, Reg

Philip Marriage adds: What an excellent photo. I was at St Stephens at the time, though upstairs in the ‘S’ Department but I do remember the chappie on the left holding the parcel as Roy Hughes and next to him is Dennis Hodds (with his arms folded). Would that be a young Barry Palmer behind Bruce on the right?

Dave Burchell adds: Hi Reg. I have just been looking at the photo sent in by Bruce Galbraith. The smart figure behind Bruce is Albert ‘Bert’ Calvert who was production manager at Foreign Office Press in the late 70s/early 80s when I was there. I believe he is over 90 years old now and is living somewhere near Yarmouth. In my two spells at SSPP, I also remember the other names you mention – Dave Forbes, Eric Hendry, Andy Fisher, Cyril Pendergast and from the overseers, I can remember Randy Shurmer, Tim Coy, John Carter and Alf Spearing. Ken Jagelman I knew from Harrow Press. Happy days! Best wishes, Dave.

Bob Avery ‪adds: ‬ Hello Reg, This made me look back on the piece I had written for HMSOldies in August 2009 re my early recollections of Pocock Street. As I didn’t join HMSO until December 1965 I obviously missed Bruce, however I can throw some light on the photo provided. On the far right at the back is Bert Calvert, he had moved to be the Overseer in the ‘S’ Department by the time I got there. Next to Bruce in the loud striped shirt is Len Hobbs, he made it to ‘Clicker’ on the Vote Ship when I arrived. The only other face that looks vaguely familiar is the older chap second on the left, but I can’t put a name to him now. I hope this helps and may trigger some more memories. Best wishes, Bob

Barry Palmer ‪adds:‬ Hi Reg, thanks for that wonderful piece of nostalgia, I often wonder what has happened to all of my old workmates. They are, from left to right irrespective of front and back: Roy Hughes, Percy Gardner (foreman on days), Derek New, next to – my brain just can’t remember – Michael Lynch, Dennis Hodds (his brother worked in the pressroom and left a shooting stick on a forme on the hand-fed Miehle . . . the bang could be heard around the plant), myself Barry Palmer, Bruce Galbraith and Bert (Albert) Calvert. Bruce told me that I could get a job in New Zealand at the Stationery Office but stupidly I got married and moved to Norwich to work for Page Brothers, which is still on the North part of the Ring Road. If you are in contact with him, and if he remembers me, give him my e-mail address because it would be fantastic to hear from him.

 

 

16 April 2013 – From David Silver in Australia

Dear Reg, Thanks for the reminder. As you can guess I will not be able to attend (too far to drive!) and there is a lot of water to cross, but I will raise a glass of single malt at 1pm UK time on 12 June, and drink to the continued health of all my friends at HMSOldies.

All best wishes, David Silver

 

Hello David, Many thanks for your response to our invitation to The Eagle lunchtime. Good to hear that you are in good form down there, and we will certainly reciprocate in the raising of the glass. I will pass on the good word to Peter Macdonald, who possibly already has his glass ready . . . . Best wishes. Reg

 

 

Unorganised Lunchtime at The Eagle, Norwich: Wednesday 12 June 2013

If you happen to be in the area (Newmarket Road, Norwich) on 12 June you are welcome to join other ex HMSO people who might look as though they could buy you a drink – bring a friend – and an umbrella: it’s Summer after all. If you want to know who might be there please contact the Editor. No minutes will be taken.

 

 

12 April 2013 – From Steve Denmark

Hello Reg, Just had a look at the video of Sovereign House. I worked at HMSO from 1985 to 1997 when privatised, mainly in St Crispins, but did spend some time in Sovereign House. I still live near the area and I am interested in the archive stuff, as I work from home, buying and selling old Football memorabilia, programmes etc. Sometimes I do look at the HMSO oldies site, to see what’s been going on.

Steve Denmark

 

Hello Steve, Good to see you last Friday, and good luck with your memorabilia business. We may find you some customers, as many of us prefer the past to the present! Chris Richmond, who produced the Sovereign House video, has also made a master copy of a video from which we may produce hard copies for posterity – if that’s the word. There is likely to be another Unorganised Reunion at The Eagle in June and I will be sure to let you know. All the best. Reg

 

 

HMSO Edinburgh Reunion: 25 April 2013

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

HMSO Edinburgh Reunion
25 April 2013
Alexander Graham Bell
7.00
All welcome!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hoping that folk from all departments will come along and enjoy seeing old friends.

Best wishes to all

Jim Cairns
[email protected]

 

 

Mister Xerox: RA Warren 1920–2013

Major RA ‘Bobbie’ Warren was not an employee of HMSO but as Government Manager of Rank Xerox in the 1960s and thereafter he knew more HMSO – and other Departmental – staff than most. He died peacefully at home a few days short of his 93rd birthday, and is remembered in this characteristically thoughtful note from Les Birch:

Dear Reg, I was of course much saddened by the news of the passing of Bobby Warren and as usual I was hit by a flood of memories concerning him.

I think that I can rightly claim to be the oldest surviving HMSOldy to have known Bobby from the beginning of his long relationship with the Department. Some time in the early ’60s Arnold Martyn and I were sent to the School of Signals at Catterick to examine a case they had submitted for their own small-offset unit.

Questions had been raised why they could not make use of our Regional Unit at Newcastle (RB9). In the late afternoon we were met at, I believe, Darlington railway station by the then Major Warren in full regalia. His military career had been blighted when his driver had taken him over a cliff in Aden, breaking either his back or neck in the process, which accounted for the characteristic stiffness which he always displayed in that area. We were whisked straight to the Commandant’s quarters where we were regaled with copious draughts of gin and tonics.

We were then instructed to attend the full mess dinner that evening, despite my protests that we did not have evening suits with us. It was a splendid evening with the cadets and officers in full dress uniforms, the Corps silver fully displayed on the tables and the Royal Artillery orchestra playing in the background. After the port had circulated many times we were drawn into a roulette table operated by two cadets being returned to their units the following day as unsuitable officer material and we finally reached our quarters at about 2.30 am. Discussion about the case was necessarily brief in the morning and, surprisingly, it was approved by Arnold and myself.

It was some months later that we were invited to lunch by the then Add-Multi Government Manager (double-barrelled name which as always escapes me) where we were introduced to the newly-appointed Government Manager for Rank-Xerox, Bobby Warren. Shortly after that they launched the 914 and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. This was of course the first dry copier and as such swept the market. I think that in the first month of its life we approved all the 914s that Ranks had allocated for Government for the entire year and some frantic re-scheduling had to take place.

Bobby was of course just the perfect man for the job and his relationship not only with HMSO but with all Government departments could not have been bettered. He had his tragedies of course – the loss of his daughter by drowning in Holland was one and he once told me of an occasion in the Western Desert when he had had to shoot one of his already mortally wounded soldiers whose cries were drawing enemy fire.

I am sure that many other colleagues will be able to add their own memories of this remarkable man. One final memory is of a visit to the factory in Mitcheldene and on walking into the bar seeing an entire shelf of malt whiskies which Bobby swore had been installed just for my visit. I did not doubt him but I am sure many other visitors there enjoyed that shelf long after my visit.

We shall not see his like again.

Best wishes to you as always.

Les

 

Hello Les, As ever, a perfect reminiscence. Thank you. I first met Bobby when I moved from ITW to Supplies –S6b, with Tommy Taylor and many others, working to Charlie Lloyd. Bobbie got me into the intricacies of plain-paper copying and always proved to be honest, efficient, approachable and, best of all, very good company. Christopher Bindloss (his successor as Rank Xerox Government Manager) arranged for a convivial lunch for Bobbie upon his 90th birthday in 2010, and I last saw him in good form last Autumn. Of course, many of his stories included you – and John Nash, Arnold Martyn, George York and, inevitably, Stan Smith – the CRS crew.

This photo shows Bobbie, on the extreme left, at the retirement of Tug Wilson on 15 December 1982, in the company of Jack Bocquillon, Christopher Bindloss, Sid Heppell, Eric Bone, Vi Wilson, Bob Howes and George Furn. Happy days. All the very best to you Les. Reg

 

 

8 April 2013 – From Judy Pritchard

‪‬‬Hi Reg, Mr Kemp – there’s a name I’ve been trying to recall for a while. He was Chairman of the panel which interviewed me for my first Civil Service job. At the end of the interview he asked whether I would be interested in accepting a job if it were offered, and I politely said “No thank you.” The rest, as they say is history, because I started work at HMSO about two weeks later. A curious turn of events.

I had a smile about Mike Betts’ observations about life in Sovereign House in the ’70s. Strange how people see things differently whilst treading the same corridors. For me, visits to the Rep unit were nothing but a chore – and I wasn’t aware that skirts were that short! When I worked as a CO in Finance, I remember being advised that if I had matters of importance to discuss with certain colleagues in Supply, it was best done before lunch, and not to go in the afternoon without a chaperone. It has taken a long while to work out why. My visits to the Sovereign Club were confined to donating blood, visiting Horticultural Club shows, and attending the occasional retirement presentation. Ignorance is bliss.

Kind regards, Judy Pritchard

 

Hello Judy, Thank you for your fine, well-considered reminiscences. Perhaps that was Ken’s secret: he only passed for employment those interviewees who turned down the job. When I was in Accommodation I mentioned to Vera Rankin that she could cut down the number of people queuing for photocopies by (how can I word this delicately?) staffing the Xerox with more mature ladies, possibly modelled on Bertie Wooster’s Aunt Agatha. The queue was down to a third within a week. The names of those dirty dogs in Supplies are eagerly sought – please send under plain brown email and I will forward the usual fee. Double if any of the names are a surprise. Treble if one of the names is mine (as if). All the very best, and I will let you know when we sort out another ‘Eagle’ event: Eric Bone, who I saw today, is keen to see how we all have aged . . . . Reg

 

 

5 April 2013 – Ken Kemp: Establishments Man

Alan Pawsey has reported that he recently encountered one Malcolm Kemp, who turned out to be the son of Kenneth Stewart Kemp, a self-proclaimed member of ‘the old school’ of Civil Servants: three-piece suit, fresh flower in the buttonhole, a decent lunch-hour or two and a wisecrack (kept clean – ladies present) for every occasion.

Ken was born in Norwich in 1917 and joined the Civil Service in 1949, moving to the HEO (Recruitment) post in Establishments, Sovereign House, in 1967. He retired in 1977.

We have looked in vain for any photos of Ken among the HMSOldies archive, so we are asking if anyone out there has an appropriate picture they can scan so that we can pass on to Malcolm. It’s a pity we can’t ask JLAG (John) Jones, lately CWO, or Stan Thompson – or the landlord of the Cat and Fiddle where many of us met in the days before the Sovereign Club.

 

 

2 April 2013 – Boxing Clever

The Chancellor’s Budget Box is routinely featured on the front pages of newspapers every March but the Ministers’ Red Boxes are less obtrusive, apart perhaps from when they are seen inYes Minister and the like.

For centuries those boxes were made to order for HMSO – in my time the ordering sections were in S4, S7 and S8 – Dave Jones had the job for some time, along with briefcases and various other cartons etc.
Different times now, of course, but not forgotten, as this article in the i newspaper demonstrates:

 

 

1 April 2013 – Designers who Dine

XHMSOEPPCD may sound like a Greek Island, but in fact these photos have just reached us of the Ex HMSO Electronic Publishing Post-Christmas Dinner held in Norwich at Don Pepe, a Spanish restaurant (hence the paella being shovelled onto the Saville plate once John had opened his eyes: Dave Martin can grow a full beard telling a tale at the best of times, but when he is on his third glass of Rioja . . .).

Gordon Robbie resorted to the old trick of Supergluing his hands together when the bill came round – Lynda Marshall has seen it all before – Jayne Wilkinson, as ever the feline face of innocence – Philip Marriage rehearsing his Bill Nighy impersonation – and Alan Pawsey trying to get the Chelsea result on his camera. Looks like a good night. Perhaps we could do the same for old ITWians. XHMSOITWPCD anyone? Reg

 

 

31 March 2013 – Tom McNeill to Les Birch

‪‬‬Dear Les, Have just seen your postings on the HMSOldies website. You will not remember me, I was a lowly Printing Officer in Edinburgh when you were Director. I subsequently went on promotion to Manchester and finished my HMSO career there in 1997. After a couple of years of boredom I became a teacher in a residential college for young people with learning and behavioural problems.

I really loved my work at HMSO and felt that we contributed to the general good. Times change and I suppose we must also. I have the greatest affection for HMSO and the people who worked there. Did we make a difference? I think so. All my colleagues were focussed on best value for money for the taxpayer. Are things better now? I think not. Maybe that is a sign of being a boring old f**t.

Best Wishes, Tom McNeill

 

Hello Tom, Fine sentiments, which I have copied to Les. I certainly remember you in Manchester in the days of Messrs Gaskell, Tennant, Hartley, Bintley, Richardson, Horne, Blackmore, Jones, Mrs Bannister, Mrs Farr, Mrs Evans . . . Stan Robinson . . . Harry Pye . . . Arthur Burnell – too much! All the best. Reg

 

 

30 March 2013 – Tom McNeill says ‪thanks to Fred Stubbs

‬Fred, You probably don’t remember me (Tom McNeill), but I do remember you tutoring me in Graphic Design in Edinburgh. This served me well as I went on to get a number of promotions. I retired in 1997 (well I suppose I was actually thrown out). I subsequently became a teacher and loved it. I should have done this from the start but hey ho what do we know when we are young! I hope you and your family are well.

Very best wishes, Tom.

 

Hello Tom. Good to hear from you. I have copied to Fred, and we’ll see if anyone else out there makes contact. All the best. Reg

 

 

28 March 2013 – Some HMSO help requested

‪‬‬Reg, I hope you are well and thanks for keeping the HMSOldies website updated. Although I was one of the young whippersnappers that saw out the end of the old HMSO and its transition as one of the last throes of the privatisation regime, there are many old faces and names that even I remember from my days in Edinburgh, Manchester and Norwich.

I was wondering if you can point me in the right direction please. As I am now living and working abroad I am pulling together the various pension schemes into an a manageable pot however the one that is proving elusive is the PCSPS. Having been in touch with various government depts, MyCSP etc they agree that I have a frozen PCSPS pension – they just don’t know where it is or who’s administering it!
I am hoping that you or some of the HMSOldies may be able to provide any guidance as to who or where the old PSCPS is being administered?

Many thanks for your help.

Best Regards,
James H Cruickshanks
Head of Strategic Sourcing, EMEA
MWV International Sàrl, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Case Postale 1904, Tower D, Floor 2, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
www.mwv.com

 

Hello James, Good to hear that you are doing well – I remember you from the Edinburgh office, which the staff list tells me that you joined a mere 22 years ago! To the point: we are by no means experts on the mysteries of CS (or any other) pension schemes, but we have been able to put people on the right road on occasions – eg the HMSOldies item dated 21 November 2011 at:

https://www.hmsoldies.org.uk/Copy_1_of_Information_Circulars.html

More recently a response from Alan Pawsey to a similar enquiry bore fruit, and I have sent you the reference separately. I hope you get your just desserts and that they pay you enough for at least one nostalgic visit back to Rose Street! All the best. Reg

 

 

27 March 2013 – John Elderton, 85 not out

Yesterday I celebrated my 85th birthday – well, celebrated is not quite the proper adjective, because of my Parkinson’s I have much loss of mobility, which can be very frustrating, but all in all I am thankful for what I have. My daughter Theresa came to visit from Australia and, apart from having to have a blood transfusion while she was visiting, had a very nice time. Margery is looking after me very well, and I could not wish for a better nurse. Hopefully with the weather getting better we can once again enjoy our garden. Having seen on television the weather in large parts of the UK I’m thankful that our weather is that little bit more enjoyable. We send our best wishes to all those people who knew us.

Regards, John Elderton and Margery Kraszewski.

 

Hello John, And a very happy 85th to you. Seems like only yesterday (well, only a few years) since you were S13c in St Crispins. I see that you joined HMSO in 1957, and that in 1961 you were working in Establishments Division. The staff list shows that your contemporaries included Viv Knowles, Dave Ruffles and Alan Marrs, all of whom are around the Norwich area.

A pleasure to read your optimistic note, and all the very best to you and to Margery. This picture from our archives of you both sharing a joke also includes that most elusive of elements: sunshine. Reg

 

 

27 March 2013 – Bill Ford and The Eagle

Hi Reg, Just a brief note to record my personal thanks to Viv and the Ford family for the (to me at any rate) quite unexpected and really delightful meal we were given at The Eagle. It was very good to remember Bill, who was a really good bloke, and to meet up with many folks who I haven’t seen for years. I think Michael Salt said it best a few years ago in one of those serendipity post-retirement path-crossings I’ve had from time to time. The most enduring thing about HMSO was, and still is, the value of the comradeship. Personally, I received some very happy reminders of that at The Eagle.

Very best wishes, see you soon, Eric Bone

 

Thank you Eric. I have copied your kind note to Vivienne Ford. Your sentiments are heartily endorsed. All the best – and, as you say, see you soon. Reg

 

 

26 March 2013 – From H‪arry Wheeldon

‬Reg, Pam Flynn’s photo of the Window Poles/Roman Legionary Standards reminded me that during the 1970s the Central Computer Bureau located in the nether regions of Sovereign House was constantly having to replace missing Window Poles – subsequent investigations revealed that one of our more enterprising managers, aided and abetted by one of the ‘willing to try anything once’ young ladies in the Data Preparation Unit (DPU), were removing the said poles via the windows of the DPU and selling them in Wroxham as Boat Hooks.

Regards, Howard

 

Howard, Lovely! I bet that young lady is running a chain of shops somewhere by now – possibly selling antique typewriters and Hollerith equipment. All the best. Reg

 

 

26 March 2013 – From Paul Barnett

Went to the West Wing for drinks. Very odd but also cool. I visited Sitrep 1 – that’s the room where that photo was taken of the great and the good watching the attack on the compound, seen in Zero Dark Thirty. I sat in Hilary Clinton’s chair and did my best impression.

Earlier I had been in California and took up a chance for a tour on George Lucas’s Skywalker ranch – great if you are a Star Wars/Indiana Jones fan like me!
I continue to earn air miles in dog years: Virgin just rewarded me for my tenth year of stupid travel. Next week I meet up with a great friend of mine in LA, we will be having drinks in a double decker bus that my tailor owns.

http://duncanquinn.com/fancy-pants-party-bus/

I guess it’s a Rum Bus, some type of alcoholic mathematical shape no doubt. Somehow I am now GM of my studio, lord protect us all.

Love, Barnett
General Manager, EA Mythic.
Follow me on twitter @thatbarnettbloke

 

Hello Paul, Good to hear that you are still mixing with the Beautiful People. Don’t you ever yearn for the excitement of the old days, placing orders for Toshiba Laptops and Memorex Discs? Tumpty tumpty temps perdu, as Bertie Wooster nearly said. All the best, and try to adjust to the hard life. Reg

 

 

24 March 2013 – From Pam Flynn

Hello Reg, I was interested to read Mike Betts memories, brought back a few of my own! Here is a photo of those very window poles, I am sure you will be able to name all the folk on the steps! Kind regards, Pam.

Hello Pam. What a good picture – thank you. We will test the memory of our readers. I think I have them all named – some have changed more than others. Typically they got Caroline to do the work – pole-carrying – along with ‘new boy’ Mike. Unusual to see them all together outdoors: the Sovereign Club must have been taken over by blood donors that day! All the best, Reg.
On further thought – why did I think that it was M Hawtrey-Eastwood holding the pole when it was obviously D Higenbottam in the days when he had curly locks instead of manly skin on the top of his head? Apologies to both – and to their wives. Should have gone to Specsavers. Reg

 

 

24 March 2013 – Paul Radbourne writes from Sunny Cromer . . .

Hello Reg; In case people were wondering where I had got to (although I doubt any were!) I am now approaching my fiftieth birthday in a few weeks. After many years I have left the world of magazine publishing & am now “putting something back” as the Americans say, working raising money for charity all day!

Regards, Paul Radbourne

 

Hello Paul, Good to hear that you have moved from The Fourth Estate to be on the side of the angels – I am sure that your persuasive abilities will reap rewards from the charity concerned. I usually make it to Cromer at least once a month, and take in all five charity shops (you don’t think dressing like this is achieved by accident do you?) so I’ll keep an eye out for a gimlet-eyed enforcer with a collecting box in one hand and a Smith and Wesson in the other . . . All the best, Reg.

 

 

22 March 2013 – From Clive Furness

Hi Reg, Thanks for passing on my details. It was great to get a response from Mo Wickham – I hope we can exchange emails in future. Looking through some of the information circulars it was good to see the name of Denise Dukes. She looked after me in the office during my time in Atlantic House Publications Registry. I was just a teenager then, so please pass on my regards to Denise. Any of the old SO football team out there? Please get in touch. Thanks again, Clive.

 

Hello Clive, Good to hear that the system works! I have copied your good wishes to Denise to her grandson, Harvey, and will see if any of the old footballers make contact. In fact one – Chris Penn – has asked me to pass on his regards. I think after 40+ years some of them may have laced up their boots for good. All the best. Reg

 

 

22 March 2013 – From Mike Betts

‪‬‬Reg, Your film of Sovereign House has prompted me into much reminiscing over a pint or two: I started at Norvic House with the advance party, working for Andy Baptie in CEPA when I was 21, and transferred to the South wing of Sovereign House when it first opened. Bill Burberry head-hunted me and I was transferred to Internal Audit in the East wing when I was 22.

I was the first person to grow rhubarb – in a large flowerpot on the window-ledge, whe everyone else was growing tomatoes. I used to have lunch in the canteen every day, and recall that mini-skirts were amazingly short! You introduced me to real ale, Alan Cole introduced me to CAMRA, Don Warman introduced me to Ballooning and the Bystanders, and I met my first girlfriends, all while in Sovereign House!

I have fond memories of the Sovereign Club, drinking ale, playing table tennis, organising the first real ale beer festival one Christmas using polypins, and giving blood! John McGarry introduced me to ‘fish supper’, a scotch with each pint of Heavy, a bottle of wine EACH with the evening meal, and Deacon Brodies Tavern!

I was a member of the DBT cricket team that regularly took on and thrashed all the other divisions. I assembled a much adored collection of pump-clips on my window pole, and thanks to you, I became a great fan of The Liberator!

We all used to enjoy going to the Rep unit and queuing up to get our photocopying done by the attractive young ladies! In one amazing year – 1975 – while working in Sovereign House, I obtained my Balloon Pilot’s Licence, was promoted to HEO, sold a house and bought a house, and got married!

And there is more, and more, and more – for this is just a quick flash into my memory bank! And then after many years working in St Crispins, I was destined to end my working days with HMSO in Sovereign House, working with you during those last few months in 1996!

Mud in yer eye for awakening so many happy memories, and I bet this note has re-kindled some for you too! Mike

 

Hello Mike, A fine set of memories: you bring back the good old days in an instant. And I am proud to have been instrument in putting you on the path of righteousness: beer and laptop computers – two essential ingredients for a happy retirement. I had similar experiences with JJ McGarry, and was personally schooled by those masters of etiquette JP Delaney and SR Smith. Thank you for the most welcome reminisce – many more to come, I hope. All the best. Reg

 

 

21 March 2013 – To the Ends of the Earth and Back

Well to the end of the ancient world anyway. Starting on 31 May, La Marina resident Len Allen is taking on the challenge of the Camino de Santiago. The famous pilgrimage known as “The Way” starting in Pamplona and travels all the way to Santiago a distance of approx 800km. Not satisfied with this Len is then going to continue on to Finisterre, which until Columbus discovered America was widely believed to be the end of the Earth. This will take the total distance to 900km, Len is doing this walk in aid of the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre Foundation based in Rojales.

Len who will turn 60 later in the year wanted to do something extra special for this milestone and when in Santiago last year he saw people finishing the walk and thought “this is something I could do”. His wife Ann who has been a great supporter of Easy Horse Care for many years thinks he is mad but will be on hand to give him encouragement “however I’m not doing it with him”.

Len who moved to Spain in 2000 was a seasoned marathon runner in the UK and one of his old running partners John Cripps is coming over to join in this ambitious challenge.

“I have been training since Christmas and hopefully I will be ready by mid May” Len will then have a week or so of rest ready for the off. This involves taking an overnight coach from Alicante to Pamplona and then the walk begins. Len added “I will be staying in the pilgrim hostels along the way each night and I am really looking forward to hearing the tales of the other walkers and their reasons for taking on the challenge” He is planning to walk some 40 km a day and with a few rest days to make sure he gets to the other end and expects the walk to take 23 days in total.

David from Easy Horse Care said “when we were approached by Ann about Len doing this walk I just had to meet him, I have to agree with Ann in thinking her husband is mad” he added “however I take my hat off to him and ask everyone to support him. Like Len I used to run marathons but the idea of walking 900 km in less than a month is truly a remarkable challenge and a fantastic achievement”.

Len can be sponsored by either contacting him direct on 620 180 002 or by going in to any of the Easy Horse Care charity shops in Guardamar, La Siesta, La Zenia, Montesinos or Quesada. Alternatively you can sponsor him at the rescue centre on Sundays during the open day or contact Easy Horse Care by email:

[email protected]

There will also be sponsorship forms in several locations around La Marina including News 4U, Sera fins & Cuts R Us.

 

Hello Len, Very impressive – and good to see that you haven’t gone to seed in your Paradise in the Sun. We will certainly publicise your endeavours on HMSOldies, especially targeted at some of your less energetic ex-colleagues. All the best –and good luck carrying Cripps for the last few miles! Reg.

 

 

13 March 2013 – From Maureen Wickham

Hello Reg, Thanks for the email regarding ‘young Clive Furness’ (as I remember him!). I have emailed him and had a reply, and was surprised to read that he lives not very far from here. Amazing who the Oldies website throws up!

Incidentally, did you know that Eric Brett passed away a few weeks ago? I heard the news at my church in Aylsham, of which he was a member. There was also an obit in the EDP. I did not know him in HMSO but Bill knew him, as I think Eric was on the computer side. Amazingly, we happened to see him walking down the street in Padstow a few years ago!

I saw on the website a mention or two of Jack Payne. I wonder if he is the Jack Payne I knew in Chadderton? He was in Binding Section (P&B) with Mr Parker (we were very formal in those days and I don’t think I knew his first name). I used to work in there a couple of afternoons a week when I was in ‘Printing’ Section there. The year would be 1962 if I remember correctly.

Best wishes, Maureen

 

Hello Maureen, I am pleased to hear that you have caught up with ‘young Clive.’ As you say, it is a constant surprise as to who we will encounter next! Sad to hear about Eric Brett. As you say, there was an obituary in the Eastern Daily Press in February:

http://www.familynotices24.co.uk/23646622?s_source=arnf_edp

The Staff List shows that he was born in 1925 and joined HMSO Computer Services, Norwich, as EO in 1968.

The Staff List also reveals that Jack Payne (indeed it was he) worked with FAE (Frank) Parker as TO in Manchester. Frank was born in 1912 and joined HMSO in 1934. All this is making me feel even older than my grandchildren think I am – and I am reminded of days with Alec Gravatt, Sheila Bunn, Sheila Caston, Harry Whittingham, Len Gray, Ted Combie – enough!

All the best to you and to Bill: you never know, I might see you on one of our visits to Blickling one day. By coincidence I saw another lively Aylsham resident, Eric Bone, last week.

Keep in touch. Reg

 

 

13 March 2013 – From Trevor Dearden

Thanks, Reg, for your reply. Jack Pearson I knew well: when I was promoted Supervisor in 1975 Jack was the training officer for our two-week course which was held in the basement at Cornwall House. I think Jack had been the manager at Cornwall House before then and was moved over to training. Through the years he would visit us from time to time at Alperton and Wembley Warehouses. Ken Brixey, a very likeable man: glad he was able to retire and follow his dream by moving to the south coast. Charlie Culley and Marge Todd, I worked with at Gee St. I can remember Marge celebrating her 40 years with HMSO and came round to us all offering us a sweet each. Bill Lewington was the Manager at Alperton, with Roland Ward as a supervisor. Dave Smith, Stan Scott and myself promoted to supervisors in 1975, Dave and Stan returned to Alperton, I went to Gee Street. In 1976 I moved to Wembley, Tom Kingsley was the Manager, Jack Fifield was the WS (who sadly died while on holiday in Cyprus in 1980) Vic Shimes, Les Goss, Bob Heydon and others until 1986, when Park Royal became ready, that’s when the staff and management was reduced.

Thanks again Reg for giving me the chance to go down memory lane. I will check from time to time just in case anyone out there staff/management can remember those happy times.

Regards, Trevor Dearden

 

Hello Trevor, Thank you for your prompt and thorough response, which I am sure will stir the memories of those HMSOldies who have ‘history’ with the London warehouses. I keep remembering odd names: Don Treasurer, Noel Warr who worked in Gee Street, the Maybanks Waste crew at Charlton, George Warren, one of the drivers, always very helpful. And, by the way, Marge Todd joined HMSO on 26 July 1937 – suddenly I feel even older!

We will certainly let you know of any responses we receive. All the best. Reg

 

 

12 March 2013 – Trevor Dearden remembers London Warehouse Days

Hi Reg, I’m Trevor Dearden. I joined HMSO March 1973 at Alperton, Middlesex at the age of 25, then passed a panel in 1975 for Assistant Warehouse Supervisor. I moved to Gee Street in 1976, then onto Wembley 1976–82, back to Alperton until1986, then on to Park Royal until 1989, when all the London warehouses closed down, sadly. I would like to look back on staff/management on those depots if possible? Would be grateful for any help you can give me.

Many thanks and regards, Trevor Dearden

 

Hello Trevor, Good to hear from you. As perhaps you can tell from reading HMSOldies, we don’t hear much from anyone connected with London warehouses, although Tony Gummett and Keith Batchelor are occasional correspondents.

When I was in Supplies in the 1960s, at one time working with Charlie Lloyd and later Jack Pearson, I used to deal with Alf Swann at Orsman Road. He moved to Gee Street, where Marge Todd, Noel Warr and others worked over the years. I also worked with Bill Lewington, who managed Alperton. and had several dealings with Tom Kingsley (Wembley and Park Royal), Ernie Pickering (Park Royal), Les Goss and Ken Brixey, who became CSU Secretary and retired to the South Coast. I also had dealings with Bob Courtney, John Hosford and many more at Cornwall House/Nine Elms.
I don’t have anything on the current whereabouts of your old colleagues. Just to jog your memory I can give you some names of other Stores Officers based in HMSO London Warehouses in the 1980s: VG Shimes, CD Culley, JS Croy, DM Mayne, RC Ward, WC Godden, DA Smith, SC (Bert) Scott, RJ Heydon.

Let’s hope that your note provokes some memories from HMSOldies readers. I don’t suppose you have any photographs relevant to those days that you could scan for us? Best wishes. Reg

 

 

12 March 2013 – Brian Whitefield remembers Denise Dukes

I don’t often browse the oldies site and when I do it is less to do with who has died but who is still alive. This time it was Denise Dukes who caused the surprise. Denise was one of those willing souls that HMSO cynically exploited. Apart from translating incoming mail for all and sundry when HMSO was hosting Government Printers Conferences Denise was taken along to provide interpretation services. There she rubbed shoulders with professionals who were horrified at what was expected of her as a Clerical Officer. They thought that for translation she should have been an EO and for conference work a professional grade. Management differed on that as those aspects were only minor ones additional to her normal duties.

At the second phase of dispersal she was transferred to Cornwall House possibly in some abstruse section of Publications. When Manny Goldstein in Returned Books was approaching retirement, thoroughly disillusioned and intending to slink away without ceremony Denise joined those including Len Gray and Alec Gravatt trying to persuade him that his many friends would be disappointed to see him do that. Eventually it was she who organised a very enjoyable leaving do for him in the London Unit rest room.

While in Cornwall house she ran informal language courses after hours for staff. At one time she was persuaded to do a Spanish one although knowing little of the language. I joined it for practice but, having found that Denise was keeping only one lesson in the series ahead of the class, was dragooned into taking it on.

What finally happened to her I don’t know but from her present age it seems likely that she retired at the time of closure of Cornwall House.

Regards, Brian

See also 21 and 24 January and 20 February 2013

 

 

12 March 2013 – We’ll always have Anglia Square . . .

Remember Rick’s Place? Albert During certainly does – and he’s still partying.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/ clubbers_remember_anglia_square_nightclub_in_norwich_as_it_reopens_as_ twilight_an_events_venue_1_1974643

 

 

11 March 2013 – From Clive Furness

Hi Reg, I’ve just discovered the website – my how the years fly. I joined HMSO in 1960 and was stationed in Atlantic House where I was placed in the Publications Registry. I remember working with Sally Dyke and Daisy Draper – names to be feared as a 16 year-old in my first job, but they were lovely really. I was interested to see listed on the web site the names of the two Mo’s, known as ‘Big Mo’ and ‘Little Mo’ in those days in the Registry. I wonder if they remember me? Being very into sport I was soon introduced to Eddie Truscott and Alec Gravatt, so it was football and cricket for the rest of my HMSO career. I still have my medals. Does anyone remember me from those heady days? I’d like to hear from anyone from the past. Clive

 

Hello Clive. One of the pleasures of HMSOldies is hearing from ‘names’ from the good old days. I certainly remember you, and those you mention – Peter Taylor and John Gardiner also ‘enjoyed’ the administrations of Ms Dyke. Peter, Eddie and Alec are no longer with us, but ‘Big Mo’ is still around Norwich, married to Bill Wickham (ex A4d, then CCTA). I have copied your note to some people I think may remember you, but have removed your email details (we don’t want to get you unwanted attention from Viagra salesmen and Nigerian Bankers). Interested parties can make contact via the Editor.

You may have seen that you got a mention on HMSOldies in our ‘Review of Retirements 1970–71’ taken from old SO Reviews:

https://www.hmsoldies.org.uk/Retirements_1970–1971.html

How did things go at NCR – one of our Contractors in the days of Margaret Crawley, John Butler, John Childs, John White and many more, and are you still in the London area? We will let you know if any skeletons come out of the HMSO woodwork – meanwhile, all the best. Reg

 

 

9 March 2013 – E.S.A. from Dave Pelham

Hi Reg, just a quick note to say thanks to all who offered help and support during my recent skirmish with D.W.P. I heard yesterday that they have changed their decision and put me in the support group until Jan 2015. Apparently that is the longest they can do it before it has to be reviewed again, but at least next time I will know how to approach the situation. Thanks again for your support. Dave

 

Hello Dave, How refreshing to receive some good news! So pleased to hear that you have obtained justice. I have copied to Alan Pawsey, who gave advice. By the way, I saw an old friend yesterday: Eric Bone was at the well-attended remembrance for Bill Ford at The Eagle. All the best. Reg

 

 

25 February 2013 – HMSO Reunion: 25 April 2013

Hi all, The next Reunion is planned for 25 April 2013, in the Alexander Graham Bell, George Street, Edinburgh, at 7pm. Please pass this on to any HMSO folks you are in touch with! Hoping for an even better turn out than last time. We had people from PP, GD, Bookshop and Supplies – it would be good to see folk from the Warehouse, Repro, the Press etc at the next one.

Cheers, Jim Cairns

Hello Jim. It is a pleasure to promote this worthy event – almost worth getting a cheap day return from Norwich to attend (if you call £ 125 cheap). All the best – and any pictures of the event will be welcome. Reg

20 February 2013 – From Geoff Lockwood

Hi Reg, A friend of mine (not ex HMSO) directed me to the video of Sovereign House as it now is, in which you appeared in a fine supporting role! I found it immensely interesting and it brought back many memories of my early days in Norwich. I noted that you lingered for a while in the room on the 3rd Floor which used to be occupied by Vote Accounting. This is where I was posted when I first came to Norwich in 1973, to work alongside Chris Randall, and all the others you mentioned in the video, plus Alan Cole, Glenys Dole, Dave Hutchings, and later, Adrienne May, Audrey Durrant and Sue Whitaker, all watched over benevolently by Edwin Woods. Looking back, what a team!

I was prompted by all this nostalgia to make an all-too-rare visit to HMSOldies, and particularly noticed the contributions from Harvey Dukes about his grandmother, Denise. I knew Denise quite well in my Pubns days at Atlantic House, both from her translating work (I was the International Exchange section for a while), and from social activities.

Harvey and other Oldies may be interested in this photo of a group from Pubns which was taken at a Shepherdess Walk Halloween Dance in (I think) 1961. Denise is the second from right in the picture, unfortunately with her back to the camera, but I can vouch that it is her. Others visible in the shot are (from right) George Macmillan, Mollie Drayton, Les Milton (almost hidden by Mollie), Margaret Wallace, Margaret’s brother and his wife (not HMSO staff), Bob and Valerie Barnard (before they were married, possibly), and Josie and me, newly-wed then, but still together after 51 years. The young man with his back to us I can’t identify.

If Harvey gets to see this, I hope he will pass on to Denise my warmest wishes.

Kind regards, Geoff Lockwood

 

Hello Geoff, Good to hear from you, and thank you for your kind words regarding the video. Regarding the excellent photo, I should have remembered myself –we had already received a copy some time ago from Bob Barnard, but we published it as having been a record of an Atlantic House event. As you can see, I have copied to Harvey, who I am sure will be pleased to see it –albeit not the best ‘profile’ –and pass on the good word to Denise. Thanks again, and all the best. Reg

Harvey Dukes adds:‪ ‬Good Morning Reg, Just walked into the office and found your email: please thank Geoff Lockwood for the picture. Its a real shame my grandmother doesn’t have her face turned to the camera, although it is fascinating to see that she has colour in her hair. I’m sure this picture is one of many so its just when they pop out of the closet really so I am sure there will be more. Once again thank you for all your help Reg and I do pass all the information on to my grandmother.

Hello Harvey, Thank you for your message, which I have passed to Geoff. Good to hear that the picture was appreciated. As you say, if only we had one taken from the other side – if such exists, I hope that a reader of HMSOldies still has it, and passes it on to us.

 

 

19 February 2013 – The 1984 ‘Wake’ of Post & Trade Cornwall House

Bill Turley has unearthed a fine set of photos from The Last Days of Pompeii – sorry, Cornwall House, which will jog the memory of some HMSOldies. Before we reveal names and lists of indiscretions readers may wish to test their memories. Prize for the most correct entries is a big part in Frankie Day’s next film production.

Bill Turley adds: This ‘Wake’ was devised and provided by the people in images 12 & 13: Tug Wilson, Fred Smith, Mick Ball, John Humphreys, Fred Webster, David Lintern, Ron Barbet, Brian Day, Bill Turley, Derek Reynolds and Don Martin who opted out of moving to the new Publications Centre at Nine Elms and stayed in Cornwall House to process the remaining data left behind and when this was completed, to clear the warehouse of unwanted publications. All except Don Martin were quite content to be made compulsorily redundant on satisfactory completion of these tasks.
A very welcome visitor was John Phillips (see pics 9 & 11) and you will note the Head of Sid Brooks at pic 10.

Pics 7 and 14 show Bill Turley & his wife after Max Hosford had presented them with a card bearing 70 signatures and good wishes together with a barometer inscribed HMSO 1942–1984.
Scattered around you will see Jim Shedden, Derek Croft, Kevin O’Connor, John Connelly, John Tassel, Bert Luke, Denis Snitter and Eddie Beagley and probably more that you know in the last two pictures.

The surplus food remaining after this celebration was distributed among those sleeping rough in Waterloo by John Humphreys.

All the pictures were scanned from very poor prints which had faded over the 29 year lapse and required digital manipulation to provide these images and consequently have suffered distortion to colours brightness and contrast – hope they bring back memories to enjoy.

 

 

15 February 2013 – Bill Ford: Edinburgh funeral and Norwich remembrance

Dear Reg, I am so very touched by people’s personal responses to my letters as Dad requested me to send, clearly he was so well liked and respected.

I have sent to some people, those of course whom I have addresses for details of service/celebration but will also do this here too. I have personally written to Alan and Cecil and I intend to visit Alan very soon (in fact this is something I must organise as I am heading off to the Borders on Sunday night).

The personal service is taking place on Wednesday 27th February 2013 at 14:30 at Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh.
I have proposed to those that I have written to, to hold a friendship gathering and have planned for this to take place on Friday 8th March 2013 at 1pm at the Eagle Public House.

If anyone wishes to provide a floral tribute – the local florist that is dealing with the flowers are Border Blooms, Kelso – 01573 223304
If anyone wishes to make a donation – I have selected the following two charities: The British Red Cross – there is a family connection – grandma volunteered and Dad regularly made financial contributions – he was very much a traditionalist. The other charity is Alzheimer’s Society – Dad received such compassionate care with his own journey of Dementia that I thought it appropriate to offer the option of donating to help with further research and care for people with Dementia.

The local funeral directors are able to answer any questions that you have: Peter Taylor Funeral Directors, Unthank Road, 01603 760787.

Thank you. Viv Ford

 

Dear Viv. I am glad that you are getting through this difficult time. I hope to see you, and old friends, on 8 March. With best wishes. Reg

 

 

14 February 2013 – From Judy Pritchard

‪‬Hi Reg, I’ve just been flicking through the HMSOldies pages and I’m very sad to learn of Peter Taylor’s death. They were happy days on the 5th floor of Sovereign House, working with George Furn, Tug Wilson and Frank Payne – Accommodation was just across the corridor, and once I’d circumnavigated Harry Barrie there was always a warm welcome there from Peter and Robin (or was it just because I worked for the boss?). Mrs Rust was at the other end of the corridor. To my shame I recall taking a call from someone who said “Mrs Rust here” to which I replied “and I’m the Queen of Sheba”, little thinking that I was speaking to the lady herself. But she repaid me at one of her legendary Christmas pre-prandial sherry parties. Somewhere in the archives is a Register of Classified Documents which records evidence of my sorry state for the rest of that day.

I enjoyed the virtual trip around Sovereign House. Strange to think of it being of historic interest, but glad that it’s not been declared a listed building.

Kind regards, Judy

 

Hello Judy, Thank you for your happy memories. I have a similar memory of (the late) Mrs DNG Rust MBE, but mine was with gin. I saw Robin, in good form, earlier this week. I wonder where the ghosts will go when (if) Sovereign House ever falls. There’s plenty of space in St. Crispins. All the best. Reg

 

 

10 February 2013 – 1950s photo featuring Bob McRobbie

Good afternoon Reg, I have only just found about this website after watching the video on Youtube about Sovereign House. It was interesting to see where both my father and my father in law worked. My dad Clive Youngs worked there for about a year after retiring from the Met Police, he worked as a messenger. I believe you knew my Father in Law Robert (Bob) McRobbie a formidable character I’m sure you’ll agree!

My husband is interested in the photo that you had featuring the 1950s conference in the Isle of Man and was wondering if you have any copies of it? Look forward to hearing from you.

Sam McRobbie

 

Hello Sam. Excellent to hear from you! I’m sure that I would have known your father – don’t suppose you have a photo you could scan to jog my memory? I certainly knew your father-in-law – firstly when he worked in Reprographic Supplies in the late 1960s with Vi Wilson, David Roberts and others, then when he worked in Britannia House, Borough – not forgetting his period as arch-scrutineer of travel and subsistence claims: if he had been in charge of the Parliamentary expenses they wouldn’t have got away with a penny more than they deserved!

I have looked at the source of the Isle of Man picture to which you refer – a photo sent in by Tony Gummett (who was in charge of the Britannia House operation) of a group on the roof of Cornwall House. He refers to this further group including Bob. Unfortunately I don’t have a copy, but have copied this note to Tony to see if he can locate it. Meanwhile we will see if any of our readers we can trace any further photos of Bob. Best wishes, and please keep in touch (are you in the Norwich area?). Reg

 

 

9 February 2013 – From Gordon Robbie

Dear Reg, I’ve just been catching up on HMSOldies/What’s New and was, as ever, astonished to see how many names from the past appear there. I went back through months of information looking for my own name. Fortunately I found no mention, so I must have covered my tracks pretty well!

But to the point. It seems possible, however unlikely, that there may be some ex HMSO golfers out there who are unaware that the HMSO Golf Society is still alive and kicking and still organising four meetings a year at various courses around East Anglia. In the 2013 season we will be visiting Bungay on 3 May, Eaton on 7 June, Richmond Park on 5 July and Weston Park on 30 August. Given the steadily advancing average age of our members, we will be playing 27 holes this season instead of the 36 we have been playing in past years, with a light lunch and dinner in the evening. There will be Medal and Stableford prizes to be won on each day, and opportunities to compete for some of our various trophies, so anyone who can still swing a club will be welcome to join us. Just contact me on [email protected] and let me have an email address and a phone number and I will email details of all meetings as they come up.

An added attraction is that in 2014 we will be celebrating the Society’s Centenary. Our oldest trophy, the Gorin Cup, was first played for in 1914 and won by T Brimelow – you surely remember him, Reg? – but a bit of a rammy on the Continent led to the suspension of Society activity until 1919. Shortly thereafter, members subscribed to buy a trophy in memory of our first Secretary, Captain Henry Franklin of the Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action in 1916, and the first winner of the Franklin Shield was F S S LeFevre (did HMSO employ ex-pat Frenchmen in the ’20s?). Since those early formative years the Society has continued to meet regularly, interrupted only by another brouhaha among our Continental neighbours and others and, of course, dispersal. So in 2014, as well as our usual four meetings we will be holding a special Centenary meeting at Thorpeness. This will comprise 36 holes of golf over two days with a Centenary Dinner and bed and breakfast in between at the Thorpeness Hotel. The dates are 3/4 August 2014 and again we would be delighted to welcome any ex-HMSO golfers. Anyone who may have decided their swinging days are over(!) will be very welcome as a dinner guest. Obviously the Ryder Cup fades into insignificance beside this once-in-a-lifetime event.

I hope HMSOldies’ editorial policy will permit publication of this blatant commercial.

Cheers, Gordon

 

Hello Gordon, Twice in one day – be still my beating heart! By the way, Jack Keating was the man unavoidably detained in Florida, thus missing your ET dinner. To business: I love it when I don’t have to edit – and to prove how seriously I take it all, I went through the list of Superannuated Officers in the back of an old staff list to find – FSS Lefevre, d.o.b. 19 April 1890, commencement of pension 3 July 1953, 38 years of pensionable service. Stout fellow! All the best. Reg

Robert Stutely adds: Hi Reg, I do not want to dissuade Gordon Robbie from trawling through months of information. However, if he is looking for his own name he can enter it into the box below the navigation items on the left and will instantly be presented with 39 snippets where his name is mentioned. Clicking the heading to a snippet would take him to the full item in the same window or clicking the plus sign at the bottom opens the item in a new window.

 

 

7 February 2013 – From Dave Pelham

Hi Reg, Thanks for all the help offered, it is much appreciated. It is good to know that the friendship and camaraderie of HMSO still exists. There is an appeals procedure which I have started but the first step is to request a copy of the judgement so you can see what you are appealing against. You then ask them to look at it again, and if that doesn’t work go to full appeal. I asked for a copy of the judgement on 24 January but have still received nothing. The time limit is officially 21 February so I am chasing DWP. I will let you know how I get on. Dave

 

Thanks Dave. Good to know that you are making progress. Our thoughts are with you as you tackle bureaucracy! Best wishes, and good luck. Reg

 

 

31 January 2013 – From Fred Stubbs

Hi Reg, Thanks for sending the Sovereign House video. It was a very sad thing to see. I didn’t know SH very well but did go across from time to time. I remember Jack Palmer telling me that when it rained, the rain came into his office and he put up his umbrella! I wonder how Chris Richmond got permission to go inside?

When I first came to Norwich in 1978 I got involved with the Lord Mayor’s Procession and worked with Bill Barker and others in a room which George Rokhar set aside for us. We met over a number of lunch times to prepare the float, which won first prize! The rosette and some other things were framed and placed in the St Crispins canteen – I wonder what happened to it?

Best wishes, Fred

 

Hello Fred, Thank you for your note. You asked how Chris got permission to take the video –well, he went through the ‘proper channels’ and was let in by Anglia Square Security. He is an established local film-maker, and I don’t think they would agree to anyone wandering around in what to the unprepared could be a somewhat hazardous building. You mention the HMSO Float, which has of course featured on HMSOldies. I think that is you in the background:

https://www.hmsoldies.org.uk/PG_170_HMSO_wins_first_prize.html

Not sure what happened to the memorabilia –I’ll keep an eye on eBay. All the best. Reg

 

 

28 January 2013 – From Billy Stevenson

Dear Reg, After watchingThe Daily Politics show with its doom and gloom and threats of a triple dip I logged in to HMSOldies and was cheered up by John Galley’s pictures of all those happy people. A tonic for any of us feeling down.

John always had the ability to cheer people up. I can remember his frequent trips to Belfast to oversee repair work in the aftermath of damage caused by bombs and other devices. One such occasion was the total overhaul and refit of the Arthur Street Bookshop, after it had been destroyed by an incendiary device. The work took quite a while and the Contractor employed seemed anxious to finish and go. Mr Galley, on the other hand, made sure every door hinge and dovetail was perfect before the workmen departed. But as well as his cheerful presence he always arrived with this lovely tanned leather travel case (Mulberry maybe?). He was, and still appears to be, a very happy man.

One amusing thing I remember happened while this work was in progress. The painters had to fix blue veneer panels above the bookshelves. I arrived one morning to find this chap stirring a fairly large pot of glue-potent stuff. He was taking deep breaths as he stirred. An hour or so later he was as high as a kite and those of us in close proximity weren’t far behind. Among the wares of HMSO at that time was an Environmental Health publication on the dangers of inhaling Trichloroethylene. Happy Days!

All the very best, Billy.

 

Hello Billy, thank you for your fine story of the days when John Galley was involved in something useful, rather than swanning around the world in search of sun. Any pictures of him looking happy over a Paddy’s Pizza and Pint of Plain served by Pat Catney in ‘The Kitchen’ would be most welcome! All the best. Reg

 

 

25 January 2013 – From Brian Cockram

Hola, Picture from Mill Paper Group’s annual lunch at the White Horse.
Adios, Brian

Hello Brian, Thank you: a very good picture of some happy diners! I note that, judging by hair colour, you must be having the most peaceful life – what do you old paper-buyers call that shade of grey?
Messrs Dougall, Sinden, Curtis, Cockram, Durkin and Mickleburgh being kept in order, as ever, by Mrs Blake.

All the best, Reg

 

24 January 2013 – ‘Bobbie’s Cottage’

David Challis’ warm appreciation of David Napthine (see below: 23 Jan – The chief typographer) mentions the occasional decorations he made to the studio to mark special events like retirements or Christmas.

This was one of the most memorable, which he undertook overnight pre Christmas 1967 with the assistance of another designer Clive MacDonald, when they converted one end of the studio into ‘Bobbie’s Cottage’, a pantomime set around the desk of Bobbie Westaway (clerical officer). It made use of HMSO Stock Cover papers – coloured paper used to brighten up publications before the widespread use of colour printing. Poor Bobbie had to sit at her desk inside the ‘cottage’ with the messengers delivering mail through one of the open ‘windows’. The large green door led to the Studio Manager, Reg Vine’s, office. Not surprisingly it caused quite a stir and attracted sightseers from all over Atlantic House, not just from HMSO. Although a number of photographs were taken this is the only one that appears to have survived.

 

 

24 January 2013 – From Geoff Sentinella

Hello Reg, Have just watched the Sovereign House video. Very mixed feelings for me because although it was uncomfortable to work in because of the high temperatures due to solar gain (on the 6th Floor) I have so many memories as I know you do as well. No mention of the Laboratory in the video apart from a fleeting glimpse of the fume cabinets on the first room on the RHS of the South wing on the sixth floor during the introductory sequence and also a mention that the First Aider Debbie Todd worked in the Laboratory. I will be so very sorry to see the old girl go because as the video said it has been part of the Norwich skyline for 50+ years or more.

You lucky person Reg, I would give my eye teeth to be able to get back inside Sovereign House again. I did manage to get back into the ground floor areas now occupied by QD when I was working as an asbestos surveyor back in 2005, but it was so frustrating as there was this impenetrable boarded up corridor with the rest of Sovereign House lying waiting beyond it. If only it were possible to do conducted tours of the interior (H&S permitting) for Sov. House alumni I feel it could be a winner.

Best wishes as ever, Geoff

 

Hello Geoff, Thank you for your note: I can’t argue with what you say about the old place. The trouble was that I remembered the building as it was when we moved in – October 1968. Supplies on the 5th Floor, Computery on the 1st; PS on the 6th etc. Then came St Crispins, and everything turned upside down. Added to this, the systematic destruction of walls, corridors etc. made it difficult to remember what, eventually, was where. However, there was a separate item on the Xenotest Room, which you may find of interest:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumcp/8330452756/in/photostream

If I get word that future ‘organised’ visits are planned I will make sure that you are informed. All the best. Reg

 

 

24 January 2013 – From Harvey Dukes

‪‬Dear Oldies & Reg, You have helped me immensely. I was with my grandmother last night sorting out her dinner, and I told her what I had been doing and that she started as a trainee typist. Her eyes lit up and it all came back to her. She couldn’t remember anyone apart from her boss – well, she is nearly 95. In doing so, I have information personal to her to go on, so thank you all very much.

Yours truly, Harvey Dukes
Get old Gracefully : )

 

Dear Harvey, It has been a great pleasure to be of assistance, and speaking personally it has quite cheered me up on another freezing day in Norwich. I especially enjoyed your final words! All the very best – to you and of course to your grandmother. Reg Walker

 

 

23 January 2013 – The chief typographer

In November 1966 on my first day at HMSO Atlantic House (after the initial induction) I was escorted to the Layout section at the rear end of H floor were I was handed over to the care of the deputy head Reg Vine, he then introduced me to a Mr Napthine [see Obituaries] the chief typographer (as they shared a cramped office). David was semi buried in books and papers – I simply wondered how one achieved such an elevated status.

My next 12 years with HMSO are only remembered for occasional elaborate decoration of the studio to mark some event, which was in sharp contrast to the letter-spaced career of Mr Napthine. During much of the time I only had occasion to speak to David rarely, our paths simply did not cross, and he did not involve himself in the day to day work of the studio, being far too busy with his own design commitments. It was only later that one realised that things you had recently ‘redesigned’ had previously been styled by DN – and I began to wonder what he thought of us upstarts. One need hardly have worried, David was a very generous person. Much later when we did ‘chat’ he confided that he approved of some radical piece of work I had done, adding that he had once tackled the same job, but could not achieve what I had now been able to, there was much less scope in the early days of Layout.

David retired in 1975 and decisions had to be made about who would handle his rather sensitive portfolio of clients; at the same time HMSO had started the process of moving to Norwich. Some of his work could only sensibly be handled in London, and as one of a core group who had opted to remain in the metropolis I was put in charge of David’s Palace of Westminster work. Subsequently I was ensconced with David while he handed over the ‘work in hand’ and his files (OHMS brown envelopes to be precise) all neatly annotated.

I continued to see David as he was retained on a freelance basis for specific commissions, or at Liverpool Street station, as he also lived in the wilds of Essex. In 1978 I found another job in London, and as a short-term measure David was re-engaged to handle his old portfolio and I duly handed everything back to him still in the brown envelopes! Albeit, that in the meantime, I had completely restyled the House of Commons stationery and Peter Branfield had redrawn the various coats of arms and insignia; David was the first to appreciate the magnitude of what we had achieved, given all the individual fiefdoms at Westminster!

Although little lauded in public, as that was hardly his style, David represented the bedrock of sound considered typographic design of government publications in the post-war period, those of us who were fortunate enough to follow in his foot steps owe him an immense debt of gratitude. He was one of the true pioneers of that late golden age of good typographic design. Throughout one’s career there are those few people you come into contact with who make an impression, I still remember with affection the time I spent with Mr Napthine.

And how would I describe the man? Remember the classic post-war black and white filmThe Third Man and its leading role Holly Martins, played by Joseph Cotten – the shadowy American in the mackintosh and trilby hat. Well exchange Vienna for grey post-war London and give the man a black official briefcase, and you have my impression of David Napthine. He appeared and disappeared from his office or secluded desk without any noise and you never knew what he was working on. His religious beliefs also added to his privacy, although on a one-to-one basis he was ever helpful to anyone who enquired.

David was an accomplished typographer of a pioneering generation and was one of a small team put together after the Second World War to bring some order and style into the presentation of government publishing. David was not lauded in the same way as some of his more illustrious companions, such as Harry Carter, but quietly he was for well over thirty years the cornerstone of HMSO’s Typographic and Layout Department and its successor.

He shunned publicity, being firmly of that typographic tradition that’s rule of thumb meant that if the reader was overtly aware of the typographer’s hand on the page they had done a bad job. Underneath this grey suited veneer was a designer in the modern sense of the word, his touch was usually light but one sensed a man of real graphic talent. He could he humorous, and although he chose to stay above the day-to-day banter of the main studio, he was always well aware of events and alive to those designers at the cutting edge.

In his lifetime the whole era of ‘considered’ book and print design evolved, flourished and has faded. I don’t doubt David would have addressed and coped with the current ‘instant’ ‘on screen’ approach, but he would I’m sure be rightly appalled at the way that the standards he fought hard to achieve and sustain now gather dust on library bookshelves and waste paper bins!

David Challis
HMSO Layout and Graphic Design 1965 to 1978

 

 

23 January 2013 – From Alastair Petrie

Dear Mr Walker, Thank you so much for your observations and the wonderful vignettes painted by your colleagues of life at Shep Walk at the end of my wife’s great aunt’s time there as a Supervisor. These have all made that part of her working life a much more meaningful and interesting part of our family history. I am copying both Bob Barnard and Les Birch and thank them most sincerely for their fascinating descriptions of those times.

I am prompted by your statement that Shep Walk had a thriving Amateur Dramatic group to ask one final favour please. Millie Turner had a younger sister Elsie Doris Turner born on 4 September 1893. She too apparently worked in the civil service but we have no idea where. She was, however, extensively involved in what appear, from about 60 professional photographs in our possession, to have been very lavish amateur dramatic productions, and I now wonder therefore whether she too was employed at Shep Walk. I attach copies of two of those photographs which, if you have records of Shep Walk’s amateur dramatics, you might even recognise.

The photographs which I have are in some cases signed by the actor/actresses and some are dated, typically during the 1920s. The one I have enclosed of what might perhaps be a production of The Mikado is dated 13.10.1924. Do you have a record of an October 1924 production or is there any chance you can readily spot a Miss Elsie Doris Turner in your employment registers?

With kind regards, Alastair

 

Dear Mr Petrie, What wonderful photographs of Miss Elsie Doris Turner and friends! I only wish we had some information among our sparse records which might be of help. I have looked through our ‘Superannuated Officers’ list dated 1952 and thought I might have found her, but no: it was a Miss E Turner born 5 July 1892. I’m afraid that the chances of finding any ex HMSO person who might have known either of the Misses Turner are remote. I have looked through copies of our old Staff Magazines to see if their names are mentioned, but to no avail. However, there are a couple of famous HMSO people who are mentioned, so I have copied the relevant pages to you in the hope that something positive emerges. I am currently pinning my hopes on one Mr J MacCallum! It has been a pleasure to facilitate this most interesting foray into a corner of HMSO’s past. Best wishes. Reg Walker

 

 

23 January 2013 – From Dave Pelham

Hi Reg, I don’t know if anyone can help or offer advice, but here goes. Eighteen years ago I was medically retired from HMSO and have been on first Invalidity Allowance and then Incapacity Allowance. In June 2012 I was sent a form to fill in to be changed to Employment Support Allowance which finally came back today. Surprise surprise, they have decided I can now return to work, even though I am much worse now than when I left HMSO. I wonder if any other ex-HMSO staff have had this problem, and if they can offer any help or advice. Thanks for your time.

Dave Pelham
(HMSO Norwich, Finance Division, from 1980)

 

Hello Dave, Sorry to hear of your predicament. I’m afraid that I can be of no help on this one, but we will add your note to HMSOldies to see if anyone has any ideas. Generally I have found that people get good advice from the Norwich Citizens Advice Bureau if nothing else is forthcoming. Good luck. Reg

 

 

22 January 2013 – From John Nash

Hi Reg, Good to hear from Les and all those names brought back memories of many years gone by. The chap from the Treasury was Rex Verry, who was seconded for a while to CRS and was understudy to ‘Uncle’ Jock Eyres. Still no news about Margaret Baylis I suppose?

Kind regards, John

 

Hello John, The Verry man! We knew that you would come up with the goods. Still no word as to current disposition of Mrs Baylis. Perhaps an HMSOldies reader can help? All the best. Reg

 

 

22 January 2013 – From ‪Les Birch

Dear Reg, My first rather fleeting connection with Shep Walk came in June 1948 when I was sent there on my first promotion to train as the Officer in Charge of the Nottingham Regional Branch to be opened in September 1948. I must have met Miss Turner – the Supervisors were all ‘Miss’, nobody dared use first names and of course the marriage bar was still in place. The Reading Room was always a place of complete quiet and if one had occasion to speak to the Supervisor it was always in a hushed whisper. Each job had a Work Docket attached and the typist, reader and machine operator would each initial the docket as the work progressed. Each day a folder would be prepared containing a specimen of every job completed on that day and this would be circulated to the executive hierarchy in the Division. If one of their eagle eyes spotted a ‘typo’ it would be referred back to the Reading Room and if the reader had indeed missed the error the fact would be recorded by the Supervisor on to a card index record. There was some sort of disciplinary procedure based on X number of errors = a warning and Y number of warnings = further action, which could be loss of an increment or for persistent offenders reversion to machine operation. The readers were always considered to be a cut above the other operators but I am not sure whether this was recognised by any form of allowance.

C.A.J. Argent I knew well – he was always known as Joe but nobody ever called him that. His deputy was a Williams whose first name eludes me. He was a well-meaning bumbler – he suggested that the new Regional Branches should each be equipped with the newly-marketed Hoover single tub washing machines so that the staff temporarily loaned to the Branches from HQ for training purposes could wash their smalls on the premises rather than having to do them in their ‘digs’. Argent crushed that one pretty quickly. Other characters at Shep Walk in those days included Frank Hillman and Harold Dodge who between them were already building up a centre of expertise in the technical side of duplicating and photocopying which eventually blossomed into the original CRS – I think a young Arnold Martyn may already have been with them or if not he joined them soon afterwards. There was great rivalry between them and a bloke at the Treasury, whose name also eludes me, who was also becoming an expert in the field and who finished up publishing a book on the subject which he graced with the name of ‘reprographics’ – I think he claimed to be the inventor of the word. Young John Nash will probably remember his name well. Another HEO there was Theodore Hann – always immaculately turned out in a Hector Powe suit but whom I caught one day in his office trimming his fraying shirt cuffs with a pair of issue scissors. When I cheekily remarked that times must be bad, he willingly admitted that this was indeed the case.

One of Shep Walk’s proudest boasts was that they had produced in their Security Section all the maps for the D-Day landings in 1944 and that none of the information contained therein had ever been leaked – a fact for which I remain eternally grateful.

I said that my first connection with Shep Walk was fleeting – my training also covered Establishment matters, wages salaries, National Insurance PAYE etc – all carried out a Keysign House just behind Oxford Street – whilst my Dup training was done at Cavendish Square (I think nos 22/23) where D & D had an outstation. So I saw little of Shep Walk at that time. My closer acquaintance came later but that is another story.

We had our second dose of snow during the night – yesterday was my first trip out since last Thursday and I think I may again be confined to barracks now until the weekend as even more snow is forecast for today and tomorrow. But Saturday is forecast to have temperatures of between 6 and 9 degrees, a positive heatwave which should clear the snow quite quickly. Fortunately I am adequately supplied with life’s essentials – Bishop’s Finger, Bordeaux, Burgundy, a range of malts and of course Calvados so I think I will survive.

I still miss the Old Boys lunches very much and really must try to get over to see Harvey and others some time this year. Omaha Beach will clash again this year with the lunch so I must try to fit the visit to Norwich in during the summer. Time, sadly, still flies by.

Best wishes as always to you and yours, Les

 

Hello Les, A perfect response, as ever, for which many thanks. I have copied to Alastair Petrie, who I am sure will find the detail of life in 1940s HMSO as interesting as I do. Wonderful picture, expertly painted. The Book tells me that your man was Richard A Williams. Assistants in 1952 were Messrs Hillman and ACA Taylor – to be replaced by Jameson and Wilkinson. I had been wondering how you were, as I had heard nothing from you since last October, when you were off to France. Relieved to hear that you are surrounded by the essentials of life. Have you thought of replacing Michael Winner as Sunday Times Restaurant Critic? You would fit in perfectly. Let me know when you intend to visit Norwich and I will alert a few people who can hold their own! All the very best. Reg

 

 

21 January 2013 – Mary Lowe of Manchester

Hi Reg, Whilst browsing through the winter edition of Avanti I came across, on page 48, the inspiring story from Mary Lowe of Manchester. It may interest those many readers of HMSOldies who may remember her. Cecil H. Hughes

 

Hello Cecil, Thank you for passing on this heart-warming item. I see from the 1990 Staff List that Mary was an Administrative Assistant in PP Manchester, and joined HMSO in 1972. All the best. Reg

 

 

21 January 2013 – From Philip Jinman

‪‬‬Hi Reg, Just been watching the video of Sovereign House. Very interesting and it brings back some memories of IP and Work Study. I tried to watch it earlier but my wife wanted to watch ‘Miranda’.
Fancy not clearing out all the documents before HMSO went! And I wonder why they did not convert Sovereign House into a hotel instead of letting it go to rack and ruin? I’m still enjoying retirement, decorating inside of house and snow clearing, as the fishing lakes are frozen – pleased not to be travelling to London during this weather with Greater Anglia. Regards, Philip

 

Hello Philip, Thank you for your response to the Sovereign House video, which I am sure echoes the comments of many of we who spent time in the place. I am sure that we all endorse your sentiments re travel in this weather. Good to hear that retirement is agreeing with you. Your mention of IP reminds me that I heard from Bill Greenaway before Christmas – and we are still in contact with Dave Forbes, Derek Wintle, John Eveson and many other ‘names.’ All the best. Reg

 

 

21 January 2013 – From Bob Barnard

Hi Reg, Thanks for the email re Miss NN Turner. As you may know I joined HM Stationery Office, as it was then known, on 19 March 1951 and after the various induction procedures I was sent to Shep Walk that day. It was a cold, wet day and I felt very depressed going to that part of London especially as I thought I would be working at Keysign house in Oxford Street. I spent the first few months in the Editing Section and would have had fairly close contact with the Reading Section but I’m afraid I can’t recall Miss Young working there. I thought I knew all the supervisory staff well but Miss Turner’s name eludes me.

As you rightly say in your earlier email, the Reading Section were important in the duplicating process. In those days Shep Walk was responsible for producing all the duplicating requirements for all the government Departments. All the requests duplicating came in on a yellow demand, a D14, to the Editing Section who prepared workroom instructions about producing the finished work. Five copies of these instructions were produced on a Lamson Paragon machine one copy for each of the following: Typing Section, Reading Section, the Rolling Room, the Warehouse and the fifth copy was retained in the Editing Section. In those days the Typing Section typed nearly all the text onto stencils for flat bed, rotary and lithographic reproduction. When the the typists typed the text a carbon copy was made and this was sent to the Reading Section who the ‘proof’ read the the carbon copy. When they finished proofing the copy it was sent back to the typist via her supervisor to make the corrections.

From memory Eve Howells was an Assistant Supervisor, there was another lady whose I can’t remember now But I shall try to remember her and I think the Supervisor was Margery Fell. I’m just wondering whether Miss Turner was in charge of the Reading Section at Bainbridge Street. This was part of D & D Division. I shall be interested to see a photo of this lady. Regards Bob

 

Hello Bob, Many thanks for your prompt response, which I have copied to Mr Petrie for information. As you will by now have seen, Miss Turner had already retired before you joined HMSO. I am sure that Mr Petrie – and other readers – will be interested to read the details of the work of HMSO Shepherdess Walk (whisper it) over sixty years ago! All the very best. Reg

 

 

21 January 2013 – From Alastair Petrie

Dear Mr Walker, Many thanks for your speedy and informative response which has already considerably extended my understanding of the situation and for which I am most grateful. I imagine that the picture post cards I have (all addressed to Miss Turner at Shepherdess Walk), were all sent by HMSO employees away on holiday, and, as such, I will be pleased to let you have them though I shall keep just one representative sample for our family archive in respect of Miss Turner’s career with HMSO.

The latest of the cards sent to Miss Turner at Shepherdess Walk is dated September 1949 and the extract you sent from the 1952 Staff List shows that her pension commenced on 10th November 1949, ie, the day after her 50th birthday. Would that have been, to your knowledge, a mandatory age for the retirement of a female supervisor? The Staff List also shows that she had accrued 15 years pensionable service.

Can one infer from that that her total service was just 15 years, or were there other factors which perhaps conceal service before 1934? For example, periods of probation, junior or “Operator” status, or perhaps non-contribution into the pension scheme?

As a matter of interest I am attaching a photo of Miss Turner, though, depending on when she commenced with HMSO, it might pre-date her employment at Shepherdess Walk.

With many thanks for your help. About 8 inches of snow here in Derbyshire at the moment and still snowing. Alastair Petrie

 

Dear Mr Petrie, What a fine lady! We will see if the photo sparks any memories. Shepherdess Walk ran a thriving Amateur Dramatic group, and it may well have been that Miss Turner was a member.
The answers to your questions will, of course, be speculative on my part. The 1952 list shows the Senior Supervisor as having been born in 1896 – ie 56 years of age – and there were others of around the same vintage. So I can only surmise either that Miss Turner wanted to retire for reasons of sickness or the need to care for a relative, or that she was offered ‘voluntary early retirement.’ This is quite possible, as staff numbers in the area of Duplicating were being reduced at the time. I also imagine that Miss Turner spent the earlier part of her career in an Unestablished – ie unpensionable – junior capacity, hence the short period of pensionable employment.

If you care to send any postcards to me I promise to preserve them. You never know, they may be from one of our Senior readers! All best wishes, snow underfoot but no new flurries today. And granddaughters at school . . . Reg Walker

 

 

21 January 2013 – From Harvey Dukes

‪‬Hello, I was wondering if one of your staff or somebody who worked at your company remembered my grandmother. She is 95 this year and I was wondering, as I am trying to locate my grandfather, if she had any records or you guys could help. She was a translator for HMSO. Her name was Denise Dukes or Denise Burtchy from Switzerland. Thanks. Kind regards, Harvey Dukes

 

Hello Harvey Dukes, Well, there’s a name from the past! I started working in HMSO Cornwall House (Stamford Street London SE1) in 1963, on a Books Invoice section. If we needed anything to be translated we used to go to an ex-RN Clerical Officer named Turner. When he retired we were sent to –Denise Dukes, and a very helpful lady she was too.

From the sparse information I have it seems that Denise (born 7 April 1919) joined HMSO as a Trainee Typist on 7 July 1947. She was promoted to Clerical Officer on 1 June 1959 but did not move to Norwich when the office dispersed in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Presumably she retired at 60 – ie 1979 – possibly from another Government Department. Unfortunately I have no further details, but we’ll see if one of our readers knows more. Good luck in your quest. Reg Walker

 

 

20 January 2013 – Norfolk Uncovered: HMSO Sovereign House

I have finally put together the video on Sovereign House. Thanks to everyone for your help and input.

The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/hbe3W-hDEUw

Please feel free to link to this video on the HMSOldies website and anywhere else you see fit. I’m sure you know plenty of people who would like to see it.

Chris Richmond
http://norfolkuncovered.webs.com

Later: Stuart McPherson has also produced an excellent (almost) silent film of the interior of Sovereign House.

It can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2fl7mLGZjw

 

 

20 January 2013 – From Alastair Petrie

‪Dear Mr Walker, I have been going through old family papers and unearthed a bundle of post cards addressed to a Miss Millicent Nora Turner, Supervisor, Reading Room, D&D Division, HMSO Shepherdess Walk. Millicent Turner was a great aunt of my wife. The post cards are all dated 1949 and appear to be from HMSO staff away on holiday.

Having come across your web site in the course of research, I wonder: (a) whether these post cards might be of any interest to you for your archives, and (b) whether you can direct me to anybody who might be able to tell us something more of Millicent Turner’s service with HMSO, what the function of the Reader’s Room in the D&D Division was at that time, and what the role of Supervisor might have entailed?

Yours sincerely, Alastair Petrie

 

Dear Mr Petrie, Many thanks for contacting us about your wife’s great aunt, Millicent Turner. HMSOldies records comprise boxes and folders of ‘rescued items’ stacked up behind me, as I type, so it’s very hit-and-miss as to whether I can ever find what I am looking for. However, I am pleased to say that Miss Turner’s name appears in a 1952 Staff List under ‘Superannuated Officers’ which of course means that she had retired by then. Here is a scan of the entry along with a picture of ‘Shep Walk’ operators taken around 1919.

In 1952 a Supervisor would have earned £ 350-£ 400 per year, at a time when the mighty ‘Director of Duplicating and Distribution’ one Charles Argent OBE was earning £ 1325 pa. To give you an idea, in 1952 there were some 800 people working in HMSO Shepherdess Walk in North London. Of these, some 600 were ‘operators’ – typists, addressing and duplicating machine operators, that is. The structure above them was 9 Chief Supervisors, 30 Supervisors and 61 Assistant Supervisors. So as you can see, the grade ‘Supervisor’ was not to be sneezed at. Each Supervisor would have had 2–3 ‘teams’ of operators each under an Assistant Supervisor. Allocation of work, timekeeping, discipline, promotions, demotions and annual reports would all have come under the Supervisors’ wing – and they would have been responsible to ‘The Chief’ – thence the Executives and finally the Director, who was responsible to the Assistant Controller and finally the Controller. ‘Yes Minister’ had nothing on the Civil Service of the 1950s!

‘Readers’ would have checked copy before and after typing/duplicating etc. I have copied this note to two people who actually worked in Shepherdess Walk (which was, incidentally, closed in the early 1960s and the staff transferred to purpose-built premises in Basildon). With luck, they may be able to add some information. And we will add your note to HMSOldies to see if anyone else rises to the bait.
Best wishes – and I can tell you that at 1530 hours this Sunday 20 January it has just started snowing again in Norwich – fingers crossed for an early finish. Reg Walker, Editor, HMSOldies

 

 

18 January 2013 – From John Galley

Hi Reg, Haven’t you got any pictures of Happy people working at HMSO? There must have been some – probably in the pub at lunchtimes. Hope you had a good Christmas and very best wishes for the New Year. We were down under in NZ for the festive season and of course had the BBQ out for Christmas Dinner – fortunately not as hot as Australia but pleasantly warm. A little unhappy to come back to this white stuff everywhere. Cheers, John

 

Hello John, Good to hear from you, and that you survived NZ. Dave Martin’s son is down there, and when Dave was visiting and was showing his son a few photos taken in Norwich a bloke in the company casually said ‘Isn’t that George Rokahr?’ It was indeed a bekilted George – this man knew him in a musical context.

You are asking for a miracle – happy HMSO? Had to go back to the 80s – you may recognise a few faces, not all of whom might be described as deserving joy – but others certainly do. Thank you for your good wishes, and all the best to you and yours for 2013. Reg

 

 

6 January 2013 – From John Nash

Hi Reg, Firstly just to wish you all the best for the New Year, and to thank you and the team for continuing to provide such excellent coverage to us ‘oldies’.

Trawling through the IC’s over the Christmas hols I was pleased to see and be reminded about the LIBERATOR including the photo of our good friend Bernard Terry from CCTA. What might have been if it had survived to be the fore-runner to all the Macs and other devices?

All good wishes, John

 

Hello John, Thank you for your good wishes, which I have passed on to Philip, Robert and Dave (Directors of Design, IT and Production respectively). Yes, good to clear up the state of the Johns. And I am pleased that you caught on to the Liberator piece, which was thoroughly researched by the IT Website editor, Tony Smith (no, not that one) who vouchsafed Bernard Terry’s address (Orpington I think) for me to send him a Christmas Card on behalf of all the appreciative Liberator users in HMSO and beyond. All the very best to you and yours. Reg