Return to 1970-1974

Vision 065

Vision
Jan/Feb 71 No 65 House Magazine of Rank Xerox Mitcheldean Plant
The Christmas party arranged for children of
employees by the Sports & Social Club on
December 12 gets the ‘thumbs up’ sign from in
expert. Most of the others can’t take their eyes
off the stage (our picture on page 12 shows why).
The party followed the usual pattern of films, food
and fun, but the ‘fun’ part was different this year.
it was provided by Winship’s Miniature Circus.
There was a great reception too for Father
Christmas when, sleighbells drowned by decibels,
he arrived to dole out presents to the boys and
girls, with the aid of some hard-working
assistants. Thanks from the club go to all those
who helped to make sure the crowd of over 600
had a good time.
THE NEW INTERNATIONAL FIRST FLOOR TRANSFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
The end of 1970 saw the start of yet another
major building project at Mitcheldean.
Work started on the new International Distribution
Centre during the second week in November.
With a covered area of 350,000 square feet, it will
be by far the largest building on the site to date.
Just how big and complex the new IDC will be is
explained in the article on page 8.
The need for a new IDC is paramount. During
the next four years, our warehousing requirement
will double. Even if all the buildings at present
leased on the Gloucester Trading Estate were
converted to warehouses, they would not provide
enough space. Furthermore, the leases on these
premises are due for renewal in June 1972 and,
if renewed, would have to run for a period of
seventeen years. In any case, the buildings at
Gloucester are the wrong shape and too low for
us to improve significantly our methods of
handling.
Clearly, a new IDC building, designed specifically
for Rank Xerox activities, is essential in order that
we can have both the flexibility and the advantage
of latest handling techniques to cope efficiently
with the steep rise in workload expected during
the next four years.
The national bill for induprial fire damage has
been rising rapidly over the last few years, and
insurance companies are becoming increasingly
concerned about the suitability of buildings to be
used as warehouses. The new IDC will incorporate
up-to-date devices to enable us to meet the most
stringent fire insurance requirements.
The decision to establish the new IDC at
Mitcheldean followed an intensive and careful
investigation. A survey was carried out into the
practical alternatives. These included sites near
docks, airports, and at strategic points on the
British motorway network. The costs and the
advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives
were evaluated.
The analysis showed that there are many
advantages in having a new IDC at Mitcheldean,
not the least of which is the fact that our team
at the Gloucester IDC has built up great expertise
in progressing both the machines and the
considerable amount of paperwork necessary
when so large a proportion of the output is being
exported. It was not just a question of mone
The human factor came into the an
2
lysis.
This new development provides further tangible
evidence of the Company’s determination to
expand, and to use modern techniques and
equipment in order to compete effectively in all
the Rank Xerox markets throughout the world. It
endorses Mitcheldean’s position as the hub of the
Rank Xerox Production and Supply Operations,
and increases even more the Company’s
commitment to the Forest of Dean and to the
future prosperity of the area.
The new IDC is indeed a significant milestone in
the history of Mitcheldean. We have a great
future here, and can enter 1971 with confidence.
I wish you all a prosperous and happy New Year.
OgsA-r,'”–
Deputy Director of
Production and Supply Operations
It’s the season for transformation scenes – and
Facilities Planning have stage managed a very
effective one on the first floor of Administration
Building 23.
The floor is now mainly shared by Purchase and
Accounts departments. Each has the same open
plan layout, with deep green carpet tiles from
wall to wall, and further touches of colour
provided by occasional screens, troughs of
plants and orange drapery round the pillars.
The Purchase Department picture (top) looks
across the main area to the corner office of
Mr W. Beech, Chief Buyer ; the general view of
Accounts, taken from near the office of Mr K. J.
Taylor, Works Accountant, shows in the far left
hand corner the glassed-in offices of management
accountants and internal audit, with the
comptometer and typing sections to the right.
3
COMPUTER CHANGE-OVER
Jack Bonney, Data Processing Manager,
explains all about it
Early this January a new computer is being
installed at Mitcheldean. Its name – G.E.425 –
may not be impressive, but it will be powerful
enough to replace the two Honeywell machines
currently operating in the Mitcheldean Plant and
to take on additional work both for Mitcheldean
and Welwyn.
The two present machines have given good
service and. between them, run for some 700
hours each month working day and night. A
wide variety of tasks, some very complex, some
straightforward, are performed, including the
control of current and future machine build design
specifications, parts requirements planning and
scheduling, stock records, machine shop
scheduling, payroll preparation and analysis.
collection of union subscriptions, costing, and
preparation of parts issue schedules for the
assembly shops.
If the equipment at present on rental can handle
these important aspects of factory control, you
may ask why a new machine is required.
The need is a dual one. With increasing volumes
of data and a wider range of products envisaged,
the present installation will soon be unable to
cope.
Furthermore, the present computers are magnetic
tape based machines and limit the capability of
integrating our systems. This means that each
system has its own master files and much
information, being common to several systems,
is held more than once, with the possibility of
error due to the frequent changes in a busy plant.
The file holding design specifications of machine
structures contains over 100,000 records and is
brought up to date with changes each day, and
this is only one of several such master files.
The new G.E. computer is to be a magnetic disc
machine and was chosen because this type of
storage device – coupled with a special computer
language, known as Integrated Data Store –
will enable all master information to be held in
one common data bank instead of the separate
tape files now employed. This means any piece
of information is held once only, no matter how
many jobs may need to refer to it. The advantage
is obvious: time in updating files is saved and
accuracy is improved since all systems use the
same file.
It must also be obvious that the need for accurate
basic data being fed to the computer to create
this data bank is now more important than ever.
In other words, no matter how powerful the
computer, the power of the lead pencil must
never be under-estimated.
The use of a data bank as intended will call for
a complete review and revision of all systems
and the design of new ones to provide a wider
service. This will take many months and will
progress step by step. Even then, the successful
design and implementation of systems will only
be made possible by the co-operation and
participation of the user departments at all stages.
This involvement of people as well as a machine
cannot be over-emphasised.
Today, when a computer is installed, there is
often a loud call for ‘Management Information’.
Too rarely is there a similar call for ‘Information
Management’. Only the right degree of teamwork
between man and machine will provide both.
4
Mr V I. Zharov and
Mr Molotkov of the
USSR Trade Delegatiol,
talking to Barrie Izatt of
3600 Assembly with the
aid of Rank Xerox
interpreter Miss
Kziezopolska. They were
accompanied by Mr
Gordon Planner, General
Manager, East European
Operations, and shown
round our Plant by Mr
Vic Parry and Mr John
Hankin.
Spotlight
On Courses
The attentive audience waited expectantly as the
spotlights were trained on the new model about
to be introduced. But the organisers were not,
on this occasion. after orders – they were
seeking enthusiastic support from a gathering of
the very people who will be involved in making
the Rank Xerox 4000.
This presentation of the product – the first of its
kind at our plant – was all part of a comprehensive
pre-production induction course on which the
Education and Training Department recently
embarked.
The two-week course covered all facets of the
launching of a new model and, by means of talks,
films and demonstrations, participants were made
familiar not only with the assembly work involved
but also with the way in which the work of other
departments – Supply Planning. Quality Control,
PED, Work Study – was interfaced with actual
assembly.
A talk by Mr Mike Jukes, Manager, Competitive
Intelligence from Rank Xerox House, aimed at
making the participants alive to the competition
already existing in the market, while Mr Bob
Rosdahl of Xerox Corporation familiarised them
with the assembly of the 4000 in the USA by
means of films, slides and practical work.
Associated with this induction course was a
week’s supervisory course on instructional
techniques, and a long-term supervisory training
course for potential supervisors to replace those
transferring to the 4000 department.
The courses followed a presentation given in
November to acquaint Mr Horace Becker,
Vice-president, Xerox Corporation Research
Laboratories Division, with progress at the plant
concerning the 4000 and this was repeated later
for managers of all departments.
Training has become an important aspect of life
at the Plant today. A whole programme of
courses, some short-, some long-term, is now
gathering momentum. The motive is not simply
to inform and instruct : it is to help the individual
develop his potential and to create a feeling of
total involvement.
One new departure has been the provision of an
‘Introduction to Management’ course organised
specially for us by the West Gloucestershire
College of Further Education: this is intended to
introduce the graduate, as a recent entrant to
industry, to the responsibilities and skills of
management and at the same time give a clearer
concept of the total management function to
those who already have some supervisory
experience.
November saw the start of another innovation –
an evening course on ‘Factors in Physical
Distribution’, run by and for the staff of the
International Distribution Centre. Held once a
fortnight at the Spread Eagle Hotel, Gloucester,
it consists of two-hour lectures on air, land and
sea transport, insurance, banking, Customs
procedure, legal aspects of contract and sale of
goods, budgetary control, and warehouse layouts
and equipment, given by specialists in their field.
The 4000 machine, flown over from the States, was
introduced by Mr John Dennis, Assistant Design
Manager (Business Products) – that’s him facing
the camera. And of course everyone wanted to
get on closer terms with the model afterwards
Another important visitor to our plant towards the
end of 1970 was Mr C. H. Baylis, Controller of
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, our biggest single
customer. He was accompanied to Mitcheldean
by Mr Arthur Hughes, General Manager of our
UK Company. Here Mr Baylis (left) is seen in
the Machine Shop with Mr David Willday,
Assistant Production Manager (Manufacturing)
5
ROUND BRITAIN WHIZ
He could have had a good holiday abroad. eating
exotic food, sleeping in a comfortable bed and
relaxing in warm sunshine But Stuart is a rally
.enthusiast
Having come second in the Welsh Rally
Championships two years ago, I and my driver
Bob Bennett felt encouraged to have a shot at
this year’s RAC Round Britain Rally held in
November.
The route covered 2,300 miles, 400 of which
were divided into 80 special stages for which a
target time was set, and most of these stages
were Forestry Commission roads, unsurfaced and
single track.
Bob providing the first essential – the car, a
Ford Escort – the next was a service crew, and
we managed to talk Design engineer Vernon
‘Hammer’ Brookes and draughtsman Alec
‘Fantastic’ Davies into coming along. Car
preparation started about three weeks before the
event and was finished on the day before – how
about that for advanced planning !
The start was at an hotel situated at the end of
one of London Airport’s main runways; it was
very cold, wet and noisy with jumbo jets taking
off every four minutes, and we were all rather
overwhelmed by the might of the ‘works’ entries.
Then it was our start time, and we moved on to
the ramp to be flagged away by a very wet Miss
United Kingdom. The first special stage was not
until about 100 miles north of London and the
intention was that the service car, crammed with
food and car spares, should follow us to it. But
the Saturday traffic came between us and when
we pulled off the Al to have a meal, the service
crew missed us and were waiting, cold and
hungry, when we eventually met up with them.
Our progress at first was quite uneventful and
our crew got very efficient arriving at the end of
each stage to see that all was well ; there was
even time for Vern to turn chef and cook up
baked beans and lumpy chicken soup in the car
park of an hotel.
The first night spent in the car (we took turns to
drive) was very chilly and we all agreed that the
east coast of Yorkshire was the coldest place on
earth. Sunday morning saw us in Scotland with
ice and snow on the higher ground and here we
had our first bit of trouble: the head gasket
started to leak and we decided to replace it at the
midday main control.
On a twin cam Escort this is quite a job but the
service crew were ready for us. At times there
must have been five people under the bonnet but
after about an hour and a quarter, a lot of burnt
6
by Stuart Harrold/Design Engineer
fingers and some fine old Forest language, the
job was done and we were on our way again.
Around the Perth area the stages were covered in
snow and very, very slippery, the ground dropping
steeply away from the edges of most roads. We
survived the second night and the weather
changed once again to heavy rain, but cleared up
for the breakfast stop in Dumfries, which gave us
all a chance to dry out.
On Monday we headed south to the Lake
District and spent the time admiring the views
from stage roads that were about 800 feet up with
sheer drops at the edge. We kept the service crew
busy as they had to change a dynamo and keep
on adjusting the back brakes which were giving
us a lot of trouble.
The route then went to Blackpool for the only
night’s rest. In our opinion Blackpool is not the
place to go in mid-November, but anyway we
were all too tired to spend a night out on the
town.
Off again next morning we were heading for
Wales and home ground. The day kept fine but
once it started to get dark, down came the rain
and it kept on all night. At the main control at
Machynlleth our service crew got soaked right
through in a very few minutes and one of them
came up with the bright remark ‘It ain’t arf
raining !’ We were glad when morning came and
with it local Forest of Dean stages.
On the Speech House stage we had the
misfortune to hit a log which badly knocked the
steering out of track ; but we called in at Watts
garage at Lydney, a hoard of mechanics descended
on the car and in no time we were on our way
again.
Breakfast was at the Severn Bridge service area
and then it was off to North Devon for the last
stages. On the third from last, trouble struck –
we lost bottom gear. The next stage was
approached by steep hills and, because of the
number of spectators around, we had to end up
reversing to the stage in the stop-start traffic !
All this took well over an hour and then, on the
stage itself, one cylinder on the engine went on
strike.
We arrived at the stage finish with no bottom
gear, three cylinders, and three hours in which to
cover the 100 miles to the finish. As if that
weren’t enough, we had to cross Salisbury Plain
and attempt another stage, it was getting dark and
had started to rain again.
We set off and eventually reached the last stage
near London. Owing to the heavy rain this was
flooded and had been cancelled so we made our
way direct to the finish at London Airport and
mounted the finishing ramp with just ten minutes
to spare. We parked the car and with the service
crew made straight for the bar to celebrate.
Well no – we weren’t actually first. Some fellow
called Harry Kallstrom driving a Lancia won. But
we came 44th out of 67 finishers. Not bad really,
considering that 128 of the starters never made it
at all !
That be la-an:a-awn:. Vert,
‘Shadup ‘n kip thee ‘and on him – l be gwall,
a it ‘n agyunf
Cartoon by Lionel Fisher
ACROSS
7 A foundation that never comes
off ? (4-2)
8 Et 5 Down : Mother of Prince
Charming. (6 Er 5)
10 Intricate kind of inferiority
(or superiority). (7)
11 You can go now. (5)
12 Once the Paradise of Downing
Street. (4)
13 Get the measure of the Parisenne
femme tits bonne! (5)
17 Pansy’s little sister. (5)
18 A pure mistake in Spanish
America. (4)
22 A little 23 across which helps
to ease friction. (5)
23 An opportunity for a leading
batsman. (7)
24 Er 25 A new local plant entrance
from a Designer’s angle. (6 Et 6)
DOWN
1 By gad sir ! Play the game with
that little creature ! (7)
2 Sounds like the Blaisdon harvester
who left his tools behind. (7)
3 Ivy’s inseparable companion at
Christmas. (5)
4 What your neighbour is reduced
to through playing cards. (7)
5 See 8 across.
6 One can’t stand such deception.
(5)
9 It’s simply sticking out – more
factory space on the way. (9)
ei
redrawn by Ann Osley
A
0 N 186 A
5A
0
1 I) L
7
A
K 6 ft 14 it
E rI
,r v AR E -r it` ‘ A’ /VA v 4 ki 7 V 7 11 1 N.
/ / q . ‘ . 4 if
S 1
1 Le RA2b e I Pi i A/ &
4 A 114 4 A 87 A
0 0
K
by Paul Gregory Solution on page 13
14 Did his performance decompose the jetty ? (7)
15 Fainted at such a belligerent change of attitude. (7)
16 A state of starvation, almost. (7)
19 Nodulated nickname for a sound 20. (5)
20 Pen-pushing parson. (5)
21 Just a small detail about a large Italian river – Americans
are trained there. (5)
7
As I write, a team of excavators are at work
altering the face of the earth on the hillside
northeast of the Plant. This land development is
the first phase of the biggest single project we
have ever embarked upon – the new International
Distribution Centre.
To give you some idea of the size, the additional
land will almost double the total site area,
increasing it from 34 to 67 acres.
Apart from the removal of the top soil, which
must be done before levelling can commence, a
culvert is being built through the site to carry the
stream which runs along the bottom of the valley.
8
OUR BIGGEST
SINGLE
PROJECT
by Jeremy Henwood
Facilities Planning Manager
By the time this issue appears, levelling should be
taking place, so that we end up with one major
and one minor plateau. This involves moving
17,500 cubic yards of top soil and 330,000 cubic
yards of rock and soil to create the levels (one
cubic yard approximates to roughly one ton).
This site work will continue until June 1971, but
building will start around Easter and continue for
12 months. And if you think 12 months is a long
time for such work, consider these rather
staggering statistics.
The building will be by far the largest that Rank
Xerox has erected, extending over 350,000 square
feet (that’s more than eight football pitches) on
one floor level. This will give a building volume
of 11,224,113 cubic feet -a lot of space to heat
and light when you realise that the volume of an
average modern house is less than 1,000th of
this figure.
The foundations and flocr slabs will take over
12,000 tons of concrete to complete, the walls
more than a million facing bricks; 1,350 tons of
steel will go to make the framework, while the
roof will need over 13 miles of purlins for support.
With 25 feet clear height inside, higher bay
racking can be installed and this will permit the
use of more sophisticated – and more economical
– order picking equipment.
By increasing the height of the racking and using
special narrow aisle equipment we can achieve
an improvement in storage efficiency of over
50 per cent compared with the present situation
in Gloucester. The plan is to install a conventional
storage system at first, concentrating all fast
moving items in one section, and mechanising
the consignment packing area as far as possible.
The space available will enable us to combine the
I DC goods inwards and despatch sections into
one big bay area where ten vehicles can be loaded
or unloaded at a time.
Such a large building presents particular problems;
for example, the main gangway is 930 feet long –
quite a distance where methods of handling
materials have to be considered, and the
feasibility of different systems is still being studied.
Matters relating to equipment, layout and
operations inside the warehouse are being dealt
1
with by a working party. chaired by Forward
Planning Engineer Eric Moore, and consisting of
Henry Berry, International Distribution Manager;
Maurice Harrison, Materials Handling Engineer;
and Derek Lewis, Stores Er Stock Control Manager
in Supply Planning. Other specialists are being
called upon when specific problems are under
discussion.
When the building is finished we shall have an
up-to-date warehouse facility of sufficient size
to cope with our expanding requirements for
the next five years.
Opposite page: The new access roads can be seen
in this plan of the IOC projec
Below: The warehouse building and the additional
33 acres added to the existing site area are
outlined in white on this aerial picture.
9
AWARDS
REACH
A RECORD
Women members of the staff who won awards
are pictured with Mr Portman after the
presentation: (left to right) Mrs Katherine Knight.
Mrs Madge Jenkins, Mrs Marion Cornwall,
Miss Deborah Tyler, Miss Ann Watts and
Mrs Lynn Sperring.
In 1969 the sum of £440 was shared between 50
people under the Company’s education awards
scheme; this last year the figures rose to £707
shared between 81 people.
Presenting cheques to 55 of the award winners in
November, Mr Derek Portman, Deputy Director
of Production Et Supply Operations, said : ‘The
significance lies not in the money but in the
increase in the number of people gaining awards.
‘I get an immense amount of encouragement from
the fact that people are prepared to go on
studying in spite of the distractions of modern
living, and I would like to congratulate everyone
here on their achievements. The awards presented
today are a small, tangible recognition by the
Company of these achievements.’
Apart from the awards, which ranged from £2 to
£15, the successful students, whose names are
listed here, were repaid their course fees and the
Recent Appointments
Mr Ralph Zimmermann has been appointed
Manager of the RX.4000 Assembly Department,
recently set up to deal with initial pre-production
planning and training problems involved in
launching a new product. He reports to Mr
S. J. Scott, Assistant Production Manager,
Assembly Operations. Mr Roger Smith has been
made Assistant Manager of the department
reporting to Mr Zimmermann, while Messrs
Kevin Horrobin and Eric Knight have been
appointed supervisors RX.4000, reporting to
Mr Smith.
Following the appointment of Mr Zimmermann,
and that of Mr Graham Lin ley as Manager,
10
Remodelling, Mr David Sanderson joined the
Company as Manager, Spares Et Sub Assembly
Department, responsible to Mr Scott.
Mr H. M. ‘Mike’ Smith
took up the position
of Design Manager
on December 14,
responsible directly to
Mr A. E. Burke,
Engineering Design
Manager. Mr Smith
comes to us from
IBM UK Ltd at
Greenock,
Renfrewshire.
cost of books by the Company.
Shorthand and typing – Mrs K. Knight, Mrs.
L. Sperring, Miss D. Tyler, Miss A. Watts,
Miss 0. Woodward.
GCE ‘0’ Level, English – R. A. Hook.
Cert. of Office Supervision – I. G. Baldwin,
G. Beaven, R. Bird, Mrs M. Cornwall, B. Davies,
A. Davis, B. English, I. A. Forster, L. G. Hill,
M. Hirst, Mrs M. Jenkins, C. Powell, K. Rea,
E. Spratley, R. Wright.
Nat. Exam. Board of Supervisory Studies –
K. Horrobin.
Diploma in Office Management – J. J. Perry.
Diploma Institute of Purchasing & Supply –
S. D. Fox, B. S. Hall, R. P. Knight.
Diploma Management Studies – M. Fenn-Smith.
Graduate Inst. of Materials Handling –
L. E. Bennett, W. J. Evans, L. R. Jeffrey,
M. Wilkinson.
Certificated stage Electrical – D. W. Brookes,
R. J. Taylor, J. H. C. Watts,
Certificated stage Mechanical – R. G. Cooke,
N. F. Copeland, M. 0. Davies, G. A. Davis,
A. J. Hart, K. L. Howell, P. A. Jennings, B. Nelmes,
R. F. Pearce, R. W. Turner.
ONC – V. Dancey (Electrical); M. P. English
(Sciences); B. S. Morse (Business Studies).
HNC – C. G. Smith (Electrical); K. Pritchard
(Mechanical); B. C. Lewis (Business Studies).
HNC Endorsement (Industrial Administration) –
D. M. Bendall, M. J. Brain, J. A. Jones,
A. J. Newman.
HND Electrical Engineering – M. A. Read.
The remaining 26 winners were apprentices who
will receive their awards at the annual apprentices’
dinner to be held this year.
Michael Fenn-Smith receives his award for
achieving a management studies diploma.
Prize Listed
Our apprentices made the prize list once again in
the Craftsmanship Competition organised
annually by the Gloucestershire & South
Worcestershire Productivity Association. John
Martin gained third prize in Class 3 for his
test piece while Christopher Barnard’s entry in
Class 1 was commended.
John Ingram (Standards Room QC) won third
prize of £10 in the recent colour slide competition
organised by Walwins of Gloucester which
attracted nearly 1000 entries. Mrs Valerie Jordan,
also a Cine Et Photographic Club member, gained
a consolation prize.
HOME MARKET
For Sale
1967 Viva SL90, Brabham, red, many extras, £480.
Ring : Brian Sellick. Tel. 625 int.
‘Lobster pot’ play-pen, in excellent condition.
Cost nearly £7, bargain at £3. Also carry-cot,
navy, with transporter £4. Replies to : Box no.
27, C/o Editor, VISION.
Classic style crepe wedding dress size 10 to 12,
ribbon lace bodice with train, satin pillbox with
short veil, £12 ono. Apply : Miller, Hillcroft,
Springfields, Drybrook. Tel. 636.
11
CLOWNS IN THE CABARET
The lilt in the Social Centre has carried a variety
of things up to the ballroom but never a white
Welsh pony – that is. not until the day of the
children’s party Failing to live up to his name,
Satan obligingly entered the lift bribed by
leftover buns, climbed a makeshift ramp to the
stage, and stayed quietly munching his fodder
behind the piano in the wings until it was time
for him to show what an educated pony he was
Here he is on stage with clowns Twinkle and
Bubbles.
J. Ingram
Harold Cecil (right) and Mike
Salmon with their wives at the
PED dinner /dance held at the
Paddocks Hotel, Symonds Vat.
The impromptu cabaret
featured pop group Ray Mann,
Ron Caldicutt and Pete
Jennings, and Louis Armstrong
alias Les Humphries
R. Evans
The Paint Shop people didn’t
engage a professional
entertainer for their Christmas
dinner /dance held at the
Manor Hotel. Longhope –
they already had a natural
clown in workmate Sandra
Palmer. That’s her in the
howler, doing her thing,
Reconditioning department
were among the first to get in
festive mood with their
dinner /dance in 11w Social
Centre.
Star of the cabaret at the
Spares Assembly dinner /dance
held in the Social Centre was
entertainer Ron Clark of the
BBC. The event was such a
success another is already
planned for March. Here the
social committee are pictured
with the department’s new
manager Mr David Sanderson
(centre)
As long ago as last spring Works Engineer Reg
Brown made sure that clown in the main storage
cellar there were 85 tons of Cheshire rock salt –
not for use in the canteen but for clearing snow
from the road systems within the Plant and the
by-roads through the village of Mitcheldean. Site
Clearance Officer Brian Lampshire often looks
speculatively at the sky at this time of year. He’s
probably wondering whether it’s going to be an
early rise for him next day. Should snow begin
to fall during the night, the Security staff contact
him and he in turn alerts members of the voluntary
squad who live nearby. With the aid of a
four-wheel drive ‘on-and-off-the-road’ vehicle
and an automatic salt spreading trailer they get
busy clearing the snow before the factory is due
to start work. Another squad goes to Painters
in Cinderford to do a similar job. (We understand
there is no truth in the rumour that the salt is sold
by car manufacturers anxious to boost sales!)
Salt Cellar
KEEP THESE DATES
‘When’s the close-down this year ?’
‘Oh, some time in July – it usually is.’
‘Yes, but what date? We’ve got to book straight
away.’
‘Not sure. I think it’s on the noticeboard but I
can’t remember…’
Ever had this kind of conversation ? It might be
better to jot dates down now in that brand
new diary – or if you haven’t a diary, cut this
out for safe keeping.
Spring holiday – Tuesday June 1 to Friday
June 4 inclusive (added to spring bank holiday).
Summer works close-down – from normal
finishing times on Friday July 23 to normal
starting times on Monday August 9.
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS: 7 – Roll-on. 8 – Beauty.
10 – Complex. 11 – Green. 12 – Eden.
13 – Metre. 17 – Cissy. 18 – Peru. 22 – Oiler.
23 – Opening. 24 – Barton. 25 – Corner.
DOWN: 1 – Cricket. 2 – Plumber. 3 – Holly.
4 – Beggary. 5 – Queen. 6 – Lying. 9 – Extension.
14 – Pierrot. 15 – Defiant. 16- Hungary.
19 – Nobby. 20 – Clerk. 21 – Depot.
Site chargehand Duff Bennett watches as ‘Kink.
Baldwin and Frank Duberley of Maintenance load
the salt for the emergency store at Painters in
Cinderford. Driver Bill Griffin waits to operate
the fork-lift truck.
They had a dolls’ wedding in the Medical
Department with a beautiful bride, attendants and
a mouth-watering cake. True, the groom was
missing but who cares! It was a highly successful
occasion, resulting as it did in raising 170
towards the North Gloucestershire Cobalt Unit
Fund -a very useful contribution to the total
draw proceeds of 1355. On the left of the picture
Mrs Nora! Miles is selling a ticket to trainee
trace,’ Kay Cherry while on the right Mrs Hilda
Baldwin writes a prescription for luck for Jack
Priest of Work Study. The Medical Department
plan to hold a dance in March and also to
organise a handicrafts competition – all to help
swell the funds of the cause.
13
LADIES
OF RANK
They’re becoming accustomed to titles in the
Marshall family. There was Bernice who was
Mitcheldean’s victory queen ; there was Jean who
was a local carnival queen: and now there is
their sister Jill who became our Miss Rank Xerox
for 1970/71 at the annual dance last November.
The pomp and ceremony of the coronation are
over now, but there’s still an excitement to come.
As part of her prize Jill gets a two-day trip to
London with all expenses paid for herself and her
escort. David Byett of Wages Department, and the
highlight of the trip will be a visit to a royal film
premiere which Princess Alexandra is expected
to attend.
It will be a case of ‘Miss Rank Xerox – meet
Miss Rank Xerox !’ when Jill arrives at the
Cumberland Hotel. For 20-year-old Jacqueline
Cunningham, who is Denham’s own Miss Rank
Xerox, will be there too with her escort. The four
of them will go together to the Odeon Cinema in
Leicester Square to see the premiere of ‘Murphy’s
War’ starring Peter O’Toole.
Jill will he telling us about her trip in a
forthcoming issue.
Mrs Nichols places the crown on the head of the
17-year-old Miss Rank Xerox, Mitcheldean.
Tough Holiday
Taking a holiday the hard way, seven members
of the Karate Club attended a summer school
course in karate at Chigwell, Essex, last September.
It was run on an international basis with Mr
Mitsusuke Harada (5th Dan Karate-Do-Shotokai)
as its instructor.
After a week’s training, standards were
assessed at a grading which consisted of a series
of complex karate techniques and movements
performed before a panel of black belts. Our club
members’ did exceptionally well, with Darryl
Stephens and Martin Nolan obtaining 3rd kyu
(green belt) ; Cliff Bent, Mike Davies, John
Stephens and Roger Miles 4th kyu (orange belt) ;
and Norman Hebden 5th kyu (yellow belt).
The Karate Club meets on Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings (7.30 pm to 9 pm) in the Social Centre
and chairman John Hart assures anyone
interested of a welcome.
14
Floor Show
Provided the audience is appreciative, the Variety
Club can entertain just as wcll off the stage as on
it : and when a ‘scratch team’ visited Merton
House in Ross-on-Wye last November to put on
a floor show for the disabled people there, they
got all the appreciation they could wish for.
Regular performers Andy Hardy, Jack Benbow,
John Earl and Gordon Davies made up the
cabaret, together with newcomers John Peacey,
a tenor from the Plating Shop, and Ken
Farmborough of Gloucester I DC, a backstager
turned frontstager whose recitation was quite
a hit.
Wearing a maxi dress
with mini concessions,
Jill Marshall of Data
Processing’s assembly
section walks past the
judges – Gloucestershire
County Cricket Club
members Mr Ron
Nichols, his wile Pat and
(centre) club chairman
tilt Michael Jarrett,
They couldn’t all win a
big prize but they all
gained a shopping
voucher gift for entering
the competition. Seen in
this line-up are (fifth
from left) runner-up
Sandra Crowden of 720
Assembly and (eighth
from left) Heather Mantis
of 3600 Assembly.
Radio Club Call
How would you like to be a ‘ham’ ? (That, in
case you don’t already know, is the name given
to operators of amateur radio stations.) Well,
now’s your chance – efforts are being made to
start a Radio Et Electronics Club with the aim of
setting up an amateur radio receiving and
transmitting station here at Mitcheldean and
obtaining a club call sign.
The initial announcement brought a response
from around 20 people, but the instigwors, John
Barrett (Design) and Harry Helm (PED), want
some more names on their list of applicants
before they go ahead with their idea.
Said John: ‘We have five licensed radio amateurs
at the Plant ready and willing to operate such a
station and teach new members how to do so,
and to get the club going they have offered to
donate the necessary equipment. Our aim would
be to contact other licensed amateur operators
all over the world and perhaps set up an
international Rank Xerox radio net. We know
there are already licensed radio amateurs in
America, Canada, Sweden, Italy and Australia
and there are possibly more in other countries.’
It is intended to make the club an informal one
with no set fixtures, and meetings immediately
after working hours. There would be three
sections: one for people who have no electronic
knowledge at all but who would like to learn
about electronics and radio; another for members
wishing to pass the r, dio amateurs’ examination
and thereby obtain a licence ; and a third for
those wishing to learn morse code. which you
must know before you can be granted a licence.
Closing date for membership application is
mid-January so if you are interested and have not
yet applied, give John (ext. 518) or Harry
(ext. 667) a call – and quick !
15
Putting YOUlin the picture
New Arrivals
Shaun David, a son for George Mantis (Press
Shop) and his wife Francis (formerly of PED),
on October 22.
Richard David, a son for Dave Bennett (Reliability
engineer) and his wife Janice (formerly Design
Department secretary), on November 17.
Engagements
Miss Grace Reece (Design) to Brian Jones
(Design engineer) on October 3.
Miss Lorraine Edmunds (Personnel Dept) to
Richard Barter on November 3.
Miss Sheila West (Central Records) to John
Beirne on November 21.
Miss Deborah Tyler (Accounts) to Richard
Holland (Design) on December 5.
Miss Patricia Milliner (Spares Assembly) to
apprentice David Tuff ley on Christmas Eve.
Miss Catherine Burns (Purchase) to Michael
Walterhill on Christmas Day.
Weddings
Ira Griffin (PED) to Mrs Esme Roscoe at Stroud
Register Office on August 15.
Miss Jackie Greaves (secretary to Mr G. Gray,
IDC Gloucester) to Mike Luker at Gloucester
26.
Miss Margaret Anne Stephens (Purchase
Department) to David Drew at St Stephen’s
Church, Cinderford, on November 7.
Retirements
Best wishes to the following on their retirement:
Walter Crook (Works Engineering), Lawrence
Moon (Works Laboratory), and Thomas Pederson
(Stock Control) in January; Mrs Dora Brannan
(3600 Dept). William Snook (Design) and
Arthur Whatmore (Machine Shop) in February.
John S. Waite
We regret to record the death on October 13 of
John S. Waite (spot welder) at the age of 47,
he had been with the company six years.
Mr and Mrs I Griffin St tyfin
(Lit anti Mrs D Dlt
ANY NEWS FOR VISION ?
If you have, then please
tell your departmental correspondent
leave it at the Gate House for collection by me
post it to me at Tree Tops, Plump Hill,
Mitcheldean or
ring me – it’s Drybrook 415
Myrtle Fowler, Editor
LETTER
First LSA event of the year is the annual social,
to be held on January 30 in the Social Centre –
so make a note in your new diary right away.
As in previous years, retired members not in
receipt of any remuneration from the Company
were each sent £5 by the association to help
make their Christmas a merry one.
16
SHALL WE DANCE?
The Ballroom Dancing Club has been ‘sitting out’
for some time, but there seems to be a chance of
its getting on the floor again. Club chairman
Ira Griffin (PED) is willing to try to arrange a
practice night provided sufficient interest is shown.
so would any couples who are learning dancing
and would like a regular opportunity to practice
their steps please contact him.
Incidentally, Ira has found himself a regular
dancing partner at last – as you will see from
our weddings column !
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd

Leave a Reply