Return to 1970-1974

Vision 091

CHESSMATES
Andy Gardiner (Maintenance) and
(on the right) Eric Edwards (PED)
fight for third place in the final
stage of the Wickstead Shield
Interdepartnnental Chess Tournament,
held last July. The contestants
included people of all levels and from
a wide range of departments — right
across the board, you might say.
In the deployment of resources, and
the rank, file or diagonal movement
of people or pieces, chess and
company logistics have something in
common. And the qualities the
players displayed when facing new
challenges or unexpected
developments, their ability to keep
cool when the situation was tense
and the competition fierce, should
stand them in good stead working in
a fast-growing company such as
ours.
Watching the players with
Mr Portman are (left to right) Rafe
Cherry, Ralph Zimmermann, John
Smith, Richard Morgan and Dick
Frazier.
(See story on page 10).
OUR
FRIENDLY
INVADERS
With the news that our colleagues in
Marketing are about to embark on an
enlarged programme of customer
visits to the manufacturing plants, it
is clear that Mitcheldean will become
the subject of much more attention
from users of our machines throughout
Europe.
Although there is nothing new in the
idea of customers visiting our
factories, the new programme is
designed as part of an overall strategy
to stay ahead of the growing
competition and to increase the
placements of Rank Xerox machines.
From this end we plan a series of
slide presentations in several
different languages, and these will be
shown at whichever of the plants
these customers visit, so that
wherever they go they will hear the
same story.
The tour of the plant is, of course, a
highlight of any visit and all our
guests are rightly impressed by our
advanced technology, good working
conditions, and the mighty effort we
put into quality and reliability.
They also very much appreciate the
chance to talk to people on the
assembly lines and in other areas, so
that they hear at first hand about the
job being done.
Customers are not the only visitors we
get by any means, although, since
they are the ones from whom we
ultimately get our pay, it is worth
looking after them well!
We play host to Rank Xerox salesmen
and service engineers so that they too
can be familiar, not only with our
strengths and techniques, but also
with our problems. (There are still a
lot of people in marketing areas who
seem to think that ‘Manufacturing’
means simply pressing a button one
end of the line and getting a finished
machine at the other I)
Because of the need to recruit young
people, we try to look after parties of
school-leavers and students. It has
been estimated that the Mitcheldean
plant is responsible for the support of
50 per cent of the population in the
immediate areas, so we have a
heavy commitment in terms of
community relations. To this end
we have visits from Rotary Clubs
and Round Tables as well as from
local Councils.
And then we have the ‘one-off or
prestige visits, and in this category we
can put the recent visits from the
Duke of Beaufort and the Mayor of
Gloucester.
We can also give news here of a
future visit in this category when, on
September 21, we shall receive
Vic Feather who will have just retired
as General Secretary of the TUC. This
visit is being arranged in conjunction
with Joe Burke and Len Harper,
President and Secretary respectively
of the Forest of Dean Trades Council.
It is difficult to get a feedback from
all these different visits. We know
they are successful from the ‘queue’
of applicants, and whether they come
Government representatives were among
our visitors during tfie summer. Pictured
left are British Government officials,
accompanied by Bobby Warren {second
from right), Sales Co-ordinator of our UK
Company’s Government Branch. Giving
them the inside story of the 4000 machine
is Graham Davis, main line operator.
Right.- Deputy Minister Arutyunov,
representing Russia’s Ministry of Instrument
Construction, was another visitor. With him
in the Standards Boom are (from the left)
Don Shryane, Director of Manufacturing
Planning, and Vic Parry, Manager, Product
Quality. Just behind the Minister is
John Mare of East European Operations.
from just five miles away, or 5,000
miles, we try and look after them
well.
But we do get many genuine letters
of thanks. This one from a senior
British Government official sums
them all up — and the British
Government is the third largest
customer in the entire Xerox and
Rank Xerox worlds:
‘I must write and thank you and the
chums at Mitcheldean for making
our visit such a memorable one. I
think you know that we were all
greatly impressed by everything we
saw, and can understand even
better now the obvious pride and
pleasure you have always had in
working in your organisation.
‘As we have learnt to expect, the
administration arrangements worked
to perfection and for these, the
hospitality, and everybody’s
keenness to make our stay
enjoyable, I am indeed grateful.’
That letter and the others like it are a
reflection on people who work right
across the site. The plant guides,
car drivers, girls in the canteen, and
all those who, whilst busy, are not
put out by these ‘friendly invaders.’
Jimmy Bake,
I n f o r m a t i o n Officer
ENGINEERING r
CHANGES p|
Left to right: {top row) Stan Pratt,
Director of Engineering: John Hercock,
n/Ianager, Technical Co-ordination; Arthur
Willitt, Manager, Planning & Procedures ;
(bottom row) Tony Burke, Engineering
Manager, Mitcheldean; Engineering
Programme Managers Ken Fox and Hay Pyart
(with responsibility for certain products);
Jeff Kew, EPM (Input!Output).
Stan Pratt, Director of Engineering,
will be moving his office from
Mitcheldean to join the Group
Director, Dr Fred Winternitz, at the
Engineering Group Headquarters in
London.
Mr Pratt will assist Dr Winternitz to
develop and expand the resources of
the Engineering Group, and one of
his immediate tasks will be to
establish a Technical Co-ordination
Group to give specialist engineering
advice and assistance to all design
teams. He will continue to be
responsible to the Group Director for
the co-ordination of the Engineering
Division activities on the
manufacturing sites.
John Hercock is appointed Manager,
Technical Co-ordination, and will be
responsible to Mr Pratt for
establishing and managing the new
Technical Co-ordination Group. In
his new role he will continue to be
responsible for the development of
consumable products.
Arthur Willitt is appointed Manager,
Planning and Procedures, responsible
New Products
Control Msnager
Stan Scott has been seconded to
Manufacturing Group staff to
undertake a special project, and
Mike Hook has succeeded him as
New Products Control Manager,
responsible for the control of the
introduction of all new products into
Mitcheldean Plant, and for
co-ordinating departmental activities
within the Plant on these products.
Mr Hook will be assisted by a New
Products Co-ordinator (the position
he formerly occupied) who has yet
to be appointed.
directly to Dr Winternitz for ensuring
that the Group develops systems and
procedures, etc., in conjunction with
Xerox and Fuji Xerox on a
multinational basis. Mr Willitt will be
responsible for co-ordinating the
Group Programme Planning activity
and will also provide a Facility
Planning activity for the whole
Group.
Tony Burke is appointed Engineering
Manager, Mitcheldean, and will be
responsible to Dr Winternitz for the
Engineering function at this site. In
Mr Burke’s absence. Ken Fox will
act as his deputy.
On taking up his new position,
Mr Burke announced a change in
the structure of Engineering at
Mitcheldean, the chief feature of
which is the introduction of a number
of Operating units with responsibility
for one or more products under
Engineering Programme Managers.
In addition, an EPM (Input/Output)
has been nominated, initially as an
assignment, to explore the necessity
and opportunities for certain new
accessories.
The Drawing Office is divided among
these managers, but John Brain as
Office Manager will control the
overall manning and equipping of the
Drawing Office and the Assistant
Managers D.O. will be answerable to
him for conformity with standards
and procedures.
There are also a Services unit, and a
staff unit concerned with Planning &
Control.
The Services unit includes the
Electrical & Optical Laboratory,
Reliability Laboratory and Model
Shop.
The Planning & Control unit will
have authority over the Operating
and Services units for planning,
reporting, standards, procedures,
manning and facilities, and will be a
communication link with Engineering
Group and ITG staff.
(Further details next issue)
ITG MEETING AT MITCHELDEAN
An opportunity for a get-together between Xerox Corporation’s Information Technology
Group and FIX Manufacturing and Engineering Groups presented itself when ITG held
a staff meeting at Mitcheldean Plant last August. Jim O’Neil, President of ITG, and his
staff visited Welwyn and London as well as Mitcheldean and were thus able to obtain
an overall view of the FIX operation. Interface problems were discussed and a number
of presentations, including one by Mr Portman on FIX manufacturing, its future
expansion and location, were part of the programme at this Plant. Seen here are
(left to right) Ron Morfee, Assistant General Manager, Mitcheldean; Don Shepardson,
ITG Manager, Multinational B Planning Procedures; Mitcheldean Works Manager, Don
Elliott; Director of Engineering Stan Pratt; President Jim O’Neil; and Myron Tribus,
Senior Vice-President, Research B Engineering, ITG.
3
The Sound of Willow on Leather…
Above: Was Keith l\/larfell out? If the
umpire had given Personnel Staff this one,
they might have won ! B e l o w : Bob
Johnson, captain of the Apprentices’ team,
receives the trophy from General Manager
Peter Salmon.
The annual cricket match between
the Apprentices and Personnel
Staff fixed for the evening of
July 11 started off badly for the
Apprentices — someone mislaid the
key to the canteen I Luckily a
replacement key was found before
the players resorted to a more
drastic means of entry.
After tea there seemed to be some
confusion among the Apprentices as
to what game was to be played, one
chap being heard to ask: ‘When do
we kick off, then ?’
Having settled what game it was to
be, the players took up their positions
on Mitcheldean Playing Fields,
Personnel, with Frank Edwards
as captain, batting first.
Openers for the team were Keith Laken
and Arthur Bibey, with Keith making
the team’s highest score of 47,
which was also the highest individual
score of the match.
Some brilliant catches by Peter Walby
and Alan Robertson helped to dismiss
Personnel for a total of 105
all out.
It was now the turn of the
Apprentices to bat, their openers
being Richard Johnson and Keith
Marfell. After Richard was dismissed,
the Apprentices lost three quick
wickets. Steve Worgan then came
in, and also Garry Trigg after Keith
was dismissed for 25.
This pair then set up a sixth wicket
partnership of 38 to clinch victory
for the Apprentices, with Steve
making 21 not out and Garry 27
not out. Final score was 106 for 5.
Victory celebrations were held in the
White Hart with the Apprentices
feeling particularly elated since their
victory completed a ‘double’ with the
winning of the skittles trophy earlier
this year.
Richard Watford
They had a
Good Old Time
The annual summer outing for the
retired LSA members departed from
the usual pattern this year. Some 85
of them with wives and husbands
rounded off an afternoon’s coach
tour on July 11 with a visit to
The Playhouse at Cheltenham for an
evening of Old Time Music Hall.
A contingent from the Plant swelled
the RX audience to around 120.
S With Ron Brown as chairman
0; conducting proceedings in a way
… leather
on glass
A unique match took place at
Mitcheldean a few days earlier, on
July 2, between Facilities Floggers
(Black Bull Trophy holders) and
Work Study Taverners (captained by
a replica of W. G. Grace).
The Taverners batted first and their
innings started with luck which
continued all through the match.
The first ball, a beautiful delivery, was
snicked into slips through both
hands and legs of ‘Where’s it gone?’
Taylor, for which he was decidedly
grateful.
The innings closed at 104 for 9 after
20 overs, and throughout the
Floggers showed grit, determination
and expertise on the field.
The Floggers’ innings started slowly
but majestically — only three runs off
three overs. Then class began to
tell. Their opening bat (who prefers
to remain anonymous) belted a
brilliant 62, and from the start the
Taverners’ bowling was hit all over
the village — literally.
In fact, one couple, who for the last
30 years have watched matches from
their garden, had to retire to their
front room because of high velocity
cricket balls fired in their direction by
the Floggers’ batsmen, and the
cricketers are having to foot the bill
for re-glazing certain windows.
The innings closed after only 13
overs, by which time the score was
105 for 3.
The Floggers have since issued the
Taverners a challenge to Ludo in
order to obtain some semblance of
opposition.
E. W. Swansong
Note: Both matches were held on Mitcheldean Playing Fields
by kind permission of the trustees.
… and leather
‘Hit for Six 7 More lil that would surely have earned the
approval of the Victorians themselves,
the show was boisterous and gay,
with plenty of the bawdy humour
typical of the times.
Entering into the spirit of things, our
party hissed the villain, bandied
words with the chairman, joined in
the songs and generally showed the
cast — obtained as always ‘at
enormous expense’ — how much
they were appreciated.
Earlier the retired members had been
taken on a tour round the
Worcestershire countryside, stopping
at the British Camp, Malvern, at
Worcester, and at Evesham where
they enjoyed a splendid meal.
All who contributed financially and
otherwise to the outing can be
certain it was greatly appreciated by
our senior citizens.
Job for President
Purchasing Controller Bernard Smith,
newly elected president of the LSA,
recently attended his first committee
meeting in that capacity. Said
chairman Henry Phillips: ‘We are very
pleased ‘ BC has accepted the post
and feel he will be a great asset. He
has been associated with the LSA
for a long time. He was, in fact, a
founder member and one of its first
chairmen, subsequently becoming
vice-president.’
One of the first tasks Mr Smith is
undertaking on the LSA’s behalf is
in connection with a new emblem,
the existing badge for 25-year
veterans now being outdated.
KEN WON THE TOSS
Ken Taylor, Manager, Financial
Planning, looks pleased with the
day’s winnings at Lydney when
Gloucestershire beat Middlesex
in the John Player League last
July. The bat held by Ken’s 17-
year-old son Graham was
autographed by the cricketers
and raffled. As Ken put it:
‘I bought the winning ticket
from Bob Baker—and my son
accepted the bat!’ Graham is a
keen cricketer himself—he plays
in the Crypt School first eleven.
Rank Xerox were hosts for the
day, and the winners’ cheque
was presented to the Gloucestershire
skipper by Graham Price,
Director of Manufacturing
Information & Control.
Franic Seicinger
Sad to report, Frank Sekinger, who
had hoped to come on the summer
outing, died on July 22 at the age of
73. Frank, who retired in 1965,
worked in the Tool Room for many
years, and was well known as a
crack shot with a rifle. He leaves two
sons and a daughter; his wife died
earlier this year.
Tony Palmer
As we went to press we learned of
the death on August 21 of Tony
Palmer at the age of 39. Systems
Project Manager in Information
Systems, Tony had been 18 years
with the Company; he was closely
connected with the early development
of the EO system at Mitcheldean.
We extend our sympathy to his
widow.
In this, the last ii
Production Control De
THE INS AND OUTS I
Peter Broomer, Manager, Stock
Control, with secretary Pam Bolton.
When we called on Stock Control
Department, it was during the
shutdown and, we thought, a time
when things would be pretty quiet.
But we found them in the middle of
the annual stock-taking by the
Auditors. In addition, the SOLAR
Working Party were doing a
walk-about in Goods Inwards — one
of the problem areas which is
receiving attention prior to the
implementation of the SOLAR
system.
However, Manager Peter Broomer
found time to explain the function of
his 180-strong department.
‘We’re a service section,’ he told us.
‘We receive goods via Goods
Inwards, store them and issue them
as required, night or day, to the
production side, or to Supply Centre
for distribution to customers.’
Apart from the small section which
provisions for common parts (‘W’
items and packing materials). Stock
Records is the only area within Stock
Control Department where paperwork
rather than goods is their ‘stock-intrade’.
Every movement of every part needs
to be recorded to maintain an
accurate data base for the computer.
A historical record is kept of each
transaction — and there are 8 to
9,000 a week — using machines
which simultaneously produce an
input paper tape for computer
processing to update the Stock File.
The Plant is thus kept informed as to
the stock position, and has the
necessary ‘base data’ for provisioning.
A team of document control clerks
check that the transactions are
correctly recorded on the ‘hard copy’
and also answer queries.
The mechanised records system was
introduced in February 1972 and got
under way by senior supervisor
‘Sandy’ Sanderson-Miller, who
returns from an assignment in the
States next month. It was, in fact, the
first move towards SOLAR
implementation.
‘We shall be exchanging these
machines later on for more
sophisticated models with more
counting registers,’ said Peter
Broomer. ‘The volume of transactions
recorded will increase considerably
L e f t : The machines in
Stock Records record each
transaction on a card and
a daily ‘journal’, and
simultaneously produce
an input paper tape. The
tape is sent for computer
processing to update the
Stock File. Section leader
Alan Davies (seen left)
conducts a test tape run
daily.
L e f t : Another part of
Stock Records—Perpetual
Inventory, in the charge of
section leader John Swan
(second from right). The
section perpetually checks
that the physical stock is
in line with what is on our
records.
6
our series on
sartment, we explore
JF STOCK CONTROL
under SOLAR and we are working in
collaboration with 0 & M to produce
the ideal punching document to suit
our needs.’
In order to ensure that the paperwork
keeps closely in step with the
physical stock, a section known as
Perpetual Inventory has been
introduced and is still being
developed. The Perpetual Inventory
clerks act as internal auditors. They
go out and check that the physical
stock is in line with what we have
on our records all the year round so
as to ensure that Financial Stock
Control have accurate figures from
which to assess the value of stock
held.
Anyone who likes undoing parcels
would be in their element in Goods
Inwards. Every day some 70 to 80
vehicles drive up under the canopy
reception area bringing in piece parts,
certain consumables and
miscellaneous items.
The goods are checked for quantity
and put into tote tins where
necessary. Goods Inwards office raise
the paperwork (some 500 documents
a day) and this is then married with
the goods. These are inspected
where required and passed into the
abeyance area en route for stores and
manufacturing shops.
Space is a major problem in this area.
But it should be solved with the
removal of 3600 stores from Building
32 to Venray, now the lead plant for
that model; this is expected to be
completed by the end of the year or
the beginning of 1974.
About 50 per cent of the space thus
released will then be taken up by
Goods Inwards, notably for an
enlargement of the unpacking area.
‘We aim to have no more than one
day’s work waiting in this area,’ said
Peter.
A new office complex is to be erected
and, to go with it, a new filing system
to line up with other SOLAR
procedures, and to cope satisfactorily
with the increased volume of parts
coming into the Plant.
The rest of the space released in this
building will be taken over by Goods
Inwards Inspection who also need
more room — in particular for the
individual electronic testing
equipment now required for some
components.
Over to Building 41 and Parts Stores,
which includes production stores.
They were centralised here early in
1972 to release floor space in
production areas. Now they face a
major reorganisation which will
result in Stores occupying about a
quarter of the building, separated by
a 1 5ft hign partition from the Supply
Centre.
The replanning is designed to make
for better utilisation of space and
smoother workflow. In addition,
continued on page 8
L e f t : Senior supervisor
Ken Scrivens (rigiit) and
senior ciiargetiand Len
Drinliwater in tiie unpadding
area of Goods
Inwards. In the background
men are busy
checking incoming goods
for quantity, and re-toting
where necessary. Below
l e f t : Goods Inwards
office, where they raise
the paperwork — and a
laugh. The picture gallery
here is unequalled
throughout the Plant. ‘It
helps reduce the tension,’
we were told. That’s
supervisor Wendy Drinkwater
(Len’s wife) on the
‘phone.
Above right : Surrounded
by little boxes in
Spares Packing, Bill
Pearce (right). Assistant
Manager in charge of
Parts Stores, discusses a
point with chargehand
Bob Davis. Below right:
Chargehand Arthur Lane
receives goods in Parts
Stores for eventual issue
to the assembly lines.
7
N/C COURSE
CERTIFICATES
Manufacturing and Inspection
personnel who will be concerned
with the numerical control machine
centre recently received their
certificates for successfully
completing a course on N/C machine
appreciation at the West
Gloucestershire College of Further
Education, arranged through Training
Department. The presentation was
carried out by Dave Mills, Quality
Assurance Manager, and Frank
Whinyates, Production Manager. Our
picture shows Bill Rees receiving his
certificate from Mr Mills.
QUALITY CHANGES
Quality Department is the new title
of the QC Department. ‘This brings it
into line with modern international
practice,’ said Dave Mills, whose own
title is now Quality Assurance
Manager.
The departmental structure has also
been reorganised.
Fred Court, Asst. Quality Assurance
Manager, now heads up the
Administration section, comprising
SOA, Quality Engineering and Audit
activities; he is responsible for the
basic systems and administrative
routine work of the department and
acts as deputy in Mr Mills’ absence.
As Manufacturing Quality Assurance
Manager Henry Phillips now has added
responsibility for the Manufacturing
and Finishing areas in addition to the
Jig and Tool Inspection.
The responsibility of Assembly Quality
Assurance Manager Ernie Watkins
remains unchanged, covering
Assembly QC areas. Brian Weyman,
as BOQC Manager, has assumed
responsibility for the Goods Inwards
area and Spares Packaging and IDC
inspection activities.
Stock Control
continued from page 7
special security arrangements
associated with the introduction of
SOLAR will be put into effect during
the reorganisation ; these are aimed
primarily at establishing a control
point so that the movement of parts
in and out is always recorded by the
system.
A welcome innovation will be the
provision of a vending area for
refreshments complete with snack
bar for the Stores staff.
As senior supervisor in charge of
Raw Materials as well as Goods
Inwards and Despatch, Ken Scrivens
finds his work takes him back to the
scene of a very different occupation
in the ‘fifties when, the Waterloo pit
having been flooded out, he went to
work at Northern Colliery.
When that mine closed, the buildings
found a new lease of life as our raw
material stores.
Here some 50 to 70 tons of steel a week
arrive in strip, bar and sheet form and
are stored neatly on ‘fir tree’ racking.
Explained Ken : ‘The steel is inspected
when it arrives; after it is weighed we
do a ‘paper conversion’ to feet or
metres. The conversion is verified on
arrival at RX Cinderford, a few
minutes’ drive away, where it is
stored prior to use in the Machine
and Press & Sheet Metal shops.’
Aluminium castings and extrusions
are also stored at Northern Colliery,
as well as millions of metres of
brightly coloured wire, destined for use
in cable assemblies for our machines.
The white tiled walls of the wire store
reveal that it was once the bath
house where miners washed off the
grime after working at the coalface.
The old track lines can still be seen in
the former carpenter’s shop where
chromized steel from the States is
now stored. There are even two
ex-miners among the storemen.
Among all the stores that come under
Stock Control, Northern Colliery is
unique — a link between a centuriesold
Forest industry and the
multinational activities of Rank Xerox.
L e f t : Tons of steel, in
bars and strips, stored on
‘fir tree’ racl<.ing at RX
Northern Colliery. Here
the length of steel bars
is being checked.
Right: An issue of wire
for cable assemblies at
RX Northern. Watching
on the right is Ernie
Barnard, supervisor of
Raw Materials Stores
Hugh helps to clear an area for cultivation,
watched by one of the villagers.
Hugh and CHve –
HOME HELPERS
Clive Griffiths
Clive Griffiths is a progress chaser in
Production Control; Hugh
Lynch-Blosse is a standards
engineer.
But for the time being their work is
concerned with making progress and
helping to maintain standards in an
entirely different sphere from their
accustomed one at Mitcheldean.
They are among the eight Rank
Xerox employees chosen to participate
in the Company’s experimental
Social Service Leave Programme.
These six men and two women have
been given fully-paid leave to work
on social projects of their choice for
periods ranging from one to six
months.
They come from a wide range of
departments and levels within the
Company, and their projects vary
from training spastics for jobs in
industry to helping construct a
maternity hospital in a Nigerian
village.
First from Mitcheldean to leave was
Clive, who is spending six months
assisting with the rehabilitation of
ex-prisoners at Langley Trust
‘family homes’. This Trust was set
up by John Dodd, MBE, who, as a
former prisoner-of-war, developed a
special interest in the problems faced
by those who have served sentences.
There are 11 hostels in England,
five of them having been provided by
Lord Rank, through the Methodist
Church, Mr Dodd informed us. ‘He
was the main means of our work
growing so rapidly between 1961
and 1972.’
Clive has gone initially to the
Lancaster house, where his brother
Gary and sister-in-law are house
parents; as a relief worker, he is
enabling other helpers to have a
much-needed holiday.
Says Clive: ‘This is a halfway house
for persistent offenders who are
homeless. Some are on parole, some
have finished their sentences. They
have to earn their keep, and the
Trust help to find them jobs, as well
as providing a comfortable home,
good food and sympathetic
friendship.’
A chap who obviously enjoys a
challenge (he went on a Sail
Training Association cruise in 1971),
Clive is ready to turn his hand to
anything — redecorating, social work,
cooking (I’m a good cook, you
know !’). The hours are longer than
at Mitcheldean — he gets up at
8 am and works until about
midnight, he reported from Lancaster.
Aged 23, Clive first came to
Mitcheldean as a shop boy. ‘I was
asked about becoming an apprentice
but I told them I wouldn’t be here
long. That was seven years ago,’ he
said. Living at Shapridge, he is a
member of the Mitcheldean Sports
Club general committee, plays
cricket for the village and rugger for
Drybrook, and is an amateur boxer.
‘I’m also champion at shove
ha’penny,’ he pointed out. We
don’t know about that, but we guess
his ready wit and cheerfulness are
brightening the scene at Lancaster.
Hugh, who has been nearly five
years with us, is also working as a
general handyman, but much nearer
home and among people whose need
is rather different.
The Grange Village, one of the
centres of the Camphill Village Trust,
consists of two estates, the larger
one at Newnham and the other at
Blakeney, providing sheltered
employment, family and social life for
mentally handicapped people. It is
among these people that Hugh is
working for three months.
The Newnham estate comprises
eight households of six to 14 people
aged 20 onwards, living a normal
home life with their house parents.
The aim is for the village to be as
self-supporting as possible; as well
as doing weaving and pottery, they
work in the orchards, the gardens
and on the farm which supply food
and produce to sell.
Said secretary Mrs Canning : ‘Some
years ago, when we bought our other
estate at Blakeney, Mr Lynch-Blosse
gave us invaluable help, and we are
tremendously glad to have his
full-time assistance.
‘We have 44 mentally handicapped
people and we are hoping to have a
new house, which will take a further
nine, finished in time for our Open
Day on October 13.
‘After that we want to build a
community hall which is badly
needed, and then two further houses.
There are hundreds on our waiting
lists and we are very grateful for
local help.’
The State meet 75 per cent of the
running costs, the rest is made up by
donations, etc. New building is done
by contractors, but the village’s great
need is for help with maintenance
work and it is in this sphere that
Hugh will be contributing most. ‘I’m
ready to do anything, from joinery to
unblocking drains,’ he said when he
started work there on August 1.
Hugh and his wife, who is on the
Grange management committee, live
in Newnham themselves. ‘We’re
hoping to see as many Mitcheldean
people as possible at the Grange on
Open Day,’ he told VISION.
9
SP®RTS & S&CIAL CLUB
BATTLE OVER
THE BOARDS
The Social Centre ballroom was the
scene of great (mental) activity on
July 17 when 12 participants
gathered to do battle over the chess
boards.
The air of tension and intense
concentration may have passed
unnoticed by the uninitiated, but
those in the know were only too well
aware that during the evening great
men were going to crumble and
finally despair.
The final in the Wickstead Shield
Chess Tournament was between
Production Control (Building 23) and
Forest Rook Old Boys. Although the
Production Control team were
favourites, having won the
competition last year, it was
rumoured that the O.B. team had
been showing great interest in
micro-computers I
Mr Portman presents the Wickstead Shield
to Harry Helm, captain of the winning team.
Forest Rook Old Boys. Left and right are
Ralph Zimmermann and Rafe Cherry, with
their individual penholder trophies.
Settling third and fourth positions
were PED Pawnbrokers and
Maintenance; PED were clear
favourites owing to their steady play
throughout the competition and the
fact that the Maintenance boys were
all relatively new to the chess game.
And so, at 7.45 pm and in a deathly
hush, broken only by the occasional
chatter of teeth making contact with
a glass of pale ale, the pawns were
moved and the games commenced.
First to meet disaster was Harry
Helm playing on the no. 1 board.
His opponent Dennis Brain seemed
to be quite indifferent to the massive
attack which Harry was mounting.
Then Dennis pounced, unleashed two
landmines and an atom bomb, and
Production Control were one up.
In the meantime, playing on no. 3
board, Rafe Cherry was fighting a
rearguard action against Barry Smith.
As Rafe claimed to be out of practice,
his victory proved to be particularly
sweet and sudden. The score was
now 1 — 1.
After an opening which can only be
described as a ‘Zimmermann Special’,
Ralph was quietly gaining numerical
superiority against John Ireland. The
end came when John had to resign
and thus the OB’s became the 1973
team champions.
In the fight for third position the
result again was close, and finally
decided when Eric Edwards resigned
against Andy Gardiner. A good
effort indeed by John Smith’s
Maintenance boys.
Many thanks are due to all who took
part in the finals, to the Sports &
Social Club committee who made
the individual prizes available, to
Stan Cherry and Ray Wright for their
craftsmanship on the shield, and,
finally, special thanks to Mr Portman,
for presenting the prizes.
O. B. Rook
(Thanks are also due to Harry Helm who
masterminded the organisation of the whole
tournament — a feat which called for
considerable strategy too! Ed.)
R e s u l ts
Winners:
Forest Rook O.B.
H. Helm 0—1
R. Zimmermann 1—0
R.Cherry 1—0
Third:
Maintenance
J. Smith 1—0
T. Rawlings 0—1
A. Gardiner 1-0
Runners-up:
Production Control
D. Brain
J. Ireland
B. Smith
Fourth:
PED Pawnbrokers
R. Morgan
R. Frazier
E. Edwards
STINCHCOMBE SCORES
Stinchcombe must be one of the
most popular venues on the Golf
Club calendar — as proved by the
large turn-out we have every time we
visit there. This year’s visit, on
July 25, was no exception with 27
attending.
The morning round produced some
good golf with Ian Billson winning
section A with 39 points, and Erik
Sologub winning section B with 30.
After a fine lunch, the afternoon
round was played in brilliant
sunshine. It is worth noting, for those
who do not play golf, that on the
edge of the course there is a public
footpath, and the magnificent views
of the surrounding countryside
obtainable from there make it well
worth a visit on that count alone.
Scores from the second round were
again very good, section A being
won by G. Frogley of Peat, Marwick
& Mitchell, the Company auditors,
while our chairman Des Gibbs took
first prize in section B.
After tea some players went out yet
again while others played round the
putting green and the rest of us
drowned our sorrows in the bar.
I reckon we’ll all be back next year,
because such a good golf course as
Stinchcombe ensures a return visit,
even if you played into as many
bunkers as I did.
Pat Dulson
THANKS RAY !
Club chairman Ray Mann recently
left us to start an independent
business venture, and the committee
would like to place on record their
appreciation of his energetic efforts
during his term of office, particularly
with regard to the provision of
improved club facilities. Tony Haynes
(Work Study) is acting as chairman
until the AGM is held this autumn.
ANYONE FOR DANCING ?
Anyone wishing to enrol for ballroom
dancing classes this autumn please
contact Ira Griffin, tel. 332 int., by
September 22.
10
PUTTING YOU
IN THE PICTURE
J. Ingram
Irene and Richard Meek.
21st Birthday
Jane Murrell (Comptometer section.
Finance & Admin) on July 5.
Engagement
June Kidd (Invoice Clearance, Accounts)
to the Rev. Ronald Taylor on July 13.
Weddings
Irene Bevan (Finance & Admin) to Richard
Meek at Lydbrook Church on July 14.
Rex Turley (Idg. hand. Salvage Dept) to
Margaret Rogers at Lydney Register Office
on July 20.
Births
Phillip Roy, a son for Bob Grimley (Goods
Inwards) and his wife Sue, on July 9.
Simon Jonathan, a son for Roger Ridler
(PED resident, Xerox Corporation) and his
wife Janine, on July 17.
Janine Louise, a daughter for Gordon Meek
(Machine Shop) and his wife Georgina, on
July 18.
Simon Anthony, a son for Tony Wood
(Machine Shop) and his wife Margaret, on
July 28.
Retirements
Best wishes to the following who retired in
August: James Gardner (Supply Centre);
George Wood (Stock Control); Sidney
Kibble (Sheet Metal Shop, RX Cinderford);
and Bill Watkins (Goods Inwards QC).
SHARPSHOOTERS
Sharp-shooters Pete Watson and
Mike Bird of PED admire the
handsome trophies sent by Xerox
Pioneer Pistol Club, following
the pistol postal match held
between their teams and ours.
The large trophy is for our ‘A’
team who won, the smaller ones
for the individual members who
had the highest scores in the
contest.
Draughtsmen
dash off
with Cup
The 3 D’s (that stands for ‘Dashing
Design Draughtsmen’) played a five
a side KO tournament, organised by
May Hill PC, on July 21 — and
walked off with the challenge cup
and individual gold medals.
Competing against teams from
Westbury, Huntley, Gloucester,
Upleadon and other localities, they
won the final 3—1.
The Dashing Draughtsmen were
‘Babs’ Brooks, ‘Elver’ Hargreaves,
‘Bangy’ Johnson and ‘Pip’ Gaskins,
captained by Eric Weeks who signs
himself pictorially as ‘Pow’ I
TOP DOG
Last December we wrote about the
meteoric career of a dog — the
greyhound Forest Noble, which by
then had brought his owner Harold
Moore, a progress chaser in
Production Control, close on £1,000
in prize money.
The Drybrook-bred dog has since
maintained his winning ways. He
came a close fourth in the Greyhound
Derby in June and then in August
topped this performance by winning
the Champion Stakes at Wimbledon
over 700 yards, his longest distance
so far.
Total prize money just for this last
race came to £1,001. No wonder
Harold is ‘more than pleased with
him.’
Based at Wimbledon, where he is
rated top dog. Forest Noble has
earned a bit of a rest, though he will
be putting in occasional appearances
as crowd-puller at selected races.
Now Harold has hopes of a new
litter, produced by Forest Noble’s
dam and sired by ‘the greatest daddy
of all time’ — Newtown Heather.
‘There’s hardly a race that this dog’s
progeny hasn’t won’, said Harold.
So watch out for a new Forest ‘top
dog’.
Return of
the Glorylanders
The Glorylanders, who made such a
hit when they came to our Carol
Service last Christmas, have been
engaged for a full concert. It will be
in the Social Centre on Saturday,
September 15 at 7.30 pm; admission
is free. If you haven’t heard
this group before, then you really
should come. If you have heard
them, then you’ll want to hear them
again.
SP@RTS & S&CIAL CLUB
RECORD
SIVIASHED AGAIN
As last year, the course record was
broken when the annual 14-mile
road race, sponsored by the Sports &
Social Club, was held in conjunction
with Longhope fete on July 7.
Organised by Henry Phillips, the race
attracted 33 competitors, including
two international runners.
The new record of 1 hr 7 mins 35
sees (43 sees faster than in 1972)
was set by R. C. Sercombe of
Newport Harriers. B. D. Popel of
Westbury Harriers came second as he
did last year, and third was D. A.
Jones of Cardiff Amateur Athletic
Club.
Winning veteran was John Tarrant of
Salford Harriers, the British and UK
100-mile record holder and former
world record holder for the 100 miles
and 40 miles; winning novice was
G. Carpenter of Portsmouth Athletic
Club.
The cup for the best team was won
by Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club
with 23 points and a total team time
of 3 hrs 33 mins 36 sees (they were
third last year); second were
Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic
Club, and third Birchfield Harriers.
Henry Phillips later received a letter
from Mr Tarrant expressing
appreciation of the excellent
organisation. Helpers at the event
were: Ralph Taylor (chief steward);
Tony and Cynthia Haynes (timekeepers)
; Horace Cornwall, Pat
Jordan, Bill Luker, Don Parkinson,
Sadie Pritchard, Roy Steward, Ron
Wrigglesworth (stewards); and
Tony Cale (first aid).
• Which Work Study engineer working in
the States was asked by an American
lady where he came from, and replied
•Worrall Hill I’
11
A TITLE
ON TOUR
Looking for souvenirs is all part of a
holiday and Estelle Davies of Group
Facilities Planning, our current
‘Miss Rank Xerox, Mitcheldean’,
went souvenir hunting like anyone
else when she went to Italy this year.
But one thing she hadn’t expected
to collect was yet another beauty
queen title!
Estelle, who won her holiday abroad
as a prize for the ‘Miss Rank Xerox’
contest last March, went with her
mother and father. Jack and Marge
Davies, and brother Bruce (all of
whom work in 4000 Assembly), on
a package tour with Cosmos Tours
in July.
They travelled by coach to Italy,
staying first at Miramare, near
Rimini; one evening they went to a
party arranged by the tour operators,
and it was here that Estelle won her
latest crown and title ‘Miss Cosmos’,
competing against 50 entrants of all
nationalities.
She also won a life-size doll and a
free day trip for two to Venice, which
is how she and her mother added
another highlight to the holiday.
‘As soon as we arrived we jumped
into a gondola,’ said Estelle. ‘The
gondolier did his stuff, singing
‘Santa Lucia’ and other romantic
songs — it was beautiful. We saw
the Doge’s Palace, toured a Venetian
glass factory, and visited St Mark’s
Square, where you could hardly
walk for the well-fed pigeons I’
The Davies family moved on to a
hotel outside Rome, run surprisingly
by Vietnamese nuns (‘smashing
food’), and spent three days ‘doing’
f
12
Our ‘Miss Rank Xerox, Mitcfieldean’,
78-year-old Estelle, adds ‘Miss Cosmos’ to
her current list of titles.
the capital. What with the Colosseum,
the Vatican, St Peter’s and the
Pantheon sun temple, plus the Tivoli
Gardens with their 500 fountains, it
was pretty exhausting.
A further ‘must’ was a visit to the
famed Fountain of Trevi where
Estelle threw her coins in over her
shoulder as tradition demands — one
for a wish (but she wouldn’t say
what for) and one to ensure her
return to Rome one day.
Like Venice with its pigeons, Rome
has rather more stray cats than it
wants. Estelle saw evidence of them
in the various ‘kittens paradises’
where, fed by all and sundry, they
enjoy a permanent Roman holiday.
(No one seems to have thought of
putting the cats among the pigeons I)
Back behind her typewriter, Estelle
told us: ‘I had a really wonderful
time. I can recommend winning the
Miss Rank Xerox competition to any
girl I’
Ron Barnett, formerly Manager,
Personnel Administration and
Research — Manufacturing Group, has
been appointed Personnel Manager,
Mitcheldean, with effect from
August 20. He reports directly to
Mr Salmon.
Mr Barnett joined Rank Xerox in
June 1965 and was Personnel
Manager, Welwyn Garden City, until
April 1973 when he transferred to
Manufacturing Group.
He succeeds Len Peacock who has
taken up a senior post with
another company.
HOME MARKET
For Sale
Detached house with garage in IVIitcheldean,
3 bedrooms, gas-fired central heating, large
garden, carpets, Venetian blinds, fitted
wardrobe in main bedroom, £10,750.
Tel. Drybrook 542726 evenings.
Complete wheel with Michelin X tube and
tyre to fit Triumph 1300, £5. Also crash
helmet, £ 1 . Mrs K. Meek, tel. 197 int.
Semi-detached house, 2 double bedrooms,
1 single. Bath with WC, room heater.
Large L-shaped lounge/diner. Kitchen
leading to average rear garden, front garden,
large garage space. Price £8,800. 16 Old
Dean Road, Mitcheldean.
Volkswagen Beetle roof rack, £2-50 o.n.o
Mrs Marangon, tel. 506 int.
‘F’ reg. Fiat 124. Very quick but economical
car. Only t w o owners, very nice condition,
long MOT, taxed. Dave Hall (Productivity
Services), tel. 654 int.
Detached luxury bungalow, 3 bedrooms, full
central heating, many extras. Long drive to
brick-built carport, fairly large garden. Lydney.
J. A. Smith (Machine Tool Maintenance),
tel. 320 int.
Mothercare twin pram, navy, with
detachable body and shopping tray,
£10 o.n.o. Wicker carrycot with screw-on
legs, £2 o.n.o. Alwin pram, grey and white,
with pram bag, £10 o.n.o. All in good
condition. G. Bourne, 23 Foundry Road,
Cinderford, tel. Cinderford 22276, or
Machine Shop, tel. 328 int.
White PVC soft-top and tonneau cover to
suit Mk I Spitfire, £10 the two. R. Colwell,
tel. 532 int.
1960 Vauxhall Victor, 5 good tyres. In
running order but engine requires some
attention. First £15 secures. Tel. Drybrook
542011.
Two Crossply tyres 5.60 x 13 (almost new),
£5. A. Worsfold, tel. 335 int.
Lotus Elan 1965, £495. Tel. Shoubridge 447.
Hillman Minx ’63, runable. Offers. A. Harris
(4000 main line).
One Rayburn with oven on left side,
£10 o.n.o. One Rayburn with oven on
right side, £10 o.n.o. Tiled firegrate
surround and hearth, £7 o.n.o. Pushchair
with hood, £4 o.n.o. M. M. Walker (Design).
Wanted
Hockey stick for 11 to 12-year-old ; boy’s
bicycle to suit 12 to 13-year-old. Barbara
Powell, tel. 476 int.
Lift required (mornings only) from Aston
Crews to Mitcheldean. Mrs Walker,
tel. 563 int.
ANY NEWS FOR V I S I O N 7
If you have, then please—
let your departmental correspondent know,
or leave it at any Gate House for
collection by me,
or post it to me at Tree Tops, Plump Hill,
Mitcheldean,
or ring me—it’s Drybrook 542415.
Myrtle Fowler, Editor
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd.
PERSONNEL MANAGER