We received the following sad news from Norma Groom, on 19 November 2018.
“I had an E-mail from Pam Jones telling me that Vi had passed away. She suffered from dementia for about 3 years. Vi and I started at HMSO 60 years ago on the same day, Ken Meredith was our Director and we were based at Bowlers Croft. Vi ended her career as Senior Superintendent of Typists, Miss Haber was the Chief. I don’t know if there are many of the ‘old gang’ left. You will probably remember Vi from when you used to visit Basildon.
I had left the typing pool when I became an EO in editing, I have so many memories of some of the pranks we used to get up to in those days, but it was a case if you did not laugh you would go mad. I remember being called to Miss Haber’s room and told that I must not speak to the Director, who was then Mr Morley. I had dared to say good morning to him. Of course, I totally ignored my reprimand. She would have had a fit if she had seen me sewing a button on his shirt a couple of days before. It was the top button under his tie, and we went into the typing school so ‘the chief could not see.”
Please give my regards to everyone. Chris and I are still enjoying South Africa very much. It is 20 years now that we came.
Best regards, Norma.’
Vi Moore joined HMSO as a typist in 1958, and was promoted to Typing Manager, Reprographic Division, Basildon, in 1975.