April 72 No 76 House Magazine of Rank Xerox Mitcheldean Plant
An exercise in metalworl< in the Training School
is helping to further cancer research. It all
started when Neil l\Aiddleton, Controller,
Programme Planning, was asked by his brother
Ewan, a research worker at the Imperial Cancer
Research Fund, to help with an engineering
problem. Investigations into the cause of breast
cancer involved carrying out chemical analysis of
urine samples: what was needed was a device
which would hold cups containing the samples
in a freeze-drier, and also convey them through
other analytical processes. Disc-shaped racks with
recesses for the cups were designed and Neil
found our Training School more than willing to
act as manufacturers. Under instruction, Vance
Hopkins, Colin Turner, Chris Barnard and Ian
Fishburne then set about making the 21 racks
needed, using duralumin. ‘It proved a good
exercise for them and an exciting job for us,’ says
school supervisor Len, seen here with Ian (left)
and Chris. The grateful Fund will be inviting the
boys to London to see the research work in
progress later this year.
NEW AGREEMENT MARKS A
MILESTONE
D u r i n g the last f e w m o n t h s members of
Management and representatives of t h e Manual
Unions have been w o r k i n g hard t o w a r d s a n ew
Agreement. The l o n g n e g o t i a t i o n s are n ow
complete, and w e have an A g r e e m e n t endorsed by
t h e f u l l – t i m e u n i o n officials.
Emerging f r om t h e P r o d u c t i v i t y Campaign and
Agreements in 1 9 6 9 w a s t h e t h e m e that j o i nt
p a r t i c i p a t i o n and g o o d p r o d u c t i v i t y w o u l d provide
t h e means for f u t u r e success and i m p r o v e m e n t s of
pay and c o n d i t i o n s . This has been d e m o n s t r a t ed
at all levels d u r i n g the ensuing years.
From t h i s established f o u n d a t i o n w e have together
taken a major step in t h i s latest A g r e e m e n t by
i n t r o d u c i n g , for p r o d u c t i o n workers, a Group
Performance payment based on a f o rm of
measured day w o r k in place of our o l d bonus
system.
We all have t o look t o the f u t u r e and make t h e best
use of our o p p o r t u n i t i e s b o t h privately and
w i t h i n our w o r k . Here w e are all part of a team,
directors, managers, operators, etc. We have a
c o m m o n purpose if w e are t o achieve success for
t h e Company and a higher l i v i n g s t a n d a r d for each
of us.
Our n e w c o m m u n i c a t i o n arrangements w i t h the
Manual Unions in t h e f o rm of t h e J o i n t Works
C o m m i t t e e and Area Efficiency Committees
encourage i n v o l v e m e n t and p a r t i c i p a t i o n f r om all,
i n c l u d i n g i m p r o v i n g e f f i c i e n c y and u n d e r s t a n d i ng
of each other’s views.
The n e w A g r e e m e n t marks a f u r t h e r m i l e s t o n e in
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of m e a n i n g f u l t e am r e l a t i o n s at
M i t c h e l d e a n . There is a large element of mutual
t r u s t in t h i s n e w phase, and if w e all play our part
in d i s c u s s i n g and u n d e r s t a n d i n g one a n o t h e r ‘s
problems, t h e n w e shall not o n l y make our f u t u re
more secure, w e shall be s e t t i n g t h e scene for
f u r t h e r progress.
General Manager, Mitcheldean Plant
2
ACT — AND IMPACT
The Industrial Relations Act — the most
comprehensive Act on t h i s subject in our h i s t o r y —
came i n t o f o r c e in stages b e t w e e n t h e b e g i n n i ng
of October 1971 and t h e end of February 1 9 7 2;
one aspect only still remains t o be f i n a l i s e d.
Detailed in 1 8 5 pages of n o n – b e d s i d e reading, the
Act has been v a r i o u s l y referred t o as e n l i g h t e n e d,
repressive and u n t i d y — even a l a w y e r ‘ s bonanza.
If y o u relish legal j a r g o n , get a c o p y of t h e A c t . If
you f i n d it t o u g h g o i n g , t h e r e is Industrial
Relations — A Guide to the Industrial Relations
Act 1971, 84 pages of s o m e w h a t lighter reading,
or The Act Outlined, which is even more d i g e s t i b l e.
T r a i n i n g Department have a l i m i t e d s u p p l y for
those w h o w o u l d like t o k n o w more.
Many managers and supervisors at M i t c h e l d e an
have been a s s i m i l a t i n g t h e Act in p r e – d i g e s t ed
f o rm at seminars arranged by t h e T r a i n i ng
Department. Four hours of unbiased treatment of
t h e subject w i t h the aid of slides, f i l m , diagrams,
etc, and o p p o r t u n i t y for a u d i e n c e p a r t i c i p a t i on
have enabled t h o s e a t t e n d i n g t o t a k e a w a y a
c l a r i f i ed picture of t h e Act. They have also been
able t o take a w a y various useful reference
documents, for there is no d o u b t that s t u d y and
r e – s t u d y are necessary if o n e w a n t s t o retain a
w o r k i n g k n o w l e d g e of t h e provisions.
The i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e A c t are p r e t t y i n v o l v e d and
t h e r e are i n n u m e r a b l e pressures and i n c e n t i v es
b u i l t i n t o t h e l e g i s l a t i o n.
There are seven main strands in t h e A c t:
9 A series of n e w r i g h t s f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l has
been i n t r o d u c e d . Firstly, he has t h e s t a t u t o r y right
t o b e l o n g t o a r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e u n i o n and take part
in its a c t i v i t i e s , or t o refuse t o b e l o n g t o such a
t r a d e u n i o n or an u n r e g i s t e r e d o r g a n i s a t i o n , subject
t o c e r t a i n e x c e p t i o n s.
The e x c e p t i o n s are (a) w h e r e an a g e n c y shop
agreement e x i s t s ; in t h i s case w o r k e r s must be a
member of, or pay s u b s c r i p t i o n s t o , t h e u n i on
c o n c e r n e d , or if t h e y have a c o n s c i e n t i o us
o b j e c t i o n t o b e l o n g i n g and c o n t r i b u t i n g t o a u n i o n,
pay such c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o an agreed c h a r i t y;
( b ) w h e r e an a p p r o v e d p o s t – e n t r y c l o s e d shop
exists ( B r i t a i n ‘ s 5 0 , 0 0 0 seamen have n o w applied
for one — the first a p p l i c a t i o n of its k i n d under the
n e w A c t ) . A g e n c y shops can o n l y be g r a n t e d to
t r a d e unions, registered under t h e Act — most
u n i o n s have so far d e c i d e d not t o register.
A n y arrangement w h i c h prevents a man g e t t i n g a
j o b because he does not h o l d a u n i o n card (a
p r e – e n t r y closed shop) is no longer permitted.
Further n e w r i g h t s f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l i n c l u d e : t he
r i g h t of appeal against unfair dismissal by his
continued overleaf
The £2 million International Distribution Centre
w/as introduced to the local press on hAarch 13.
The party of visitors who saw over the IDC also
included local councillors and County Council
officials, as well as representatives of the
architects. Preece Payne Partnership, the builders,
W. F. Giles B Sons, and the steelwork contractors.
Clarke. Nicholls & Marcel. They were welcomed
by Mr Portman and Mr Salmon and given details
about developments. Occupation is being phased
over the first half of this year, it was explained,
and outside earthworks and roadworks are
expected to be complete by the end of July. For
the chairman of Mitcheldean Parish Council the
occasion was an opportunity to say hello again to
his former workmates — his retirement is reported
on p.5.
A C T — A N D I M P A C T continued
employer and against unfair treatment by his trade
u n i o n ; the right t o longer m i n i m u m periods of
notice, especially for l o n g service w o r k e r s ; the
right t o more i n f o r m a t i o n about terms of
employment and c o n d i t i o n s of service.
^ A n e w system of r e g i s t r a t i o n for trade unions
and employers’ associations, s u p e r s e d i n g the old
system. It secures c e r t a i n r i g h t s and privileges
( I n c o m e Tax benefits, limit t o c o m p e n s a t i o n , etc.)
for o r g a n i s a t i o n s w h i c h satisfy t h e Registrar about
their e l i g i b i l i t y and w h i c h meet c e r t a i n m i n i m um
standards about their rules and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n.
0 New methods for s e t t l i n g d i s p u t e s a b o u t trade
u n i o n r e c o g n i t i o n and b a r g a i n i n g r i g h t s and for
i m p r o v i n g procedures for h a n d l i n g disputes,
p r i n c i p a l l y w i t h t h e help of t h e C o m m i s s i o n on
Industrial Relations, an a d v i s o r y body.
^ New p r o t e c t i o n for t h e c o m m u n i t y in
emergency s i t u a t i o n s w h e r e i n d u s t r i a l a c t i on
w o u l d endanger the e c o n o m y or p u b l i c health and
safety in t h e f o rm of a 6 0 – d a y restraint or ‘ c o o l i n g –
o f f period, and a b a l l o t w h e r e there is d o u bt
w h e t h e r a m a j o r i t y of w o r k e r s s u p p o r t , and have
had an adequate o p p o r t u n i t y of expressing their
v i e w s on, t h e industrial a c t i o n.
^ A n e w concept of unfair industrial practices
under w h i c h employers, u n i o n s and leaders of
u n o f f i c i a l industrial a c t i o n w i l l be liable t o pay
c o m p e n s a t i o n t o t h e aggrieved party if t h e latter
seeks legal redress. Individuals have p r e v i o u s l y had
legal redress under c o m m o n law, but t h e Act
spells out more clearly w h a t unfair industrial
practices are.
9 A n e w system of j u d i c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s — the
National Industrial Relations Court (a H i g h Court)
and a s y s t em of Industrial T r i b u n a l s — to u p h o ld
t h e n e w standards of c o n d u c t , maintain
i n d i v i d u a l rights and hear c o m p l a i n t s of unfair
industrial practices. All t h i s w i t h i n a f r a m e w o rk
of civil law.
Over t h e past years t h e State has been brought
more and more i n t o t h e industrial a r e n a ; but the
Department of Employment say t h e y believe
a voluntary system of negotiation, free from State
control, is the best way of determining pay and
conditions of work in a free society. The Act is
designed to reform and strengthen this system,
with recourse to the law as a last resort when all
attempts at c o n c i l i a t i o n have f a i l e d , and t h e n only
w h e n one of t h e c o n t e s t a n t s i n v o l v e s legal a c t i o n.
To t h i s end t h e role of c o n c i l i a t i o n o f f i c e r s and of
t h e e x i s t i n g Commission o n Industrial Relations
has been w i d e n e d.
As an instrument for t h e i m p r o v e m e n t of standards
of c o n d u c t in i n d u s t r y t h e Act i n c l u d es
9 A Code of Industrial Relations Practice — a
k i n d of c h e c k l i s t for a c t i o n by managements and
u n i o n s w h i c h hope t o be regarded as e n l i g h t e n ed
and e f f e c t i v e o r g a n i s a t i o n s . It d o e s n ‘ t d i c t a t e h ow
and w h y i n d u s t r y s h o u l d r e g u l a t e its affairs and it
i s n ‘ t legally e n f o r c e a b l e , but its observance, or
n o n – o b s e r v a n c e , w i l l be t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t in any
p r o c e e d i n g s before t h e n e w j u d i c i a l s y s t em set up
under t h e Act.
The Code gives g u i d a n c e on t h e basic r e l a t i o n s h ip
b e t w e e n employer and employee, o n t h e d e f i n i t i on
and purpose of c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g and on the
p r o c e d u r e s essential for t h i s purpose.
Good Luck, Margaret!
No secretary had greater sincerity towards her
boss and the company.’ These words prefaced
Mr Wickstead’s telephoned tribute to Margaret
Hale who left on March 10 after 25 years’
continuous service.
Margaret Joined the Plant as secretary to Ted Bass,
then production controller, when employees
numbered only 500, and subsequently became
secretary to Mr Wickstead.
Margaret’s many friends at Mitcheldean made
sure she had a good send-off A cut-glass
decanter and sherry glasses from Divisional Offices
were presented by Vic Parry {above) and a tape
recording of the speeches by him and Johin
Hankin, with Margaret’s reply, was sent to
Mr Wickstead. From the Plant in general she
received some beautiful pieces of Jewellery which,
she said, would serve as a constant reminder of
the very happy years that had passed, and of the
‘wonderful crowd of people’ among whom she
had worked.
Everyone wishes her well in her new Job at the
Woodville Rubber Company in Ross-on-Wye.
4
LETTER F o l l o w i n g in t h e f o o t s t e p s of Mr T. A. L a w and
Mr F. W i c k s t e a d , Mr R. E. Baker, or B o b as he is
k n o w n t o most of us, has a c c e p t e d t h e i n v i t a t i on
to become president of t h e M i t c h e l d e a n Long
Service A s s o c i a t i o n . Bob is a f o u n d e r member of
t h e LSA and was one of t h e ‘ p i o n e e r s ‘ , b e i n g the
first of the p r o d u c t i o n staff t o c o m e to
M i t c h e l d e a n . He recalls t h a t he paid his f i r s t visit
t o M i t c h e l d e a n in 1 9 4 0 and became a resident on
February 4, 1 9 4 1 .
The LSA committee may be able to look back a
long way, but their aims are forward-looking.
Pictured at a recent meeting, at which they
welcomed their new president Bob Baker
{centre), are (from the left) treasurer Don Peates,
George Turner, Edna Hanman, Jackie Smith,
Bill Beech, chairman Henry Phillips, Kate
Matthews, Chris Malsom, Jock Currie, Tony Cale
and secretary Doris Barker.
Mr Baker w a s w e l c o m e d in his n e w c a p a c i t y as
president at t h e LSA c o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g held on
M a r c h 13.
Report t h e c o m m i t t e e : ‘ A s y o u may k n o w , the
C o m p a n y helps t h e LSA in many w a y s and we
feel that a s t r o n g LSA can r e c i p r o c a t e that help.
‘A s u b – c o m m i t t e e has been f o r m e d t o update the
rules of t h e a s s o c i a t i o n in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the
r e s o l u t i o n passed at t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y general
m e e t i n g held in November, and all members will
receive a c o p y of these as s o o n as t h e y have
been c o m p l e t e d.
‘A more d e t a i l e d a r t i c le s e t t i n g out t h e aims and
a c t i v i t i e s of t h e a s s o c i a t i o n w i l l appear in a later
issue of V I S I O N . Look out for i t ! We are not all
as o l d as y o u may believe !
‘If y o u have any q u e s t i o n s y o u w o u l d like
answered relative t o t h e LSA, w o u l d y o u please
send t h em in w r i t i n g t o Miss Doris Barker, LSA
Secretary, B u i l d i n g 38, and w e w i l l endeavour
t o answer t h em in t h e V I S I O N article.’
Jack Merry, chargehand in Material Handling &
Internal Transport Department, retired in
February after some 13 years with the Company.
Here he receives a pen and pencil set from the
department, presented by Janet Murrell. Centre
is departmental manager Guy Bedford. Some
weeks later Jack, who is chairman of Mitcheldean
Parish Council, was invited to return to the Plant —
see picture on page 3.
INSTANT
TESTING
FOR
CABLE
ASSEMBLIES
W a l k i n g t h r o u g h Spares & S u b – a s s e m b l y in
B u i l d i n g 29, the v i s i t o r ‘ s eye is i n v a r i a b l y caught
by the bright bundles of cables in every c o l o u r of
t h e r a i n b o w w h i c h lend an air of gaiety t o the
electrical subs, s e c t i o n.
Today, his a t t e n t i o n may e q u a l l y be c a u g h t by t he
d i g i t s f l a s h i n g on r e c e n t l y i n t r o d u c e d a u t o m a t ic
test sets as t h e y are c o n n e c t e d up t o any one of
t h e cable assemblies for our Model 4 0 0 0 machines.
Such assemblies, k n o w n t e c h n i c a l l y as ‘ l o o m s ” or
‘harnesses’, are p r o d u c e d on b o a r d s ; these
Incorporate a j i g or f r a m e w o r k w h i c h holds in
place the numerous i n d i v i d u a l w i r e s and end
f i t t i n g s that comprise the basic electric w i r i ng
c i r c u i t s for our machines.
The various w i r i n g j i g s have been specially
m o d i f i e d for t h i s n e w m e t h o d of t e s t i n g . When
t h e assembly is c o m p l e t e d , t h e operator w h e e l s a
test set t o the board and c o n n e c t s it t o t h e j i g and
l o om assembly by means of m u l t i – c o n n e c t o r s.
She presses a b u t t o n and, if s a t i s f a c t o r y , the
c o m p l e t e l o om is t e s t e d w i t h i n t w o t o three
seconds.
You c o u l d n ‘ t even c o u n t t h e w i r e s in a l o om in
that t i m e — yet t h e test set not o n l y checks t h a t all
the wires are there but also that t h e y are
p o s i t i o n e d correctly and t h a t t h e r e are no loose
c o n n e c t i o n s .
An amazing feature is t h a t t h e actual speed of
t e s t i n g has been d e l i b e r a t e l y s l o w e d d o w n so that
the human eye can see that t h e tests are o c c u r r i ng
in sequence.
It w o u l d have been possible t o have s t e p p e d up
the speed by as much as t e n times. The t e s t i n g of,
say, a h u n d r e d – w i r e l o om assembly w o u l d then
have been c o m p l e t e d almost i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y upon
pressing t h e b u t t o n . But t h i s might have aroused
doubt as t o w h e t h e r t h e test had in fact o c c u r r ed
at all ! Testing must not o n l y be done, but be seen
t o be done, so t h e ‘ s l o w ‘ speed of a p p r o x i m a t e ly
t w o seconds w a s adopted.
S h o u l d a f a u l t exist in the f o rm of either a ‘short’
or ‘ o p e n ‘ c i r c u i t , the test set i n d i c a t e s w h i c h type
of fault, and w h i c h w i r e or lead is i n c o r r e c t , so
that t h e matter can be put right immediately.
The same p r i n c i p l e s are also a p p l i e d t o t e s t i n g of
w i r i n g of certain other sub-assemblies, i n v o l v i ng
relays and other electrical c o m p o n e n t s.
The u l t i m a t e in s o p h i s t i c a t i o n is reached w i t h the
test piece w h i c h is used t o check t h e test set
itself I For example, if t h e test set i n d i c a t e s a f a u lt
on a l o om w h i c h cannot readily be l o c a t e d , t h en
t h e test piece is a p p l i e d t o t h e set t o see if t he
latter is s h o w i n g a n o n – e x i s t e n t fault.
Most of t h e p r o d u c t i o n w o r k in t h e d e p a r t m e n t is
carried out by w o m e n w h o m a i n t a i n a
c o n s i s t e n t l y h i g h s t a n d a r d of e f f i c i e n c y in
p r o d u c i n g t h e vast q u a n t i t i e s of electrical w i r i ng
used by Rank Xerox.
Each a n d every w i r e plays a s i g n i f i c a n t part in t he
s a t i s f a c t o r y o p e r a t i o n of our machines, and all
must satisfy t h e British Standard BS.3861
( E l e c t r i c a l Safety of O f f i c e M a c h i n e s ) as w e l l as
v a r i o u s overseas standards.
Ensuring O p t i m u m Product Quality is our Company
p o l i c y , and w i t h t h e c o n t i n u i n g increase in
c o m p l e x i t y of our machines, and t h e larger
q u a n t i t i e s i n v o l v e d , it had become desirable to
p r o v i d e a r a p i d means of t e s t i n g c o m p l e t e d l o om
assemblies.
T h r o u g h o u t 1 9 7 1 , our P r o d u c t i o n Engineering
E l e c t r o n i c s S e c t i o n , under t h e leadership of
W. R. ‘ B i l l ‘ D a v i d s o n , s t e a d i l y and s u c c e s s f u l ly
d e v e l o p e d t h e a u t o m a t i c test e q u i p m e n t w h i c h is
n o w w i d e l y in use. In t h i s t h e y had t h e f u ll
c o – o p e r a t i o n of p r o d u c t i o n personnel, s u p e r v i s i on
and q u a l i t y c o n t r o l people.
These sets cater f o r all our present Model 4 0 00
l o o m s ( w h i c h may carry up t o some 1 7 0 different
w i r e s ) and also have c a p a c i t y for t h e f u t u r e.
T e s t i n g t h e parts, t e s t i n g t h e w o r k , c h e c k i n g the
i n s t r u m e n t s that c h e c k the w o r k — the process
goes on all t h e t i m e at M i t c h e l d e a n . This
p a r t i c u l a r d e v e l o p m e n t is yet another i n s t a n c e of
our c o n t i n u o u s a d o p t i o n of u p – t o – t h e – m i n u te
t e c h n o l o g i e s t o make sure our machines m a i n t a in
a h i g h s t a n d a r d of Product Quality. V. G. P a r ry
Joan Bennett fixes leads, or wires, to terminal
blocks, prior to assembly.
6
7
Dinner with
Those w h o regularly a t t e n d any annual Plant
f u n c t i o n i n e v i t a b l y n o t i c e any feature w h i c h makes
t h e current event differ f r om its predecessors.
One d i d n ‘ t have far t o look as regards t h e annual
event w h i c h t o o k place on March 10 in the
Social Centre. For a start, it w a s no longer called
t h e A p p r e n t i c e s ‘ , but t h e S t u d e n t s ‘ Dinner and
Presentation, a t e rm e m b r a c i n g not o n l y t h e 100
or so apprentices but also secretary and graduate
trainees. The latter w e r e m a k i n g their first
appearance at t h e dinner t h i s year — difference
number t w o.
A l s o a t t e n d i n g for t h e first t i m e w e r e Mr Derek
Portman, w h o received c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s on his
recent a p p o i n t m e n t as Director of the
M a n u f a c t u r i n g Group, and General Manager
Mr Peter Salmon, w h o k i n d l y made the
presentations t o e x – t r a i n e e secretaries, apprentices
and ex-apprentices.
Mr Portman spoke b r i e f l y about t h e e x p a n s i o n of
t h e Company, and emphasised the international
aspect of our operations.
Referring t o the d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h f a c e d t he
e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y w h e n he first came t o t he
Forest, and t h e lack of f a c i l i t i e s for t r a i n i n g people,
Mr Salmon said he f o u n d it p a r t i c u l a r ly
e n c o u r a g i n g t o see so many students.
One had o n l y t o l o o k a r o u n d M i t c h e l d e a n Plant
site t o appreciate w h a t scope there w a s for the
f u t u r e . It w a s i m p o r t a n t that s t u d e n t s s h o u l d be
developed t o fill t h e supervisory, managerial and
t e c h n i c a l p o s i t i o n s that w o u l d arise. ‘We are in a
company of t r e m e n d o u s g r o w t h and c h a l l e n g e and
it is y o u w h o w i l l have t o meet that c h a l l e n g e ‘ , he
t o l d his audience.
Apprentice Terry Pliillips receives his financial
award from General Manager Mr Peter Salmon.
That t h e y w o u l d be ready t o d o so was, he felt,
i n d i c a t e d by t h e enterprise t h e y had already s h o wn
in t a k i n g part in social service w o r k , j o i n i n g Sail
T r a i n i n g A s s o c i a t i o n and other character
d e v e l o p m e n t ventures, and, j u s t recently, their
w o r k in aid of cancer research.
Yet another first at t h e dinner was the p r e s e n t a t i on
by Mr Len Peacock, Personnel Manager, of awards
t o t h e t e am of f i f t h year a p p r e n t i c e s w h o w o n the
recent s k i t t l e s KO c o m p e t i t i o n against the
T r a i n i n g Department.
The idea t h a t t h e best men had w o n was
o b v i o u s l y a matter of some c o n t r o v e r s y , and there
w a s more t h a n a s u g g e s t i o n t h a t s t e a l t h and guile,
p l u s bad a r i t h m e t i c on t h e part of t h e lady scorer,
had a c c o u n t e d for t h e r e s u l t ! But skill was
c e r t a i n l y i n v o l v e d in t h e m a k i n g of t h e t r o p h i es
and for t h i s t h e T r a i n i n g School t a k e u n d o u b t ed
c r e d i t .
Leaving t h e b r i g h t l i g h t s and c o m p a r a t i v e c a lm of
t h e c a n t e e n , t h e y o u n g s t e r s , and a f e w other rash
people, a d j o u r n e d t o t h e deep j u n g l e atmosphere
of t h e b a l l r o om w h e r e t h e t o m – t o m s of y o u t h , in
t h e p s y c h e d e l i c f o rm of t h e ‘ B l a c k D i a m o n d’
Disco, t h r o b b e d out t h e i r message. Those w ho
f o u n d t h i s f i n a l ‘ d i f f e r e n c e ‘ t o o m u c h for
c o n v e r s a t i o n retired d e f e a t e d I
• A sad d i f f e r e n c e about t h i s year’s d i n n e r was
t h e absence of t h e late Bill Stearn. Mr Frank
Edwards, T r a i n i n g C o – o r d i n a t o r , paid t r i b u t e to
t h i s ‘ e x c e p t i o n a l c r a f t s m a n ‘ w h o had passed on
his skill a n d w i s d o m t o so many d u r i n g t h e time
he w a s an i n s t r u c t o r in t h e T r a i n i n g School.
Gary Rogers is presented with the skittles
trophy by Personnel Manager Mr Len Peacock.
As chairman of the apprentice committee, Gary
proposed a vote of thanks to all concerned with
the dinner.
8
I n d e n t u r e s
Stuart Barnes, M i c h a e l Bendall, M i c h a e l Best,
Ian Hale, Harold Hale, Bill Hall, J o h n Hancock,
Michael Lazarevic, A d r i a n M o r g a n , Chris Pegler,
J o h n Powell, Charlie Probert, Brian Reeves,
Wally W a t k i n s , J o h n Weyman, A l a n W i l k i n s.
C e r t i f i c a t e o f E n g i n e e r i n g C r a f t s m a n s h ip
i n M o d u l es
Patrick Burke, David Deeley, J o h n Hancock,
Michael Lazarevic, Terry Peates, Chris Pegler,
David Phelps, Charlie Probert, Michael Smith.
E I T B F i r s t Y e a r C e r t i f i c a t es
Nigel Bluett, Kevin Burt, Gary Cooper, Graham
Cox, Mike Duberley, Gary Ellis. L l o y d Gill,
Vance Hopkins, A n d r e w Humphreys, Robert
J o h n s o n , J o h n Knight, Peter Knight, Keith Marfell,
Alan Robertson, J o h n Ryland, Paul Sapsford,
Colin Turner, J o h n W o o d , Steve W o r g a n.
F i n a n c i a l A w a r d s f o r P r o f e s s i o n a l S t u d i es
Shorthand & Typing: Shorthand 80 — Sue H i n t o n,
90 — Sue Tucker, Lynne H o o t o n ; RSA III
(Typing) — Linda B r o w n , Sue H i n t o n , Lynne
H o o t o n , Sue Tucker.
English ‘0’ Level: Lynne H o o t o n.
General course: Alan Robertson, Paul Sapsford,
C o l i n Turner.
Craft Course 500 series: Part / — Nigel Bluett,
Gary Ellis, J o h n Knight, J o h n W o o d , Chris
R a w l i n g s ; Part II— David Deeley, Ian Fishburne,
J o h n Hancock, Michael Lazarevic, Terry Peates,
J o h n Phillips.
Elec. Craft Studies (2): Roger B a l d w i n , Steve
Davis, Peter Jones, Roger Kempster, Richard Mayo,
Fred Meek.
Ord. Tech. Cert: Electrical — Harold Hale, W a l ly
W a t k i n s ; Mechanical— David Baynham, Clive
Davies, Peter Hughes, Graham J o n e s , Terry
Phillips, Chris Reed, Peter W a l b y.
Ord. Nat. Cert.: Keith Davis, P h i l i p James, Brian
Fowler.
Adv. Technicians Cert.: Roger Miles, Roger Byett,
Richard M a t t h e w s , Gary Rogers, J o h n Powell,
Ray S h u f f l e b o t h a m , A d r i a n M o r g a n , Ian Hale.
Higher Nat. Cert: Colin Brickel, Stuart Meek,
A n d r e w Phillips.
Endorsement to HNC: David W o o d.
Full Technological Cert: Michael H o w e l l , A l an
Wilkins.
Craft Practices Final: Brian S m i t h.
Higher Nat. Dip. (Elec): Rafe Cherry.
Apprentice Lloyd Gill demonstrates here yet
another aspect of Training School enterprise!
No prizes for recognising supervisor Len Hart and
his instructors. Bill Luker, Eric Parsons and
Arthur Bibey.
‘ F r a n k S p e a k i n g’
A r e y o u in d o u b t about t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e en
e d u c a t i o n and t r a i n i n g ? If so, t a k e a t i p f r om a
c o r r e s p o n d e n t t o t h e Times Educational
Supplement Put yourself in t h e place of a parent
w i t h a y o u n g daughter. If she comes home f r om
school and says she has had sex e d u c a t i o n , that
is one t h i n g . But if she c o m e s home and says she
has had sex t r a i n i n g . . . .!
E d u c a t i o n & T r a i n i n g D e p a r t m e nt
( S u p p l e m e n t t o W o r k s Notice)
Too m u c h t i m e is b e i n g spent in t h e t o i l e t . In
f u t u r e y o u w i l l f o rm t h e p r a c t i c e of g o i n g in
a l p h a b e t i c a l order — the A ‘ s f r om 8 t o 8.1 5 am,
B’s f r om 8.1 5 t o 9.30 am and so o n . If y o u are
u n a b l e t o g o at t h e a p p o i n t e d t i m e it w i l l be
necessary t o w a i t until t h e next day.
9
HONOUR RETRIEVED
Round t w o of t h e ‘ m i n e can l i ck yours anytime’
b a t t le of PED w a s f o u g h t and w o n in t h e s k i t t le
alley of t h e Oakle Street Hotel o n Wednesday,
March 1.
P i n n i g e r ‘ s Pride, d e t e r m i n e d t o avenge their first
r o u n d defeat by W i l d Bill Davidson and his t e a m,
entered the bar f u l l of c o n f i d e n c e , clear of mind
and sober.
In a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e Queensbury rules t he
contest w a s f o u g h t over six legs and battle
commenced w i t h W i l d Bill b o w l i n g t h e o p e n i ng
set.
To be fair, t h e o p e n i n g legs w e r e a l i t t le w o r r y i ng
to Pinniger’s Pride, w h o are s l o w starters anyway,
but stamina must s h o w in t h e e n d a n d by t he
f o u r t h leg it w a s o b v i o u s t h at t h e o p p o s i t i o n had
shot their bolt, so t o speak.
As a desperate measure W i l d Bill called up his
secret w e a p o n in t h e person of Harry Helm
(Harry you w i l l recall, p u l l e d t h em out of t h e fire
on t h e last o c c a s i o n ) . But t h i s t i m e he had been
n o b b l e d . Some persons u n k n o w n had m o v e d his
g a r d e n w a l l so t h a t he fell over it in t h e dark on
his w a y t o t h e m a t c h !
To bolster effort on t h e f i n a l leg, J o h n P. w as
o f f e r i n g Green S h i e l d stamps o n every p i n over
six and t h e a t m o s p h e r e was e l e c t r i c as P i n n i g e r ‘s
Pride s l o w l y but surely s h o w e d their class and
sent t h e p i n s f l y i n g.
It must be m e n t i o n e d that B i l l ‘ s Boys never lost
t h e i r c a p a c i t y for i n v e c t i v e and t h e b a r r a c k i n g was
severe, but n o t h i n g c o u l d shake t h e resolve of t he
s u p e r b l y d i s c i p l i n e d and c o n s i s t e n t pride of PED.
The f i n a l score w a s : P i n n i g e r ‘ s Pride 3 9 5 ;
D a v i d s o n ‘ s Devils 3 7 8.
R h i d i a n G o d d a r d , P E D As we went to press the outcome of the deciding
match on April 5 at Oakle Street was still
unknown. Losers are reminded that the
committing of ‘hara-kiri’ is an unfair industrial
practice and an order to prevent offenders from
continuing the action can be made by an
Industrial Court.
HOME MARKET
F o r S a le
G r e e n / w h i t e A l l w i n high pram, pram bag and
mattress, g o o d c o n d i t i o n . Contact Mrs A. Davis,
Court Farm Lane, M i t c h e l d e a n.
Cheap t o g o o d home — a f f e c t i o n a t e beagle b i t c h,
t r i c o l o u r , very g o o d w i t h c h i l d r e n . K/C registered,
born 25.11.69. F. T o n g e , External Transport.
Mothercare e x t e n d i n g f i r e g u a r d . Contact H. Cecil,
t e l . 638 int.
Blue Parkray 7 7 f i re and back boiler, g o od
c o n d i t i o n , £ 1 5 . A p p l y J i l l i a n Moore, t e l . 3 3 4 int.
1971 K r e g i s t r a t i o n Mini 1 0 0 0 Super de luxe, six
months’ w a r r a n t y , many extras, £ 6 5 0 or nearest
offer. HP arranged. Replies t o Glan Jones,
t e l . 671 int.
T r i u m p h Herald 1 2 0 0 s a l o o n 1 9 6 5 , perfect
c o n d i t i o n , one o w n e r , l o w mileage, year MOT.
‘ P h o n e Lea 4 2 7 .
Set of golf c l u b s ( 1 3 in a l l ) , g o l f bag a nd
t r o l l e y — £40. ‘ P h o n e 5 9 9 int.
Singer s e w i n g machine, o l d but serviceable, first
£1 50 secures. Headrest t o f i t most makes of car,
as new, first £1 – 50 secures. Enquiries to
F. G. Prosser, Security, t e l . 7 7 0 or 4 3 9 or 139 int.
Lady’s Dawes ‘ D i a m o n d ‘ cycle, d r o p handlebars,
5-speed gears. Enquiries t o J . Court, t e l . 3 1 0 int.
A large box of assorted c h o c o l a t e s w a s b e i ng
h a n d e d r o u n d an assembly shop. Asked w h i ch
one he w o u l d like, an i n s p e c t o r w a s heard to
ask : ‘ W h e r e ‘ s t h e d r a w i n g ?’
W a n t e d
M u s i c stand. Is t h e r e one in an a t t i c s o m e w h e re
h o l d i n g dust instead of m u s i c ? Young lad l e a r n i ng
t o play t h e cello w o u l d g i v e one a g o o d home.
C o n t a c t C. P o w e l l , t e l . 1 8 3 i n t.
Hula h o o p for w o u l d – b e slimmer. Contact
Mrs. Powell, Purchase, t e l . 1 2 5 int.
A N Y N E W S F O R V I S I O N?
If y o u have, t h e n please —
• let y o u r d e p a r t m e n t a l c o r r e s p o n d e nt
k n o w ,
• or leave it at either Gate House f or
c o l l e c t i o n by me,
• or post it t o me at Tree Tops, P l u m p Hill,
M i t c h e l d e a n ,
• or r i n g me — it’s D r y b r o o k 4 1 5.
l\/lyrtle Fowler, Editor
10
MtiiiRYOUinthe picture
Information Officer
Jimmy Bal information Officer, /[Manufacturing Group, based at
Mitcheldean and with responsibility for public
relations at Welwyn and Venray. He reports
directly to Mr D. R. Portman.
Jimmy started as a journalist with a big City news
agency covering news and sport for all
publications. He then moved to ITV and became a
Press officer with ABC TV, handling publicity for
their programmes such as ‘The Avengers’, ‘Thank
your Lucky Stars’, ‘Public Eye’, etc. After ten
years, he joined the European photographic group
Agfa-Gevaert as public relations officer for the
UK, eventually leaving them to come to Rank
Xerox.
Married, with a daughter of 15 months, Jimmy
has been living in Bracknell, Berks., but he tells us
he has now joined the queue of house hunters in
Gloucestershire I
Spring flowers
for Primrose
E n g a g e m e n t
Dave Payne (Data Processing) t o A n n Lardner
on March 4.
N e w A r r i v a ls
J u l i e Louise, a d a u g h t e r f o r J o h n Haggar ( W o rk
Study, P r o d u c t i v i t y Services) and his w i f e Doreen
( f o r m e r l y Spares & S u b – a s s e m b l y ) , on February 2!
Damien Paul, a s o n f o r J i m M a c k i n , PED Gauge
P l a n n i n g , a n d h i s w i f e Colette, o n February 27.
M a r t y n A n d r e w , a s o n f o r Keith Taylor ( R e l i a b i l i ty
E n g i n e e r i n g ) and his w i f e Rosemary, o n M a r c h 1.
S h a r o n Louise, a d a u g h t e r f o r Ken Drew, progress
chaser, a n d his w i f e J i l l ( f o r m e r l y Print R o o m ),
o n M a r c h 2.
M e l a n i e Jane, a d a u g h t e r f o r Peter B o o n ( P E D )
and his w i f e Pauline, o n M a r c h 12.
A m a n d a J o y , a d a u g h t e r f o r T o n y Rawlings
( M a i n t e n a n c e ) and his w i f e Penny ( f o r m e r ly
secretary t o Mr D. R. E l l i o t t ) , o n M a r c h 15.
W e d d i n g s
Valerie Harris (Spares & S u b – a s s e m b l y ) to
Michael Verry at L y d n e y Register O f f i c e on
February 1 2 .
Ken B u f f i n ( R e m o d e l l i n g ) t o Susan T i n g l e at t he
Forest C h u r c h , Drybrook, on February 19.
M a r i n a D u n h a m (Spares & S u b – a s s e m b l y ) to
A l e c James ( M a c h i n e Shop, M i t c h e l d e a n ) at
Lydney Register O f f i c e o n February 26.
J a c k i e S h e r w o o d ( D e s i g n O f f i c e ) t o Bill Hall
(PED) at St M i c h a e l & All A n g e l s , M i t c h e l d e a n,
o n March 1 8.
J e n n i f e r M e l h u i s h ( R e m o d e l l i n g ) t o Geoffrey
W a t k i n s at L y d n e y on M a r c h 18.
O b i t u a r i e s
We regret t o have t o r e c o r d t h e d e a t h s of t he
f o l l o w i n g :
R o y s t o n Pearce on February 21 at t h e a g e of 4 5 ;
he w o r k e d in 4 0 0 0 A s s e m b l y and had b e e n w i th
us for 1 0 years.
Alexander Leech, aged 60, Spares & Sub-assembI
i n s p e c t o r ; he d i e d o n M a r c h 9 after a l o n g period
of i l l – h e a l t h.
A chargehand in Spares 8- Sub-assembly, Primros,
McCormick left recently after 12 years’ service to
become Mine Hostess of the Manor House Hotel,
Longhope. Together with the flowers, here being
presented by Production Manager Frank
Whinyates, she received gifts of a watch and
jewel case from her fellow workers.
1
SP®RTS & SOCIAL
CLUB
Prize Pictures
Country life and leisure f e a t u r e d largely in t h e f i lm
c o m p e t i t i o n entries s h o w n at t h e Cine &
P h o t o g r a p h i c Club prize n i g h t o n March 22.
Dorine Berks’ ‘ Q u a r t e t ‘ , a saga of t h e seasons in
pictures and poetry, spoken by Dorine, was
awarded t h i r d prize f o r its o r i g i n a l ideas. Second
was a j o i n t effort by J a c k Seal, o p e r a t i n g the
camera, and his w i f e Veida, w h o p r o v i d e d an
e n t e r t a i n i n g s o u n d t r a c k c o m m e n t a r y as w e l l as
appearing in t h e f i l m . Taken o n h o l i d a y at
Cleethorpes, it i n c l u d e d some excellent s h o t s of
ships at Grimsby Docks.
In ‘ C o t s w o l d s ‘ , w h i c h g a i n e d first prize for
A r t h u r Mason, he m a i n t a i n e d his usual high
t e c h n i c a l standard. We w e r e t a k e n on a saunter
Club president Mr D. R. Portman presents a prize
to Betty King of Spares B Sub-assembly. The cat
caught in tigerish mood was photographed by
Betty’s husband. Robin, of 3600 Assembly, who
won the print competition.
12
a r o u n d some lesser k n o w n beauty spots —
C o n d i c o t e , S t a n t o n and S t a n w a y — as w e l l as t he
more f a m o u s t o u r i s t villages.
The peaceful scene w a s e n l i v e n e d by t he
occasional i n c i d e n t — the d o g r e t r i e v i n g for his
master, t h e b u i l d i n g of a C o t s w o l d cottage.
I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e w o r k m e n were t a k i n g it easy
w h e n A r t h u r arrived on t h e scene w i t h his camera.
‘ Y o u f r om t h e B B C ? ‘ t h e y asked. ‘ N o , ‘ he replied,
‘ f r om Ranks.’ The result w a s e l e c t r i f y i n g , t h e men
r e s u m i n g their j o b s in a burst of energy I
The slides s h o w n f e a t u r e d r e f l e c t i o n s , bridges,
skyscapes and c l o s e – u p s , and w e r e j u d g e d on
a r t i s t i c rather t h a n t e c h n i c a l m e r i t ; w i n n e r s were
B e t t y King, Valerie J o r d a n , Bill Hobbs and J o hn
Ingram. Black and w h i t e print c o m p e t i t i o n entries
w e r e also o n display, n e w c o m e r Robin King
w a l k i n g off w i t h first prize t h i s year.
The p r o g r a m m e i n c l u d e d a s h o w i n g of J a c k Seal’s
‘ D e a n Forest M i s c e l l a n y ‘ , t h e c l u b entry in t he
G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e i n t e r – c l u b c o m p e t i t i o n w h i c h has
as yet w o n no prize but plenty of praise.
‘ T h e Plank’, p r o j e c t e d by Bill A u s t i n , w a s an ideal
c h o i c e as t h e ‘ f e a t u r e ‘ , d e m o n s t r a t i n g h o w an
e f f e c t i v e and h i g h l y a m u s i n g f i lm c o u l d be made
u s i n g a s i m p l e idea and hardly any d i a l o g u e . Or
maybe it w a s t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l i sm of t h e actors —
Eric Sykes, T o m m y Cooper, J i m m y Edwards and
o t h e r s of similar c a l i b r e — w h i c h made t h e w h o le
t h i n g l o o k so easy.
I Illllll Illlll lilt Illllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Dancing — First Class
The B a l l r o om D a n c i n g Club report t h a t their
recent d a n c e was a very successful one. The
George Graham Band d i d a w o n d e r f u l j ob
p r o v i d i n g 15 d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of dances and all age
g r o u p s e n j o y e d themselves. Another d a n c e is
p l a n n e d for t h e n o t – s o – f a r f u t u r e.
The n e w dance class has been w e l l p a t r o n i s e d —
over 50 n e w members t u r n e d up for t u i t i o n . As
f r om A p r i l 9 classes w i l l be held in B r o a d w e l l Hall
u n t i l t h e Social Centre is a g a i n available.
The recent p o w e r c u t s d e p r i v i n g t h e c l u b of their
usual venue, an o u t i n g was arranged t o t he
C o t s w o l d B a l l r o o m . The 3 0 people w h o t o ok
part so e n j o y e d t h e m s e l v e s that t h e y have
requested a r e t u r n visit o n e S a t u r d a y e v e n i n g.
Illlll nil iiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiii II iiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd.
