October 73 No. 92
THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN
After luncfi, Vic Feather had a chat with Plant shop stewards. Here he enjoys a joke with representatives of
the clerks unions – (from the left) Sheila Brookes, Mabel Meek, Jack Wakeling, Jean Morgan, Pete Stanway and Nigel Cooke.
WHEN VIC FEATHER CALLED
We just had t o ask h im : ‘ Is it y o u or
is it really M i k e Y a r w o o d ?’
‘ W e never even k n o w ourselves,
u n t i l w e o p e n our pay p a c k e t s 1’ he
cracked.
His ready w i t a n d a p p r o a c h a b i l i ty
came as s o m e t h i n g of a s u r p r i s e to
t h o s e of us used o n l y t o s e e i n g h im
on t e l e v i s i o n w h e n , as general
secretary of t h e T U C ( c u s t o m e r s of
ours, by t h e w a y I ) , he w a s c a l l e d for
in m o m e n t s of crisis.
N o w retired f r om t h e h u r l y – b u r l y life
of a u n i o n boss, V i c Feather was
m a k i n g his f i r s t v i s i t s i n c e 1 9 5 4 to
t h e area t o a t t e n d t h e Forest of Dean
Trades C o u n c i l annual d i n n e r and
d a n c e , a n d t h e C o m p a n y t o o k the
o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n v i t e h im t o t he
Plant.
W i t h J o e B u r k e a n d Len Harper,
p r e s i d e n t and secretary r e s p e c t i v e ly
of t h e Trades C o u n c i l , he v i s i t e d t he
a p p r e n t i c e t r a i n i n g s c h o o l , T E D and
E n g i n e e r i n g , G o o d s I n w a r d s , t he
M a c h i n e S h o p a n d 4 0 0 0 A s s e m b l y.
He w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d in t he
w o r k b e i n g d o n e by our a p p r e n t i c es
w h i c h he c o n s i d e r e d w a s of a very
h i g h s t a n d a r d.
He c o m m e n t e d later t h a t he t h o u g ht
our Plant t h e most p l e a s a n t ly
s i t u a t e d f a c t o r y he h a d ever seen.
A f t e r a l l , ‘ i f p e o p l e have a r i g h t to
l i ve in b e a u t i f u l s u r r o u n d i n g s , t h ey
s h o u l d have t h e r i g h t t o w o r k in
b e a u t i f u l s u r r o u n d i n g s t o o .’
We asked h im w h a t w e r e his plans
f o r r e t i r e m e n t n o w he w a s off t he
p a y r o l l . From w h a t he t o l d us, it
seems t h a t , in his case, ‘ r e t i r e m e n t ‘ is
a p r e t t y m e a n i n g l e s s t e r m . He’s
c e r t a i n l y not g o i n g t o s p e n d any
t i m e r e m i n i s c i n g . ‘ I ‘m t o o busy
t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e f u t u r e t o d o t h a t ,’
he said.
(See also page 2)
F a r I e f t : Peter Salmon.
L e f t : Ron Morfee.
THE
FULLER
ROLE
As f r o m N o v e m b e r 1, Ron M o r f e e,
A s s i s t a n t General Manager, is t a k i ng
over as General M a n a g e r of the
M i t c h e l d e a n Plant, w h i l e Peter
S a l m o n , w h o m he succeeds, is
j o i n i n g G r o u p staff as Manager,
I n d u s t r i a l E n g i n e e r i n g , under Don
Shryane, D i r e c t o r of M a n u f a c t u r i ng
P l a n n i n g .
‘ T h i s a c t i v i t y is v e r y i m p o r t a n t , f o r we
must e n g e n d e r t h e c a p a b i l i t i e s of our
n e w m a n u f a c t u r i n g p l a n t s in Europe
o n a most e f f e c t i v e basis at t he
earliest p o s s i b l e date. Peter S a l m o n ‘s
e x p e r i e n c e in t h i s area w i l l be most
v a l u a b l e , ‘ said Derek Portman,
D i r e c t o r , M a n u f a c t u r i n g Group.
A f u r t h e r key a p p o i n t m e n t w a s also
a n n o u n c e d r e c e n t l y . F o l l o w i n g the
s u c c e s s f u l l a u n c h of t h e 3 1 0 0 (see
c e n t r e p a g e s ) , J i m Evans has been
a p p o i n t e d Manager t o c o – o r d i n a te
t h e w o r k of t h e v a r i o u s p r o d u ct
p r o g r a m m e managers w o r k i n g on t he
G r o u p staff based at M i t c h e l d e a n.
His n e w t i t le is Manager,
M a n u f a c t u r i n g Programmes.
W o r k o n t h e n e w plant sites at Lille
in France a n d M a d r i d in S p a i n is
p r o g r e s s i n g w e l l , a n d it has n o w been
c o n f i r m e d t h a t Rank Xerox G m b h has
n e g o t i a t e d w i t h t h e a p p r o p r i a te
German a u t h o r i t i e s t o b u i l d a f a c t o ry
o n a 7 4 – a c r e site at Eilendorf, A a c h e n .
The t o t a l i n v e s t m e n t for t h e first
phase of t h i s n e w p r o d u c t i o n unit
w i l l be in t h e order of £ 6 m i l l i o n , to
i n c l u d e l a n d , b u i l d i n g s and m a c h i n e r y.
The G e r m a n plant is p l a n n e d to
c o m m e n c e a s s e m b l y w o r k w i t h a
p a y r o l l of 1 5 0 d u r i n g 1 9 7 5 w i th
n u m b e r s i n c r e a s i n g p r o g r e s s i v e l y in
t h e f i r s t phase of d e v e l o p m e n t.
I n i t i a l l y , an area of 3 0 , 0 0 0 sq. metres
w i l l be d e v e l o p e d , 5 , 0 0 0 sq. metres
of w h i c h w i l l be used for
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e purposes.
As w i t h t h e Lille site, t h e r e w i l l be
r o o m for e x p a n s i o n as necessary.
A a c h e n is at t h e c e n t r e of a
c o m p r e h e n s i v e c o m m u n i c a t i o ns
n e t w o r k w i t h e x c e l l e n t m o t o r w ay
c o n n e c t i o n s t o t h e rest of N o r t h e rn
Europe and r e l a t i v e l y easy access to
t h e Channel ports.
S a i d Mr P o r t m a n : ‘ T h e g r o w t h of
Rank Xerox is s u c h t h a t t h e e x i s t i ng
p l a n t s are i n s u f f i c i e n t t o meet t he
d e m a n d s of t h e market place. It is
a g a i n s t t h i s b a c k g r o u n d that a n ew
p l a n t at A a c h e n is p l a n n e d , t o make
its c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s s a t i s f y i ng
t h e s e d e m a n d s f o r larger n u m b e r s of
m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d c o p i e r s and
c o p i e r / d u p l i c a t o r s . ‘
G e r m a n y has p l a y e d an i m p o r t a nt
part in t h e t o t a l Rank Xerox sales
a n d s e r v i c e e f f o r t , p o i n t s o u t A l b e rt
Greiner, D i r e c t o r of t h e German
R e g i o n of Rank Xerox. ‘A
m a n u f a c t u r i n g c a p a b i l i t y w i l l lead to
a f u l l e r role for t h e C o m p a n y in t he
i n d u s t r i a l , social a n d c u l t u r a l l i fe of
t h e c o u n t r y .’
‘We recognise the amount of work you have
done, not only on behalf of the trade union
movement, but also on behalf of the
community at large,’ said Derek Portman,
presenting Vic Feather with ‘a small token
to take into retirement’, on his visit to the
Plant in September. Appropriately named
‘Nostalgia’ it was a metal collage by Dennis
Marsh of our Welwyn Plant.
‘It has some association with the trade unions
and societies you have been involved with
over the years — there’s even something
to represent Women’s Lib I’ added
Mr Portman. Also pictured at the luncheon,
given for Mr Feather and members of the
Forest of Dean Trades Council, are
Joe Burke (far left) and Len Harper,
president and secretary respectively of the
Council.
2
Hon Boakes Alan Noden
. v „ / L
Dennis Bendall John Dennis
Dick Delahay Bob Murray
Mev’ Shelley
Bernard Page
John Brain
MORE ENGINEERING CHANGES
Changes in t h e E n g i n e e r i ng
management s t r u c t u r e , r e c e n t ly
a n n o u n c e d b y E n g i n e e r i n g Manager
T o n y Burke, w e r e r e p o r t e d in o u r last
issue. These c h a n g e s created a
number of O p e r a t i n g U n i t s , a n d it
has been necessary t o r e – a l l o c a t e a n d
in many cases increase t h e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of m a n a g e r s w i t h in
t h o s e units.
To c o p e w i t h t h e w i d e , a n d ever
i n c r e a s i n g , range of o u r p r o d u c t s , a
number of n e w managerial
a p p o i n t m e n t s have been made.
Ron Boakes, A l a n N o d e n and M e v
S h e l l e y have, w i t h i n t h e i r respective
u n i t s , i n c r e a s e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s as
managers f o r n e w p r o d u c t s , t h e
success of w h i c h is essential in o r d er
t h a t Rank Xerox m a i n t a i n s i ts l e a d in
t h e f i e l d of b u s i n e s s machines.
D e n n i s Bendall is s e c o n d e d t o X e r ox
C o r p o r a t i o n f o r a l e n g t h y stay ( f o r
t h e s e c o n d t i m e ) t o m a n a g e a t e am
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e m u l t i n a t i o n al
d e s i g n of y e t a n o t h e r n e w p r o d u c t.
J o h n Dennis, Senior E n g i n e e r i ng
Resident in X C , is n o w manager
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r E n g i n e e r i ng
r e s i d e n t s a n d also f o r k e e p i n g RX
in Europe u p – t o – d a t e w i t h t e c h n i c al
i n f o r m a t i o n .
Our older p r o d u c t s still r e m a i n very
m u c h in d e m a n d . These r u n n i ng
p r o d u c t s are n o w g r o u p e d t o g e t h er
and Bernard Page as m a n a g e r w i ll
have t h e j o b of e n s u r i n g t h a t t h ey
c o n t i n u e t o p l a y t h e i r part by
d e v e l o p i n g i m p r o v e m e n t s.
D i c k Delahay is t o set u p a nd
manage a P l a n n i n g f u n c t i o n f o r t he
e n t i r e M i t c h e l d e a n Engineering
o p e r a t i o n o f t h e o t h e r senior members
of t h e E n g i n e e r i n g t e a m ; B o b
M u r r a y t a k e s over E n g i n e e r i ng
m a n a g e m e n t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r a
major p r o d u c t ; a n d Ken B o y d
c o n t i n u e s t o m a n a g e accessories.
J o h n W a l k e r , in a d d i t i o n t o h is
e n g i n e e r i n g a c t i v i t i e s , has t h e task of
c o – o r d i n a t i n g t h e c o m p l e x q u e s t i o ns
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l Safety.
J o h n Brain, w h o had been A c t i ng
D r a w i n g O f f i c e Services Manager
s i n c e J a c k T i m m s m o v e d to
Personnel D e p a r t m e n t , is c o n f i r m ed
as E n g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e Manager.
Ralph Perry, S t a n W h e e l e r , T o m Head
a n d D o n Peates r e m a i n managers o f
C h a n g e C o – o r d i n a t i o n , D e v e l o p m e nt
L a b o r a t o r y , R e l i a b i l i t y L a b o r a t o r y and
M o d e l S h o p r e s p e c t i v e l y.
Put your screwdriver down and chat to me
for a moment.’ said Mai Thomas,
Chairman and Chief Executive of Rank
Xerox Ltd. to Audrey Dutton. Mr Thomas
was doing a walk-about in 660 Assembly
and he told the department ‘There is still a
big demand for the 660; this machine
should go on for years.’
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Dr G r a h am T h o m p s o n has been
a p p o i n t e d Personal A s s i s t a n t t o t he
General M a n a g e r , w i t h e f f e c t f r om
A u g u s t 2 0 . He j o i n e d Rank Xerox in
O c t o b e r 1 9 7 2 as a g r a d u a t e trainee.
T. G o r d o n N i c o l , w h o has w o r k e d as
Mr S a l m o n ‘ s Personal A s s i s t a n t f o r
t h e past 21 m o n t h s , has been
a p p o i n t e d Personnel A d m i n i s t r a t i on
O f f i c e r , M i t c h e l d e a n.
He s u c c e e d s Derek W i n t l e w h o is
n o w Personnel A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Officer,
M a n u f a c t u r i n g G r o u p Personnel
D e p a r t m e n t .
3
It w a s l u n c h t i m e and I n f o r m a t i on
Systems p e o p l e w h o w e r e d i n i n g at
t h e i r desks r e a c h e d i n t o briefcases
f o r t h e i r s a n d w i c h e s and n e w s p a p e rs
or paperbacks. A l l , t h a t is, e x c e pt
c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m m e r M a l c o lm
Capener. He w a s s o o n p o r i n g over
a m u c h marked m i n i a t u r e orchestral
score, h e a r i ng a f l o o d of s o u n d f r om
i m a g i n a r y s t r i n g s a n d w o o d w i n d ,
p e r c u s s i o n , o r g a n and chorus.
M a l c o l m is o n e of t h r e e p e o p l e at
M i t c h e l d e a n , all w o r k i n g in w i d e ly
d i f f e r e n t spheres, w h o b e l o n g t o t he
P h i l o m u s i c a Choir a n d Orchestra.
F o u n d e d by J a m e s W a l k l e y in 1 9 6 6,
P h i l o m u s i c a ‘ s a im is t o b r i n g choral
and orchestral w o r k s t o i n h a b i t a n ts
t h r o u g h o u t G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e w ho
m i g h t o t h e r w i s e never have t he
o p p o r t u n i t y t o hear t h e m p e r f o r m e d.
V a r i o u s g r o u p s have been s t a r t e d in
places like G l o u c e s t e r , Cirencester
and C o l e f o r d , a n d t h e y all j o i n forces
f o r t h e major events.
M a l c o l m is c o n d u c t o r of t he
Cirencester g r o u p , but he has been
a p p e a r i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y at C o l e f o r d.
At 27 he is P h i l o m u s i c a ‘ s y o u n g e st
c o n d u c t o r — and a most versatile
o n e t o o.
He plays t h e piano, t h e o r g a n , t he
o b o e a n d cor a n g l a i s . ‘I can play a
f e w t u n e s o n t h e v i o l i n , ‘ he t o l d us
m o d e s t l y . ‘ I ‘ v e s t r u g g l e d w i t h the
f l u t e a n d p i c c o l o and I d o h e l p out
o c c a s i o n a l l y w i t h t h e p e r c u s s i o n side
w h e n w e ‘ r e s h o r t of a player.’
As a c h i l d he w a s a c h o r i s t e r in
Gloucester Cathedral for six y e a r s;
n o w he s i n g s c o u n t e r t e n o r , a n d bass
if r e q u i r e d . So M a l c o l m w o u l d seem
t o be i d e a l l y e q u i p p e d t o w i e l d the
c o n d u c t o r ‘ s b a t o n before b o th
players a n d singers.
‘ M y f a v o u r i t e w o r k is G e r o n t i u s ‘.
M a l c o l m said, h u m m i n g away
h a p p i l y a t h e m e f r om ‘ T h e D r e a m ‘.
‘ I ‘ d rather c o n d u c t o n e p e r f o r m a n ce
of t h a t t h a n six Messiahs.’
F r om t h e e l e v a t i n g f o r c e s of m u s i c to
a e r o d y n a m i c s . A f o r m e r member of
t h e A T C , M a l c o l m is a F l y i n g Officer
in t h e R A F V R ( T ) ; a t t a c h e d t o his
o l d s q u a d r o n at King’s S c h o o l,
G l o u c e s t e r , he s p e n d s t w o e v e n i n gs
a w e e k t e a c h i n g t h e lads
a e r o d y n a m i c s .
W h e n he has any spare t i m e ( ! ) he
e x c h a n g e s his b a t o n f o r a bat and
g o e s c r i c k e t c o a c h i n g . M a l c o lm
h o l d s an M C C Y o u t h coach
c e r t i f i c a t e and helps r u n t h e c o u n t y ‘s
u n d e r – 1 9 side, p r o d u c i n g n e w talent
t o i n j e c t i n t o t h e G l o u c e s t e r s h i re
t e a m .
‘ G r a d u a t e s ‘ c o a c h e d by M a l c o lm
have i n c l u d e d David Graveney
( n e p h e w of T o m ) and also A n d r ew
S t o v o l d and J i m Foat. All three
t o o k part in t h e recent G i l l e t t e Cup
Final w h e n G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e played
Sussex. M a l c o l m w e n t a l o n g to
Lords t o see t h e m c o n t r i b u t e t o t he
v i c t o r y of ‘ t h e C o u n t y of t h e Graces’.
P a t r i c k Largey is a l y r i c t e n o r;
a l t h o u g h by d a y he is d i s g u i s e d as a
w h i t e – c o a t e d i n s p e c t o r , w o r k i ng
in T o o l and G a u g e C o n t r o l , o u t of
w o r k i n g hours he may d o n t h e black
robes of D o n Basilio, t h e music
master in ‘ T h e M a r r i a g e of F i g a r o ‘ , or
f o r m a l e v e n i n g w e a r t o suit t he
s o l e m n i t y of ‘ G e r o n t i u s ‘.
One of P h i l o m u s i c a ‘ s s o l o i s t s,
P a t r i c k likes o r a t o r i o because it
e n t a i l s m a i n t a i n i n g h i g h ‘ s i n g i ng
s t a n d a r d s ‘ ; but he e n j o y s o p e r a t oo
because of t h e a c t i n g t h a t is part and
parcel of it, a n d his o p e r a t i c roles
are n u m e r o u s.
A f o r m e r member of t h e Carl Rosa
Malcolm rehearses the soloists in
Philomusica’s performance of ‘ The Dream of
Gerontius’ at Coleford. From the left are
Patrick Largey, Joan Hulbert (whose fine
contralto voice was heard at our last Variety
Club concert), and Ted Chetcuti.
Opera C o m p a n y , he w a s also
p r i n c i p a l t e n o r of t h e Imperial Opera
C o m p a n y for 1 5 years a n d still
a c c e p t s e n g a g e m e n t s , even t h o u g h it
means t r a v e l l i n g all t h e w a y to
L o n d o n t o carry t h e m o u t . Last year
he t o o k part in t h e o p e r a season at
C r a i g – Y – N o s , t h e G l y n d e b o u r n e of
Wales.
P a t r i c k has also b r o a d c a s t o n t he
r a d i o ( B r i s t o l W e s t ) and s u n g o n TV
w i t h Eric R o b i n s o n in t h e ‘ M u s i c for
Y o u ‘ p r o g r a m m e s of t h e ‘ f i f t i e s.
Fired by P a t r i c k ‘ s e n t h u s i a s m,
G e o r g e B r o o k s of S t a n d a r d s Room
has r e c e n t l y d e v e l o p e d an interest in
o p e r a t i c l i b r e t t o s . ‘ H e ‘ s r a p i d ly
b e c o m i n g an a u t h o r i t y o n stories
f r o m t h e operas a n d o p e r a t i c h i s t o r y ,’
P a t r i c k t o l d us. ‘We b o t h retire in
t h r e e years’ t i m e , a n d i t ‘s g o o d to
have an a b s o r b i n g s u b j e c t t o w h i ch
w e can b o t h d e v o t e more t i m e w h en
w e ‘ r e no l o n g e r d o i n g p r e c i s i on
m e a s u r i n g . ‘
L o o k i n g every i n c h t h e possessor of
a r i c h b a s s – b a r i t o n e v o i c e w i t h a
r a n g e of 19 g l o r i o u s notes, Ted
C h e t c u t i is w e l l k n o w n t o a u d i e n c es
at Plant c o n c e r t s . He w o r k s in
Electrical M a i n t e n a n c e ( M a c h i ne
T o o l s ) a n d has been w i t h us e i g ht
years. A M a l t e s e , he came t o t h is
c o u n t r y in 1 9 5 6 , s i n c e w h e n he has
s u n g his w a y i n t o t h e hearts of all
w h o have heard h i m , w h e t h er
P h i l o m u s i c a a u d i e n c e s , s c h o ol
c h i l d r e n , o l d f o l k , or prisoners.
L i k e Patrick, he has a h e a l t hy
respect f o r o r a t o r i o but g e t s a k i ck
o u t of p e r f o r m i n g w i t h the
G l o u c e s t e r Gran d Opera G r o u p w i th
all t h e f a b u l o u s c o s t u m e s , s t a g e w o rk
a n d e x c i t e m e n t t h a t g o w i t h it.
Best of a l l , he likes t o s i n g Falstaff in
‘ F a u s t ‘ — a part he s a w p e r f o r m e d in
C a i r o o n c e a n d f e l t w a s t a i l o r – m a de
f o r h i m.
A c c o r d i n g t o T e d ‘ s c a l c u l a t i o n s , he
d o e s a b o u t 5 0 d i f f e r e n t p e r f o r m a n c es
a y e a r ; w i t h rehearsals t h a t a m o u n ts
t o a lot of e v e n i n g s , but his w i fe
e n c o u r a g e s h im a n d is a regular
member of his a u d i e n c e s.
He’s p r o u d t o o of his d a u g h t e r s’
a c h i e v e m e n t s in t h e arts. His
y o u n g e r girl has r e c e n t l y w o n a
b a l l e t s c h o l a r s h i p ; t h e elder one
p l a y s t h e f l u t e in t h e Gloucester
Y o u t h Orchestra.
There’s an opportunity to hear and
see these Mitcheldean musicians
locally when Philomusica perform
‘The Messiah’ at Lydney Parish
Church on November 25.
4
FIRST OF THE
TRENDSETTERS
W h e n Brian Barnes j o i n e d t h e
C o m p a n y f o u r years ago as a w o rk
s t u d y e n g i n e e r , he never dreamed he
w o u l d s h o r t l y b e c o m e assistant
manager in c h a r g e o f a d e v e l o p m e n t
w h i c h must put o u r M a c h i n e Shop
r i g h t a m o n g t h e t r e n d s e t t e r s — the
N / C c o m p l e x n o w being set u p .
T h e f i r s t o f t h e 1 9 n u m e r i c a l ly
c o n t r o l l e d m a c h i n e s w a s i n s t a l l ed
d u r i n g A u g u s t and b y t h e t i m e t h is
issue c o m e s o u t , t h r e e w i l l be in
p o s i t i o n .
P r o g r a m m e d by p u n c h e d tape, these
u n i t s w i l l m a c h i n e c o m p o n e n t s f o r a
The new NIC machine has been set in position and Brian Barnes (far right) talks to the German
installation team from Burkhardt & Weber with Sid Cooper (centre) acting as interpreter. Sid,
who learned the language while in the Forces, has been selected as one of the setters for the
NIC machines.
f o r t h c o m i n g p r o d u c t , t h e i r s p e e d o f
o u t p u t d r a s t i c a l l y r e d u c i n g lead
t i m e s . Each m a c h i n e carries at i ts
head a c a r o u s e l o f 3 0 t o o l s f o r
m i l l i n g , d r i l l i n g a n d b o r i n g . A s B r i an
e x p l a i n e d , w h i l e a t o o l is b e i ng
i n s e r t e d a u t o m a t i c a l l y in o n e s p i n d l e,
t h e o t h e r is m a c h i n i n g ; w h i l e one
p a l l e t is b e i n g used, t h e o t h e r can be
l o a d e d a n d u n l o a d e d by t h e o p e r a t o r,
w h o o n l y has t o press a b u t t o n to
start it all h a p p e n i n g .
The u n i t s , w h i c h are o f t w o t y p e s,
can m a c h i n e a c o m p o n e n t o n t h r ee
planes in o n e s e t t i n g ; in s o m e cases
t w o w i l l be p o s i t i o n e d s o t h e y b o th
m a c h i n e o n e c o m p o n e nt
s i m u l t a n e o u s l y .
S i d W r i g h t , C o m p o n e n t P l a n n i ng
M a n a g e r , PED, t o l d V I S I O N : ‘ A f t er
t h e f i r s t t h r e e m a c h i n e s are i n s t a l l ed
w e shall c o n c e n t r a t e o n s e t t i n g u p
p r o c e d u r e s a n d s u p p o r t f a c i l i t i e s s u ch
as p r e – s e t t o o l i n g , c u t t e r – g r i n d i n g,
w a s h i n g a n d p a i n t i n g , i n s p e c t i o n , e t c .
F r om N o v e m b e r o n w a r d s t h e
m a c h i n e s w i l l c o m e in at t h e rate o f
t h r e e a m o n t h , i n s t a l l a t i o n being
s c h e d u l e d f o r c o m p l e t i o n in M a r ch
1 9 7 4 . ‘
HARPY FAMILY
We have many families working at the Plant
but we doubt if any can compete with the
Matthews’ record— six brothers and a
sister, plus a whole race of relatives by
marriage, cousins, etc. Our picture shows
(from the left) John and Fred (both work
in the Machine Shop), their sister Mary
(Spares & Sub-assembly), Des (4000
Assembly), sister-in-law Jenny (Auto
Plating), her husband Reg (IPO, Goods
Inwards), and Don, sometimes known as
Charlie (also Machine Shop). The sixth
brother, missing from our photo, is Ted of
Internal Transport.
Dorit miss the CHARITY DANCE in
Social Centre Octoter 19. Spin to midnlgh
?roceedg to the LSA retired members’ fund.
tie
DANCE TO THE TRIANCLE • REFRESHMENTS • LOCAL TRANSPORT
TICKETS 4 0 p EACH FROM THE MACHINE SHOP DANCE COMMITTEE
( A n n Bedney, Peggy Herbert, M i l e s Brooks, T o n y P r i t c h a r d , Ray R a w l i n g s , Clarry W a r d or Geoff W o o d)
5
STAR FEATURES
* The Xerox 3 1 0 0 is a c o m p a c t
f l a t – p l a t e n copier p a r t i c u l a r l y suitable
for t h e smaller user, a n d f o r
d e c e n t r a l i s e d c o p y i n g in l a r ge
o r g a n i s a t i o n s possessing a p r i n t room.
* Its c o m p a c t size ( 2 8 i n . x 3 2 i i n . x
1 2 J in.) enables it t o be p l a c ed
w h e r e it is most needed, either m o u n t ed
p e r m a n e n t l y o n a b e n c h or t a b l e , o r
used as a m o b i l e unit o n i ts s t a n d .
A s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n e d magnetic
brush d e v e l o p i n g system ensures
c o n s i s t e n t results w h e t h e r t he
o r i g i n a l s are b l a c k and w h i t e or
c o l o u r e d , t y p e d , w r i t t e n or d r a w n ,
s o l i d blacks or h a l f – t o n e s.
* Documents t o be c o p i e d can be
any size up t o 8 i i n . x 1 4 i n . A n y
number of c o p i e s up t o 9 9 c a n be
selected. The f i r s t c o p y is d e l i v e r e d in
eight seconds, subsequent copies
b e i n g made at t h e rate of 2 0 per
m i n u t e .
* If t h e o r i g i n a l d o c u m e n t is
f a i n t , or c o n t a i n s a c o l o u r w h i c h is
d i f f i c u l t t o c o p y , t h e 3 1 0 0 w i l l
compensate — at t h e t o u c h of a
b u t t o n — for t h e lack of c o n t r a s t in
t h e o r i g i n a l.
* Bound v o l u m e s can be c o p i ed
right up t o t h e s p i n e , w i t h o u t t h e need
t o f o r c e t h e pages apart and w i t h o u t
d i s t o r t i o n of t h e image.
* A special f e a t u r e is t h e
i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e paper tray. This w i ll
h o l d up t o 2 5 0 sheets in a n y paper
size f r om 8 i n . x 1 0 i n . t o 8 i i n . x
14 in.) T h e t r a y is c l e a r ly
marked so t h a t , w h a t e v e r size o f
paper is u s e d , it c a n be c o r r e c t ly
a l i g n e d . Extra trays are a v a i l a b le
w h i c h can be kept loaded w i t h paper
in v a r i o u s sizes a n d c o l o u r s , a nd
q u i c k l y changed.
* The m a c h i n e stops a u t o m a t i c a l ly
I and an i n d i c a t o r l i g h t t e l l s t he
operator w h e n paper needs t o be
i added. A n y paper j am is s i m i l a r ly
I i n d i c a t e d ; and t h e j a m m e d sheet can
easily be removed as t h e w h o le
t o p of t h e m a c h i n e s w i n g s upwards
w h e n released.
LITTLE COPIERBIG
POTENTIAL
A t r u l y i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n f a n t w as
c h r i s t e n e d t h e X e r o x 3 1 0 0 in t he
G r a n d H o t e l , Paris, o n S e p t e m b e r 1 1 ,
in t h e p r e s e n c e o f s o m e 2 0 0 n a t i o n al
a n d t e c h n i c a l press r e p r e s e n t a t i v es
f r o m 1 4 c o u n t r i e s .
The latest in o u r s e c o n d g e n e r a t i on
of c o p i e r s , it w a s c o n c e i v e d in t he
US, u n d e r w e n t its g e s t a t i o n p e r i od
at M i t c h e l d e a n , w a s b o r n at V e n r ay
a n d is ‘ c o m i n g o u t ‘ i n i t i a l l y in
France.
I t w a s o r i g i n a l l y i n t e n d e d to
m a n u f a c t u r e t h e 3 1 0 0 at M i t c h e l d e a n .
But s p a c e w a s needed here f o r t he
e x p a n d i n g p r o d u c t i o n of t h e 4 0 00
a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of n e w er
p r o d u c t s a n d so, j u s t a year a g o , it
w a s d e c i d e d t o t r a n s f e r t h e p r o d u c t,
t h e n k n o w n as D e c o y , t o V e n r a y .
‘ T h a t t h e t r a n s f e r w a s c o m p l e t e d so
s m o o t h l y a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y w a s due
l a r g e l y t o t h e s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i on
made b y p e o p l e at t h i s Plant,’ said
J i m Evans, M a n u f a c t u r i ng
P r o g r a m m e M a n a g e r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e 3 1 0 0.
As a k i n d o f F l y i n g D o c t o r assisting
at t h e b i r t h of t h e n e w copier, J i m
has h a d t o d i v i d e his w o r k i n g w e ek
b e t w e e n t h e t w o plants, c o – o r d i n a t i ng
a c t i v i t i e s t o e n s u r e a s m o o th
t r a n s i t i o n o f m a n u f a c t u r i ng
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .
He t o l d u s : ‘ W e have had t o d e v e l op
t h e t e c h n i q u e s of m a n a g e m e n t w i t h in
t h e m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o g r a m me
m a n a g e m e n t c o n c e p t as w e h a ve
g o n e a l o n g . There w e r e no
g u i d e l i n e s , n o c l e a r l y d e f i n e d b o u n ds
of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . That w a s t h e w a y I
f e l t it h a d t o b e p l a y e d . Personally
I have f o u n d it a n a b s o r b i n g ,
c h a l l e n g i n g a n d , t o s o m e e x t e n t,
l o n e l y task.’
A l t h o u g h it w a s n o t t h e f i r s t t i m e w e
h a d t r a n s f e r r e d a p r o d u c t , it w as
c e r t a i n l y t h e f i r s t t i m e w e h a d been
i n v o l v e d in s u c h a w h o l e s a le
R i g h t : Bob Murray (centre). Decoy Design
Manager at the time of the transfer, studies
the 3100 circuit board. Containing the
logic controlling all the machine functions, it
is the largest single printed circuit board
Rank Xerox have ever used. With Bob are
(from left) Ken Butt, Decoy draughting
section leader; Geoff Paton, Design section
leader; Wim v.d. Vlasakker, Asst Design
Manager, Venray: and Harry Hobus of Venray
Engineering. Far r i g h t : Packing up the
paperwork in PED. Third and fourth from
left are Geoff Howell, 3100 Production
Engineering Manager, and George Swainson,
currently seconded to Venray.
6
e n g i n e e r i n g a c t i v i t y . Apart f r om t he
s c a l e o f t h e o p e r a t i o n , t h e r e w e r e a
n u m b e r of f a c t o r s w h i c h made t h is
t r a n s f e r p a r t i c u l a r l y c o m p l e x , not
o n l y f o r us b u t a l s o f o r Venray.
F i r s t l y t h e r e w a s t h e t i m e f a c t o r . The
g a p b e t w e e n t h e p r o d u c t i o n times
of m o d e l s here a n d in t h e U S A is
n a r r o w i n g all t h e t i m e . W i t h Decoy,
w e w e r e f o l l o w i n g o n l y a f e w
m o n t h s b e h i n d Xerox. This w o u ld
have p r o v e d p r o b l e m a t i c a l e n o u g h if
t h e m a c h i n e w a s t o have been
p r o d u c e d at M i t c h e l d e a n ;
e n g i n e e r i n g its p r o d u c t i o n at a n o t h er
l o c a t i o n made it d o u b l y so.
Even t h o u g h D e c o y w a s a p p r o a c h i ng
f u l l p r o d u c t i o n , many c h a n g e s w e re
s t i l l b e i n g made t o t h e d e s i g n o f t h e
model t o i m p r o v e p e r f o r m a n c e,
increase r e l i a b i l i t y a n d s o o n , a n d t h e
f a c t that t h e s e kept c o m i n g at us
c o m p l i c a t e d t h e o p e r a t i on
c o n s i d e r a b l y .
B o b Murray, w h o w a s D e c o y d e s i gn
manager, t o l d u s : ‘ W e w e r e n o t d u e
t o r e l i n q u i s h d e s i g n a u t h o r i t y until
w e at M i t c h e l d e a n had c o m p l e t ed
i s s u i n g d r a w i n g s f o r t h e f i r s t main
p r o d u c t i o n m a c h i n e . A l t h o u gh
a u t h o r i t y w a s t r a n s f e r r e d in M a r c h , a
s i g n i f i c a n t a m o u n t of M i t c h e l d e an
d e s i g n e f f o r t w a s i n v o l v e d u p t o t h e
e n d of A u g u s t t h i s year.
P u r c h a s i n g w a s a n o t h e r f a c e t w h i ch
p r e s e n t e d special p r o b l e m s . We h ad
a l r e a d y p l a c e d orders f o r a b o u t
o n e t h i r d of t h e t o t a l purchase
c o n t e n t , m a i n l y w i t h U K s u p p l i e r s.
In a d d i t i o n , w e h a d c o m p l e t e d o ur
e n q u i r y / s e l e c t i o n process o n t h e
m a j o r i t y of t h e b a l a n c e of p u r c h a s ed
items. In c e r t a i n s p e c i f i c cases w e
had also f o u n d it necessary t o enter
i n t o some f o rm of c o m m i t m e n t w i th
t h e s u p p l i e r s.
The p r o b l em w a s f u r t h e r c o m p l i c a t ed
by t h e d e c i s i o n t o have s a m p l i n g,
o t h e r t h a n f o r C o n t i n e n t a l s u p p l i e r s,
c a r r i e d o u t at M i t c h e l d e a n.
Says M a u r i c e Pask: ‘ W i t h t h e h e lp
of J o e Helmer, RXV Purchase
P l a n n i n g Manager, w h o l i ke myself
had been c h o s e n as p u r c h a s i ng
c o – o r d i n a t o r f o r t h e t r a n s f e r , a plan
w a s d r a w n u p w h i c h e m b o d i e d all
t h e i n g r e d i e n t s necessary t o ensure
t h e s m o o t h t r a n s f e r of t h e M i t c h e l d e an
p u r c h a s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t o V e n r a y —
s u c h d e t a i l s as s u p p l i e r s ‘ prices,
s a m p l e a n d c o m p o n e n t lead t i m e,
t o o l i n g i n f o r m a t i o n , e t c.
‘ I t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t all orders
a l r e a d y p l a c e d o n U K s u p p l i e r s,
e x c e p t in o n e o r t w o s p e c i a l cases
w o u l d be c a n c e l l e d a n d r e p l a c e d by
an order f r o m Venray, t h e a im b e i ng
t o a v o i d c o n f u s i n g t h e s u p p l i e r s or
j e o p a r d i s i n g d e l i v e r y.
F a r l e f t : Mai Thomas, our Chairman and
Chief Executive, introduces the 3100 to
the press. C e n t r e : Derek Portman,
Director, Manufacturing Group, alone in
space that v^ill soon be filled to capacity.
In these spherical booths guests were able
to watch a video tape of the 3100; each
booth offered a commentary in one of six
languages. L e f t : Manufacturing Programme
Manager Jim Evans boarding the Company
aircraft for Venray. Behind him is ‘Nick’
Allen, one of the Rank Organisation flight
captains.
‘ A l l t h i s e n t a i l e d a c l o s e w o r k i ng
r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h our p u r c h a s i ng
c o l l e a g u e s in V e n r a y , a n u m b e r of
w h o m w e r e f r e q u e n t v i s i t o r s t o t h e
P l a n t . ‘
Of all d e p a r t m e n t s at M i t c h e l d e a n,
P r o d u c t i o n E n g i n e e r i n g w e r e most
h e a v i l y i n v o l v e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y in t he
r e a lm of a s s e m b l y p l a n n i n g , t o ol
d e s i g n a n d c o n t r o l . M a n y PED
e n g i n e e r s , c o n c e r n e d w i t h p r o d u c t i on
f r o m f l o o r l a y o u t s d o w n t o t h e last
nut a n d b o l t , w e r e s e l d om seen
w i t h o u t t h e i r D u t c h ‘ s h a d o w s ‘ at
t h i s t i m e.
T h e n , j u s t b e f o r e C h r i s t m a s , t he
c e n t r e of g r a v i t y m o v e d t o H o l l a n d,
a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s r e v e r s e d,
t e a m s of o u r e n g i n e e r s g o i n g o u t
w e e k l y t o Venray.
Other areas t o o m a d e their
c o n t r i b u t i o n . J i m C a n n o n ‘s
d e p a r t m e n t w i t h i n P r o d u c t i o n Control
‘ d i d a b i t o f s p a d e w o r k o n t h e
p r o d u c t ‘ a n d a t e am headed by
D e c o y s u p e r v i s o r G w y n W i n n ey
spent s o m e t i m e at V e n r a y f r om
December t o M a y t h i s year.
M i t c h e l d e a n u n d e r t o o k t o m a k e t he
t o o l s in t h e i n i t i a l b a t c h a nd
s u b s e q u e n t l y t r a n s f e r r e d r e s p o n s i b i l i ty
t o Venray. ‘ A l t h o u g h V e n r ay are n o w
s e l f – s u p p o r t i n g f r o m t h e P r o d u c t i on
C o n t r o l angle, w e are s t i l l a v a i l a b le
f o r c o n s u l t a t i o n at t h i s e n d , ‘ said
G w y n .
P e r s o n n e l , as w e l l as v a r i o us
d e p a r t m e n t a l secretaries t h r o u g h o ut
t h e Plant, had a h e c t i c t i m e of it
m a k i n g travel a n d a c c o m m o d a t i on
a r r a n g e m e n t s .
Continued on page 8
LITTLE COPIERBIG
POTENTIAL
( c o n t i n u e d )
Q u a l i t y D e p a r t m e n t came i n t o t h e
p i c t u r e t o o . So d i d A c c o u n t s , a n d
G r o u p Finance have r e c e n t l y been
busy m o n i t o r i n g costs a n d t y i n g u p
t h e p a p e r w o r k . A l l c o s t s i n c u r r e d by
M i t c h e l d e a n d e p a r t m e n t s w i l l have
been t r a n s f e r r e d t o V e n r a y b y t h e e nd
of t h e f i n a n c i a l year, O c t o b e r 3 1 .
One of t h e h u m a n a d v a n t a g e s to
c o m e f r om t h i s t r a n s f e r s i t u a t i o n w a s
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a m u c h closer
personal u n d e r s t a n d i n g of o u r D u t ch
c o l l e a g u e s .
D u r i n g t h e d a y w e a n d t h e y w o r k ed
t o g e t h e r a n d t h e i n v o l v e m e n t proved
e d u c a t i o n a l o n b o t h sides. Language
presented n o b a r r i e r , t h a n k s m o s t ly
t o our D u t c h f r i e n d s ‘ l i n g u i s t ic
a b i l i t y . They learned a b o u t o u r
c o n v e n t i o n s a n d w o r k i n g m e t h o d s,
not t o m e n t i o n a c q u i r i n g a t a s t e f o r
D o u b l e D i a m o n d s a n d s a y i n g ‘ O h
b l o d d y I’ w h e n t h i n g s d i d n ‘ t g o q u i te
r i g h t !
By t h e t i m e t h i s issue g o e s t o press,
t h e f i r s t p r o d u c t i o n m a c h i n e s w i ll
have s t a r t e d r o l l i n g i n t o t h e S u p p ly
Centre at V e n r a y . But t h a t i s n ‘ t t h e
e n d of t h e s t o r y as f a r as M i t c h e l d e an
p e o p l e are c o n c e r n e d .
PED c o n t i n u e t o b e i n v o l v e d o n t he
p l a n n i n g side. Ron Teague, Decoy
t e am leader in t h e S t a t e s f o r t h e past
15 m o n t h s , has b e e n g o i n g over to
Venray r e g u l a r l y t o l e n d h is
k n o w – h o w o n v a r i o u s aspects, a n d a
t e am c o n s i s t i n g of D e n n i s Barnard,
G e o r g e S w a i n s o n a n d D o n M e e k ,
l ed b y G e o f f H o w e l l as 3 1 0 0
P r o d u c t i o n E n g i n e e r i n g Manager, h as
been s e c o n d e d t o V e n r a y f o r 12
m o n t h s .
As J i m Evans s a y s : ‘There is s t i l l a
l o t t o b e d o n e . The c h a r a c t e r o f
p r o b l e m s w i l l p r o g r e s s i v e l y c h a n g e to
t h a t o f p a r t s s u p p l y — a v e r y real
p r o b l em in a Europe w h e r e lead
t i m e s are v i s i b l y l e n g t h e n i n g — and
w e shall be i n t e r f a c i n g o n a m u ch
larger scale w i t h t h e S u p p l y D i v i s i o n .’
4 |
Alt Parker {far left) and Doug Broughton (second from right) working together
with their Dutch ‘shadows’ in TED during the handing-over period.
– 4 « A .*>. „
THE YOUNG VIKINGS
Brandishing shields reminiscent of
dustbin lids, these young warriors sailed
the high seas of Mitcheldean on board a
seaworthy Rank Xerox lorry to fight for
a prize at the village carnival on August
25. Thanks to the help they received
from the Supply Centre and the
carpenters’ shop, their float won second
prize — a sum which the lads donated to
Community Centre funds. Apart from the
eight lorries which they loaned for the
occasion, the Company did their bit by
providing parking space and other
facilities. The Carnival Committee,
headed by Bob Young (Engineering
D.O.), report that £674 was raised by
the event towards the new Centre.
The Decoy Duck — symbol of
Mitcheldean/Venray collaboration !
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 n t k n o w , or l e a v e it at a n y G a t e House f o r c o l l e c t i o n by me,
or post it t o me at T r e e Tops, Plump Hill, M i t c h e l d e a n,
or r i n g me — i t ‘ s D r y b r o o k 5 4 2 4 1 5.
Myrtle Fowler, Editor
i l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a ce
neeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting
l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a ce
m e e t i n g p l a c e meeting p l a c e mee
p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting piaci
m e e t i n g p l a c e meeting p l a c e meel
S o m a n y p e o p l e a t t h e P l a n t
t h e s e d a y s y o u n e v e r g e t t o
k n o w t h e m ? W e a i m t o h e l p b y
i n t r o d u c i n g a f e w o n t h i s p a ge
e v e r y i s s u e.
T h e y c a l l e d h im T h e Flying
M i l k m a n ‘ w h e n , d r i v i n g w h a t w as
w i t h o u t d o u b t t h e fastest milk cart in
t h e West, he used t o b r i n g t h e d a i ly
p i n t a s t o f a m i l i e s a r o u n d t h e M a y
Hill a n d L o n g h o p e area. Then some
six years ago, w h e n t h e pace of
f i l l i n g f o r m s a n d d o i n g a c c o u n t s g o t
t o o m u c h f o r h i m , L e s L a n e j o i n ed
t h e p r o d u c t i o n line at M i t c h e l d e a n.
The d o c t o r p r e s c r i b e d three
miles a d a y i n s t e a d of a
p i n t a m i l k a d a y , so w h e n e v e r t he
weather permits, Les, a l l set in s h o r ts
and r u n n i n g shoes, sets o u t a f t e r a
snack l u n c h o n o n e o f f i ve
a l t e r n a t i v e routes. A n d all t h is
despite being a c o n f i r m e d pipe
smoker. He o n c e i n v i t e d c o m p a n i o ns
on his h e a l t h ‘ r o u n d ‘ b u t h is i d e a of
a brisk w a l k seemed more like
b r e a k i n g t h e s o u n d barrier t o t h e m ,
so he n o w d o e s his t h r e e miles solo.
As another w a y o f k e e p i n g f i t , he
s w i m s in his g a r d e n s w i m m i n g pool
o n M a y H i l l . Even his r e l a x a t i o n —
m a k i n g tables a n d h o u s e signs o u t o f
y e w — is t o u g h . Les has t h r e e s o n s;
t h e eldest, Stuart, w o r k s in 4 0 00
A s s e m b l y like his d a d .
S e c r e t a r y t o t h e Personnel Manager,
2 6 – y e a r – o l d G i l l L a c e y is a b l u e – e y ed
b l o n d e f r om M i d d l e s e x . She h a s
been w i t h us t w o years n o w a n d
a l t h o u g h she a n d her h u s b a n d o f t en
g o back t o ‘ t h e s m o k e ‘ t o v i s it
r e l a t i v e s , she has g r o w n t o l o v e t he
G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e c o u n t r y s i d e . They
l i ve at T u f f l e y w h e r e t h e i r chief
interest is t h e h o l d i n g of
i n t e r d e n o m i n a t i o n a l b i b l e classes f or
y o u n g people, k n o w n as C o v e n a n t er
G r o u p s . These are c o n n e c t e d w i th
t h e A l b i o n Gospel Hall in G l o u c e s t er
w h i c h t h e Laceys a t t e n d . One o f
G i l l ‘ s h o b b i e s is s i n g i n g a n d h e r
c o n t r a l t o v o i c e is o c c a s i o n a l l y heard
in d u e t s a n d c h o r a l w o r k s in c h u r c h .
G i l l t o l d us s h e l i k e s g a r d e n i n g b ut
hates h o u s e w o r k . She l o v e s her j o b
because it is t o d o w i t h p e o p l e a nd
t h e w o r k is s o v a r i e d . ‘ I t ‘ s t h e most
i n t e r e s t i n g j o b I’ve ever h a d ‘ s he
t o l d us. ‘ A n d I must a d m i t I g e t a
k i c k o u t o f never k n o w i n g w h a t ‘s
r o u n d t h e c o r n e r .’
A bearded ‘ V i k i n g ‘ over 6 f t t a l l a nd
w e i g h i n g 1 9 s t o n e ( ‘ I ‘m s e n s i t i ve
a b o u t t h a t ! ‘ ) , E r i c T o s e of W o rk
S t u d y is n o t a m a n y o u w o u l d at
o n c e a s s o c i a t e w i t h t h e a r t s . J u d o,
r u g g e r , b a d m i n t o n , hockey,
s w i m m i n g , t a b l e t e n n i s — yes, a n y o ne
of t h o s e . As it h a p p e n s , y o u c a n
a s s o c i a t e Eric w i t h all of t h o s e , a nd
a w h o l e lot besides.
T h i s b l o n d g i a n t f r o m t h e N o r th
R i d i n g of Y o r k s h i r e j o i n e d us 18
m o n t h s a g o , h a v i n g t r i e d v a r i o us
j o b s t h a t i n c l u d e d a h o t t i m e in a
s t e e l w o r k s . N o w h e f e e l s he’s f o u n d
h i s n i c h e — in t h e W o r k S t u dy
s e c t i o n d e a l i n g w i t h n o n – p r o d u c t i on
areas s u c h as m a i n t e n a n c e , stores
a n d i n s p e c t i o n . ‘I l i ke t h e c o n t a c t
w i t h people, s t u d y i n g t h e i r p r o b l e ms
a n d t r y i n g t o s o l v e t h e m , ‘ Eric t o ld
us. It w a s n o t i n g d o w n his h o b b i es
t h a t w o r e o u r p e n c i l o u t . He u s e d to
p l a y f o r D r y b r o o k R u g b y C l u b ; n o w
he is a referee f o r t h e G l o u c e s t er
area. Apart f r om t h e a c t i v i t i es
a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d , he is a keen
angler, l u n c h t i m e b r i d g e a d d i c t a nd
h o m e – m a d e w i n e – m a k e r . His d a r ts
p l a y i n g o n c e w o n h im s p a c e in a
local r a g .
Eric a n d h i s w i f e M a r i a n have t w o
c h i l d r e n . M a r i a n , w h o c o o k s f or
l u n c h – t i m e c u s t o m e r s at t h e G e o r ge
I n n , h e l p s r u n M i t c h e l d e a n Guides
w h i l e Eric, a n a u x i l i a r y f i r e m a n,
t r a i n s t h e m f o r t h e i r f i r e – f i g h t i ng
badges.
As f o r t h e arts, Eric has a f o l d e r f u ll
of a s s o r t e d verse, s e r i o u s a nd
o t h e r w i s e . H o n o r a r y h u m o r i s t of t h e
d e p a r t m e n t , he’s a l s o a t a l e n t ed
a r t i s t i c d o o d l e r . The secretaries
a p p r e c i a t e his g i f t s of f l o w e r s —
m y t h i c a l b l o o m s b e a u t i f u l l y d r a wn
a n d c o l o u r e d . W e c o u l d have s w o rn
t h e y p e r v a d e d W o r k S t u d y w i th
p e r f u m e I
m e e t i n g p l a c ei m e e t i n g p l a ce m e e t i n g p l a ce
9
mm(& w OKI m m(S^m
Michael and Susan Da vies -J- Ingram
Clive and Annette Manns j. Ingram
I n s u r a n c e D i s c o u n ts
Under t h e C o m p a n y staff purchase
scheme, e m p l o y e e s are e l i g i b l e f o r
v a r i o u s d i s c o u n t s as f o l l o w s :
1 5 % Car i n s u r a n c e .
1 5 % All-in b o n u s p o l i c y f o r
h o u s e – o w n e r s a nd
h o u s e h o l d e r s .
5% Life assurance ( 5 % l i m i t ed
t o £ 0 – 2 5% of s u m a s s u r e d ).
1 5 % Personal a c c i d e n t a nd
illness.
1 5 % Horses; y a c h t s a n d small
c r a f t ; a n d o t h e r insurances
f o r special a c t i v i t i e s.
2 0 % H o l i d a y m a k e r s ‘ — i n s u r a n c es
against loss of l u g g a g e , e t c .
1 5 % All-risks i n s u r a n c e — on
j e w e l l e r y , f u r s a n d o t h e r
v a l u a b l e s . Special p o l i c i es
f o r s t a m p c o l l e c t i o n s.
For f u l l d e t a i l s a n d a d v i c e , c o n t a ct
t h e local Eagle Star b r a n c h at
Renslade House, W h i t f i e l d Street,
G l o u c e s t e r (tel. G l o u c e s t e r 2 5 3 5 7 ).
10
2 1 s t B i r t h d a ys
L y n n N e w m a n ( 4 0 0 0 Assembly) on
A u g u s t 3 0 .
Terry J a m e s ( S u p p l y Centre) on A u g u s t 3 1 .
R e t i r e m e n t s
Best w i s h e s t o t h e f o l l o w i n g w h o retired
in S e p t e m b e r:
Ted Davies ( 4 0 0 0 A s s e m b l y ) , Sidney Hook
( M a i n t e n a n c e C l e a n i n g ) ; Bill Jones
( R e l i a b i l i t y ) , Leonard Sumner (Design D.O.),
and A r t h u r W h i l e s ( S t o c k C o n t r o l ).
They E n t e r t a i n I d e as
W h i l e members w e r e still b r o w n i ng
t h e m s e l v e s in t h e s u m m e r sunshine,
t h e C l u b w e r e w o r k i n g o n w a y s to
keep t h e m f r om g e t t i n g b r o w n e d o ff
t h i s c o m i n g w i n t e r.
A n E n t e r t a i n m e n t s C o m m i t t e e has
n o w been f o r m e d t o h a n d le
a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r d a n c e s a n d s u c h l i k e .
If a n y o n e has a n y s u g g e s t i o n s f o r
e v e n t s t h a t are a b i t o u t o f t h e
o r d i n a r y , w o u l d t h e y please pass
t h e i r ideas over t o a n y o f t h e
f o l l o w i n g members of t h e n ew
c o m m i t t e e : T o n y Haynes ( W o rk
S t u d y ) , B o b D a v i e s ( Q C ) , Ira G r i f f in
( P E D ) , Pat J o r d a n ( T E D ) , Sadie
P r i t c h a r d ( 6 6 0 A s s e m b l y ).
W e d d i n g s
Helen Baker (Spares & S u b – a s s e m b l y ) to
Pete S y m o n d s ( M a c h i n e Shop Inspection)
at C l e m e n t s End Chapel on A u g u s t 1 1 .
M i c h a e l Davies (QC, RX C i n d e r f o r d ) to
Susan B r o w n at St Peter’s Church,
C l e a r w e l l , o n A u g u s t 18.
Sue Grosvenor, (secretary t o R. N i v i s o n,
Manager, S u p p l y Centre), t o Ray Gale at
St K a t h e r i n e ‘ s C h u r c h , M a t s o n , Gloucester,
o n September 1.
M a u r e e n Spencer ( P r o d u c t i o n C o n t r o l ) to
Roger Farr ( M a c h i n e Shop) at C h r i s t c h u r ch
C h u r c h o n September 8.
C l i v e M a n n s ( E n g i n e e r i n g D.O.) t o A n n e t te
Hill at St M a r y ‘ s C h u r c h , Lydney, on
September 8.
L y n n e J a m e s (secretary t o Mr R.
Z i m m e r m a n n ) t o G o r d o n H a y w a r d at
St S t e p h e n ‘ s Church, C i n d e r f o r d , on
S e p t e m b e r 2 2 .
B i r t h s
S i a n Elizabeth, a d a u g h t e r for S am P h i l l i ps
( P E D ) and h is w i f e Thelma, o n J u l y 9.
Mar k Terence, a s o n f o r Terry Hemms
( P l a n n i n g , PED) a n d h is w i f e Eugene, on
A u g u s t 1 0 .
Mar k Robert, a s o n f o r o u r M i s s Rank Xerox
1 9 7 0 , Jill Leach ( f o r m e r l y Data Assembly)
and her h u s b a n d Robert ( R e l i a b i l i ty
E n g i n e e r i n g ) , o n A u g u s t 1 8 .
Mar k J o n a t h a n , a s o n f o r J o h n Notley,
Asst Manager, T r a n s p o r t & M e c h a n i c al
H a n d l i n g , a n d h i s w i f e Doreen, on
A u g u s t 2 4 .
Caroline, a d a u g h t e r f o r S t a n Davies ( 6 6 0
A s s e m b l y ) and h is w i f e Shirley, on
A u g u s t 2 4 .
A n d r e w Graham, a s o n f o r Dave Clegg
( G M E Resident, W e l w y n ) and h i s w i fe
Felicity, o n A u g u s t 3 1 .
Helen Jane, a d a u g h t e r f o r J o h n W a t k i ns
( 6 6 0 A s s e m b l y ) and h is w i f e A n n , on
September 6.
A s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t label but t he
m i x t u r e l a r g e l y as b e f o r e ! T he
c h a n g e in t i t l e of t h i s l o n g –
e s t a b l i s h e d c l u b w a s o n e o u t c o m e of
t h e a n n u a l general m e e t i n g.
T w o s h o c k s at t h e e n d o f A u g u s t :
A n g e l a P o w e l l a n n o u n c e d she w a s
l e a v i n g t o r e j o i n t h e w o r l d of b a n k i n g ,
a n d R o b i n Berks t o l d us he w o u l d
be w i t h Xerox u n t i l A p r i l ‘ 7 4 . T o
A n g e l a — our best w i s h e s f o r t he
f u t u r e a n d a t h a n k – y o u for a j o b w e l l
d o n e d u r i n g t h e past season ; t o
R o b i n Berks — w e l o o k f o r w a r d to
y o u r r e t u r n.
Plans f o r i n c r e a s e d c o m p e t i t i on
a c t i v i t y have t o be p o s t p o n e d as
R o b i n King w i l l be u n a b l e t o a c t as
c o m p e t i t i o n secretary o w i n g to
h o s p i t a l i s a t i o n of his w i f e Betty to
w h o m w e s e n d our best w i s h e s f o r a
s p e e d y recovery.
RX C M i t d i e l d e a n)
SP@RTS & SOCIAL CLUB Cine & P h o t o Club
IZTTER
Manager Peter Broomer wishes Eric well on behalf of the Stock Control Department.
At t h e e n d o f A u g u s t , P r o d u c t i on
S t o r e s s a i d g o o d b y e t o t h e ir
s u p e r v i s o r a n d t h e L S A w i s h e d a
l o n g a n d h a p p y retirement t o Eric
H i g g i n s , w h o s e tall f i g u r e has b e c o me
so f a m i l i a r over 2 6 years. Eric came
t o M i t c h e l d e a n in 1 9 4 7 t o w o r k on
t h e a s s e m b l y of Bell & H o w e ll
p r o j e c t o r s . He w a s a p p o i n t ed
s u p e r v i s o r in 1 9 4 9 a n d later
t r a n s f e r r e d t o stores in w h i c h sphere
he spent t h e l a t t e r half of h is w o r k i n g
l i fe at M i t c h e l d e a n .
He g o e s d o w n in Plant h i s t o r y as t he
f i r s t t o q u a l i f y f o r a n a w a r d under
our S u g g e s t i o n s Scheme in t h e e a r ly
1 9 5 0 ‘ s . V i c e – p r e s i d e n t Frank
Edwards, w h o r e c a l l s t h a t o c c a s i o n,
was at Eric’s l e a v e – t a k i n g t o present
h im w i t h t w o o i l – f i r e d electric
radiators o n t h e L S A ‘ s behalf. From
Plant c o l l e a g u e s Eric r e c e i v e d a
stainless steel teaset a n d t r a y , a silver
brandy g o b l e t , plus some w h i s k y a n d
c h a m p a g n e ; his d e p a r t m e n t a l chief,
Peter Broomer, presenting t h e
teaset, p a i d t r i b u t e t o Eric’s
r e l i a b i l i t y a n d c o – o p e r a t i o n over t h e
years.
Eric’s r e t i r e m e n t w a s a l s o m a r k e d by
a p a r t y at t h e C a s t l e V i e w H o t e l,
Kerne B r i d g e , a t t e n d e d by s o m e 6 0
of his c o l l e a g u e s ; his w i f e R u t h , w h o
r e t i r e d last J u n e after 1 8 y e a r s ‘
s e r v i c e , c a m e a l o n g t o o .
Eric t e l l s us he s a i d f a r e w e ll
p e r s o n a l l y t o as m a n y f r i e n d s as he
c o u l d a n d asks us t o pass o n his
a p o l o g i e s t o t h o s e he m i s s e d s e e i n g.
D o n ‘ t f o r g e t — t h e a n n u a l social w i ll
be o n N o v e m b e r 3 in t h e S o c i a l
C e n t r e .
HALUO GIRLS
These young ladies who recently joined us
as trainee secretaries are learning how to
give a good ‘first impression’ of the Company,
and their own department, when answering
the ‘phone. Teaching them telephone
technique is GPO travelling supervisor
Doreen Edmunds. Training Department
decided to double their intake of such
trainees this year, and the number of ‘training
stations’ has had to be increased accordingly.
O f f i c e r l i n e – u p o f t h e c l u b is n o w :
President: D. R. P o r t m a n ;
vice-presidents: P. M . S a l m o n ,
D. R. E l l i o t t , A . R. M a s o n ,
C. J a m i e s o n ; chairman {temporaryacting)
Jack S e a l ; vice-chairman:
D o r i s B a r k e r ; hon. secretary: Sandra
S n e l l ; hon. treasurer: Pat J o r d a n ;
committee: Robin King, D a v i d Payne,
Harry Pearce, Cyril P o w e l l , Dennis
R o b b i n s .
D a n c i n g in P r o g r e ss
The B a l l r o om D a n c i n g C l u b s t a r t ed
t h e i r season o n S e p t e m b e r 2 2 w i t h a
d a n c e in t h e S o c i a l Centre t o t he
e x c e l l e n t music of t h e J . M . Four.
A beginners’ class is b e i n g held on
Fridays at 8 p m , a n d t h e c l u b ‘s
s o u n d e q u i p m e n t has been
c o m p l e m e n t e d by a speaker k i n d ly
p r e s e n t e d b y H e n r y Danter of Ross
A u t o m a t i c s .
C l u b members c o n t i n u e t o a d d to
t h e i r c o l l e c t i o n of g o l d bars I Latest
n e w s is t h a t c h a i r m a n Ira G r i f f i n a n d
h i s w i f e Esme have o b t a i n e d their
g o l d bar o n e ( c o m m e n d e d ) .
T h e y ‘ r e c a t c h i n g on
A rash o f i n t e r d e p a r t m e n t al
t o u r n a m e n t s has b r o k e n o u t . A darts
c o m p e t i t i o n is b e i n g held t h i s year in
c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e s k i t t l es
t o u r n a m e n t , a n d it is h o p e d t o start
t h e p l a y – o f f o n O c t o b e r 2 2 .
T h e n t h e r e ‘ s t h e f o o t b a l l t o u r n a m e n t.
As w e w e n t t o press w e heard
t h a t 2 0 t e a m s had e n t e r e d ;
p r e l i m i n a r y r o u n d s w i l l p r o b a b ly
have f i n i s h e d a n d t h e f i r s t be u n d er
w a y b y p u b l i c a t i o n date.
H e a v y d a t e?
W h i c h d e p a r t m e n t recently a c q u i r e d a
d a t e s t a m p w i t h letters a n d f i g u r e s almost
1 i n c h deep ? Does t h e d a t e need t o be
bigger n o w , in k e e p i n g w i t h t h e e x p a n s i on
of t h e C o m p a n y ?
Who w e n t t o l i m b e r up at a Keep Fit class
t h e night before her w e d d i n g d a y?
W h o in M e d i c a l a c c e p t e d a c h a l l e n g e to
scale a r o c k f a c e ? A n d w h o in 4 0 00
Assembly lost his b e t t o a rather breathless
lady and h a d t o h a n d over 1 l b . o f a p p l e s?
B i t t e r B l o w f o r t h e 3 D ‘s
The D a s h i n g Design D r a u g h t s m en
( 3 D’s), f i e l d i n g a m u c h c h a n g ed
s i d e t o t h e ‘ g i a n t – k i l l e r s ‘ w h o w o n t he
M a y Hill A F C c h a l l e n g e t r o p h y ( as
r e p o r t e d in o u r l a s t i s s u e ) , e n t e r e d a
f i v e – a – s i d e f o o t b a l l t o u r n a m e n t at
C h e l t e n h am N o r t h R u g b y Football
C l u b o n S e p t e m b e r 2.
‘ B a b s ‘ B r o o k e s , ‘ B a n g y ‘ J o h n s o n a n d
‘ P i p ‘ Gaskins w e r e u n a v a i l a b l e a n d
t h e n ‘ P i g W Weeks c r i e d o f f . W i t h a
t r o p h y at s t a k e — a barrel o f T r o p hy
b i t t e r — ‘ S m o o t h y ‘ Carr, ‘ M o v e r’
W i l l i a m s a n d ‘ B a a ‘ L a m b s t e p p e d i n to
t h e breach a n d , w i t h ‘Elver’
Hargreaves, w e r e o n l y a g o a l k e e p er
s h o r t . A t t h e g r o u n d Chris G i b b o n s,
C h e l t e n h am w a t e r p o l o goalkeeper.
J o i n e d t h e r a n k s .
The 3 D ‘ s w o n t h r e e games a n d d r ew
t h e f i n a l 0 — 0 w h i c h had t o be
d e c i d e d b y p e n a l t i e s . Sad t o relate,
t h e 3 D ‘ s l o s t 4 — 3 , t h a n k s t o ‘Elver’
w h o c o n v e r t e d t h e last penalty.
Trevor Jones watches as Eric Knight aims for a double top.
Supervisors Surprised
‘ L e t t h e m w i n — but not by m u c h ‘
was t h e i n s t r u c t i o n issued by t he
S u p e r v i s o r y S o c i e t y t o t h e i r teams.
Their t r i p l e c h a l l e n g e t o t h e Managers
had been a c c e p t e d and t h e o u t c o me
was b e i n g d e c i d e d at a s o c i a l e v e n i ng
o r g a n i s e d by t h e S o c i e t y at t h e C l ub
House o n Friday, S e p t e m b e r 14.
But by t h e e n d of t h e e v e n i ng
v i c e – c h a i r m a n J o h n Ireland
( P r o d u c t i o n C o n t r o l ) was w i l d ly
u r g i n g o n his t e a m s t o stave off
c o m p l e t e defeat.
The S u p e r v i s o r s f o r c e d d r a w s in d a r ts
a n d t a b l e t e n n i s . It w a s t h e latter
w h i c h p r o d u c e d t h e most memorable
i n c i d e n t of t h e e v e n i n g — Ralph
Z i m m e r m a n n ( 4 0 0 0 A s s e m b l y ),
s t r i p p e d t o t h e w a i s t t o keep his c o o l,
b e i n g o v e r p o w e r e d by Fred Coombes
( P r o d u c t i o n C o n t r o l ) w h o w on
2 1 — 5 . Fred, it w a s later revealed, is
an e x – c o u n t y p l a y e r!
At s k i t t l e s , h o w e v e r , t h e Managers
ran a w a y w i t h an easy v i c t o r y 5 — 0 ,
t h e h i g h e s t s c o r e r s b e i n g T o n y Bryson
( 3 5 ) and D a v i d M i l l s ( 3 4 ).
T h e b u f f e t w a s e x c e l l e n t , a n d it w as
a l t o g e t h e r a v e r y e n j o y a b l e and
s u c c e s s f u l e v e n i n g , as Ron M o r f ee
said w h e n t h a n k i n g t h e S o c i e t y on
behalf of t h e v i s i t o r s.
Next i t em o n t h e S o c i e t y ‘ s p r o g r a m me
is a d i n n e r / d a n c e o n Friday,
November 2, at t h e Chase H o t e l,
R o s s – o n – W y e , t o w h i c h all are
l o o k i n g f o r w a r d . Further e v e n t s are
b e i n g o r g a n i s e d f o r t h e w i n t e r season
a n d t h e c o m m i t t e e h o p e as m a n y as
p o s s i b l e of t h e i r 1 2 0 or so members
w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e.
HOME MARKET
F o r S a le
S e m i – d e t a c h e d house, 3 bedrooms, central
h e a t i n g , garage, 2 r e c e p t i o n , o p e n aspect
at rear, T u f f l e y . G. Lacey, t e l . 9 2 2 i n t .
L u g g a g e trailer, c a p a c i t y 5 c w t , 1 5 c u . f t,
c o m p l e t e lights, w i r i n g , 5 0 m m ball socket,
w / p r o o f cover, l i t t le used, excellent
c o n d i t i o n , £ 3 0 o.n.o. R. B r o w n , t e l . 4 4 7 i n t.
Navy Restmor pram in g o o d c o n d i t i o n w i th
c a n o p y and s h o p p i n g tray. K. E. W i l l i a m s ,
t e l . 5 3 2 i n t . or 2 6 T h e Crescent, Carisbrook
Gardens, M i t c h e l d e a n.
Claud Butler 1 0 – s p e e d r a c i n g bicycle,
h a r d l y used. Offers a r o u n d £ 3 5 .
J . A. S m i t h ( M / e T o o l M a i n t e n a n c e ),
t e l . 3 2 0 i n t.
T h r e e – b e d r o o m e d d e t a c h e d b u n g a l o w in
Lydney area. Overlooks golf course. Full
gas central h e a t i n g . Detached garage,
p a r k i n g space f o r t w o cars or o n e caravan.
£ 9 , 8 0 0 . R. G i b b o n s (RX C i n d e r f o r d ),
t e l . 0 9 . 2 8.
Parkinson C o w a n M k 3 g a s cooker, f u l ly
a u t o m a t i c i g n i t i o n , eye-level g r i l l , seet
h r o u g h oven door, a u t o t i m e r on oven,
m i n u t e minder, preset h o b , etc. £80, s a v i ng
£ 4 0 o n o r i g i n a l price. Smith, t e l . 7 8 1 int.
O l i v e t t i Dora p o r t a b l e t y p e w r i t e r in g o od
c o n d i t i o n , £ 1 5 or offers. Elizabeth Denby
( S w i t c h b o a r d ) , t e l . 1 4 0 or 3 8 3 i n t .
Grey ‘ R e d l a n d 5 0 ‘ r o o f t i l e s 3 7 0 a n d 2 0
crest. A. P r o t h e r o ( 4 0 0 0 Dept) or t e l .
C o l e f o r d 2 2 1 9 .
C a m p i n g stove, 2 b o i l i n g rings and g r i l l,
w i t h gas c y l i n d e r . Brand new, a r o u n d £ 2 0 .
Nurse B a l d w i n , M e d i c a l Centre.
One d o u b l e bed, £ 1 5 . Navy a n d w h i t e Tan
Sad h i g h pram, e x c e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n , £ 1 2 .
Green Z a n e t t a f a b r i c carrycot, very g o od
c o n d i t i o n , £3. Baby walker, £1 -50.
Mrs J . A. T u r l e y , 31 Westerley Close,
C i n d e r f o r d ; t e l . 2 2 8 7 0 .
Pedigree h i g h pram, g o o d c o n d i t i o n,
£ 5 o.n.o. A. F. R a w l i n g s ( M a c h i n e Tool
M a i n t e n a n c e ) , 5 Fir V i e w Road, H e w l e t ts
Way, Ruspidge, C i n d e r f o r d.
Detached house w i t h integral garage,
o u t s k i r t s of M i t c h e l d e a n . Centrally heated,
3 bedrooms, upstairs b a t h r o o m , 2 2 f t l o u n g e,
k i t c h e n / d i n e r , c l o a k r o o m / t o i l e t . Pleasant
corner plot w i t h p r o d u c t i v e v e g e t a b l e p a t c h.
To i n c l u d e some f i t t e d carpets, £ 9 , 6 0 0 o.n.o.
Tel. D r y b r o o k 5 4 2 1 0 2 any t i m e .
T w o storage heaters, M i d e l e c , 3 K w .
J . S o l o g u b , t e l . 8 8 7 i n t . or D r y b r o o k 5 4 2 2 2 0.
T h r e e – b e d r o o m e d , d e t a c h e d link b u n g a l ow
in C o l e f o r d . Central heating, d o u b l e glazing,
L-shaped l o u n g e – d i n e r , separate W C .
Flower a n d v e g e t a b l e gardens. Golf trolley,
5 0 p . Golf c l u b s a n d b a g , £ 5 . Coffee
p e r c o l a t o r , £ 1 – 5 0 ( n e a r l y n e w ) . Lawn
mower, £ 2 ( w o r k i n g o r d e r ) . Mrs H. M .
H o l i f i e l d , t e l . 6 6 2 i n t .
W a n t e d
G o o d u p r i g h t piano. Mrs Roberts, t e l . 5 0 7 i n t .
T w i n pram. Steve W a t k i n s ( M a c h i n e S h o p ).
£ 4 7 f r o m F l a g D a y
As a result of t h e f l a g day c o l l e c t i o n in t he
Plant recently, t h e St J o h n A m b u l a n ce
B r i g a d e b e n e f i t e d by t h e s p l e n d i d s um o f
£ 4 7 . Tony Cale asks us t o pass o n t h a n ks
t o all f l a g – s e l l e r s a n d f l a g – p u r c h a s e r s .
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd.
Ron Morfee keeps his eye on the ball.
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