Return to 1970-1974

Vision 097

March 74 No. 97
THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN
‘Chaired’ by his forklih truck and cheered by his mates in Internal Transport and Goods Inwards, Bob receives his £500 cheque from
Gill Winman, invoice typist in Supply Centre — the girl who drew his lucky number. Tony Haynes (third from
right) attended on behalf of the Sports B Social Club.
Bonanza
for Bob
F o r k l i f t t r u c k driver B o b J e n k i n s liad
a l r e a d y had t w o minor w i n s in t he
B o n a n z a D r a w ; t h e n last m o n th
b r o u g h t h im a b o n a n z a — a £ 5 00
c h e q u e , t h e f i r s t b i g f o r k – o u t by t he
d r a w s i n c e m o n e y prizes replaced
cars a n d TV sets.
B o b said he h a d n ‘ t any special
p l a n s f o r t h e m o n e y ; but he a n d his
w i f e M a d g e , w h o is in c h a r g e of
t h e t e l e x r o o m , c e l e b r a t e 2 0 years
of married l i fe t h i s m o n t h , so it made
a f i n e w e d d i n g a n n i v e r s a r y present.
T o n y Haynes, a c t i n g c h a i r m a n of
t h e S p o r t s & Social C l u b , asks us to
say t h a t a n y o n e w h o hasn’t yet
j o i n e d t h e B o n a n z a D r a w and w i s h es
t o d o so s h o u l d c o n t a c t c l ub
s e c r e t a r y Roy S t e w a r d in Personnel
D e p a r t m e n t .
Fout Men go
Professional
Don Elliott w a s ‘ w e a r i n g t w o hats’
w h e n he made a p r e s e n t a t i o n on
February 12 t o f o u r M i t c h e l d e an
men w h o had q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e a w a rd
of t h e C e r t i f i c a t e in W o r ks
M a n a g e m e n t .
As W o r k s Manager of t h e Plant and
a senior member of t h e N o r th
G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e b r a n c h of t he
I n s t i t u t i o n , he said : ‘ B o t h t he
branch and t h e C o m p a n y are
d e l i g h t e d .
‘For many years I have been t r y i ng
t o e n c o u r a g e s t u d e n t s t o t a k e part in
t h e C e r t i f i c a t e in W o r k s M a n a g e m e nt
course, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e t w o – y e a r one.
It g i v e s me a k i c k t o k n o w t h a t t he
greatest p e r c e n t a g e of p e o p l e on
t h i s c o u r s e came f r om our C o m p a n y .’
That ‘ p e r c e n t a g e ‘ c o n s i s t e d of
Brian Barnes, A s s i s t a n t Manager,
and f o r e m a n Ralph Pepper, b o t h of
P r o d u c t i o n M a n u f a c t u r i n g , and
M i k e B r o w n e and Peter S t r i c k l a n d,
b o t h P r o d u c t i o n Engineers in
4 0 0 0 PED.
T r a i n i n g & D e v e l o p m e n t Manager
J a c k T i m m s t o l d t h e s t u d e n t s :
‘ Y o u have d o n e e x t r e m e l y w e l l to
persist in t h i s rather l o n g c o u r s e and
come o u t on t o p .’
Long — and t o u g h — it c e r t a i n ly
s o u n d e d t o us. The course, w h i ch
e x t e n d e d over t w o a c a d e m i c years,
1 9 7 2 / 7 3 , i n v o l v e d a t t e n d a n c e at
G l o u c e s t e r C i t y C o l l e g e of
Works Manager Don Elliott congratulates
Ralph Pepper of the Machine Shop.
T e c h n o l o g y for t h r e e h o u r s o n t wo
e v e n i n g s a w e e k , q u i t e apart f r om
s t u d y a n d r e v i s i o n t i m e at home.
The s u b j e c t s c o v e r e d r a n g e d f r om
p s y c h o l o g y and s o c i o l o g y to
i n d u s t r i a l a c c o u n t a n c y a n d l aw
as w e l l as w o r k s m a n a g e m e n t t h e o ry
a n d practice.
‘ I t w a s c e r t a i n l y v e r y d e m a n d i n g ,’
a g r e e d Ralph Pepper, w h o w o r k s for
B r i a n Barnes in t h e N / C c o m p l ex
b e i n g set u p in t h e M a c h i n e Shop.
‘ W e f e l t a b i t n e r v o u s at f i r s t w h en
w e d i s c o v e r e d our f e l l o w s t u d e n ts
i n c l u d e d p e o p l e l i ke c o n s u l t a n t s and
managers of local h o s p i t a l s . But, in
f a c t , w e o f t e n had t h e edge o n t h e m,
because w e already had s o m e useful
p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h w e c o u ld
r e l a te t o t h e s u b j e c t s .’
The ‘ b i t of f i n a n c i a l i n d u c e m e n t ‘,
a m o u n t i n g t o no less t h a n £ 5 0 each,
w h i c h w a s h a n d e d over by
Mr Elliott at t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n must
have made t h e i r e f f o r t s all t h e more
w o r t h w h i l e .
A special p r o v i s i o n made by t he
C o m p a n y w h e r e t h e p e r i o d of s t u dy
e x t e n d s over t w o or m o r e years and
is c a r r i e d out in t h e s t u d e n t s ‘ o wn
t i m e , t h i s ex gratia payment has never
b e f o r e been a w a r d e d t o a n y o n e at
M i t c h e l d e a n .
Mr Elliott c o m m e n t e d o n t h e m o d e rn
t r e n d f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n man to
e q u i p himself t o a level s i m i l a r t o t h at
of his t e c h n i c a l c o l l e a g u e , so t h at
b o t h sides c o u l d t a l k o n equal
p r o f e s s i o n a l terms.
This w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t t o d ay
w i t h t h e c r o s s – f e r t i l i s a t i o n w h i ch
t o o k place. ‘ W i t h t h e m o v e across
d e p a r t m e n t s , a p r o f e s s i o n al
b a c k g r o u n d can p r o v e of great
b e n e f i t . ‘
As t h e l o n g e s t s e r v i n g of t h e f o ur
men, Brian Barnes t h a n k e d t he
C o m p a n y for s p o n s o r i n g t h e m , and
f o r t h e f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e a n d leave
of absence t h e y had been g i v e n.
He p a r t i c u l a r l y t h a n k e d t he
d e p a r t m e n t a l managers c o n c e r n ed
f o r t h e i r v a l u a b l e e n c o u r a g e m e n t and
s u p p o r t , a n d W a l l y H a m m o n d w h o,
as S u p e r v i s o r y T r a i n i n g O f f i c e r , had
been r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m a k i n g t he
necessary a r r a n g e m e n t s a n d s t e e r i ng
t h e men t h r o u g h t h e i r c o u r s e.
Mr Elliott with (from the left) Peter Strickland,
Mike Browne, Ralph Pepper and Brian
Barnes. Far right is Training & Development
Manager Jack Timms.
GOOD
SHOW,
LYNNE!
As an a m a t e u r actress, 2 3 – y e a r – o ld
L y n n e M a t t h e w s is u s e d to
p e r f o r m i n g in f r o n t of a n a u d i e n c e .
She d i d s o m e a c t i n g w h i l e at
U n i v e r s i t y and w h e n she left h e r
n a t i v e Lancashire t o c o m e and w o rk
in T r a i n i n g D e p a r t m e n t at
M i t c h e l d e a n , she d e c i d e d t o j o in
Ross O p e r a t i c & D r a m a t i c S o c i e t y.
She has, s i n c e c o m i n g t o t h e Plant,
w o r k e d o n a n u m b e r of p r o j e c t s,
i n c l u d i n g S O L A R , a n d n o w her
latest task — that of c o – o r d i n a t i n g a
series o f t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m m e s — has
put her r i g h t ‘ o n stage’ a g a i n.
D u r i n g t h e recent e n e r g y crisis
p e r i o d , t h e o p p o r t u n i t y has been
t a k e n t o g i v e g r o u p s of p e o p l e f r om
p r o d u c t i o n d e p a r t m e n t s a series o f
p r e s e n t a t i o n s o n s u b j e c t s r a n g i ng
f r om safety t o t h e p a y r o l l,
i n t e r s p e r s e d w i t h t o u r s of t h e Plant,
a n d f i lm p r o g r a m m e s w h i c h have
i n c l u d e d a s h o w i n g o f t h e 4 0 0 0 f i lm
‘ T a l k of t h e D e v i l ‘.
The g u i d e d t o u r s have t a k e n in areas
s u c h as t h e t e l e x r o o m , s w i t c h b o a r d.
M a c h i n e Shop, R e l i a b i l i t y Laboratory,
Lynne’s used to it by now. but Jane Thomas of Electrical Sub-assembly looks
startled as the CO2 gas extinguisher roars into action. Tony Cale was explaining how
to operate it on fires occurring in extraction units, trunking, etc. ‘It can be
used by anyone, but the Fire Service must always be called as well,’ he emphasised.
a n d T r a i n i n g S c h o o l . One of t he
‘ v i s i t o r s ‘ , J u l i e L e w i s of Electrical
S u b – a s s e m b l y , t o l d V I S I O N :
‘ I t w a s a g o l d e n o p p o r t u n i t y t o see
h o w w e o n t h i s f l o o r play a part in
t h e w h o l e o p e r a t i o n at M i t c h e l d e a n .
We w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d to
see h o w t h e p e o p l e in R e l i a b i l i t y test
t h e e l e c t r i c a l c o m p o n e n t s w h i c h w e
use in E l e c t r i c a l S u b – a s s e m b l y .’
C o n s i d e r a b l e interest w a s aroused
by t h e p a y r o l l p r e s e n t a t i o n g i v e n by
A l a n Cryer, M a n a g e r . A c c o u n t i ng
Services, w h i c h dealt w i t h t h e w ay
pay is m a d e u p , h o w h o l i d a y pay is
c o m p u t e d , t h e p e n s i o n s c h e m e and
so o n . Supervisors and c h a r g e h a n ds
f o u n d it p a r t i c u l a r l y useful a n d t h e
c o u r s e is l i k e l y t o be r e p e a t e d in t he
f u t u r e , L y n n e t o l d u s .
L a t t e r l y t h e p r o g r a m m e s t u r n ed
s a f e t y – w a r d s , w i t h Ron Powell
( M a n a g e r , 9 9 0 0 Dept) g i v i n g a t a lk
o n general safety, Geoff H o w a rd
( C h i e f Chemist, W o r k s L a b o r a t o r y)
c o p i n g w i t h c h e m i c a l s , a n d W o r ks
Fire O f f i c e r T o n y Cale ( M a c h i ne
S h o p ) a l e r t i n g p e o p l e t o f i re
hazards at h o m e as w e l l as a t w o r k .
M e d i c a l Centre t o o have c o n t r i b u t ed
w i t h a p r e s e n t a t i o n o n t h e v a r i o us
aspects of t h e i r w o r k , i n c l u d i n g first
a i d t e c h n i q u e s.
Said L y n n e : ‘ W e feel t h e w h o le
” s h o w ” has p r o v e d useful in a
number of w a y s , h e l p i n g to
d e t e r m i n e p e o p l e ‘ s needs, a n d
a d d i n g t o t h e i r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f
Plant f u n c t i o n s w i t h w h i c h t h e y may
never have c o m e i n t o c o n t a ct
b e f o r e . ‘
ADVENTURE CENTRE
Seven a p p r e n t i c e s w e n t t o see w h at
t h e n e w ‘ c o u r s e f o r y o u n g men in
i n d u s t r y ‘ at B r a c e l a n d s A d v e n t u re
Centre had t o o f f e r . The f i v e – d ay
p r o g r a m m e , run f o r t w o c o n s e c u t i ve
w e e k s in February, c o n s i s t e d of a
m i x t u r e of t a l k s , d i s c u s s i o n s , f i l ms
a n d p l e n t y o f o u t d o o r a c t i v i t y.
A t a l k o n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e Forest
of Dean and its m i n i n g b a c k g r o u nd
was f o l l o w e d later b y a v i s i t t o a n
o l d m i n e ; a s t u d y o f m a p r e a d i ng
by a ‘ m a p a n d c o m p a s s exercise’ in
t h e Forest at n i g h t ; w h i l e c l i m b i n g,
c a n o e i n g a n d o v e r l a n d n a v i g a t i on
p l a y e d a k e y part in t h e p r o g r a m m e .
T h i s c o u r s e w a s o r g a n i s e d b y t he
J o i n t I n d u s t r i a l T r a i n i n g C o m m i t t ee
of Local I n d u s t r i e s , t h e Drakes
I s l a n d A d v e n t u r e Centre, t h e C o u n t y
E d u c a t i o n C o m m i t t e e and t h e
G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e A s s o c i a t i o n of B o y s ‘
Clubs.
Three of our lads — Colin Overington,
Richard Johnson and John Smith — seen
second, third and fifth from the left in this
group going canoeing on Cannop Lido.
Colin, who’s just passed his ONC Pt II,
told us:’ The course was great fun — but
you had to put your back into it!’
William F. G lav in
W i l l i am F. G l a v i n has been a p p o i n t ed
M a n a g i n g Director and Chief
O p e r a t i o n s Executive, Rank Xerox
L t d , w i t h effect f r o m M a y 1, 1 9 7 4.
He w i l l assume t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i es
at present held by Robert M. P i p p i t t,
w h o has been a p p o i n t e d Senior
Vice President a n d Senior Staff
Officer at Xerox C o r p o r a t i on
headquarters in S t a m f o r d,
C o n n e c t i c u t .
The n e w Rank Xerox M a n a g i ng
Director is 4 1 . He has been a G r o up
V i c e President of Xerox and
President of its Business D e v e l o p m e nt
Group, w i t h headquarters in
Rochester, N e w York, s i n c e 1 9 7 2.
He j o i n e d Xerox in 1 9 7 0 as an
Executive Vice President of t he
c o m p a n y ‘ s c o m p u t e r o p e r a t i o n s.
Prior t o t h i s , Mr G l a v i n w a s w i th
I B M for 15 years.
M a k i n g t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t.
Chairman and Chief Executive
J . M a l d w y n T h o m a s said : ‘ B i ll
G l a v i n is most w e l c o m e t o t h e Rank
Xerox i n t e r n a t i o n a l scene. He w i ll
be a c o n s i d e r a b l e a c q u i s i t i o n t o t he
C o m p a n y w i t h his w i d e k n o w l e d ge
of all Xerox p r o d u c t s — current and
t h o s e p l a n n e d f o r t h e f u t u r e — and
I l o o k f o r w a r d t o his j o i n i n g us w i th
great e n t h u s i a s m .’
Mr Thomas e x p l a i n e d t h a t , in his
n e w assignment, Mr P i p p i t t w i l l be
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r Personnel, M a r k e t i n g,
I n d u s t r i a l Relations, M a n u f a c t u r i ng
and L o g i s t i c s , a n d T e c h n i c a l Service,
as w e l l as t h e n e w Corporate
T r a i n i n g Centre in Leesburg,
V i r g i n i a .
‘ B o b has p e r f o r m e d a m a g n i f i c e nt
service t o Rank Xerox t h r o u g h o ut
its i n t e r n a t i o n a l o p e r a t i o n s . Apart
f r om his most s i g n i f i c a n t business
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e g r o w t h of t he
C o m p a n y d u r i n g his t e n u r e of o f f i c e,
he has been an a d m i r a b l e ambassador
f o r t h e U S A and has g a i n e d the
respect of Rank Xerox people
t h r o u g h o u t t h e C o m p a n y . He has
been a f i n e c o l l e a g u e in every
p o s s i b l e w a y .’
Mike Hook
M i k e H o o k has been a p p o i n t ed
M a n a g e r — P r o d u c t i o n Engineering
D e p a r t m e n t ; he is a c c o u n t a b l e to
J a c k Tester, M a n u f a c t u r i ng
E n g i n e e r i n g Manager.
Harold Hayling
As a result of M r P i n n i g e r ‘ s transfer
t o N e w P r o d u c t s Control
D e p a r t m e n t , c e r t a i n other
a p p o i n t m e n t s have been made in
PED. Harold H a y l i n g is n ow
P r o d u c t i o n E n g i n e e r i n g Manager,
A c c e s s o r i e s , a n d Brian Lewis has
b e c o m e P r o d u c t i o n Engineering
M a n a g e r , 4 0 0 0 . B o t h are d i r e c t ly
r e s p o n s i b l e t o Mr Hook.
Brian Lewis
A l l t h e s e a p p o i n t m e n t s t o o k effect
o n M a r c h 1 last.
N e w P r o d u c t s C o n t r o l Department
n o w c o m p r i s e s : N e w Product
C o n t r o l M a n a g e r — C o p i e r s , Stan
S c o t t ; and N e w P r o d u c t Control
M a n a g e r — D u p l i c a t o r s , J o hn
P i n n i g e r .
Stan Scott
Mr S c o t t w a s s e c o n d e d to
M a n u f a c t u r i n g G r o u p staff last J u ly
t o u n d e r t a k e a s p e c i a l p r o j e c t , for
w h i c h he has s o m e c o n t i n u i ng
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , but he is a c c o u n t a b le
d i r e c t l y t o A s s i s t a n t General
M a n a g e r N o r m a n Fisher f o r t he
c o n t r o l a n d c o – o r d i n a t i o n of c e r t a in
n e w p r o d u c t s a n d a s s o c i a t ed
a n c i l l a r y e q u i p m e n t.
John Pinniger
Mr P i n n i g e r , w h o is a l s o d i r e c t ly
r e s p o n s i b l e t o Mr Fisher f o r c e r t a in
o t h e r p r o d u c t s , has r e p o r t i n g t o h im
S t e w a r t J o n e s , N e w Product
C o – o r d i n a t o r .
Rees Bryant j o i n e d t he
M a n u f a c t u r i n g G r o u p o n M a r c h 1
as M a n a g e r , Systems P l a n n i n g.
Mr Bryant, w h o r e p o r t s t o Ron
S w e n s o n , M a n a g e r , I n f o r m a t i on
Systems, w a s f o r m e r l y w i t h F
I n t e r n a t i o n a l , A m e r s h a m , w h e r e he
h e l d t h e p o s i t i o n of D i r e c t o r and
General Manager.
A r t h u r Verjans has been a p p o i n t ed
P r o j e c t M a n a g e r , A a c h e n , r e p o r t i ng
t o J e r e m y H e n w o o d , Manager,
F a c i l i t i e s & Resources P l a n n i n g.
Mr Verjans c o m e s t o us f r o m RX
Venray.
4
Roger Miles
the Mummer
T w e n t y – t w o – y e a r – o l d Roger M i l es
came t o us as an a p p r e n t i c e in 1 9 67
(‘I remember it w e l l ! ‘ ) . He d i d t he
usual d e p a r t m e n t a l t r a i n i n g , f i n d i ng
himself at o n e t i m e in G o o ds
I n w a r d s I n s p e c t i o n w i t h his father.
C l i f f M i l e s , a n d f i n i s h e d his t o u r in
t h e E n g i n e e r i n g D r a w i n g Office,
w h e r e he w o r k s t o d a y.
N o t h i n g unusual a b o u t t h a t , y ou
may say.
A h , but t h e s e d r a u g h t s m e n are
s u r p r i s i n g characters. After a day
spent d r a w i n g t h e i n t i m a t e parts of
our m a c h i n e s w h i c h o n l y an
e n g i n e e r can a p p r e c i a t e , t h e y are apt
t o w a n d e r off i n t o a W a l t e r M i t ty
w o r l d .
T o r e t u r n t o Roger, t h e remarkable
v a r i e t y of gear in his w a r d r o b e reveals
some w i d e r a n g i n g interests.
T h e r e ‘ s his b l a c k St J o h n A m b u l a n ce
B r i g a d e u n i f o rm — he’s been r u n n i ng
t h e C i n d e r f o r d Cadet D i v i s i o n for
some t i m e.
T h e n t h e r e ‘ s his w h i t e karate robe
w i t h b l u e belt. He used t o b e l o ng
t o t h e Plant Karate C l u b until other
i n t e r e s t s c l a i m e d his t i m e ; but, he
t e l l s us, he may be s h a k i n g the
m o t h b a l l s o u t of t h e o u t f i t any t i me
n o w .
As a c o l o u r f u l c h a n g e , t h e r e ‘ s a rag
s h i r t . This i s n ‘ t part of a h i p p y ‘s
S u n d a y b e s t ; i t ‘s w h a t Roger sports
w h e n he goes d a n c i n g w i t h t he
Forest of Dean M o r r i s M e n , t o w h i ch
‘ s i d e ‘ he’s b e l o n g e d for t h e past
18 m o n t h s or so.
N o w a n o t h e r s p l a s h of c o l o u r is
b e i n g a d d e d — a scarlet j a c k e t , s t r i p ed
t r o u s e r s a n d t h e G l o u c e s t e r t a b a rd
b e a r i n g t h e c i t y coat of arms. For
Roger has r e c e n t l y j o i n e d t h e C i t y of
G l o u c e s t e r M u m m e r s.
We c a n ‘ t deal ‘ i n d e p t h ‘ , as t h e best
j o u r n a l i s t s say, w i t h t h e subject
here — there’s a g o o d deal m o r e to
it t h a n j u s t f e r t i l i t y rites. S u f f i c e it to
say t h a t m u m m i n g goes back t o t he
year d o t , a n d m u m m e r s ‘ plays w e re
o n c e part of an a n c i e n t r e l i g i o us
c e r e m o n y .
T h e p e r f o r m a n c e s i g n i f i e s t he
t r i u m p h of g o o d over e v i l . W h i l e t he
p l a y s v a r y f r o m place t o place,
d e p e n d i n g o n t h e v i l l a g e of o r i g i n,
c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r s , l i ke St George,
appear r e g u l a r l y ; o t h e r t r a d i t i o n al
c h a r a c t e r s , s u c h as R o b i n W o o d (yes,
w e d i d say W o o d ) , Slasher, T u r k i sh
K n i g h t , t h e D o c t o r , Belsy Bob
( r e m i n i s c e n t of B e e l z e b u b ) , a n d even
dear o l d Father Christmas, are o f t en
i n c l u d e d .
Roger has been cast as t h e Captain
a n d as s u c h he i n t r o d u c e s the
p r o c e e d i n g s . The G l o u c e s t e r side
of mummers are p e r f o r m i n g their
plays r o u n d a b o u t St G e o r g e ‘ s Day
in G l o u c e s t e r ( n o t a b l y t h e Cathedral
p r e c i n c t s ) and o u t l y i n g d i s t r i c t s , so
w e may be s e e i n g s o m e t h i n g of t h em
in t h e v i c i n i t y.
We asked Roger w h a t it w a s a b o ut
t h e s e f o l k s y f e s t i v i t i e s t h a t a t t r a c t ed
h im so m u c h.
‘ I ‘m a Forester b o r n a n d b r e d , ‘ he
s a i d , ‘ a n d I l i ke t o feel I’m h e l p i n g to
keep some of t h e o l d t r a d i t i o n s alive.
‘ T h e y are part of our c u l t u r al
h e r i t a g e . (But it’s s i m p l y not t r u e we
d o a bit of l e v i t a t i o n o n t h e side !)
‘ I like m e e t i n g p e o p l e t o o . You get
all sorts, f r om every w a l k of life, at
t h e v a r i o u s f o l k f u n c t i o n s ; a n d t he
r i n g m e e t i n g s , w h e n t h e M o r r i s sides
f r o m d i f f e r e n t areas get t o g e t h e r , are
p a r t i c u l a r l y e n j o y a b l e.
‘ F o l k s y it may be, but i t ‘s t h e f o lk
w h o make it i n t e r e s t i n g . Not
f o r g e t t i n g t h e beer, of c o u r s e !’
The City of Gloucester IVIummers in
action at the New Inn.
5
S i n c e t h e d e c i s i o n w as
m a n y m e m b e r s o f M am
m e t a p h o r i c a l l y ‘ l i v i n g v
J e r e m y H e n w o o d h a s h
a s k e d h i m t o t e l l u s abc
BREAI
V: First of a l l , h o w d i d y o u go
a b o u t f i n d i n g a s u i t a b l e s i t e?
J H : We had t o analyse in w h i ch
c o u n t r y t h e plant s h o u l d be
s i t u a t e d , l o o k i n t o t h e e c o n o m i c s,
cost of p r o d u c t i o n and so o n.
O b v i o u s l y it made sense t o b u i l d in
a c o u n t r y w h e r e Rank Xerox is
a l r e a d y a major business, so t h at
n a r r o w e d t h e f i e l d s o m e w h a t.
A f t e r g e t t i n g agreement t o its
l o c a t i o n in France, a lot of t i m e w as
spent i n s p e c t i n g sites. I l o o k e d at
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 l o c a t i o n s in t he
N o r t h , N o r t h – E a s t a n d N o r t h – W e st
of France b e f o r e t h e o n e at N e u v i l le
en Ferrain, s o m e t e n miles f r o m t he
i m p o r t a n t c i t y of Lille, w a s d e c i d ed
u p o n .
V: We u n d e r s t a n d t h a t it w a s t he
g o o d c o m m u n i c a t i o n f a c i l i t i es
o f f e r e d by t h i s s i t e w h i c h i n f l u e n c ed
t h e d e c i s i o n.
J H : Yes, as M r P o r t m a n said in
V I S I O N a year ago, t h e site is on
A b o v e l e f t : Li//e walk-about — inspecting
progress on site at Neuville en Ferrain
during the early stages of the plant’s
construction. Part of the Flanders belt of
clay, the ground had first to be stabilised
with chalk — quite a massive operation.
L e f t : Mitcheldean meeting — discussing
features of the French plant layout are
Louis Couque, Plant General Manager,
and Pierre Coppernolle, now Technical
Manager, from Lille (second and third
from left) with Senior Projects Manager
Eric Moore (far right) and Projects Engineer
Mike Wicksteed of Manufacturing Group.
aken t o c o n s t r u c t a n e w p r o d u c t i o n p l a n t o n t h e C o n t i n e n t,
f a c t u r i n g G r o u p S t a f f , t h o u g h l o c a t e d i n B u i l d i n g 4 2 , h a v e b e en
th L i l l e ‘ . A s M a n a g e r , F a c i l i t i e s a n d R e s o u r c e s P l a n n i n g,
d o v e r a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r s e t t i n g u p t h e p l a n t , a n d V I S I ON
It t h i s l a t e s t a d d i t i o n t o o u r m a n u f a c t u r i n g s t r e n g t h.
ING NEW GROUND
a major h i g h w a y s n e t w o r k — in
f a c t , it is s i t u a t e d o n t h e N o r th
European W a y w h i c h w i l l e v e n t u a l ly Il i n k up Lille w i t h C o p e n h a g e n via
B e l g i u m , H o l l a n d and Germany.
A a c h e n , w h e r e w e are n ow
e r e c t i n g a n o t h e r plant, is also on
t h e n e w road system.
L o o k i n g even f u r t h e r ahead, Lille
w i l l be t h e French c o n t r o l centre
f o r t h e Channel Tunnel (for w h i ch
t h e c i t y ‘ s Chamber of C o m m e r c e is
t h e French n e g o t i a t i n g b o d y ) , a n d a
m o t o r w a y f r om t h e French e n d of
t h e t u n n e l w i l l link up w i t h Lille.
So it is h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t he
area, w i t h its e x c e l l e n t e x p o r t i ng
f a c i l i t i e s , has a t t r a c t e d a n u m b e r of
i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m p a n i e s like
ourselves.
V: Were w e e l i g i b l e f o r d e v e l o p m e nt
g r a n t s ?
J H : Well, t o b e g i n w i t h , w e had to
get agreement f r om t h e French
G o v e r n m e n t w i t h t h e c o l l a b o r a t i on
of our French O p e r a t i n g Company.
A t e am of l a w y e r s — f r o m Xerox
C o r p o r a t i o n , Rank Xerox, France —
l o o k e d at t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s , a n d as a
result a n e w m a n u f a c t u r i ng
c o m p a n y , S I R X ( S o c i e t e I n d u s t r i e l le
Rank Xerox) w a s set up as a
separate subsidiary.
In t h i s w a y w e have been able to
o b t a i n g r a n t s for l a n d , b u i l d i n g,
plant and e q u i p m e n t , a n d an
a d d i t i o n a l grant f o r t r a i n i n g.
V: Can y o u tell us a b o u t t h e plant
i t s e l f?
J H : The site is o n an i n d u s t r i al
e s t a t e ; it o c c u p i e s 3 5 acres a n d we
have o p t i o n s on a f u r t h e r 21 acres
of a d j o i n i n g land. The p r o d u c t i on
area is 2 4 0 , 0 0 0 sq f t w i t h 1 2 4 , 0 00
sq f t of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t e c h n i c al
o f f i c e s and s u p p o r t space.
The plant is t h e first b u i l d i n g y ou
see as y o u come over t h e border
f r om B e l g i um en r o u t e f o r Lille. For
t h i s reason, a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y because
it is our first plant w i t h a m o t o r w ay
l o c a t i o n , w e w a n t e d t o d e s i gn
s o m e t h i n g rather special — our
a d v a n c e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t he
European A r c h i t e c t u r a l Heritage
Year 1 9 7 5 , y o u m i g h t say I
V: So t h e b u i l d i n g w i l l have a
d i f f e r e n t image f r om any e x i s t i ng
Rank Xerox plant ?
J H : Yes, w e w a n t e d it t o make an
i m p a c t . I n i t i a l l y w e set u p a p r o j e ct
t e a m , w h i c h I c h a i r e d , t o s t u d y t he
d e s i g n and c o n t r o l b u i l d i n g progress.
The t e am i n c l u d e d Industrial
A r c h i t e c t Brian H a r t s h o r n e , a
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m RXHQ, and
a l e a d i n g f i rm of Parisian
a r c h i t e c t s , F o u q u e y , w h o had been
c o m m i s s i o n e d on our behalf by our
French c o n s u l t a n t engineers,
Serete. F o u q u e y came u p w i t h a d e s i gn
w h i c h w e feel is b o t h o r i g i n a l and
a t t r a c t i v e .
The o f f i c e b l o c k is q u i t e s t r i k i n g;
t h e g r o u n d f l o o r f e a t u r e s clear glass
a n d t h e t w o upper storeys are f a c ed
w i t h t i n t e d b r o w n glass of a t y pe
w h i c h reduces solar heat g a i n.
V: What a b o u t t h e p r o d u c t i on
b u i l d i n g ?
J H : This is o n e vast s i n g l e storey
assembly area i n c o r p o r a t i ng
p r o d u c t i o n m a n a g e m e n t o f f i c e s.
Locker r o o m s and t o i l e t s are in an
a d j o i n i n g b l o c k . G o o d s i n w a r ds
and stores are at t h e s o u t h end,
stores a n d d e s p a t c h at t h e n o r t h e n d,
a n d t h e f l o w – l i n e runs f r o m s o u th
t o n o r t h . Finished g o o d s w i l l be
d e s p a t c h e d either t o Venray S u p p ly
Centre, or t o t h e French O p e r a t i ng
C o m p a n y .
V: What of t h e social a m e n i t i e s for
e m p l o y e e s ?
J H : The social c e n t r e a n d canteen
b l o c k , l i n k e d t o t h e o f f i c e b l o ck
a n d assembly b u i l d i n g , is rather
unusual t o o . The social hall has a
r e f r e s h m e n t a n d c o f f e e bar, and
b a l c o n y r u n n i n g r o u n d it f r om
w h i c h p e o p l e w i l l be able t o look
d o w n i n t o t h e h a l l . S k y l i g h t s in t he
f o r m of glass p y r a m i d s are a n o t h er
u n i q u e f e a t u r e . W e felt t h a t by
m a k i n g t h e plant a t t r a c t i v e and
p r o v i d i n g g o o d f a c i l i t i e s w e c o u ld
assist t h e r e c r u i t i n g d r i v e.
V: W h e n w i l l it all be ready f or
o c c u p a t i o n ?
J H : The m a n a g e m e n t and
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n p e o p l e w i l l be l e a v i ng
t h e i r t e m p o r a r y a c c o m m o d a t i on
a n d m o v i n g in next J u n e ; p r o d u c t i on
o p e r a t i o n s are d u e t o c o m m e n ce
after t h e annual summer h o l i d a y in
A u g u s t w h e n p r a c t i c a l l y every
c o n c e r n in France closes d o w n for
t h e m o n t h.
V: What a b o u t t h e o p e r a t i o n s s i d e?
J H : As y o u k n o w , Pierre
C o p p e r n o l l e , w h o is b i – l i n g u a l , w as
e n g a g e d last year as Project Manager
f o r Lille. He has been c h a i r i n g a
t e am f o r m e d t o s t u d y t h e o p e r a t i o ns
side, w i t h t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n of Senior
P r o j e c t s M a n a g e r Eric M o o r e.
I n i t i a l l y S I R X w i l l be a s s e m b l i ng
t h e 8 4 0 m a c h i n e , c u r r e n t l y being
made at W e l w y n ; later o n t h e 7 0 00
w i l l also be made at Lille.
T h i s o p e r a t i o n s t e am has s i n c e been
s p l i t i n t o t w o s u b – t e a m s . One
d e a l i n g b a s i c a l l y w i t h p r o d u c t i on
e n g i n e e r i n g i n c l u d e s PED
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m M i t c h e l d e a n,
W e l w y n and Venray, French
M a n a g e m e n t , and M a n u f a c t u r i ng
E n g i n e e r i n g and F a c i l i t i e s people
f r o m Group.
The other, l o o k i n g after systems
a n d p r o c e d u r e s t o be a d o p t e d at
L i l l e , c o n s i s t s c h i e f l y of
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m other aspects
of G r o u p a c t i v i t y — Finance,
P r o d u c t i o n P l a n n i n g & C o n t r o l,
I n v e n t o r y C o n t r o l , I n f o r m a t i on
Systems, Personnel, Product
Q u a l i t y a n d Purchase.
V: Are t h e plant a n d e q u i p m e n t of
French m a n u f a c t u r e?
J H : M o s t l y . In f a c t , in order to
q u a l i f y f o r m a x i m u m grants, we
have been b u y i n g in t h e U K o n ly
w h e r e t h e r e is not a g o od
a l t e r n a t i v e a v a i l a b l e in France.
Plant a n d e q u i p m e n t , l a y o u t s , etc,
are t h e c o n c e r n of yet a n o t h e r t e a m,
h e a d e d by Eric M o o r e , c o m p r i s i ng
G r o u p r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . M a t e r i a ls
H a n d l i n g p e o p l e f r om our
e s t a b l i s h e d plants, a n d S u p p ly
D i v i s i o n . Pierre C o p p e r n o l l e has
b e e n s i t t i n g in o n t h i s o n e t o o.
Continued next page.
V: A n d n o w — A a c h e n? PERSONNEL NOTE
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Continued from previous page.
V: Have all t h e s e teams held t h e ir
m e e t i n g s at M i t c h e l d e a n ?
J H : Some of o u r i n i t i a l meetings
w e r e held at M i t c h e l d e a n , or o n t he
French site, b u t m o s t have been t a k i ng
place c e n t r a l l y at L o n d o n A i r p o rt
w h e r e w e h i re a h o t e l c o n f e r e n ce
r o o m . W h e n at L i l le w e s t a y in a
H o l i d a y I n n near t h e a i r p o r t —
rather necessary w h e n y o u c o n s i d e r
t h a t t h e m o r n i n g f l i g h t o u t o f L i l le
leaves at 7 am !
V: N o w t h a t t h e p r o j e c t is g e t t i ng
closer t o c o m p l e t i o n , are t he
v a r i o u s teams b e i n g phased o u t?
J H : Yes, w e a re in process
of h a n d i n g over t o S I R X n o w .
V: H o w u s e f u l have y o u f o u nd
t h e French language
classes w h i c h w e r e laid o n f o r
c e r t a i n G r o u p p e o p l e i n v o l v e d ?
J H : For g e n e r a l g e t t i n g a b o ut
t h e y c e r t a i n l y have h e l p e d . B u t
t e c h n i c a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e
c o n s u l t a n t engineers have o f c o u r se
t o be c o n d u c t e d in E n g l i s h . A s y o u
can appreciate, w e c a n ‘ t a f f o r d to
have a n y m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s !
J H : Yes, as t h e w e e k s g o b y o u r
a t t e n t i o n is f o c u s s i n g more a n d
more o n t h e G e r m a n p r o j e c t . A s
y o u k n o w , w e r e c e n t l y w e l c o m ed
A r t h u r Verjans as P r o j e c t Manager,
A a c h e n .
I ‘m sure t h a t e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d in
s e t t i n g u p t h e L i l le plant w i l l stand
us all in g o o d stead in g e t t i ng
A a c h e n g o i n g.
industrial Architect Brian Hartshorne (right)
and Doug Tooze of Facilities & Resources
Planning at work on layouts for Lille.
F r e n c h M a n a g e m e n t at L i l le a re
c a r r y i n g o u t t h e i r o w n r e c r u i t m e nt
p r o g r a m m e , d r a w i n g o n t h e l o c a l
p o p u l a t i o n a n d e n l i s t i n g t he
assistance o f G r o u p Personnel o n
o c c a s i o n f o r s p e c i f i c skills.
Terry Q u a r t e r m a i n e w a s t h e f i r st
M i t c h e l d e a n man t o j o i n SIRX — as
Manager, Material C o n t r o l.
S i n c e t h e n Ian H a m m i l l f r o m P ED
has been e n g a g e d by t h e F r e n c h as
assembly p r o d u c t i o n engineer, a n d
M i k e R o w l e t t of G r o u p Finance
has been s e c o n d e d t o f i l l a senior
p o s t , r e p o r t i n g t o G r a h am Price,
D i r e c t o r of M a n u f a c t u r i ng
I n f o r m a t i o n & C o n t r o l.
S u p p o r t f o r L i l le t r a i n i n g f u n c t i o n is
t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of G r o u p T r a i n i ng
O f f i c e r Keith Laken, f o r m e r ly
C o m m e r c i a l T r a i n i n g Officer,
M i t c h e l d e a n Plant.
K e i t h is c h a i r i n g a w o r k i n g party
c o m p r i s i n g T r a i n i n g staff f r om
M i t c h e l d e a n , W e l w y n a n d V e n r a y a nd
S I R X T r a i n i n g O f f i c e r s ; t h e y are
c u r r e n t l y p r e p a r i n g a t r a i n i n g plan f o r
L i l l e , u s i n g e x i s t i n g courses a n d
p a c k a g e s f r o m t h e t h r e e established
p l a n t s a n d a d a p t i n g t h e m as n e e d e d .
The B i s h o p c a l ls
When the Bishop of Gloucester visited us on
March 7, he was taken to see a part of the
plant which comparatively few people are
authorised to penetrate—the new Data
Centre in Building 50.
Escorted by Derek Portman, Director,
Manufacturing Group, and Information
Officer Jimmy Bake, he also toured the
Machine Shop, Supply Centre, Electrical
Sub-assemblies, Apprentice Training
School and 4000 Assembly.
It was in the latter department that our
picture was taken. Roger Brookes,
chargehand, main line mechanical run,
explained the workings of the 4000
machine to the Bishop, while Geoff Beard,
QC inspector (seen above) gave him a
demonstration of the standard of work
obtainable.
The Rector of Mitcheldean joined the party
for lunch in the directors’ dining room.
E n g i n e e r i n g A s s o c i a t i on
A p p o i n t m e n t
Derek P o r t m a n , Director,
M a n u f a c t u r i n g G r o u p , w a s e l e c t e d a
v i c e – p r e s i d e n t of t h e E n g i n e e r i ng
E m p l o y e r s ‘ W e s t o f E n g l a nd
A s s o c i a t i o n at t h e i r a n n u a l general
m e e t i n g o n J a n u a r y 2 5 .
W i t h 4 0 0 m e m b e r s , t h e a s s o c i a t i on
is t h e l a r g e s t o f 2 2 s u c h bodies
t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y w h i c h make
u p t h e E n g i n e e r i n g Employers
F e d e r a t i o n , t h e l a r g e s t s i n g le
i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n i s a t i o n of e m p l o y e rs
in t h e U K , w i t h 5 , 0 0 0 member f i r m s.
The F e d e r a t i o n is i t s e l f n a t i o n a l ly
r e c o g n i s e d as t h e a u t h o r i t a t i v e v o i ce
of e n g i n e e r i n g e m p l o y e r s , a n d
n e g o t i a t e s most of t h e n a t i o n al
a g r e e m e n t s .
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 p l e a s e—
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 ow
or leave 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 m e a t Tree Tops, Plump Hill,
M i t c h e l d e a n ,
or r i n g m e — i t ‘ s D r y b r o o k 5 4 2 4 1 5.
Myrtle Fowler, Ed/tor
8
i l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m ee
r t e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g pSaci
l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e m e e t i n g p l a c e meel
W h e n Doug Bates f o u n d a j o b at
M i t c h e l d e a n Plant, he a l s o f o u n d an
i n c e n t i v e t o keep o n p a i n t i n g.
There are at least 2 0 p e o p l e in 3 6 00
Stores a n d G o o d s I n w a r d s w h o have
his p a i n t i n g s a n d s o m e m o r e in
4 0 0 0 Stores w h e r e D o u g does
c l e r i c a l w o r k.
His best w o r k , he c o n s i d e r s , is
‘ W i n d j a m m e r s t o Port’, d o n e f or
Dave Charley, Stores Manager,
P r o d u c t i o n Finished Parts. ‘I come
f r o m an o l d A r m y f a m i l y , b u t I l o ve
t h e sea !’ he t o l d us.
‘ T h e lads here have g i v e n me so
m u c h e n c o u r a g e m e n t a n d , n o w I
w o r k p e r m a n e n t l y o n n i g h t s , I g e t a
n i c e l o n g w e e k e n d f o r m y h o b b y .’
T h e w o r k he sells is d o n e in o i l s , b u t
t h e r e are a n u m b e r of a m u s i ng
D i s n e y – t y p e c a r t o o n s f l o a t i n g a r o u nd
t h e Stores w h i c h D o u g p r o d u c e s j u st
f o r a l a u g h.
His s o n – i n – l a w , Ray C o l e of 4 0 00
Assembly, also p a i n t s — in f a c t , if
y o u have a meal in t h e w a i t r e ss
s e r v i c e restaurant, y o u c a n see h is
p i c t u r e of t h e S e v e r n B r i d g e w h i ch
w a s entered f o r t h e Sell a P i c t u re
C o m p e t i t i o n in 1 9 7 2 a n d s o l d t o t he
C o m p a n y .
A l t h o u g h his w i f e c o m e s f r o m Berry
H i l l in t h e Forest, D o u g himself
comes f r om Kent ( t h e f a m o u s Henry
Cooper w a s a c l o s e n e i g h b o u r of h is
at B e l l i n g h a m ) . It w a s f o r h i s w i f e ‘s
sake t h a t D o u g r e l i n q u i s h e d his
2 7 – y e a r – o l d post w i t h t h e G L C a n d
m o v e d t o N e w e n t , c o m i n g t o w o r k in
T e a r d o w n in 1 9 6 9 a n d t r a n s f e r r i ng
later t o Stores.
‘ I ‘m a r a b i d Arsenal s u p p o r t e r a nd
have been f o r 4 4 years,’ D o ug
a d m i t t e d . ‘ I ‘m v e r y f o n d of c r i c k et
t o o . Gloucestershire is t h e C o u n t y of
t h e Graces, but I d o n ‘ t t h i n k many
p e o p l e are a w a r e t h a t Dr W . G. Grace
w a s b u r i e d at Elmers End in Kent.’
A n d he p r o m p t l y p r o d u c e d a s k e t ch
of t h e g r a v e s t o n e t o p r o v e it.
We f o u n d Winnie Morgan,
dressed in a s p o t l e s s overall a nd
w h i t e g l o v e s , c o n n e c t i n g u p t he
a r t e r i e s t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e l i fe f o r ce
r u n s i n t o t h e heart of t h e 4 0 0 0 .
In less s u r g i c a l terms, she a t t a c h es
t h e w i r e s t o t h e c y c l e – s w i t ch
harness a n d t h e n sets it, all r e a d y f or
a s s e m b l i n g i n t o t h e b o d y o f t he
m a c h i n e ,
A l e a d i n g h a n d , W i n n i e has b e en
w i t h us f o r t e n years, d u r i n g w h i ch
t i m e she has w o r k e d o n v a r i o us
m o d e l s , f r o m t h e 8 1 3 t o t h e 3 6 0 0 ;
she w a s , in f a c t , o n e o f t h e f i r s t f o ur
w o m e n t o t r a n s f e r t o t h e 4 0 0 0 f l o o r.
For several years she has b e e n a
member of t h e o r g a n i s i n g c o m m i t t ee
f o r t h e m a i n d e p a r t m e n t a l Christmas
d a n c e ; t h i s year it h a d t o be
p o s t p o n e d until M a r c h 2, b u t
nevertheless over 2 5 0 p e o p l e came
a l o n g t o t h e S o c i a l Centre f o r t h e
event.
W i n n i e a n d her h u s b a n d Keith, w h o
w o r k s o n t h e 4 0 0 0 m e c h a n i c a l r u n ,
are f o n d of d a n c i n g ; ‘ W e g o t o t he
D a n c i n g C l u b d a n c e s , b u t w e l i ke all
sorts, not j u s t s t r i c t t e m p o .’
T h e y have a d a u g h t e r of 1 6 at
Berry Hill S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l , ‘She’s
d o n e w e l l in c o m m e r c e a n d w e ‘ re
h o p i n g s h e ‘ l l be c o m i n g t o t h e Plant
later o n — as a t r a i n e e secretary,’
s a i d W i n n i e.
It w a s T e d P r i c e ‘ s t ie w h i ch
c a u g h t our a t t e n t i o n . There were
f l i e s all o v e r it — a r t i f i c i a l ones p r i n t ed
in g a y c o l o u r s — so it w a s o b v i o us
w h a t o n e o f his i n t e r e s t s w a s .
W h e t h e r c a s t i n g a f l y f o r t r o u t in
s w i f t l y f l o w i n g w a t e r s or p u t t i n g a t o p
s p i n o n t h e ball in t a b l e t e n n is
( T e d ‘ s o t h e r m a i n i n t e r e s t ) , y o u need
a q u i c k eye. A n d years of c h e c k i ng
up o n m a c h i n e s have a c c u s t o m ed
h im t o k e e p i n g a s h a r p l o o k o u t.
A Q u a l i t y A s s u r a n c e f o r e m a n in
9 9 0 0 Dept, he used t o w o r k on
a i r c r a f t , b o t h at Gloster A i r c r a f t a nd
in t h e Fleet A i r A r m . S i n c e 1 9 6 3 he
has been h e l p i n g t o make sure that
t h e machines t h a t leave M i t c h e l d e an
Plant are m a d e t o t h e h i g h e s t q u a l i ty
s t a n d a r d s a n d c u s t o m e r a c c e p t a n ce
levels.
At present he is i n v o l v e d w i t h a n e w
a n d very s o p h i s t i c a t e d p r o d u c t,
c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h an o l d f r i e n d ,
Eric K n i g h t , w h o is r e s p o n s i b l e f or
t h e t r a i n i n g of o p e r a t o r s a n d i n s p e c t o rs
in an i n t e n s i v e p r o g r a m m e.
Ted is a m e m b e r of t h e Forest of
Dean Fly F i s h i n g Club, a n d has been
in t h e G l o u c e s t e r T a b l e T e n n is
League s i n c e 1 9 3 5 .
W h e n not e n g a g e d in e i t h e r of t h e se
e n e r g e t i c p u r s u i t s , he reads f or
r e l a x a t i o n . Says T e d : ‘I d o n ‘ t have
a n y f a v o u r i t e t y p e of b o o k — I j u st
s t u d y t h e Times Literary Supplement
f o r a g u i d e t o t h e best sellers.’
Ted can t e l l a g o o d tale himself t o o .
One he w a s s t i l l l a u g h i n g over
r e c e n t l y w a s w h e n he a n d Eric w e re
o u t w a l k i n g in t h e S t a t e s . A s some
A m e r i c a n s a p p r o a c h e d , Eric, l e a n i ng
o n a s t i c k , asked : ‘ H e y siree, hast
t h o u z i n d r e e s h e p ? T w o t a t s a n ‘ a
w h i t e – f a c e d o w l d e w e ? ‘
‘ J u d g i n g b y t h e i r f a c e s t h e y p r o b a b ly
t h o u g h t w e w e r e t w o Russian
I p a r a c h u t i s t s !’ s a i d T e d .
B i r t h s
Tracy Jane, a d a u g h t e r for Eric Cole ( 4 0 00
Dept) and his w i f e Margaret, o n December 8
Robert James, a son for Dave Byett
(Finance & A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ) and his w i fe
J e n n y on J a n u a r y 22.
Claire Marie a d a u g h t e r for Trevor B u l l o ck
( 4 0 0 0 Dept) and his w i f e Barbara, on
January 25.
Paul A l a n , a son for Brian J e n k i n s ( M a c h i ne
Shop) and his w i f e Geraldine ( f o r m e r ly
Electrical S u b – a s s e m b l y ) , on February 2 1 .
21 s t
Susan Barnard (Electrical S u b – a s s e m b l y)
on February 3.
W e d d i n g s
Terry James ( S u p p l y Centre) t o Lesley
Turley at Parkend C h u r c h on December 1.
Barrie Lewis (Purchase) to Heather Ruck
at the Baptist Chapel, M o n m o u t h , on
January 26.
Linda Berry ( 4 0 0 0 Dept) t o Terry Grindle
( M a c h i n e S h o p ) at Lydney Register Office
on February 9.
S i l v e r W e d d i n gs
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o t h e f o l l o w i n g couples
w h o have made it t o their 2 5 t h w e d d i ng
a n n i v e r s a r y : Ron A d a m s (Paint S h o p ) and
his w i f e Lena (Print Room) on February 5;
Windsor Richards ( S u p p l y Centre) and his
w i f e Daisy (Electrical S u b – a s s e m b l y ) , on
February 1 2 ; and T o n y Cale ( M a c h i ne
Shop) and his w i f e Margaret ( 4 0 0 0 Dept)
on March 5.
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
d u r i n g February: W i n Lythaby ( E n g i n e e r i ng
Records) w h o had been w i t h us almost
eight years; and Reg C o w m e a d o w (Press
Shop, RX C i n d e r f o r d ) w h o j o i n e d us just
over nine years ago.
T o i l e t T r a i n i n g?
W h i c h 4 0 0 0 s h o p s t e w a r d w a s sent o n an
e d u c a t i o n a l course a n d ended up locked
in t h e l o o?
Terry and Lesley James
C h a r l i e C h e s t e r h e l p s P e g gy
Former Land A r m y girl Peggy Herbert of
t h e M a c h i n e Shop, s e e k i n g p u b l i c i t y for
t h e e x – W L A 2nd National Reunion in t he
Albert Hall o n M a r c h 30, asked Charlie
Chester t o m e n t i o n t h e event on his radio
request programme.
The result w a s o v e r w h e l m i n g — Peggy
received nearly 2 0 0 letters. One came f r om
a 7 2 – y e a r – o l d farmer in Dumfries w h o said
he w a s t h i n k i n g of r e t i r i n g and c o u l d she
f i n d h im an e x – L a n d A r m y girl w h o w o u ld
act as housekeeper w i t h a v i e w t o marriage.
H e ‘ d heard t h e y made very g o o d w i v e s !
Peggy t h o u g h t t h e best t h i n g he c o u l d do
was come t o t h e r e u n i o n . ‘ T h e r e ‘ l l be at
least 4 , 0 0 0 there, most of t h em e x – W LA
g i r l s , so he s h o u l d f i n d someone.’
A m o n g t h e guests w i l l be J a c k Meek
( M a c h i n e Shop o f f i c e ) and his w i fe
J e a n w h o w o r k s in Fuser Roller s e c t i o n.
J a c k ‘ s i n v i t a t i o n is by w a y of t h a n k s t o t he
Company for t h e i r past assistance in t he
p r o d u c t i o n of a W L A newsletter.
S P O R T I N G R E S I D E N TS
Teams w e r e f o r m e d f r om a m o n g the Rank
Xerox residents at Xerox recently t o take
part in a basketball t o u r n a m e n t.
The first m a t c h was s c h e d u l e d t o last ten
m i n u t e s each way, but after t h e first half it
was agreed by t h o s e w h o had e n o u gh
breath t o t a l k that t h i s w a s sufficient.
The D u t c h t e am were w o r t h y winners,
u n b e a t e n in every game. T w o of t h em
deserve special m e n t i o n — J o h n Van den
S m i t h (PED) and Keith Van Bradley
( D e s i g n ) .
Possibly w i t h t h e m o t i v e of g a i n i n g their
revenge on t h e D u t c h m e n , the English
residents s u b s e q u e n t l y o r g a n i s e d a
b o w l i n g tournament.
J u s t p i p p i n g t h e mixed Xerox A d m i n i s t r a t i on
t e am and t h e Fuji Xerox team, one of the
English teams c o m p e t i n g did in f a c t achieve
t h i s , but o n l y w i t h t h e assistance of a
Japanese c o l l e a g u e — namely, Kenji
Yamakawa plus J o h n Dennis, J o hn
Overbury, T o n y H o m e and Geoff W i l l i a m s.
P i c t u r e G a l l e ry
F r om A p r i l 8 t o 11 i n c l u s i v e , w e shall have
our o w n ‘ A r t i s t s ‘ A c a d e m y ‘ in t h e B a l l r o om
of t h e Social Centre — a s p r i n g e x h i b i t i o n of
p i c t u r e s e x e c u t e d in any m e d i um by RXMP
employees, w h e t h e r w o r k i n g or retired, and
o p e n t o v i e w e r s f r om 9.30 am t o 6 pm.
The e x h i b i t i o n is t h e b r a i n c h i l d of Warren
W o o d w a r d of 4 0 0 0 mini line, himself an
artist. He has s t i p u l a t e d that there w i l l be
no r e s t r i c t i o n s as t o number of entries or
subject. The o n l y r e s t r i c t i o n c o n c e r n s size :
t h e m i n i m u m ( e x c l u d i n g m o u n t i n g ) is
12 in. X 1 8 in., t h e m a x i m u m 24 in. x 3 0 i n .,
so i t ‘s no use s t a g g e r i n g a l o n g w i t h a
6 ft x 3 ft masterpiece.
If y o u are interested, please a p p l y t o Warren
(ext. 9 0 6 ) or t o Personnel Department for
rules a n d e n t r a n c e f o r m.
O b i t u a r y
We regret t o have t o record t h e death of
J o h n Parsons, aged 57, on February 20.
K n o w n t o most people as J a c k , he w o r k ed
in 4 0 0 0 A s s e m b l y and had been w i t h us
s i n c e J u l y 1966.
After only tfiree years with Rank Xerox Singapore/Malaysia
(Kuala Lumpur branch), looking after 3600, 7000 and 720
machines, Gan Ah Lec won his company’s annual service
engineer performance competition. On the way back from
enjoying his prize — a week in Barbados — he and his wife
Alice visited Mitcheldean on February 5. They were looked after
by John Barratt (far left) and Ken Everett (second from right),
respectively Manager (Technical Residents) and Senior
Resident, Field Support Department. With them in this picture
is Dennis Beddis, Assistant Manager, QC (Jig Et Tool Inspection).
1 0
SP@RTS & S&CIAL CLUB
Tee Cups
S i n c e our last report o n t h e G o l f
S o c i e t y , t h e y have a c q u i r e d some
n i c e pieces of silver — t w o c u p s a n d
some m o n e y t o b u y a t h i r d .
The first w a s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e m by
t h e i r president Derek Portman — an
i n t e r – p l a n t c h a l l e n g e c u p t o be
p l a y e d f o r b y t e a m s f r om M i t c h e l d e a n,
W e l w y n , Venray and f u r t h e r o u t p o s ts
of t h e M a n u f a c t u r i n g G r o u p empire.
The s e c o n d cup, presented by
General Manager Ron M o r f e e , is f o r
an i n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l c o m p e t i t i o n at
M i t c h e l d e a n .
The d o n a t i o n , f r om t h e S p o r t s &
Social Club, is f o r a n i n d i v i d u a l Plant
c h a m p i o n s h i p w h i c h t h e S o c i e t y ‘s
secretary, Derek Parker, says w i l l be
p l a y e d f o r at o n e o f t h e f o l l o w i ng
summer o u t i n g s:
M a y 13 Penoyre Golf & C o u n t ry
C l u b , near B r e c o n.
J u n e 3 Filton GC, B r i s t o l .
J u l y 3 Pontypool GC, M o n .
A u g . 9 Hereford G C .
Sept. 2 Knowie GC, B r i s t o l.
D a n c e r s ‘ Demo
The c l u b ‘ s Gala Dance o n M a y 17
(see r i g h t ) brings y o u s o m e t o p
dancers w i t h d e m o n s t r a t i o n s by t he
Sybil M a r k ‘ s F o r m a t i o n Team, a n d
Dennis a n d B a r b a r a Cole w h o w i l l
s h o w their paces in t h e w a l t z ,
q u i c k s t e p , f o x t r o t , t a n g o,
c h a – c h a – c h a , r u m b a a n d p e s o d o b l e.
N u m b e r s are r e s t r i c t e d t o 3 0 0 , so
reserve t i c k e t s n o w . Ring Ira G r i f f i n ,
ext. 1 8 0 , David Markey, ext. 6 6 4 , o r
H a r o l d Cecil, ext. 6 3 8 .
On Fridays t h e c l u b holds social
e v e n i n g s w i t h d a n c i n g t o r e c o r ds
( f r om 8 pm in t h e b a l l r o o m ) ; all
S p o r t s & Social C l u b members
w e l c o m e . M o d e r n , Latin A m e r i c a n,
O l d Time, party dances a n d o f f – b e a t —
s o m e t h i n g f o r e v e r y o n e at o n l y 5p
per person.
I n s t r u c t i o n a l sessions may be
resumed again in September, ask
D a v i d M a r k e y a b o u t t h i s.
r
F r i d a y , A p r i l 5
IPHYLLIS AND THE CHEROKEES
* Dance a n d c a b a r e t mm F r i d a y , A p r i l 19
RUSS ALLEN BAND
p l us
JOHNNY WILLIAMS
AT THE ORGAN
( C o m b i n e d dance w i t h RX D a n c i n g Club)
S a t u r d a y , A p r i l 2 7
NEW CITY SOUNDS
p l us
HE LIGHT AND SHADE
SHOWBAND mm RX D a n c i n g C l ub
G A L A N I G HT
F r i d a y , May 17
THE S Y B I L M A R K ‘S
F O R M A T I O N T E AM
( C u r r e n t UK c h a m p i o n s )
p l us
D A N C E D E M O N S T R A T I O NS
by
D e n n i s a n d B a r b a r a Cole
A L L IN T H E S O C I A L CENTRE
KO at E a s t er
We hear t h e f i n a l m a t c h in t he
I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l Football
T o u r n a m e n t is n o w t o be o n
Easter S u n d a y , A p r i l 14, at t he
C a u s e w a y G r o u n d , C i n d e r f o rd
( K O 1 0 . 3 0 a m ).
L e t t e r f r o m S. Rackets
Squash, t h a t rather v i r u l e n t l i t t le b u g,
has s e e m i n g l y hit Rank Xerox
M i t c h e l d e a n Plant, c a u s i n g an
o u t b r e a k of a l m o s t e p i d e m ic
p r o p o r t i o n s . Badly hit is F i n a n c e &
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t w i t h n e w
cases r e p o r t e d daily.
It is u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e M i t c h e l d e an
M a n a g e m e n t C o m m i t t e e may h a ve
t o t a k e steps t o i s o l a t e t h o s e a f f e c t e d,
t a k i n g over t h e W y e H o t e l a n d
m a k i n g f u l l use o f t h e t w o w e l l –
e q u i p p e d t r e a t m e n t r o o m s t h a t are
a v a i l a b l e .
These r o o m s are, in f a c t , squash
c o u r t s w h i c h have been o p e n f o r
over a year, q u i t e a l a r ge p r o p o r t i on
of t h e c l u b members b e i n g Rank
X e r o x e m p l o y e e s.
One of t h o s e n o t e d o n t he
m e m b e r s h i p list hails f r om S o l i h u l l,
a n d a l t h o u g h he is a p p a r e n t ly
a v a i l a b l e in t h e Forest most days, it
seems n o b o d y has y e t r u n g h im up
t o arrange a g a m e . W e l l , l o n g d
i s t a n c e ‘ p h o n e – c a l l s are rather
e x p e n s i v e I
It is h o p e d t h a t in t h e near f u t u r e an
i n d i v i d u a l k n o c k – o u t t o u r n a m e n t on
an i n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l f i x t u r e c o u l d be
a r r a n g e d . W o u l d i n t e r e s t e d parties
please r i n g ext. 9 1 0 .
It m i g h t be p o s s i b l e ( n o t t o say
r e v e a l i n g ) t o meet in t h e s e pages
some of t h e o u t s t a n d i ng
p e r s o n a l i t i e s f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t he
members ( w i t h t h e i r p e r m i s s i o n , o r
t h e p e r m i s s i o n of o u r legal
d e p a r t m e n t ) so as t o g i v e n o n –
players an i n s i g h t i n t o w h a t makes
players t i c k — an expose of b o y s o n —
er — in t h e ‘ g a m e ‘ .
11
f o r Small People
You can’t go wrong with a disco, it seems.
At the party on February 76 organised by
the Sports & Social Club for employees’
children in the eight to ten year group, a
disco with ‘Mr Bumble’ got them all
switched on. A feature film ‘The Castaways’
in colour starring Hayley Mills, and a tea,
also went down very well. About 470
turned up at the Social Centre, and each
child had a nice present to take home.
f o r Small B a t ch
More partygoers — this time at a Small
Batch party held at the Beaufort Hotel Just
before Christmas. We hear that during the
evening a ‘Craftsman of the Year’ award
was presented to John Wedley; recently
instituted by his colleagues for Small Batch
only, it is unlikely to become an annual
affair. We think another award should
have gone to Gordon Howells — for taking
the official pictures and yet managing to
get right in the centre of this one I
HOME MARKET
F o r S a le
O b l o n g teak d i n i n g – t a b l e , g a t e l e g style,
f o l d s d o w n f o r c o n v e n i e n t storage. Unused,
f i r s t £ 1 0 secures. Ext. 4 9 3 o r M o n m o u th
2 9 8 9 .
L a w n m o w e r £5, s i n g l e panel radiator
57 i n . x 17 i n . £2. G. Parry, Lea 3 9 3 .
8 5 0 cc M i n i c y l i n d e r head, n e w v a l v e s a nd
s p r i n g s , £6. R. A . Carter ( M a i l R o o m ),
ext. 1 9 6 .
Flower or s h r u b t u b s 3 f t w i d e , t w o o n l y,
£1 -SOp each. L. Lane, ext 9 8 3 o r
L o n g h o p e 3 5 0 .
U p r i g h t piano, iron frame, needs t u n i n g.
15 Belle Vue Road, C i n d e r f o r d.
T o w b a r f o r 1 1 0 0 or 1 3 0 0 , 5 0 m m ball h i t c h,
l i g h t s socket. S . W e l l i n g t o n ( S u p p l y Centre),
ext. 775.
Calor gas 2 – r i n g cooker, g o o d c o n d i t i o n,
£5. Ext. 6 6 9 o r call e v e n i n g s o n l y , 6 Lea
V i l la Residential Park, Lea, R o s s – o n – W y e .
1 9 7 3 M o r r i s J 4 m o t o r caravan — 6 m o n t hs
o l d . HP if needed. Coleford 3461 evenings.
Pair of red f i r e s i d e chairs, very g o od
c o n d i t i o n , £ 7 f o r t h e t w o . Mrs. J . W i l l i a m s,
ext. 690.
Irish (red) s e t t e r puppies, ready end o f
M a r c h — f r om 18 gns. Also Lafayette
KT 3 2 0 c o m m u n i c a t i o n s receiver, band
spread o n amateur bands, £ 1 5 . N u v i s t or
2 – m e t r e converter 2 – 4 M H z I F . £ 5 .
J . Lewer, ext. 9 9 7 or S k e n f r i t h 6 4 2 .
Cine p r o j e c t o r . Super 8, a n d screen,
£ 2 5 o.n.o. E. C o l e ( 4 0 0 0 main l i n e ),
ext. 8 9 4.
1 9 6 3 Singer Vogue, g o o d engine, gearbox
etc. Selling f o r spares, £ 5 0 o.n.o.
C. C h a d d , ext. 4 3 6 o r C i n d e r f o r d 2 2 7 1 8.
S u n b e a m M i x m a s t e r f o o d mixer w i th
mincer a n d s h r e d d e r a t t a c h m e n t s , £ 1 0 o . n . o.
Excellent c o n d i t i o n . A l s o d o u b l e w a r d r o b e,
reasonable c o n d i t i o n , offers c o n s i d e r e d.
R. Coleman ( P e r s o n n e l ) , ext. 2 0 8 .
T o L e t
F u l l y f u r n i s h e d d e t a c h e d house, 3 bedrooms,
l o u n g e , d i n i n g – r o o m , k i t c h e n , f u l l central
h e a t i n g , car p o r t . A v a i l a b l e 1.5.74 f o r t w o
years, £ 1 5 per w e e k exclusive.
12 D e a n s w a y Road, M i t c h e l d e a n.
W a n t e d
Safety gate, nursery f i r e g u a r d — good
c o n d i t i o n . 1 5 Belle V u e R o a d Cinderford.
Used postage stamps, a n y k i n d . Nurse
L i l l i an H o w e l l , Medical Centre.
Series I or early Series II L a n d – R o v e r ; also
s i n g l e or d o u b l e h o r s e – t r a i l e r min. 15 hands.
J . Lewer, ext 9 9 7 o r S k e n f r i t h 6 4 2 .
S m a l l i s h flat, f u r n i s h e d or u n f u r n i s h e d , to
rent f r om summer o n w a r d s , w i t h i n 1 8 – m i le
r a d i u s of M i t c h e l d e a n . P h i l l i p Lewis,
ext. 197.
H o l i d a y s
L u x u r y caravan 8 – b e r t h , brand new, f or
y o u r h o l i d a y , £ 2 5 p w . A m r o th
Pembrokeshire. Site i n c l u d e s heated
s w i m m i n g p o o l , c l u b house, etc.
D. W a l l a c e ( T E D ) . S t r o u d 2 0 2 4.
T i m b e r !
D a n g e r o u s trees l o p p e d a n d f e l l e d by
expert. Reasonable charges, p r i c e d on
n a t u r e of w o r k . L. Lane, ext. 9 8 3 o r
L o n g h o p e 3 5 0 .
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