“THE Rank Organisation has been
responsible more than anything for the
satisfactory employment position in the
Forest,” our Chief Executive Mr. F.
Wickstead told press and TV representatives
who visited our Plant on May 3.
Speaking of the important part played
by the Company in the industrial life of
West Gloucestershire, Mr. Wickstead
gave some facts and figures to illustrate
the rapid growth of the Company and
its sales and export achievements.
“We pay out a wage bill of £30,000 a
week,” he continued, “and this is being
spent directly in West Gloucestershire,
to say nothing of the capital development
here involving millions of pounds.
“It is our intention to continue to
absorb as many of the local people as
possible and we need as much help as
we can get in this connection from the
schools and technical colleges.”
The visitors included representatives
of the BBC, TWW, the Central Office of
Information, the Gloucester Citizen,
Dean Forest Mercury, Ross Gazette,
Western Daily Press and Bristol Evening
Post.
They were taken on a tour of the
Plant and, after lunch, given an opportunity
to ask questions of Mr. Wickstead
and other senior executives. Later in
the day the visit was featured on BBC
television in ‘Points West’.
2
THE
PRESS
AT OUR
PLANT
Mr. C. W.
Hotchen,
Chief
Production
Evecutive,
and Mr. A.
A. J. Willits,
Manager,
Engineering
Services,
demonstrate
the working
of a 2400 for
our visitors.
A. HAMBLIN
r – COVER PICTURE
Evacuation in progress: The task of:
removing themselves from the Admin.!
Block into their new home in Project 19 I
with as little disturbance of work as I
possible presented the Design Engin- I
eering Department with quite a probkm.
However, thanks to the voluntary
efforts of members of the staff with I
Mr. J. Timms and Mr. G. W. Harrison I
directing the campaign, the move was
completed over one weekend with the
minimum of fuss: settled in its new’
home, the Department was virtually
back to normal operation by the I
morning of Monday, May 15.
L.
Protecting our Future
“Njou will have noticed the ‘wind of
1. change’ at this factory in the past
12 months. I doubt if many of you
have in fact noticed the efforts that the
Company is making to protect its own
future and that of its employees.”
Mr. Wickstead, newly-appointed
President of the Mitcheldean Long
Service Association, was addressing
those attending the Fourteenth Annual
Dinner held at the Social Centre on
May 19.
“We have fully realised,” he said,
“that this Company could not possibly
continue to grow at the rate of approximately
50 per cent compound per
annum-and this is what we have done
during the past six years, with tremendous
expenditure on facilities, particularly
in relation to the engineering and
development sections.
“We have not ignored the current
product, but we believe that the stronghold
lies in our ability to develop
product better and faster than our
competitors. And I am sure that those
of you who have looked at Project 19
will agree with me that they have firstrate
facilities there; now it is up to them
to turn out the goods.
“The Company now has something
approaching £65 million worth of copying
machines; it is essential to see that this
equipment is in first-class, up-to-date
working condition, and it is for this
reason that we have established the first
reconditioning centre at Mitcheldean.
“This is another step that the Company
has taken to protect both its own,
and your, future. If the Company
doesn’t succeed, you don’t succeed, and
certainly / wouldn’t succeed as your
`skipper’.
“Yesterday I returned from the
U.S.A., together with Mr. Pratt; there
are tremendous schemes afoot in
America and £15 million is being spent
on research and development. I want
you to know that the deal that Rank
Xerox have with the Xerox Corporation
ensures that we have complete knowledge
of every xerographic product that they
develop.
“With our new facilities for reconditioning
and development I personally
have no fears for the future.
“It is no secret that the 2400 is meeting
with remarkable success. Their production
is being increased to meet the greater
demands-1 hope that our marketing
people will be equally successful.
“I believe we now have one of the
Some of the 25-year award winners buy raffle tickets from Kate Matthews; the proceeds
were used to take a coachload of retired L.S.A. members on an afternoon trip to
Cheddar and Bath on June 21, the cost of transport being met by the Company.
3
strongest marketing forces in business
machines throughout the world, and
you know the calibre of our service
engineers.”
A sad note crept into the proceedings
when Mr. Wickstead said how terribly
sorry we were to hear of the tragic
death of ‘our friend Tom Law’, former
president of the L.S.A. He also remembered
three others-Geoff Hemingway,
Archie Little and Percy Scrivenswhom
we had lost this past year.
The Ladies Join the Club
The Fourteenth Annual Dinner was
particularly notable in that there were
for the first time ladies among those
receiving 25-year awards-Miss L.
Criddle, Miss D. Hewlett, Miss K.
Matthews and Miss M. Osbourne,
together with Mr. H. W. Cowmeadow,
Mr. R. L. Evans, Mr. A. E. Harper,
Mr. R. L. Taylor and Mr. L. R.
Williams.
Welcoming the L.S.A’s 33 new members,
Mr. Wickstead said this brought
the total number of members of the
Association to 186. There were also
33 members among that number with
over 25 years’ service.
Passing on everyone’s best wishes for
their recovery to members who were
unwell, Mr. Wickstead said: “We are
greatly indebted to Doris Barker for
the way in which she has visited the
sick and retired members of the L.S.A.”
Vice-President Mr. R. E. Baker,
proposing the toast of the guests, said:
“We at Mitcheldean are very proud to
welcome here all our visitors. Indeed.
at any time we are very proud of
Mitcheldean and all it stands for and
the terrific effort that has been put in by
a wonderful team at all levels.”
There was a particular welcome for
representatives from the Long Service
Associations at Leeds, Leicester, London
and Perivale, and also from Rank
Bush Murphy of London and Plymouth
who are hoping to start a Long Service
Association of their own.
After dinner members were joined by
their friends and families for a social
evening in the ballroom. There was a very
good cabaret with vocalist. trampolinists
and comedienne, during the course of
which it was discovered that a certain
worker in the Paint Shop has got ‘it’,
whatever le may be!
4
medical memos
ABOUT 250 people acted as blood donors
last April when a transfusion unit visited
our Plant.
NINETEEN people took the examination
held by the St. John Ambulance Association
following a first-aid course held at
our Plant during the winter, and all
passed. Plant employees among the
successful were as follows: D. Boughton
(Machine Shop), Mrs. D. Bullock (914
Assembly Office), A. Cale (Machine
Shop), K. Holder (914 Assembly).
D. Jenkins (Machine Shop), K. Lewis
(Plumbing), N. Little (Carpentry). A.
Meek (Press Shop), E. Paddock (First
Aid), H. Phillips (Tool Inspection),
J. Stephens (813 Assembly Inspection),
F. Tonge (Transport).
THE sum of f25 4s. 5Id. was raised when
a collection was held recently at the
Plant in aid of the Red Cross Society.
Fl RST AID DEPT.
In a letter from a hospital matron
concerning the holding of certain courses
Sister Townroe read, with some puzzlement,
the following statement: “I have a
Sister coming from Mars . You can
see how our cartoonist envisages the
situation!
Items made by
the apprentices,
many of them
award – winning
ones, were exhibited
at the dinner.
PHOTOS: A. HAHOLIN
A
YEAR
OF
ACHIEVEMENT
THE most important social occasion
of the year for apprentices at our
Plant is their Annual Dinner and Presentation,
and the latest one-held at
the Social Centre on Friday. June 2-
was attended by about a hundred personnel
including apprentices, ex-apprentices,
training staff and heads of
departments.
Before the main speech of the evening,
Personnel Manager Mr. F. J. Edwards
took the opportunity to thank the latter
for their collaboration over the past
12 months in the training of apprentices.
This year Mr. F. Wickstead was
unable to take the chair as he had to
attend a board meeting in London, but
a greetings telegram conveying his
regrets was read by Mr. C. W. Hotchen,
Chief Production Executive, who deputised
for him at very short notice.
Mr. Hotchen’s lively speech emphasised
the interest which the Management
took in the apprenticeship scheme.
They were very proud of it, and of the
Julian Shufflebotham receives his
indentures from Mr. C. W. Hotchen. On
the right is Mr. L. Hart. in charge of the
Training School.
apprentices themselves. he said, particularly
this past year %%hich had been
such a notable one from the point of
view of achievements.
There was Robert Turner’s first prize
in the Craftsman Competition held by
the Gloucestershire & South Worcestershire
Productivity Association; Richard
Morgan’s second prize in the West of
England Apprentices Competition;
Michael Read’s award of the Saunders
Valve Company senior trophy for the
best engineering student of the year at
Herefordshire Technical College; and, of
course, the cup for apprentices producing
the best collective record in class work
and examinations which was awarded us
for the fourth successive year by the
West Gloucestershire College of Further
Education.
The Company too had had its share
5
of achievement. Said Mr. Hotchen:
“You have heard of the Engineering
Industry Training Board who have been
going around the country looking at the
facilities provided by various companies
for the training of technicians, engineers,
etc.
“After their first look at us they were
a little guarded in their assessment and
put us down at a certain figure. Having
seen us at work for a year, and having
recently returned to carry out some deep
probing investigations on site, they have
very considerably increased our rebate
from the scheme this year. This we
regard not only as a mark of distinction
but also as confirmation of their satisfaction
with our standards.” (The
E.I.T.B. levy a charge on the payroll of
engineering industries and grant a
rebate to each company related to the
type and quality of training it provides.)
Plans for Expansion
But the Company was not going to
rest on its laurels. **During the coming
year we plan to expand the training
facilities which exist. There is to be a
new lecture theatre in the Maltings
where the Reliability Department staff
were formerly housed, and we are going
to equip a new workshop for basic
electrical training,” announced Mr.
Hotchen.
“For those of you who have not yet
made up your minds what to do, I
would like to pass on a thought.
Electrical work is a lot more imaginative
than mechanical work; it presents a
greater challenge.
“Have a spirit of adventure and go for
a career which handles and controls an
unseen medium-namely, electricityas
well as dealing with purely mechanical
devices. I am sure there are going to be
great opportunities within the Rank
Xerox Company for those engineers who
can combine both.”
Exciting Developments
As far as this Company was concerned,
Mr. Wickstead had recently
returned from the States with a story
of continuing success. There were a
number of varied and exciting developments
afoot. “If you chaps who are
going to be the future foundation of this
organisation have any doubts, let me
dispel them. I believe this Company has
a tremendous future.”
Mr. Hotchen offered the apprentices
three recommendations which he felt
they would do well to consider: integrity,
loyalty and hard work!
“I am sure that among the heads of
departments here who have helped you
in your training, there is not one who
has not come up the hard way. This is
the only way for you to reach the top.”
Mr. Hotchen then presented indentures
to six apprentices who had completed
their training: Robert Davies
‘IEEE
f) Mt LE IlE Itel AS ‘aftl.
10.r LISTEN
Cur T is
4114 THE RicT OF nit -rt
Tfq
6
During the cabaret
`enginears’ Don
Webb and Bob
Randall tackled an
electrical problem
while Jahn Hutchins
provided some mechanical
music!
A. HAMBLIN
A Year of Achievement
continued from page 6.
(Development Laboratory), Danny
Haines (Development Laboratory), John
Hart (T.E.D.). Terry Kavanagh (Design
Department), Chris Parsons (Reliability
Engineering), and Julian Shutilebotham
(Electrical Maintenance Department).
Mr. Hotchen paid a tribute to the
work of all those responsible for the
training of apprentices. and this was
echoed by fifth -year student Robert
Turner, who, as chairman of the Apprentices
Committee, proposed a vote of
thanks.
Bob particularly mentioned his colleagues’
appreciation of the lighter side
of their training-film shows, discussion
groups, works visits and so on, not
forgetting the dinner that evening. He
thanked Mr. R. W. Charles for his hard
work in organising the function, those
who had ensured its success by their
support, and the Canteen for putting
on such a good meal!
Everyone subsequently repaired to
the Ballroom for a social evening, with
cabaret entertainment in which Plant
employees took part.
Sid picks up some
passengers outside
Project 19.
A. HAMBLIN
I like
being a
Minibusman
says
Sid Wood
“nUITE a change, this, from the old
\Z Bell & Howell days, when I used
to drive the ‘wagon’ between Mitcheldean
and Woodger Road.
-1 didn’t know how I would like the
change but as a matter of fact I find it
very interesting.
“My bus will, take I I people plus
myself. Usually I get 55 to 65 passengers
a day but in fine weather the
number tends to drop. They’re mainly
post girls, shop boys and engineering
types.
“I do 18 round trips a day-that’s
three round trips of the site every hourcovering
25 miles altogether. A bit
different from the mileage I used to do!
“The busiest part of the route is
between the Admin. Block and the
2400 and Project 19 buildings.
“1 have a timetable to keep to and
scheduled stopping points.
“Inspectors? Don’t need ’em. My
passengers would soon let me know
about it if I didn’t keep to time.”
7
DESIGN ENGINEERING GETS A NEW IMAGE
,r41.1E new Design Engineering Depart-
” ment has been variously described as
palatial (by a visitor), sophisticated (by an
engineering executive) and lovely to
work in (by a clerk).
Anyone seeing the new offices for the
first time would at any rate agree that
not only has the Department acquired a
fine new home-it has somehow gained
a new image as well, and a most impressive
one.
As Mr. A. A. J. Willitt, Manager,
Engineering Services, said: “Up to the
present time the emphasis has been on
growth; now we have entered a phase
of consolidation with a fine new building,
the right environmental conditions
and the best possible equipment.”
Situated on the first floor of Project 19,
the offices have been designed by our
Advance Planning Department, led by
Mr. J. Henwood, in consultation with
8
Mr. Willitt and in conjunction with the
architects, Preece Payne Partnership.
In so doing, they aimed not only to
provide space for future expansion and
flexibility of arrangement, but also to
give the place a character that would
reflect the forward-looking nature of
the work carried out in the Department.
Entering the building from the car
park, one is immediately impressed by
the clean blue and grey colour scheme
of the stairway. The walls here have
been covered in Tenex, a washable vinyl
paper of linen texture used widely in
the new offices to cover partitions,
pillars and panels.
At the head of the stairs double doors
give on to an attractive reception area.
This is separated from the main Department
by a completely new type of
Tenon aluminium partitioning and by
glass walls, both of which have replaced
I
the conventional walling in the new
premises. A two-tone nylon carpet of
unusual tile design sets the predominant
shade of grey, while touches of orange
on an area of walling and some occasional
chairs provide splashes of colour.
If visitors have to wait, after having
made enquiries at the desk, they can do
so in comfort, ample seating round low
tables being provided for their use.
COLOUR KEYNOTE
To one side are desks occupied by the
procurement engineers. Since by virtue
of their jobs they tend to receive the
majority of visitors from outside firms,
this arrangement reduces traffic through
the main Department.
One’s first impression on entering the
latter is of a particularly light, spacious
office with a pleasing colour scheme of
light grey, lime and dark green, and a
PHOTOS: A HAM131 N
style of layout far more informal than
we have been accustomed to.
It is, in fact, a vast area covering
27,000 square feet, but its size is by no
means obvious owing to the clever siting
of the various sections in functional
groups, with an occasional trough of
vivid green indoor plants that are the
envy of every amateur gardener in the
place!
To the left of the reception area is the
office of the Chief Engineer of Rank
Xerox, Mr. A. S. Pratt, with an adjoining
conference room.
The main area is occupied by groups
of clerks, draughtsmen and engineers,
with the executive offices forming the
centrepiece. This completely reverses
In the picture above the executive offices
are on the left, the reception area on the
right. Opposite page: before the Department
moved in-a vast area of emptiness.
9
Margaret Woodhead copes with callers in this attractive reception area. Here
visitors can wait in comfort or discuss matters without entering the main department,
which can be glimpsed through double glass doors.
the former practice of placing the senior
offices round the perimeter.
The centre offices are of particularly
exciting design. They consist of three
groups of four offices; in each group
there is a pair of offices situated either
side of a central secretarial area, with
one secretary serving each pair.
QUIET OFFICES
The surprising feature of these offices
is that they are largely enclosed by
glass panels and have open doorways.
yet they provide a quite unexpected
measure of privacy. This atmosphere
is enhanced by the lack of general office
noise, an achievement due partly to the
cushioned Dunlop flooring, partly to
the acoustic ceiling, and very much to
the fact that the telephones are transistorised
light-signalling handsets instead
of the usual bell-ringing variety.
An outer office area, separated from
the main area by a waist-high partition,
10
accommodates the second-line management
team.
To the rear of the executive offices.
on the 2400 Department side of the
new building, are the Punch Room, the
Print Room with waiting area and outside
exit, and the Dark Room for
microfilm processing, as well as the
Technical Library and a Conference
Room-all facilities necessary for the
efficient operation of the Department.
The operation of any department is,
however, only as good as its operators,
and much consideration has been given
to the latter’s wellbeing.
Lighting and heating, for instance.
The recessed modular lighting is designed
to give over 120 ft. candles per square
foot-a higher than usual standardindependent
of natural daylight. The
semi-airconditioning system ensures four
complete air changes per hour. The air
is filtered, passed through a heat
exchanger with automatic temperature
r.
The various sections are arranged in
functional groups. Here one looks across
a group of draughtsmen to the refreshment
area in the far corner.
control, and directed downwards through
overhead grilles.
The toilet accommodation is immaculate;
coats are hung on rails in the
working area, but so discreetly camouflaged
by dark green partitioning that
one is unaware of them.
It’s not only Civil Servants who like
their cuppa, and one of the innovations
and delights of the new Design Engineering
Department is the refreshment
area, screened from the main office by
troughs of greenery. Having fetched
their tea or coffee from the adjoining
servery, employees at all levels sit
together at tables and enjoy a few
minutes of relaxation. To borrow a
phrase overheard at coffee-time: “This
is a civilised way of doing it!”
NEW LABORATORIES
Much consideration is currently being
given to the development of new products,
and a spacious area at one end
of the block houses the Design Engineering
Laboratory.
Below, on the ground floor, are further
laboratories – the Development
Laboratory and an extension of the
Reliability Laboratories.
In addition, two special rooms have
been provided. One is for the testing of
electronic equipment specially screened
to prevent radio and TV interference in
the vicinity; the other is for a somewhat
opposite purpose-a room where sensitive
equipment can be tested in soundproof
and interference-free conditions.
RECENT APPOINTMENTS
Mr. C . P. Johnson has joined the Company
as a senior member of the Design
Engineering management team and is
taking charge of one of the current new
projects.
In view of the growth of the Model 2400
project and the magnitude of supervisory
problems involved, it was decided that
Mr. S. Scott required another deputy,
in addition to Mr. R. Zimmermann and
of equal status. Accordingly, as from
May 1, Mr. R. W. Powell transferred
from the 813 Department to take up
this new position.
THE FURNITURE IS ‘MOD’
BEFORE
coming to any decision about
furnishing the suite of executive
offices in the new Design Engineering
Department, we studied a ‘mock-up’ of
the offices and it became pretty obvious
that the use of existing furniture just
would not do.
The Department wanted each office
to contain a desk, a table, four chairs
and a desk-chair, and storage accommodation.
However, as each office measured
10 ft. x 12 ft., standard units of furniture
were not feasible if we were to avoid the
rooms appearing cramped. So we
settled for ‘modular units’ (i.e. sections
bought separately and fixed together as
required). all in sapele mahogany.
Before doing any actual ordering, we
carried out an analysis of the actual
usage of the stipulated items. This
revealed that the desk itself, if extended
to a size of 6 ft. x 3 ft.. could do double
duty as a table.
We also came to the conclusion that
four chairs were not essential-three,
with a couple of spares for each office
provided in the central secretarial area,
amply met requirements.
A look at the contents of the old
Indispensable
Man
(This thought-provoking poem
was quoted by Mr. C. W.
Hotchcn when he spoke at the
recent Apprentices Dinner reported
on page 5.)
12
says Jeremy Henwood of
Advance Planning
offices helped us in the choice of storage
units. We settled for a glass-fronted
book-case, and a closed storage unit for
all the ‘bits and pieces’.
It was then found that, by attaching
the storage unit to the desk, we obtained
almost double the working surface area.
Telephones, etc., could be kept on the
unit which acted as a side table, leaving
the desk clear for spreading out drawings,
or round table conferences.
Sufficient overlap of the desk-top
enabled four chairs to be brought right
up to the desk and allowed their occupants
to use the top of it without knocking
their knees against the sides!
By the way, the chairs, of moulded
plastic in black and orange, were
deliberately introduced into the scheme
to provide colour and counterbalance
the more severe, rigid shapes of the
wooden items.
In case this might appear an extravagance,
we would point out that, firstly,
we had been able to dispense with the
stipulated table and reduce the number
of chairs required and, secondly, the
plastic chairs are in fact far cheaper than
the conventional wooden upholstered
variety.
Some day when you’ve reached great distinction,
Some day when your ego’s in bloom,
Some day when you have the feeling
You’re the most important man in the room
Take a bucket and fill it with water;
Stick your hand in up to the wrist;
Pull it out, and the hole that remains
Is a measure of how much you’ll be missed!
You may splash all you wish when you enter,
Stir the water around galore,
But you’ll find when you finally leave it,
It’s exactly the same as before.
So, as you follow your daily agenda,
Always do the best that you can.
Be proud of yourself-but remember,
There is no Indispensable Man!
photographing the underworld
THE Cinc & Photographic Club took a
look at the underworld recently. Escorted
by members of the Forest of Dean
Caving Club, some keen photographers
went down Old Ham iron mine at
Colcford and were able to take many
interesting photographs. The cavers
assured them that it was an easy descent
but not all the photographers would
agree!
After many years’ service as chairman
of the Cine & Photographic Club.
Arthur Mason (Warehouse) has retired
and Cyril Jamieson (Tool Inspection)
has taken his place. Alec Sproul is now
vice-chairman; Larry Sterrett remains
treasurer and Robin Berks secretary.
Committee members are as follows:
Misses D. Barker and Y. Hart, W.
Gosnell, 1. Griffin, A. Hamblin, J.
Macdonald and S. Trigg.
pin points
IT will be Project Optimists versus
Auto Plating when the final match in
the Interdepartmental Skittles Tournament
is played on Saturday, July 8.
At the semi-finals, Auto Plating beat
the fancied Machine Shop Inspection
team by 27 pins. The Optimists reached
the final for the third time in four years
by beating the past winners, 914
Assembly ‘C’ team, by 11 pins.
All departments who entered this
competition will be welcome in the
Club House on Finals night. Light
refreshments will be available.
Disappointed by the fact that their own
teams were all out by the second round
in the Interdepartmental Tournament,
Design Engineering decided to hold a
smaller tournament of their own, and a
splendid trophy was made for them by
a Lydbrook firm through the good offices
of Jim Jones in Model Shop.
This shield was finally won by
Reliability Engineering who beat the
Model Shop team by 19 pins in the
final match.
fishing again
AFTER a period of inaction, the Angling
Club has been able to obtain permission
to fish in the Northern Brickyard Pool
near Cinderford. The club has also
joined Gloucester United Anglers Association
and, for a subscription of £1
per person, members are entitled to
fish in the many waters controlled by
the association.
At the annual general meeting held in
May, the following were elected officers
of the Angling Club: Chairman: Nigel
Hanman (Standards Room); Secretary:
Jack Williams (Machine Shop); Treasurer:
Roger Roberts (Design).
all out!
SAD to report, it has been found impossible
to organise any cricket section this
year owing to lack of support.
Posing with their new trophy arc the Reliability Engineering team-(standing) P.
Ireland, C. Parsons, N. Griffiths, G. Hartley, D. Haines, A. Hehir, S. Phelps.
J. Llewellyn; (seated) J. Gurney, captain. A.HAMSLIN
PUTTING
IN THE
PICTURE
They’re Engaged
Miss Mary Williams (Print Room) to
Adrian Roberts (Development Laboratory)
on May 13.
Miss Jane Lewis Whitworth (Executive
Dept.) to Paul Knight (Purchase Department)
on May 13.
They’re Married
Miss Jennifer Jenkins (2400 Assembly) to
Trevor Price at Lydney Registry Office
on May 3.
Bernard Gibbs (914 Machine Shop) and
his bride, formerly Miss Gillian Ennis,
sign the register at the Forest Church after
their wedding on March 25.
Silver Weddings
Mrs. Nan Jones (914 Assembly) celebrated
her silver wedding on May 18.
Verdun Jones (Maintenance) and his
wife Phyllis (Canteen) celebrated their
silver wedding anniversary on May 23.
Retirement
Mrs. Louise Gardiner (914 Assembly)
retired on April 27. She joined the
Company five years ago.
They’ve Arrived
Rachel Elizabeth, a daughter for Bob
Hart (T.E.D.), on April 5.
Adrian David, a son for Dave Williams
(T.E.D.), on April 19.
Patrick George, a son for Mrs. Veronika
Belcher (formerly Design D.O.), on
April 20.
Neil, a son for Lesley Osley (Machine
Shop) and his wife Ann (formerly
Design D.O.), on May 5.
Lorraine Claire, a daughter for Edward
Meadows (T.E.D.), on May 9.
Gwynneth Noel, a daughter for Eleanor
Davie (nee Reid), on May 21. As many
will remember, Eleanor, formerly a
junior secretary in the Executive Dept.,
left us about two years ago to go to
South Africa. She worked for some time
in the Cape Town branch of Rank Xerox
and has now made her home in that city.
They’re 21
Miss Diane Turle 1914 Assembly) on
May 9.
Miss Brenda Neal (Reliability Laboratory)
on May 19.
G. S. Hunt
We regret to have to record the sudden
death on May 14 of G. S. Hunt,
transport clerk, Warehouse. Staff, as
he was generally known, was aged
58; he had been with the Company
since February 1959.
C. R. Morman
WE also report with regret the death, on
May 25, of Bob Morman (Warehouse)
at the age of 43 years. A Long Service
member, he joined the Company in
November 1946.
Best Foot
Forward !
Otia next Variety Night sho%%, to be
held at the Social Centre on July 14,
promises to be every bit as successful
as the first effort, particularly since the
organisers will this time have the benefit
of an improved electronic sound system,
new stage backcloth and other
facilities on which the Sports & Social
Club have recently spent some £200.
The programme will follow much the
same pattern as before, but there will be
two completely new items-a pop group
calling themselves ‘The Rank Outsiders’,
and the *Xeroettes’ whose legs arc given
a preview on this page!
The Drama Club also plan to put on
a new one-act comedy entitled ‘Two
Turtles’.
Bass-baritone Edward Chetcuti (Electrical
Maintenance) will be singing for us
again; prize -winner at two South Wales
eisteddfodau, he recently appeared as a
guest soloist in a Cwmbran concert which
featured four leading Welsh male voice
choirs.
Runners to Ross
On learning that there would unfortunately
be no Mitcheldean Carnival
this year, the organisers of our own
14-mile road race quickly got to work
and made arrangements for it to be held
in conjunction %% ith Longhope Fete and
Carnival. Representatives of the AAA
came specially from Bristol to verify
the new course.
-“a
As this issue was being run off the
machines, some 40 well-trained runner.
were going the hard way to Ross and
back though, alas, this year there %% ere
no representatives of our Cowan.
among them!
Apart from the individual monetary
awards, there were three team prizes,
the first team being awarded the Rank
Xerox Challenge Cup to be held for
12 months, with sets of medals for the
second and third teams.
Know Your Representative
If you haven’t already done so, make
a note of your department’s representative
on the Sports & Social Club Committee,
appointed at the recent annual
general meeting: J. C. Benbow (Warehouse),
W. Burgwyn (Admin. Block), V.
Christopher (914 Assemhl r ), D. Fisher
(Design Engineering), H. Fisher (2400
Assembly), P. Jones (Machine Shop), E.
Lark (813 Assembly), D. Parkinson (Tool
Room, Press & Sheet Metal, etc.),
R. Pearce (Training School, Reliability,
etc.), Mrs. J. Smith (Goods Inwards).
HOME MARKET
`Elpico’ 12v. car radio (transistor) for
sale, two months old. LIO o.n.o. Replies
to: K. G. Rea, Design Dept.
Triang Train set for sale, almost new,
comprising about £50 worth of equipment
with over 100 ft. of track. Would
accept £20 for quick sale. Enquiries to:
Mrs. E. Thomas, Print Room.
At the time of going to press, the costumes for the Xeroettes were still shrouded in
mystery, but we can at least let you see a line-up of legs at rehearsal! A. HAMBLIN
15
ANY ANSWERS
AleraimmImeimil
WHOSE husband in Auto l’lating won’t play darts when there is a new moon?
WHO looked for the feathers on a Bombay Duck?
WHICH executive’s secretary, after waiting for some time for a copy to emerge
from her 813 machine, remembered that she hadn’t yet typed it?
WHO in the Canteen has been economising by serving ‘tea’ consisting solely of hot
water?
WHO in Goods Inwards answers the telephone upside down? Is this anything
to do with the fact that he has been to Australia?
WHO in Tool Inspection has raised a shocking pink broccoli and is every bit as
mystified as all the vegetable’s white brothers and sisters?
WHICH time clerk thought that the !caws of a pineapple %%ere to hold it by while
eating the fruit?
WHO in 813 Assembly was seen wandering around at lunchtime with a tin of Top Cat
in her hand?
WHICH middle-aged lady in the Canteen visited her dentist and requested a new
set of dentures guaranteed to make her look more attractive?
WHO in Central Records had her stocking ripped by a blackbird?
WHICH gardeners planted some seed potatoes and then lifted them a few days
later-presumably to see if they were growing or not?
WHO in Design brought his new shoes to work in his briefcase because it was raining?
WHO in 2400 Assembly, when asked by the office for her clock number, gave her
Co-op. membership number instead?
WHO turned down a Cup Final ticket because he had promised to take his wife to a
gymkhana?
WHICH Works Study man was told at the recent blood donors session that they
thought you couldn’t get blood from a stone!’?
WHO in Production Control removed his car from his garage but left his lima Cher.-
to be enjoyed later by his cat?
WHICH tracer, when called ‘rich’, retorted: “I’m quite tall for my age”?
WHO spent all his money on the upstairs decorations and found he couldn’t afford
even a coat of paint downstairs? Will it ever be done?
WHO in 813 Assembly went to Paignton to see Sir Francis Chichester arrive?
WHO in Maintenance put in sticks for his dwarf beans and left his runner beans
without visible means of support?
WHO thought a new air-conditioned office the ideal place for sowing his runner beans.’
WHICH Production Engineer drives round the Forest last thing at night to check that
all the lights are off?
WHO in Advance Production rings Welwyn Garden City on the internal telephone
and ends up speaking to Maintenance?
WHICH two men in 2400 Assembly went to London to attend a football match and
met with misfortune: one completely lost his bearings; the other was set upon by
robbers, lost all his money, and later left his false teeth somewhere on a London
pavement?
WHICH tracer, on announcing she had lost two pounds last week, was asked:
“Does your boyfriend know?” and replied: “Oh no, it’s not where he would
notice!”?
WHICH chargehand in 813 Assembly has a head three sizes too big for his hat?
WHO is ‘Twiggy’ in 914 Department?
WHO in Production Control played musical chairs during the recent computer
course at the Technical College, Cinderford?
WHICH ambulance men had a backside view at a point-to-point meeting?
WHO in T.E.D. has a particular thirst for knowledge?
Printed by the Vector James Press Limited. Couisden. Surrey
