In VISION for January/February Mr. Edwards
commented on the essential need to be
adaptable to change – technological,
functional and, indeed, financial.
Six months ago came to me a major change in
life when I left the rapidly contracting yet
very exacting precision aircraft instrument
field to come to Mitcheldean. Looking back,
it has been like being drawn from the sluggish
outer edge of a whirlpool and being gradually
accelerated at ever-increasing pace towards
an unknown and limitless centre.
First, those early September days with that
great feeling of new worlds to conquer,
knowing very few people and nothing at all
about the plant or its characteristics, yet
being faced within the first weeks with
replanning a works organisation to meet
anticipated changes in programme content and
products. I soon learned what it means quickly
to try to know, assess and understand so many
it47.
people relative to proposed functions.
ff! Decision was essential but exceedingly difficult
when based largely on interviews or
advice and not on experience.
The cessation of 8mm. cine product meant
little to me then, but growing contact with
the six or seven major 16mm. models, together
with a XeroX 914 programme due roughly to
double by now, soon convinced me of the
wisdom of the decision. It showed too, very
clearly, the difficulties under which
Production and Control Departments had worked
in the past, plus the need for action to take
advantage of the change to improve our
FE: Production Control, Inspection and Stores
procedures. Hence the new layouts and
procedures in these departments.
Rising demand in the XeroX field rapidly
brought considerations of Projects 8 and 9
from mere plans to intense action. Revision of
the whole of machine tools and equipment with
2
!Eh*
y Chief Executive .
COVER PICTURE : The camera. operated by C. Malsom (Tool Room) here records
the occasion of the presentation of the Wickstead Shield to the winners of the recent
Interdepartmental Chess Competition. Seated in the front row. they are (left to right)
H. Helm, J. Johnson (Match Catain) and C. Brooks. who won the shield for Assembly
Department. Standing with Mr. U’ickstead are R. Wright, Chess Club Organiser. and
J. Clare. Hon. Treasurer. who acted as adjudicator, and whose comments on the final
tie are published on page 6.
a view to planning component production into
one Machine Shop the size of a football pitch
(and incidentally the largest in Gloucestershire)
has been a most complicated and
mammoth task!
In turn, the architects’ meetings, concerning
a new canteen, and a boiler house to
provide 15 million heat units to feed the
extensions, added many difficult problems to
those of normal production! Indeed, exciting
stuff this.
More exciting still, early in this New
Year – extension upon extension of the
XeroX 914 programme, looking forward to 1966
and even 1968! Ever-growing demands – head
going faster than hands – more technical
problems, automatic plating plant, effluent
treatment, finishing treatments – more people
needed – greater skills – more capital.
The speed of the whirlpool is still
increasing and one wonders how long before the
ultimate centre – and what beyond?
Throughout, I have been received most
kindly and have had the greatest of assistance
from my colleagues.
I am sure with such a challenge in front
nobody here should be despondent. We are
building a good team and our future is to be
envied. Only recently I realised how much we
are envied, by the response to an evening
recruitment meeting at a Gloucester hotel
when Mr. Edwards and I interviewed (nay, took
names and details) from some 70 applicants,
many of them qualified, largely from factories
in the Gloucester/Cheltenham area where
redundancy has occurred or is imminent.
I think I realise now what Frank Edwards
meant – what a tonic change can be!
3
Doris Barker, Assembly Floor Shop
Steward, reports on a
SPRING
SESSION
BY THE SEA
FEEL it was a great honour to be
I elected to represent the women of
Division 19 of the A.E.U. at the Conference
held on March 20. It was for this
purpose that 1 journeyed to Eastbourne
on March 19: with the thought of getting
a breath of sea air uppermost in my
mind, I started off earlier than I would
to get to work. and arrived at my
destination at I p.m. It was a very nice
spring day and so I spent the afternoon
on the sea front.
There were 24 delegates to the Conferand
I noted that Scotland, Ireland,
Wales and England were represented.
We were welcomed by the President and
Executive Council at a dinner and
cabaret on the Tuesday evening-an
event which was attended by His Worship
the Mayor of Eastbourne.
Wednesday brought Conference day,
and all the delegates arrived at the
Town Hall in good time. We were
given a civic welcome by the Mayor
who said how pleased he was to have us
at Eastbourne. He understood there
were 70,000 women members of the
A.E.U. and said that we must all
realise that we inherited a great tradition.
He went on to say that if he had
his time over again he would go into
engineering: he was filled with admiration
that we should be in this modern
industry and hoped that we would
enjoy our Conference and that our hard
work would be well rewarded.
The President, Sir William Carron,
in his address extended a very special
welcome, as the women’s section had
now reached the key entitlementtwenty-
one years! Twenty-one years’
membership must bring responsibility
4
and the best 21st birthday present we
could give ourselves was to work on a
a campaign to keep full employment
for all women, he said.
A new paper was to be published this
year to take the place of the magazine
Women’s Angle and he appealed to
members to give the Executive Council
guidance as to the material to be used.
They hope in the future to have a colour
section: this would be more expensive
to produce, but the E.C. were prepared
to go on with publication despite the
extra cost, and they hoped all would
make sure that every woman, whether a
member or not, had the opportunity to
read it.
He concluded by saying: “This is
your Conference. your opportunity to
put forward the women’s case.”
Miss Alice Bacon, Labour M.P. for
Leeds S.E., who addressed the meeting.
spoke of a great new social scheme
about to be introduced by the Labour
Party. The plan anticipated would provide
half pay for the average worker in
retirement, and also in sickness and
unemployment. There would be a new
deal for widows, too.
Greatest Scheme since Beveridge
Miss Bacon said she could not give
more details about it at that stage but
she believed it would be the greatest
thing since the introduction of the
Beveridge Plan. A hearty vote of thanks
was accorded to her for her address.
As Sir William had to return to London,
the chair was taken by Brother
J. M. Boyd for the afternoon session
which was taken up with resolutions.
These ranged in subject from equal pay
to housing. The delegates who proposed
and seconded the proposals spoke very
well and it was evident that they had
given much thought to the matter.
Although strike action was not welcomed
as a means of achieving the male
labourer’s rate as a first step to equal
pay. the delegates made it quite clear
that they were not prepared to return
to the Conference year by year without
any progress being made.
Their serious work over, delegates
adjourned to enjoy a high tea: they paid
a visit to the theatre and this was followed
by a buffet supper at the invitation
of the City Council. bringing a very
happy Conference to an end.
BY ‘NIGHT OWL’
THustai \k, briefly through the cine
magazines that have so far been
published. I have yet to find an item
which praises or even mentions that
hard-working body of individuals, who
leave the warm comfort of their beds to
keep the wheels of industry turning
during the long dark hours of the night.
I have yet to find, also, a reference
book or encyclopaedia which defines
man as a nocturnal animal: yet we
bray ely fight against nature and her
elements to take up the tools of our
trade, while normal, rational bodies are
wrapped in deep, warm slumber.
The ‘Fortnightly Changes’
Now, for m)vell, I am one of the
‘Fortnightly Changtn’, and although,
with others. I have suffered this deprivation
for some years, I am still (like all
normals) a martyr to nicto-industrophobia,
a term which the medical
fraternity would probably translate as
“a fear of working in the dark”.
But I must, in all fairness, state at
this point that there are exceptions: and
if. after I have named a few of these
exceptions. you still do not know them,
then you may pick them out in shopping
centres on a Saturday afternoon, wearing
tinted glasses or blinkers, and carrying
a heavy basket, with their wives guiding
them around the counters with one
hand, clearing a passage with the other.
and that “Let me have £1 for this.
darling” look in their eyes.
The first of these nocturnal exceptions,
the first of the Forgotten Men.
would surely be our Ted Valiance, leading
hand of the Milling Section. Out of
THE LEGION
OF THE
FORGOTTEN
his 24} years of service to the Firm,
23 have been devoted to night work.
For a record like that I, for one, would
forgive him for entertaining the mice to
lunch at his dinner breaks on the few
occasions when he was the only person
on duty.
The Drilling Section charge-hand,
Arthur Harper, with 21 years’ service,
and a long night-shift record, would
run a close second.
There are others, of course: Ken
Wintle, storeman and First Aid man,
with eight years of night work to his
credit, and a first-class authority on
literary ‘classics’, Frank Fellows (Drilling),
Arthur Barnett (Bench), Dave
Nash (550), and last, but by no means
least. Ted Adams (Autos).
Why do they do it? Why do they
continue to bear the cross when the
cry “Oh, the night shift done them” goes
up, each time scrap piece-parts have to
be accounted for?
Early Morning Dinner
Don’t people realise that at roughly
3 a.m. in the morning, man’s potential
faculties are at their lowest ebb, yet
that is the time they choose to give us
our dinner break? Imagine sitting down
to tasteless sandwiches and a cup of
tea, with digestive tracts at half-power,
eyes half open, and feeling only half
willing to continue work at the end of
the break!
We wonder if the management had
this point in mind when, after all these
years. they decided to appoint a
Night Shift Supervisor. Mr. A. E. Walton.
This move should be a good thing
5
for us. At least we have a broad
shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic ear
for our problems, and an experienced
advisor when we cannot get the blasted
job right. But are we really going to
grow to love him if he cuts our forty
winks to twenty, and hustles us out of
the canteen with a cup of tea and a
half-finished cigarette?
But seriously, though, they are all
doing a grand job! So, you daylight
readers of this magazine, when you go
to bed vvith your differently shaped hot
water bottles, spare a little thought for
us, and don’t let us become too
forgotten.
APPRENTICES . . .
LR 50 people attended a dinner held
at the White Hart, Cinderford, on
February I, for apprentices and esapprentices.
The Apprentices Committee,
who were responsible for the
arrangements. invited Mr. and Mrs. F.
Wickstead, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Baker,
and Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Edwards to be
present for the occasion, which it is
hoped to make an annual affair.
. . . AND VETERANS
ANOTHER enjoyable event took place on
March 30 when the Long Service
Association held their Social in the
Club House.
Two important announcements from
the L.S.A.: their Annual Dinner will
take place on May 14 at the Chase
Hotel, Ross-on-Wye; and they have now
appointed a Publicity Officer in the person
of Mr. John Currie ( Milling Section,
Machine Shop).
Cine Concerto
STEREOPHONIC sound brought a ‘Festival
Hall’ atmosphere to Abenhall Secondary
Modern School when, on March 4,
Leslie A. Guest presented his ‘Concerto
for Colour, Choir and Orchestra’,
second of three lectures in the series.
And once again the audience were
treated to two hours of thrilling music
and colour, enhanced by the human
voice.
Bearing in mind the inclement weather.
the attendance of over 100 was
quite good. Apparently many more
would have attended had they known
6
about it-surely a lesson in the value of
advertising! So look out for an
announcement about the third presentation.
On March 18, Mr. C. E. Tottle of
Sangamo Weston Ltd. gave an excellent
talk on ‘Exposure Problems’ and ‘The
Use of the Weston Meter’ in the Club
House. ‘Light curve’ preliminaries were
fairly ‘heavy’, but served to bring full
understanding to the latter part of the
lecture which proved very interesting
and enlightening.
The final projection of colour transparencies
gave remarkable visual proof
of the theory Mr. Tottle had expounded.
The success of this venture was confirmed
by the number of enthusiastic
questions put by the 30 or more Cine
Club members and guests present.
A talking point for the future: ‘The
Ten Best’ at Abenhall!-A. R. \lason.
Assembly get Chess Shield
Tut 1111:II tie in the Ws ickstead Shield
Knock-out Competition between Assembly
and the Tool Room took place
at the Club House on March 25.
Assembly were represented by J.
Johnson (Match Captain),
C. Brooks, while D. Cooke (Match
Captain). J. Wedderburn and D.
Parkinson made up the Tool Room
team.
The Shield went to Assembly –but
not easily. The Tool Room made a
good effort and it was anyone’s game
right up to within a quarter of an hour
of the finish.
For the best part of the game,
Parkinson, playing Helm, had a queen.
but in the last stages of the game was
forced to exchange her for a pinning
rook.
Though a beginner only last September,
Cooke has shown wonderful aptitude
and it was solely his lack of
experience which lost him the game to
the more experienced playing ofJohnson.
Early in the game Brooks took
Wedderburn’s queen but in spite of this
disadvantage Wedderburn played a
very good game and fully extended
Brooks throughout.
Tool Room are very keen players and
will appear very much in the front next
year, in the writer’s opinion.-J. G.
Clare (Export).
. ? ? ANY ANSWERS ? ? ?
WHO were the Maintenance men ho had to take half the Machine Shop down
to get a machine inside?
WHO was the supervisor in XeroX who was asked to pay twice over for a %ateli he
bought? Was it a case of the first cheque being full of bounce?
WHICH project engineer left all his crockery unwashed in the bath while his wife
was away having a baby?
WHICH apprentice went into the Machine Shop and asked for a backstop for a 4 Ward 2a and when asked “How long?”, replied “Only a day”?
WHO is the First Aid man in a local football team who won’t treat the players
unless bribed with a cigarette?
WHO went to the Machine Shop and asked for a lardy cake? lie thought he was
in the Canteen!
WHO took off his smock, grabbed his shirt instead of his trousers and was too
late to prevent the latter from falling to his ankles?
WHO got into the back instead of the front seat of a car intending to drive it assay?
Well, it was an ultra-modern model.
WHICH operator was threatened with the sack for asking for his cards?
WHICH member of XeroX Machine Shop shaved himself with a razor that had no
blade in it?
WHICH executive has offered to buy a periscope for a T.E.D. engineer?
WHO gave an impression of Charlie Chaplin at a recent football match by wearing
his Wellingtons on the wrong feet?
WHICH girl from Assembly went into the chemist’s and asked for ‘Electronic’
scent? A.C. or D.C. we wonder?
WHO in the Canteen has been wearing seven-league boots?
WHICH XeroX Machine Shop Inspector likes to practise secretly on the accordion
in his bedroom?
WHICH young spinster in Accounts has managed to acquire two babies within two
months without husband or loss of virtue?
WHICH chap got on a bus to come to work one Saturday morning, found he had
only 2d. and a ten-bob note, saw someone he thought he recognised at the front of
the bus, rushed to him and asked to borrow 8d. (which was duly produced), only
to discover that he was ma Jock Cruickshank but a stranger? Was his face red!
WHO caused the camera plate to disintegrate when having his photograph taken at
a wedding?
WHO told the authorities that a certain juror is tight with his times?
WHICH two people went to a tnion meetin2 improperly dressed? One chap was
wearing one black and one red sock. the other had simply forgotten to wear any
socks at all!
WHICH member of XeroX Progress, while obtaining a job with the firm, suddenly
realised that he had left his father waiting for him outside the main gate for the
past five hours?
WHO contributed 2s. 6d. towards a collection for a wedding present, only to find out
later that it was for his own wedding?
WHICH XeroX radial arm driller started off in his A.30 van, then found that the
garage was moving too?
WHO got up one morning, collected the paper from the letterbox, lit the fire and
settled down for a read, only to discover he had used the paper to light the fire?
7
BIG BUILDING PROJECTS
ON MARCH 1 the story of the £1,100,000
expansion of our factory at Mitcheldean
‘broke’, as they say, in the local
Press.
We have, of course, got used to seeing
giant cranes and bulldozers around, and
were aware that extension of the XeroX
building was in progress, but it was
interesting to see the facts and figures
in print.
For the benefit of those who did not
see the report, we give here a few of the
relevant details.
The rise in the demand for XeroX
office copiers, described by Mr. F.
Wickstead as ‘meteoric’, has made the
expansion necessary. Capital expenditure
on new buildings, doubling the
present assembly floor space, will
amount to £700,000, while a further
£400,000 will be spent on production
8
equipment.
The extension to the existing XeroX
building (Project 8), comprising 35,000
sq. ft. on two floors, is scheduled for
completion by June 30 this year.
Project 9, a separate two-storey factory
(towards the east end of this building),
is scheduled for occupation in two
phases: the east end half (upper and
lower floors) by September 30, and the
remainder by January 1, 1964.
The two buildings will be linked on
their upper floors by a 20 ft. wide
personnel/vehicular bridge.
New Canteen Facilities
Everyone will have been interested to
learn that new social and canteen facilities
are planned. The existing Club
House will continue in use, but a new
Architect’s impression of the
three-storey social and
canteen building.
three-storey building, each floor covering
8,000 sq. ft., will be erected in the
present Works Car Park near the Club
House.
On the ground floor will be the Works
Dining Hall with up-to-date kitchens.
Staff and Executive Dining Halls, with
a secondary kitchen, will be on the first
floor, with a terrace at one end of the
building. On the top floor will be an
Assembly Hall, equipped with bar,
projection room and cloakrooms, which
can be used for social and business
activities. It is hoped that this will be
ready for use by March 1964.
There will, too, be a certain amount of
demolition of buildings in the old malti
ngs section. The space thus acquired will
enable the present inadequate car parking
facilities to be greatly improved.
THE QUESTIONNAIRE:
a quick look at results
AS completed questionnaires are still
coming in, it is not possible to present a
final judgment on the results. But from
those so far received, some useful preliminary
conclusions have been drawn.
No less than 80 per cent. of employees
who replied thought they could improve
their own efficiency, though a number of
minor reservations were included. As
far as the efficiency of their department
was concerned, 76 per cent. were of the
opinion that it could be improved, and
suggestions for its improvement are
under investigation.
Also under investigation are suggestions
for the improvement of supervision.
The holding of a Works Open Day
appealed to the majority.
A good proportion of the answers
expressed a desire for further knowledge
about the Company’s affairs.
They Enjoy Their Work
Three-quarters of all those replying
stated they enjoyed working at the plant,
though a number of minor reservations
were included with some answers: the
remaining quarter had no opinion to
offer.
It was encouraging to learn that 98
per cent. read VISION (the remaining
2 per cent. did not answer this question).
Yet only 75 per cent. admitted knowing
that there was in existence a Suggestion
Scheme, which has been given quite a
bit of publicity in recent issues! Suggested
improvements to the scheme are
being considered.
Proposals for future features in our
magazine are receiving attention by the
editor, and will be acted upon where
suitable.
Well Worth While
Management already believe that the
answers received have proved the worth
of the project. It could prove even more
worth while if 100 per cent. of employees
returned their questionnaires.
So if you still have your form in your
pocket or handbag, complete it now and
hand it in. It is not too late for it to
receive full consideration.
9
You and Your Hobby I
BRASS-BANDING
BRASS-BANDING is a remarkable hobby
because two entirely difkrent interests
are involved. One of these is the
sporting instinct, fostered by the numerous
contests, and the other is the
purely musical aspect. One sometimes
wonders which of these is the prime
mover in a player’s enthusiasm.
It was around 1850 when the brass
instrument as we now know it was made
available, mainly through the genius of
a Frenchman named Sax. Yes-his
name is perpetuated in that other
instrument which ‘brass-banders’ never
mention!
Incidentally, the term brass band
covers the instruments made of brass
and played by a tubular mouthpiece.
Saxophones (horrible things!), although
made of metal, belong to the so-called
‘wood-wind’ family because the sound
is made by a wooden reed.
In those old days, bands were started,
mainly in the coalfields. The work put
into self-entertainment at that period by
the mining fraternities was remarkable
and produced through the years many
fine musical combinations, either instrumental
or vocal. But the miner also
loved his gamble. Hence the odd mixture
of music and sport, which is the
basis of brass-band contesting.
Partisanship was rife: heavy bets were
often laid at contests and borrowing or
poaching of players from other bands
was far from unknown. Occasionally
various tricks were worked in an endeavour
to stop opponents winning.
I am reminded of an old story concerning
a red-hot bandsman who pressed
by Harold Hartley
his daughter to bestow her favours on
a neighbouring cornet player whose skill
was renowned. “We mun ‘ave a pup off
‘im”, he is supposed to have said!
This keen sporting spirit was very
common, until the first Great War
almost killed it. I can remember miners
meeting on Saturday mornings to play
football, each player paying a bob-the
winning side to take the lot: or again in
the Rhondda, standing in a pub, to
hear two friendly rivals challenging each
other to fight for a pound, the bets being
laid, and later, watching the opponents,
stripped to the waist, fight it out until
one cried “Enough!”
Band contest conditions are now controlled
by a National Contest Council.
All players must be registered and carry
an identity membership card. Strict
rules govern the transferring or borrowing
of players.
Blind Judging
On the contest day, the adjudicator is
boxed in so that he can hear but not
see, and the bands draw lots for the
order of play so that they do not appear
on the stage in any pre-arranged sequence
which might allow them to be
recognised. Thus an unbiased adjudication
is supposed to be reached, even by
the most unscrupulous judge. One
wonders sometimes if this invites the
very thing it tries to avoid.
The main annual championship contests
are now managed by the Daily
Herald. England. Scotland and Wales
are divided into eight areas. where pre-
6
This article is the first in a series on people with interesting hobbies. The
author, Mr. Hartley (Polishing & Plating Shop Supervisor), is the conductor
of the Berry Hill Silver Band. All his three sons are keen bandsmen, and the
eldest, Peter, is leading the Oxford University Dance Band this rear. His wife.
too, is musical-but she prefers the violin !
The Berry Hill Silver Band pictured after they had carried of first prize at a competition held in 0.0,rd
in October 1961. when the opposition included some very well-known bands. The trophy-a rather
magnificent one-can be seen at conductor Mr. Hartley’s feet.
liminary contests are run each year to
find the Area Champions. and bands
placed first, second and third compete
later in the year in the London finals.
As in professional football, the bands
are divided into four sections: Championship
(not First), and Second, Third
and Fourth Sections. It is the Championship
Section Final which takes
place in the Albert Hall in October of
each year which is so well known.
The Second. Third and Fourth Section
Finals take place on the same day, but
usually in the Kensington, Chelsea and
Hammersmith Town Halls. Promotion
to a higher section follows a win.
Other contests are held locally, and
in all parts of the country, so that bands
who so wish can take part in a very
active competitive field, apart from the
Daily Herald programme.
Now, the musical aspect. The principle
employed in brass band music is one of
those things which is so simple it is
brilliant. Each instrument, from the
highest cornet to the lowest bass, with
only two exceptions, is played in exactly
the same manner, and all from music
written in the treble clef.
This means, of course, that a whole
band can be taught simultaneously and.
further, any player can very quickly
change from one instrument to another,
should the need arise. The exceptions
to this are the two different trombones
(or, as my son tells me they are now
called by the telligentsia-‘the slush
pumps’ !).
By the way, just in case you have, at
this juncture, decided you would like to
form your own little band, I should
warn you that a set of 25 instruments
would cost about £3,500, uniforms
would come to about £500 and around
£150 worth of music would be required!
Life-long Interest
As a hobby, brass-banding is fascinating
but very demanding. It rewards
with great pleasure and brings a countrywide
circle of friends, but it demands
great loyalty, for each member must be
present on every occasion if humanly
possible. It is also a hobby in which
one can be active for many, many years.
The writer has been playing or conducting
for over 50 years and hopes to
continue for many more.
Persons of average intelligence-and
they don’t have to be males!-who are
willing to spend half an hour each day
practising can become very good players
in three to four years, and almost anyone
could become a playing member of a
band in 12 months, if the band is of
moderate ability. So, what about itjoin
your local band and blow your
brains out!
11
MOTORING MATTERS
by our Special Correspondent
WIt/HEN we consider that engines
V V normally do about 120,000 revs
per hour. we MEN realise why cars are
referred to as ‘she’! And it’s uncanny
how many of them remind one of distinct
female types.
Take ‘Fred’s’ car-she’s a sleek, wellupholstered
lady but with not quite as
many refinements as Charles’.
Eric’s is one of those ladies who
tapers the wrong way and gets called a
‘Reynard’ has the correct placid lady
type with a dent in her rear, while Eric
.. a white tattoo around her waist.”
Knight has the prudent, stuttering kind
that runs out of gas. Dave King has the
bubbly kind with a great gaping mouth
which, when opened, goes cr-r-rack
squeak. clickity-click–phut!
Arthur Thomas’ lady has cracked her
spectacles and never seems to have them
repaired.
Clive Brooks has a petite lady fitted
with all refinements, even down to
having a white tattoo around her waist.
Dennis Barnard has the two-wheeled
type which you pedal like hell, she never
says a word and you don’t know if she’s
giving a good ride or not.
Our Yank friend Jimmy Allen has a
Classic type, possibly not akin to the
flashy, skittish American ladies. Pete
Ellis has the cluttered, lantern-jaw,
rugged type not at all in keeping with
his charming wife (who, incidentally,
hates the word ‘penicillin’!).
Our departing friend, Jimmy (The
DRAWINGS BY RAY WRIGHT
I2
“… the cluttered, lantern-jawed. rugged type…”
Knight) Clare, has never had one.
“Why”, he says, in typical Irish brogue,
“she would make me get here on time,
and Archie Osborne would have
hysterics!”
Derek Hopes has a lady called a
Zephyr 4 which is neatness personified.
Trevor Walding has one that displays
a high waistline, is neat in appearance
but broad of beam.
Frank Oakey has the grand old girl
type who will pass her tests year in,
year out.
Charlie Pragnall has the bone-shaker
type that yaps, barks and is generally
. . has cracked her spectacles . . . ‘
non-co-operative, especially as she takes
ten minutes to get to 59 m.p.h. on the
flat. Good cars, these model 4T’s!
New Ideas
Triumph cars have now got a cast
iron clutch housing to eliminate vibration
and transmission noise. Isn’t this
a terrible admission to the motoring
public after all the makers have said
about their cars!
One firm is now to produce a car
which has a rear-mounted engine with
a warranty that it will do 60,000 miles.
It has disc brakes all round with independent
suspension and servicing every
A
A
5,000 miles at four points only. It will
sell at £475 including one year’s tax
and insurance. I was talking about it in
the Kremlin to Kruschev and all he
could say was “Niet, niet, niet”.
And now for a bit of real sense. Let’s
abolish insurance altogether. and have
a Government scheme whereby everyone
is covered, fully comprehensive. The
idea is to take the money out of the tax
put on petrol: petrol sales are about
5.000 million gallons at least, so if you
take 6d. from the tax on every gallon
you will have about £125 million to
spend on repairs!
A TRIBUTE
WE would like to pay a well-deserved
tribute to the members of the St. John
Ambulance Brigade at the factory. On
several occasions recently they have been
required to turn out to cope with stretcher
cases and they have done so
promptly and efficiently. Despite the
fact that members have had to be
summoned from distant parts of the
factory, estimated time of turn-out has
been as little as three Ill i Mite,
914 Copiers in Production
in Japan
RANK XEROX have announced that the
XeroX 914 office copier is now in production
in Japan. The first machines
were coming oft’ the production line of
their associated company in Tokyo-
Fuji XeroX Ltd.-at the end of March.
Mr. Nobuo Shono, Managing Director
of Fuji XeroX, who recently paid a
two-week visit to Rank XeroX in this
country and its subsidiary in Germany,
said, before leaving London: “We expect
the Japanese market to prove at least as
big as the U.K. market.”
Mr. T. A. Law, who is Managing
Director of Rank XeroX, said: “Our
investment in Fuji XeroX will eventually
make a very important addition to our
earnings from overseas.”
The formation of Fuji XeroX in
association with Fuji Photo Film Co. in
Tokyo was announced just over a year
ago. They have been assembling and
installing British-made copiers until
their locally-built machines were ready.
HOME MARKET
Caravan to Let. Burnham-on-Sea. 22 ft.
four berth. Apply B. A. Moger, Security
Officer.
C 9ROOKS
Though connected with a wedding, we felt this
picture had no place among the lovely brides over
the page! Making the most of his stag party at
Ray Byetfs pub, the Forge Hammer, Chulerford,
is bridegroom-to-be John Roberts of Time Study.
Admiring his steady hand, and head, Is fellow-stag
Tony Baxter (Quality Control). We presume the
head-gear was the nearest John could get to
antler,’
S.G.B.P.’ Spells
Easter Egg
AT long last ‘Party talk’ became ‘reality’
with the holding of the Service Department
Dinner and Dance at Brock-
And what an outstanding success it was!
The efforts of the ‘Brotherhood’, comprising
Janet Lee, Brenda Beckett and
Beryl Meek, ably assisted by Arthur
Mason, were well rewarded. The 85
people present enjoyed a good dinner,
well served and not marred by boring
speeches.
The Chas Time Trio were terrific.
especially the vocal and comedy efforts
by ‘Chas’ himself, twice receiving the
talented assistance of our own Janet
Lee. Many excellent prizes were won in
party games, spot and other dances.
Pauline Thorpe and her boy friend Tony
Laken being judged the winners of the
Twist Competition.
Towards the end of a wonderful
evening the mystery of the cards marked
‘S.G.B.P.’ which Service Department
personnel, who had helped to organise
the festivities, were given to bring to the
party was revealed by Arthur Mason,
the M.C. Each card-holder was given
one of the Easter Eggs which had been
concealed in some grape barrels-hence
the initials standing for ‘Special Grape
Barrel Prize’!
13
Mr. and Mrs. J. Wright. whose wedding,
reported in our last issue.
ABOVE: Mr. and Mrs. K. C. S. Ambury
BELOW: Mr. and Wr, K smart
WE’RE
PLEASED
TO ANNOUNCE
The Engagement of-
Mr. K. Tyler (XeroX Machine Shop) to
Miss Joy Smith on December 24.
Miss Pamela Jones (Work Study) to
Mr. J. Cooper on March 3.
Miss Patricia Marshall (Dictorel) to Mr
M. Salmon (Planning) on March 23.
Miss Wendy Haile (Mitcheldean’s ‘Miss
Rank’) to Mr. D. McKeron on April 20.
The Wedding of-
Miss Anne Shields (Stores 33) to Mr. C.
Gray at Coleford Church on February
16. Miss Carol Window (Stores) was a
bridesmaid and brother -in -law Mr. V.
Christopher (Service Repair) took an
8 mm. colour film of the wedding.
Mr. F. Wynn (Grinding Section, Machine
Shop) to Miss Diane Head at St.
Stephen’s, Cinderford, on March 16.
Also on March 16, Mr. K. C. S. Ambury
(Service Repair) to Miss June Pardington
at Whitchurch.
Miss Pat Sterry (Assembly Time Office)
to Mr. J. Roberts (Work Study) at the
Forest Church on March 23.
Also on March 23. Mr. L. Wheeler to
I
a
Miss Pat Martin (both of Quality Control)
at St. Stephen’s. Cindcrford.
March 30 was a bumper wedding day.
Married on that Saturday were:
Miss Kathleen Harper (Assembly) to
Mr. G. Evans at the Forest Church:
Miss Josie Knight (Assembly) to Mr. B.
Thomas at Ruardean;
Miss Glenys Howell (Production Control)
to Mr. K. Smart (Press Shop) at
Edge End Chapel:
Miss Jean Norman (secretary to Mr.
P. O’Hare, Service Manager) to Mr. D.
Beard (formerly in Quality Control) at
St. George’s. Brockworth:
Miss Brenda Knight (Plating Shop
Office) to Mr. Bruce Powell (Plant
Engineer’s Office) at Lydney Registry
Office:
Miss Marlene Pensom (Assembly) to
Mr. J. Smith (XeroX Inspection) at
St. Michael’s, Mitcheldean.
The Birth of-
Denise. a daughter for Mr. 1). Dunham
(XeroX Machine Shop), born I ebruary
14.
Graham Paul, a boy for Mr. B. lzatt
(Assembly) and his wife Lilian, who
used to work with us. Graham arrived
on February 20.
David Charles, a son for Mr. G. Gray,
Home Sales, on March 3.
Stephen. a son for Mr. A. Thomas
(Project Engineer. on March 11.
The Coming of Age of-
Mrs. Pauline Sterry (Canteen) on March
11: Mr. Graham Weaver (XeroX Main
Line Assembly) on March 18: and
Mollie Gilkinson (Assembly) on April
23.
LEFT:
Mr. and Mrs. C. Gray.
RIGHT:
Mr. and Mrs. P. Harwood.
whose wedding was reported
in our last issue.
All photographs. except those
top left and bottom right.
were taken by C. BROOKS.
