Vision
Nov/Dec 70 No 64 House Magazine of Rank Xerox Mitcheldean Plant
John Hutchins (Supply Planning) who won
first prize of £15 in our ‘Sell a Picture’ competition,
receives his award from Mr Derek Portman,
Deputy Director of Production & Supply
Operations. His winning entry, showing the
famous view from the Rock at Symonds Yat, is
here displayed in the Social Centre and one
can see why Mr Portman congratulated John on
his sense of perspective. John works in almost
any medium and is a talented cartoonist. His next
artistic venture, he tells us, is to be ‘something
psychedelic and controversial’.
The winning picture has been purchased by the
Company and offers have been made for some of
the other entries, with a view to displaying them
in the new Plant offices.
RANK XEROX, CINDERFORD
As you will have seen from the announcement on
the Company notice boards which was
subsequently published and commented upon in
the local press and elsewhere, the Company is
buying, subject to the completion of a satisfactory
contract, the Painter Brothers factory at Cinderford.
By the time this issue of VISION is in your hands,
Rank Xerox should be within a few days of
formally entering into possession of a new
production unit which we are christening
Rank Xerox Cinderford.
Cinderford is to be a feeder factory to Mitcheldean.
Most likely we will be moving our press and sheet
metal shop there, together with part of the
machine shop. Raw materials will be stored at
Cinderford, and our new factory will supply
components to Mitcheldean in a largely finished
condition. We are anxious to minimise the
transportation and movement of part-finished
components and materials between Mitcheldean
and Cinderford.
The space released in the machine shop at
Mitcheldean will be used to house the numerous
new machine tools which are on order for delivery
later this year and in the early months of 1971.
As I mentioned in my last contribution to VISION,
we face the challenge of a substantial increase in
the manufacturing programme in 1971. This
means that we require more production space,
more storage space, and new assembly lines.
Therefore, in addition to purchasing the factory at
Cinderford, we are also taking more space on the
Gloucester Trading Estate to support the assembly
lines at Mitcheldean and to support service to our
machines in the field.
When a factory closes for lack of work, such as is
happening at Painter Brothers at Cinderford at the
moment, there is always an element of human
tragedy involved. Many of the people who find
themselves in this position have devoted many
years of their working lives to an organisation
which now finds that it has to close one of
its facilities.
We at Rank Xerox are, therefore, very pleased that
in the case of Painters we are not only buying the
factory, but also hope to employ a large proportion
2
of those who would otherwise be thrown out of
work by the closing of the factory at Cinderford.
I would like to take this opportunity of welcoming
to the Rank Xerox family all those many people
who have joined us in recent months, not only
from Painters but elsewhere, and who are now
participating in the exciting growth and
development of Rank Xerox at Mitcheldean.
Q. op-
Deputy Director of
Production and Supply Operations
T
Tourist Board President
Mr Wickstead, whose services to the community
are widespread. was recently elected President of
the Wye Valley and Royal Forest of Dean Tourist
Board, in succession to Mr John Watts.
After his election, he said : ‘Although my business
takes me all over the world, I know of nowhere
else where so much natural beauty, variety of
activity, and evidence of historical interest is
concentrated in such a compact area.’
The Tourist Board was formed in 1946 with the
object of promoting the Wye Valley and Forest of
Dean as a single tourist area. The number of
visitors to the area during the next decade is
expected to increase threefold and the Tourist
Board will play a significant role in this
development.
A View to Purchase
‘Surprisingly high standard’, ‘Some of them are up
to National Diploma level’ – these were some of
the comments of the judges of our recent ‘Sell a
Picture’ competition when they viewed the 19
entries displayed in the Social Centre.
All had to feature the Forest of Dean and
surrounding area in some way, and the view at
Symonds Yat, subject of the winning picture (see
front cover), was chief favourite.
Painting is an ideal occupation for those who
have to take things quietly and Neville Barnett,
on the sick list for some time, turned his hobby to
good account by winning the second prize of £10
with his picture of Tintern Abbey, while an
Judging the pictures are (from
the left) Mr Jeremy Henwood,
Facilities Planning Manager
who devised the competition;
Mr Clive Magern of the
Gloucestershire Guild of
Craftsmen; and Mr Eric Rice.
vice-principal of the West
Gloucestershire College of
Further Education.
The Director of Production and Supply Operations 111111111
impressionistic painting entitled ‘Summertime in
Huntley’ won third prize of £5 for Jim Timmis of
Cost Office, Accounts.
No less than seven entries were commended :
‘Symphony in Steel’ -a study of the Severn
Bridge by Ann Osley (Design) ; ‘Log Cabin,
Symonds Yat’ – one of two entries by Tom Meek
(Purchase) ; ‘Yat Rock’ -a second entry by
Neville Barnett; ‘Symonds Yat’ and ‘New Inn,
Gloucester’ – both by Wilf Whatley (Reliability) ;
and ‘Forest Weed’ and ‘Wheels of Industry’ – two
unusual geometrical studies in Lurex and cotton
threads by Keith Gristy (PED) who confessed
that he had to do quite a few sums before
starting on them !
GETTING
THE
MESSAGE
ACROSS
Our ‘hot line to the States’ – that’s how we view
the new Telex facility we acquired in September.
And although messages passed along it are not
exactly smoking on arrival, they get there a great
deal faster, and receive a quicker response, than
ever before.
Until this new link was established messages for
Xerox Corporation were often delayed during peak
hours because trans-Atlantic channels were
engaged and the operator had to keep on dialling
until a line became free.
Now, at any time we wish, we and other Rank
Xerox locations can transmit at full speed (70
words per minute) into magnetic tape stores
housed at Euston Road. The messages are then
selected automatically from these stores in order
of receipt and released at quarter speed to their
destination in the States.
Our Telex girls hard at work in the ‘operations
room’. Pamela Andrews (left) is working on the
Intelnet ‘lease send’ machine, watched by Office
Services Supervisor Ruby Phillips. Senior operator
Madge Jenkins (centre) is transmitting a short
message to Venray while Susan Watkins is in
This has been made possible by the setting up of
an International Communications Network
(Intelnet), following the acquisition of a quarter
share of a trans-Atlantic leased line.
Putting the network into operation required the
collaboration of the GPO, Western Union
International (the cable carriers) and three
associated telephone companies in the USA, not
to mention a lot of hard grind by people in our own
Company and Xerox Corporation.
Intelnet links three Xerox terminals in Rochester
and one in Stamford, Conn., with four Rank Xerox
terminals – two at Rank Xerox House, one at
Welwyn and our own at Mitcheldean. There is
two-way transmission, so while Webster is sorting
out an engineering matter with us, for example,
Euston Road can be contacting Xerox Square in
Rochester.
Our Mitcheldean terminal consists of a ‘lease send’
and a ‘lease receive’ teleprinter, added to the
battery of up-to-date equipment in the new Telex
operations room in Building 23. Here, behind the
door marked ‘No Admittance’, the girls are kept
busy maintaining the flow of messages to and from
other Telex users in this country and abroad.
contact with the Design Department on the
‘private wire’.
‘People at the Plant are becoming more
Telex-minded,’ says Mrs Phillips, ‘but we would
like to see even greater awareness of its usefulness
now that we have these improved services.’
Taking a look at the operations room recently, we
found Pamela Andrews working at the ‘lease send’
machine while senior operator Madge Jenkins
sent a message to Venray on her teleprinter (a
machine like an electric typewriter). Even in these
days of moon walks and other staggering
technological achievements one could still be
impressed by the realisation that, as she typed the
message, a teleprinter at the receiving end was
automatically typing out the words.
Long messages, lists of technical items, etc., are
first converted into punched tape; this is because
tape can be transmitted at full speed without
interruption and so more information can be
condensed into the time paid for.
Tape transmission helps to speed up the direct
link between the Telex room and Engineering
departments -a ‘private wire’ connecting a
teleprinter in the operations room with one in
Design Reception. (Susan Watkins was relaying a
message from Welwyn to PED by means of this
link when we called.)
Close working relationships and quick
communication between engineering personnel are
more than ever necessary today, and Telex is a
particularly useful medium for exchanging technical
data. International Communications Supervisor
Marjorie Jarvis tells us that Mitcheldean and
alw
Ann Jones (seated) and Luciana Marangon at the
Design Reception teleprinter which is linked
direct to a machine in the central Telex room.
Venray have even worked out their own ‘box
number’ system for referring to engineering
documentation so as to shorten messages and
speed things up still further.
One of the great virtues of Telex is that, provided
the machines are left switched on, they will work
night as well as day shifts, without supervision, for
the receipt of messages. This comes in very useful
where the office hours of our contacts do not
coincide with our own. and our Telex girls often
find a roll of messages waiting for them when they
arrive at 8 am.
Talking about being ‘switched on’, our girls have
to be just that. They must be accurate, have a
fair typing speed, and possess plenty of initiative.
They are at the heart of our Telex system at
Mitcheldean and, provided the messages that
reach them are clear, they will keep them
pulsing rapidly on their way.
The first message to be transmitted via Intelnet
from Engineering was addressed to John Smith,
Chief Components Engineer and leader of the
Task Force which went out to Rochester last
summer. Here he is taking a look at the Webster
engineering terminal being operated by Judy
Gates. With him (centre) is E. Everet Minett,
Manager, Adminstration Office of the Senior Vice
President, Research & Development, and (far
right) Bob Kraynak, Manager, Telecommunications,
Business Products Group. (Judy, who is secretary
to Dick McNamara, Manager, Overseas Technical
Co-ordination Services, came to England with
her husband for an October holiday and we were
delighted to meet her when she came to
Mitcheldean for a day. )
Lakeland Adventure
The younger element at Mitcheldean have
certainly lacked no opportunities for adventure,
what with Outward Bound courses, Sail Training
Association cruises and, more recently, Apprentice
Adventure Week.
This latter was one of the Adventure & Citizenship
Courses organised by the diocese of Hereford
as the church’s contribution to industry.
It was through Prebendary John Thursfield of
Ross-on-Wye that last September we came to
send four of our apprentices – Keith Davis,
David Dobbs, Christopher Reid and Michael
Smith – off to a lodge at Brotherswater, between
Windermere and Ullswater, where they were
joined by other apprentices from this area.
As with the other courses, this was designed to
assist in character-training, and the boys’
initiative and powers of physical endurance were
put to the test. Up at 7 a.m. each morning, they
had to start the day with a swim in the lake
followed by a cold shower, before embarking on
their programme of hill climbing, pony trekking,
canoeing and so on.
On one occasion they scaled Helvellyn (3,118 ft),
undeterred by the fact that, during the previous
week’s course, one of the participants had been
blown off course by a 40 mph wind I Apart
from blisters and sore feet, our lads returned
unscathed, feeling considerably encouraged by
what they managed to achieve.
The four apprentices-Christopher Reid, David Dobbs, Keith Davis and
Michael Smith-give their feet a break while discussing their experiences.
Kiosks for your Calls
Four GPO telephone kiosks, of the type used in
Gloucester, are being installed on the Plant site
for the use of employees. One will be situated
outside the Canteen building; a second will be
between Buildings 24 and 29 replacing the
existing coinbox at the main entrance to Building
24) ; a third will replace the present wooden
kiosk outside Building 36: and a fourth will be
positioned at the far end of the road on the west
side of Building 38.
We are not permitted by law to paint them GPO
red and so, to make them readily recognisable,
they will be a cheerful chrome yellow.
Double Distinction
L. E. (Ted) Bennett of Materials Handling section
has gained another distinction in connection with
the Institute of Materials Handling graduateship
course which he took recently at the North
Gloucestershire Technical College. In our last
issue we reported that he had obtained the
John Morris Memorial Award, sponsored by the
British Industrial Truck Association; now we hear
that he has also won a national award – the Silver
Medallion and a cash prize under the Lansing
Bagnall Award Scheme.
6
DOWN
1 The slave’s dream (not necessarily
by Longfellow). (7)
2 Tell-tale slipper. (7)
3 Red bloomer followed by cock?
Rubbish ! (5)
4 Like a mole, he lives in a hole. (7)
5 You have never seen this before.
(5)
6 What a gem of a girl ! (5)
9 A department – full of people,
naturally. (9)
14 Pleasant organ for the prospective
girl-friend. (4 & 3)
15 Little people – could be potted
and eaten ! (7)
16 Rat-like sound from rice
pudding. (7)
19 Shakespeare’s gravedigger –
funny fellow ! (5)
20 Climb on the black steel. (5)
21 A constellation in the major
ionosphere. (5)
ACROSS
7 The transfer fee for the ‘snatched’.
(6)
8 Talk tripe about a batter-cake. (6)
10 Specimen – of a woman after
her diet ? (7)
11 Abrasive radio Dick. (5)
12 Six balls – finished. (4)
13 He comes from Vietnam, as I
anticipated. (5)
A 3
7
10
12
19
22 f
4
2
13
14
7
24
by Paul Gregory
23 L
2
21
15
18
L
17 Throw a dance in the Highlands. (5)
18 Lucky on the horses. (4)
22 Transparently clear and rational. (5)
23 Artificial lug-covers with nippers. (7)
24 The little city sounds entrenched. (6)
25 Fuser blank to do your washing in. (6)
HOME MARKET
For Sale
Glow-worm domestic boiler, good condition, £8.
Replies to Box No. 26.
Bridesmaid’s dress, size 38, in gold ripple satin,
full length, Empire line. Replies to: Lynne Meek,
Data Processing Punch Room. Tel. 275 int. or
Drybrook 369.
Small greenhouse, good condition. Apply:
Mrs Neville, Maintenance, or at 96 Eastern
Avenue, Mitcheldean.
Hardy perennial plants – aubrietia and similar rock
plants. Enquiries to: P. Summers, Design
Department. Tel 516 int.
Solution on page 15
1964 partially converted Ford Thames Dormobile,
only upholstery required, MOT for one year,
bargain at £95 ono. Standard Super 10, good
mechanical and body condition, in daily use,
MOT for one year, offers around £50. Smarten up
your Mini with a black leatherette dashboard
(standard 19s, super 22s 6d). Replies to:
Pete Steward, tel. 468 int.
Garrard four-speed automatic turntable, adaptable
mono or stereo. First offer £10 secures. Apply :
G. T. Beavan, E.O. section. Tel. 460 int.
Piano accordion. Bell make, good condition.
Please contact : Mrs Neville, Maintenance,
Cleaning Dept.
Wanted
Trading stamps and cigarette coupons wanted to
help swell funds for Mitcheldean community
centre. Please send to: W. Harcourt-Davies,
Invoice Clearance Supervisor, Building 23.
Small circular saw to cut up to 11 inches with
rise and fall and tilt. Contact: W. Kerr, Press Shop.
Tel. 175 int.
7
PROGRAMMED FOR PROGRESS
On September 21 last the Small Batch Department,
set up under the management of Small Batch
Facility Manager, Mr Phil Cleal, became fully
operative. Housed in the former Machine Shop on
the ground floor of Building 29, the department is
designed to handle short pre-production runs and
has been equipped throughout with brand new
machines – capstans, centre lathes, milling and
grinding machines – among the best obtainable of
their kind.
Outstanding among these conventional models are
some remarkable machines of advanced design
which are grouped to form a ‘numerical control’
machining centre.
These NC machines are controlled by commands
encoded on punched tape by a sequence of holes
representing letters and numbers; the holes are
then decoded by an electronic tape-reader which
is linked to the machine and converts the
commands into machine tool operations.
A variety of different machining operations can be
performed in any pre-selected sequence so that
the handling of the work-piece through a number
of conventional machines is reduced or eliminated,
and a single punched tape will produce a number
of identical components.
Accurate relative positioning of the work-piece
and tool, tool penetration and regulation of
coolants are among the functions controlled by
this method.
The machining centre at present consists of a
Cintimatic single spindle and a Cintimatic
six-spindle turret model; they are soon to be
joined by a Burgmaster eight-spindle turret model.
Small batch production inevitably requires
personnel with a very high degree of skill and
therefore time-served engineers with a wide
experience of work of this calibre were
specially recruited for the department.
A new location for the Tool Room and the
headquarters of Tool Inspection has been provided
at the opposite end of the building to the Small
Batch offices.
Leslie Humphries examines tape-reader print-out
for a machine programme produced on the
Ultronic tape-printing machine, which is being
operated here by Peggy Matthews. The
programming section. where engineering drawings
are translated into NC programmes, is a completely
self-contained unit located in the Small Batch
office area, providing on-the-spot service.
3
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John Jones prepares a fixture to hold the
component during the machining stages. The
Wharton Stack-Fixture System, seen behind him,
uses accurately machined elements to produce a
build-up, thereby obviating the need for a
permanent fixture and greatly reducing the ‘lead
time’. Individual components are produced to an
accuracy of .0003 inches.
Dick Taylor operating the Cintimatic single spindle
NC machine; if the work were being carried out
on conventional machines it would necessitate ten
separate operations. On the right Bob Turner
conducts a proving run on the programme. Facing
him is the Acramatic 220 console with tape-reader
which governs the operation of the machine and at
the same time controls a multi-tool crib (just
visible in the centre of the picture); as the
programme progresses, the crib lights up to
indicate which tool is to be used for the next
cutting operation.
9
CLUB NEWS
MOVIE MAKERS
Cine Et Photographic Club nights are now being
devoted to the making of another film. Their last
featured children ; this one will have a cast of
adults – members of the club themselves. plus one
dog. Entitled ‘The Independent Operator’, it is
about a man who arranges a showing of his home
movies, with unexpected results. No, we won’t
tell you more – you must come and see the film
when the club hold their own home movie
showing.
An interesting point is that for the first time the
club will be shooting on Fuji Single-8 film. Works
photographer Jack Seal prepared the script and
Dennis Robins (660 Assembly) and Dorine Berks
(wife of club secretary Robin) are playing the
leading parts. All being well, the film will be
entered in the Gloucester inter-club cine film
competition for 1971.
Another story, also written by Jack Seal is being
kept in reserve for next year’s filming ; with a more
ambitious theme, it is called ‘First Impressions are
not always so dangerous’ and will involve the
co-operation of local police. The club hope to
tackle this next year, for entry in the inter-club
competition for 1972, when they expect to be host
club. Margaret Winch (Mr J. Hankin’s secretary)
has already been approached to play leading lady.
Members were told about the plans and asked for
their support during the evening of October 14 –
President’s Night. The President himself was away
in the States but the club was delighted to
welcome Mrs Wickstead and young Malcolm.
The programme included a film of a reciprocal
visit made by Venray Rotarians to the Forest last
w
PROMOTION FOR SKITTLERS
The club entered their ‘B’ team, captained by
Dennis Williams, in the Forest of Dean summer
league and won division three, thus earning
promotion to the second division. They have now
entered both ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, captained by
John George and Dennis Williams respectively, in
the first division of the Ross league.
Chairman of the club is Des Haines, with Dennis
Cook as secretary and Richard Cooke as treasurer.
10
June; taken on Mr Wickstead’s behalf by
Jack Seal and his wife Vida, it gave a pictorial
account of the visitors’ tour of Forest beauty spots
and places of interest – including our Plant. Films
taken by Mr Wickstead on his last visit to Japan
and during his holiday tour of Europe were also
shown and the programme concluded with a few
of the ever-popular ‘oldies’.
SPECTACULAR SHOW
A fresh look is planned for future Variety Club
shows. The aim is to put on a completely new
‘spectacular’ early in the New Year in the Social
Centre with surprise items on the programme.
Supplying some of the surprise will be a group of
artists from Denham – paying a reciprocal visit
following the Variety Club’s show there in June
this year.
The club hope to put on two shows a year in the
Plant and two outside, all in aid of charity, and
they are eager to hear from anyone who could
make a contribution to the display of talent. Would
possible performers please contact either John Earl
(Supply Planning) or Andy Hardy (Centralised
Stores) who were appointed joint chairmen at the
recent annual general meeting.
Other officers are Ruby Beddis, who remains
secretary, Jean Evans, treasurer and Tony
Austin-Bailey, stage manager; on the committee
are Daisy Bullock, Sadie Pritchard, Jack Benbow
(representing Gloucester) and Ted Chetcuti, with
Graham Beavan representing the Showband. The
latter, incidentally, will be playing for our Annual
Dance cn November 20.
GOOD SHOT
After a good season in 1969/70, finishing second
in the Lydney Er District League, the Rank Xerox
team have now embarked on the new season with
hopes of achieving an even better position.
Anyone wishing to have a game will find the
players in the Club House at lunchtime – or they
can contact Andrew Davis (Accounts Department)
or Bob Toomer (Model Shop).
LETTER
Mrs Dora Griffiths of 3600 Quality Control left us
at the end of September after 28 years’ service: a
cheque was forwarded to her by the LSA and we
wish her all the best for the future.
At the time of writing, Mrs May Stidder and
retired member Albert Wing were in hospital : we
wish them both a speedy recovery.
Mrs Lilian Bevan (wirer and tester in Heat
Treatment) left at the end of August after some
16 years with the Company. The LSA gave her a
TV chair while her colleagues at the Plant gave
her a cheque and a dress ring, here being presented
to her by Mr Roy Nicholls, Heat Treatment
Supervisor.
Patient Bird
A very young casualty was brought into the
Medical Department recently, having been found
in a collapsed condition. Oxygen administered via
some fine tubing soon had the youngster hopping
about, while a spot of brandy taken from a
hypodermic syringe made him positively chirpy.
A meal of worms was kindly brought in by one of
the chaps (he drew the line at chopping them up
though) and all anxiety about the patient’s
condition was allayed.
He spent a comfortable night but by morning had
to be given another whiff of oxygen (Sister
Collins began to wonder if he wasn’t perhaps
becoming addicted to it).
Alas, half-an-hour later the baby starling gave a
flutter of his little wings and flew from this world.
A final resting-place was found for him beneath a
young fir tree (no flowers by request but donations
to the British Society for the Protection of Birds).
The first aid classes held earlier this year at our
Plant resulted once again in 100 per cent success
when the participants took their examinations,
either for first or re-examination certificates.
Awards were presented by Sister Collins at a
social evening held in the Club House last October
(when our picture was taken), and those from
our Plant receiving certificates were as follows:
Daisy Rtil!ncl, Tony ralP Cyril Charnley, Elaine
Cruickshank, Eric Hawkins, Frederick Hendy,
June Kidd, Ronald Lewis, Alfred Miller, Ernest
Paddock, Henry Phillips, Michael Sherborne, John
Stephens, Peter Symonds. The classes were also
attended by employees of Painter Bros. of
Cinderford, and by boys from the Blaisdon
Salesian School who were taking the exam under
the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.
11
Getting
Ready for
D Day
By the time D (Decimal) Day arrives on February 15,
1971, it looks as if more words will have been
written about decimalisation than there will be
new pence.
The Decimal Currency Board, with whom our
Company has been collaborating, is planning an
intensive ‘crash course’ for the people of Britain,
to commence a few weeks before D Day.
But as a company we have been making our
preparations well in advance – the Rank
Organisation was in fact among the first in this
country to be aware of the implications and to
study the matter.
Here at Mitcheldean, said Mr Jack Woods, Plant
Accountant, it is in the field of internal accounting
that we are chiefly affected. Two and a half years
ago Accounts Department did a survey of all
accounting machines and for the last two years
only decimal or convertible adding machines have
been bought.
Eighteen months ago 50 internal accountancy and
costing programmes were converted by Data
Processing.
Then earlier this year a steering committee was set
up, consisting of Reg Malsom (Accounts),
Les McNealey (0 M), Tony Palmer (Data
Processing) and Keith Laken (Education Et
Training). Their brief was to pinpoint the areas
likely to be affected by the changeover, and to
advise what steps should be taken so that it could
be completed with the minimum of disturbance.
Staff training is of course a key area, and the
committee began by attending an internal
decimalisation course arranged by Commercial
Training Officer Keith Laken who himself attended
an earlier Rank Organisation course.
A pilot course for eight people of supervisory level
was held in October; this was a two-day package
course, and modules from will be selected to suit
the requirements of those chosen to attend the full
educational course to be held in December/
January – about the same time that the DCB are
implementing their publicity campaign.
Incidentally, two Canteen representatives were
invited along to test the efficacy of the pilot
course-the Canteen company have their own
training programme for their staff. (As far as the
club bar is concerned, Cyril Beard has reassured us
that when prices are converted no one is going to
get stung !)
In the realm of Data Processing, the conversion of
those 35 programmes governing systems which
cannot be changed until D Day – such as the
payroll and suppliers’ accounts- is now being
completed. There will be a test run of
programmes in December, and programme problem
solving will take place in January, so that all is set
to become fully operational by D Day. The fact
that the changeover will coincide with the
installation of a new type of computer has brought
added problems to the task !
Change of documentation is also expected to be
completed by this November. A review of several
hundred forms had to be carried out early this year
by 0 Ft M Department in order to discover which
of them would require modification,
New stationery is being supplied in dual form so
that it can be used for both £sd and Ep ; the
changeover period, starting D Day, will last up to
18 months and during that time both old shillings
and pennies and new pence will be circulating
side by side. The DCB, however, believe that
within a matter of weeks after D Day as much as
three-quarters of Britain’s business may be
conducted in decimals.
As far as the payroll is concerned, hourly rates are
already worked out to four places of decimals
while salaries are completely convertible; amounts
are always ’rounded up’ and conversion is not
expected to present any problems.
It is, generally speaking, the cash handlers who are
going to ‘feel the change.’ The bronze coins of
2p, 1 p and the new half-penny (which are not
legal tender until D Day) may cause a few
headaches – literally ! As far as cashiering
functions are concerned we will, as from
February 15, be a ‘decimal shop’, and Cashier
Marion Cornwall is finding their glittering,
new-minted appearance hard on the eyes!
Mr Woods obtained a supply of these coins from
the Mint for training purposes some time ago and,
as the minimum amount obtainable was £60, we
shared our supply with Rank Xerox House,
Welwyn and Denham.
Let us hope that, long before the bright new
pence have had time to acquire a grubby veneer,
we shall have forgotten what all the bother was
about and have grown to appreciate the change
from a complicated money system to a simpler,
more efficient one that brings us into line with the
practice of most other countries.
Super
Secretary
Course
The days are getting shorter and the skirts are
getting longer – although the new lengths are
getting off to a slow start at Mitcheldean. One of
the first maxis is reported to have appeared on a
young lady attending the secretarial course
implemented in September.
The first such course we have arranged, it is
basically for newcomers to the Plant, and is
designed for girls with a specific educational
background who have done a year’s secretarial
course at college.
Initially the girls spent two weeks in the Training
Centre where, apart from polishing up their
English and shorthand/typing, they learned about
our organisational set-up and were taken on a
tour of the Plant. They studied information
retrieval systems, telephone and Telex techniques,
and post room and stationery systems, visiting the
relevant departments to see the systems in action.
They also had 720 and 660 key operator courses.
But girls who aim to be ‘super secretaries’ need to
be more than skilled and efficient at their job.
Self-confidence is a valuable attribute, and to
help promote this the girls took part in discussions
and each had to give a ten-minute presentation
on a chosen subject.
Appearance, poise and personality are all
important and with this in mind a tutor from
Gloucester was brought along to groom the girls,
advising them on hair styles, clothes and
deportment – including, of course, how to cope
gracefully with a mini, midi or maxi.
Following the initial course, the girls are being
given departmental training for 36 weeks, taking
in six departments. During this time they will be
given day release to college in Cinderford to
improve further their English and secretarial skills;
they will also act as holiday reliefs for existing
secretaries which will give them useful on-the-job
experience.
In addition, they will do a half-day session in the
Training Centre at fortnightly intervals, becoming
familiarised with our Plant procedures and systems,
documentation, etc. And at the end of the year’s
course they will take the more advanced RSA and
Pitman examinations.
Not a maxi in the Mail Room when the girls on the
course called to see the mail and stationery
systems in operation. Here Mary Goode is telling
them about the courier mailing bags (see right
hand corner) in which mail for Rank Xerox House.
Denham and Welwyn is sealed for delivery. Far
right is Office Services Supervisor Ruby Phillips
who gave the girls a talk on mail and stationery
procedures in the Training Centre before their
visit to the Mail Room.
12 13
Joy Ma Shirley Co,
Here’s our picture parade of 19 candidates for
the title of Miss Rank Xerox, Mitcheldean, for
1970/71. You can see them again in person when
they parade before the judges at the Annual Dance
being held in the Social Centre on Friday,
November 20. As before, a prize of £10 will go to
the winner, with second and third prizes of £5
and £2 10s. respectively.
Christine Farr Jill Marshall
7
WHO
WILL
WEAR
THE
CROWN
And the Management
are pretty sure to come
up with a surprise prize
for the lucky girl voted
queen of the Plant.
rdilicia Milner Sheila Kerr
Unhappy Exchange
The use of Telex does not always mean a
satisfactory reply to an enquiry, but it does help
to avoid expensive and abortive telephone
conversations, as illustrated by the following
exchange which took place recently between
Terry Bradon, Assistant Buyer in Purchase
Department, and a Paris supplier :
14
(Bradon to Delahaye) We have not yet received
the delivery of 109.S.90038 with black ratchets
which you promised before your last visit. Please
confirm when first consignment will arrive at
Mitcheldean. Letter follows.
M. Delahaye is on holidays.
(Our Telex operator, intervening to save time)
Many thanks for notifying. Please pass MSG to
his secretary or second in command.
His secretary is on holidays.
Please pass to his office or anyone concerned
with this particular MSG. I will notify Mr Bradon.
Thank you for your help and consideration.
There is nobody here.
OK thanks. Please cancel. (It transpired that
practically the whole firm had closed down for
the annual month’s holiday. as is the custom in
some Continental countries !)
Sandra Worgan Lorraine Burke
Sandra Davies
Margaret Clements
Maureen Freeman,
Elvira Stembridge
Mr Frank Whinyates
On September 1 Mr Frank Whinyates took up his
appointment as Production Manager (not
Production Manager, Component Manufacturing,
as stated in the last issue of VISION), reporting
directly to Works Manager Mr D. R. Elliott, to
whom he is responsible for all production
departments, not just component areas.
Mr Whinyates’ previous appointment at T. Wall Er
Sons (Ice Cream) Ltd.. Gloucester, was as Work
Study Manager (Sales Et Distribution).
C Day next June
Our feature about carnival days in the last issue
may have aroused nostalgic thoughts among
readers. If so. they will be pleased to know that
on June 19. 1971, Mitcheldean will once again
have its own carnival. Our Sports Et Social Club
are represented on the 18-strong committee
by Mr Ray Davies.
Sheila Broui:c
-)’usan Jones
Ruth Sleeman
sA.
Heather Manns
Sandra Crowden
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
DOWN: 1 – Freedom. 2 – Sneaker. 3 – Poppy.
4 – Caveman. 5 – After. 6 – Beryl.
9 – Personnel. 14 – Glad eye. 15 – Shrimps.
16 – Dessert. 19 – Clown. 20 – Scale.
21 – Orion.
ACROSS: 7 – Ransom. 8 – Waffle.
10 – Example. 11 – Emery. 12 – Over.
13 – Asian. 17 – Fling. 18 – Shoe.
22 – Lucid. 23 – Earwigs. 24 – Welwyn.
25 – Copper.
ANY NEWS FOR VISION ?
If you have, then please
tell your departmental correspondent
leave it at the Gate House for coilection by me
post it to me at Tree Tops, Plump Hill,
Mitcheldean or
ring me – it’s Drybrook 415
Myrtle Fowler, Editor
15
Putting 1YOUlin the picture
New Arrivals
Nicola, a daughter for Glyn Ruck (Machine Shop)
and his wife Elizabeth (formerly Purchase), in
August.
Louise, a daughter for Mrs Eileen Falwasser
(formerly Purchase), in August.
Shane Alan. a son for Mrs. Jean Ruck (formerly
Data Processing Punch Room), on August 17.
Karen Tracey, a daughter for Dave Morris
(Accounts), on August 22.
Beverley Elizabeth, a daughter for Roland Pars low
(time clerk), on September 1.
Paul Derek, a son for Mrs. Rosemary Tippins
(formerly Design DO), on September 13.
Rebecca Jane, a daughter for Paul Knight
(Purchase) and his wife Jane (formerly secretary
to Mr J. Henwood, Facilities Planning), on
September 28.
Helen Louise, a daughter for Bernard Morris
(Personnel), on October 7th.
Engagements
Tony Wood (Machine Shop) to Miss Margaret
Ravenhill on September 5.
Miss Margaret Stevens (Purchase) to David Drew
on September 15.
Miss Sandra Miles (Reconditioning) to Alan
Dutton (Factory Progress) on October 1.
Miss Jean Evans (Supply Planning) to Boyd Cox
on October 17.
J. Ingram
Weddings
Peter Waugh (Maintenance) to Miss Audrey
Gunter at St Peter’s Church, Clearwell, on
July 18.
Miss Margaret Tingle (Supply Planning) to
Philip Rimmer at Gloucester Register Office on
July 25.
Gareth Evans (Supply Planning) to Miss Elizabeth
Osmond at All Saints Church, Newland, on
August 22.
Robert Hook (Purchase Dept) to Miss Jennifer
Hine at Emmanuel Church, Cheltenham, on
August 29.
Tim Collier (Press Shop) to Miss Joyce Davies at
Bream Church on August 31.
Miss Anne Hynnes to Ronnie Phillips (both time
clerks) at St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye, and
Miss Linda Moseley (Data Processing Punch
Room) to John Fern at St John’s Church,
Coleford, both on September 5.
Terry Bradon (Purchase) to Miss Tessa Parry at
St Luke’s Church, Thurnby, Leics., on
September 6.
Bryan Nelmes (Design DO) to Miss Sylvia Kiely
at Our Lady of Victories Church, Cinderford, on
September 19.
Larry Sterrett (PED) to Miss Jill Howard at
St John’s Church, Coleford, and Miss Sally Tinton
(Design DO) to Terry Kavanagh at St John the
Baptist, Lea, both on September 26.
Miss Kay Robbins (Spares Assembly) to John
Short (Reliability Engineering) at St Mary’s
Church, Ross-on-Wye, on October 3.
Miss Josie Yemm (Spares Assembly) to
David Kidd at St Michael’s & All Angels Church.
Mitcheldean, on October 10.
1 Mr and Mrs P. Waugh 4 Mr and Mrs L. Sterrett
2 Mr and Mrs R. Hook 5 Mr and Mrs T. Kavanagh
3 Mr and Mrs J Fern 6 Mr and Mrs J. Short
A. Hamblin
Printed in England by Taylor. Young (Printers) Ltd.
