Vision 100

‘There’s nowt as queer as folks’ goes the old
saying.
I’d like to amend that to ‘There’s nowt as
interesting as folks.’
The contents of the past 99 issues — from
May 1960 to May 1974 — underline the truth
of this remark. Though we, as a company,
have had to become more multi-minded, your
magazine has endeavoured to remain dedicated
to the individual.
And most of us, as individuals, ‘need to know’.
VISION has aimed at assisting communication
of information — upwards, downwards, across
and inside out — while highlighting the
individual’s contribution to our working life
together.
As editor, I rely on everyone’s co-operation
and interest. I’d like to take this opportunity
to thank VISION’S contributors, its cartoonists,
and all who, despite pressures of work, have
spared time to help in some way.
A tribute is due on this occasion to the vital
part played by works photographer Jack Seal,
his predecessors, and others whose photographs
have recorded the development of Mitcheldean
Plant and its people ‘in camera’.
1 hope that those who have only recently
joined us will bear w i t h the reminiscent mood
of this 100th issue. As the late Joseph C. Wilson,
former Chairman of Xerox Corporation, said: ‘No
matter how much you want to change the future,
you are influenced by the history of the past.’
This magazine was originally intended to keep
the Mitcheldean Plant in touch with other
associated locations. In 1960 we were part of
the Cine & Photographic Division of Rank
Precision Industries, together w i t h the GB
Film Library at Perivale, Middlesex, and, in
London, the offices at Mortimer House and the
Bell & Howell shop/depot at Hanover Square.
Today, a similar situation has arisen, for we
once again have associated locations, at
Cinderford and Lydney, which like to be kept
in the picture.
Then there are our ‘residents’ in the USA and
people on assignments at Venray, Holland, and
other places abroad. There are our pensioners.
And there are others like the Rank Xerox
Operating Companies, who hear about us through
VISION.
Personnel Manager Ron Barnett said to me
recently that we at Mitcheldean should take
ourselves a little less seriously, that we should
laugh at ourselves a little more. 1 like to think
that VISION has helped us to do just that.
Personally, I’ve enjoyed these 100 issues
1 immensely— I hope you and your families
^ enjoy VISION too.
^„ MYRTLE F O W L ER
GOOD WISHES
from RX House
J . M A L D W Y N T H O M AS
C h a i r m a n and
Chief Executive
/ would like to offer my congratulations
on the hundredth issue of VISION.
Its inception came at about the start of the
974 copier project which began the
tremendously rapid growth of Rank Xerox
in the early J960’s.
Mitcheldean has faced enormous challenges
during the life of VISION: both the challenges,
and the triumphant way in which they were
met, have featured in the pages of the
magazine.
I trust that VISION will go on with this
valuable work for many years to come.
FRED W I C K S T E AD
Chief Staff Officer
/ am very pleased to have the opportunity to offer
my congratulations on the occasion of the hundredth
edition of VISION.
In my opinion over the years this magazine has
fulfilled its role admirably, and I am sure it will
continue to do so in the future. Every issue brings
me news of old friends and colleagues as well as of
the exciting developments which are always taking
place.
I should like to add my personal congratulations to
Myrtle Fowler, who has edited the magazine right
from the start and has made a crucial contribution to
its success.
Finally may I offer the thought that the remarks I
made fourteen years ago in the first issue are
equally as important today as they were when
Mitcheldean was a much smaller unit.
and from
Mitcheldean
DEREK P O R T M AN
Director, M a n u f a c t u r i n g Group
Communications play an increasing role in
our everyday life. At home we should feel
desperately isolated without our quota of
newspapers, television and radio to keep us
informed.
In a large and growing organization we also
need some means of exchanging news and
ideas and this is the true value of a house
magazine such as VISION.
The first 100 issues have reflected enormous
changes in our lives; the next 100 will show
how we meet equally exciting demands.
RON MORFEE
General Manager,
M i t c h e l d e a n Plant
VISION has a 100th anniversary and as a
relative newcomer to the Mitcheldean scene
I hesitate to join the illustrious ranks of those
offering congratulations.
Even in two years though, I have seen what
a fine and valuable magazine it is, bringing
news of people, activities, buildings, systems
and so much else, helping to unify the
thousands of people who contribute to the
success of Rank Xerox, Mitcheldean.
Long may that success continue, and long
may Myrtle Fowler be there to record it in
VISION.
Published in the f o l l o w i n g pages are messages from some of those whose
names appeared in our first issue, or who were associated in some way
w i t h VISION No. 1.
Apart f r om i t s c o m m u n i c a t i o n f u n c t i o n,
VISION serves as t h e archives of our
Plant. Here w e list some of t he
‘happenings’ w h i c h have been f e a t u r ed
in past issues f r o m May 1960 to
June 1974:
* / i
Rank Precision Industries a w a r d e d Royal
Warrant as m a n u f a c t u r e r s of c i n e m a t o g r a ph
e q u i p m e n t t o H M t h e Queen. Stan Pratt
j o i n s as Technical Chief of D i v i s i o n , w i th
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s for b o t h Bell & H o w e l l and
Xerox p r o d u c t s . Richard D i m b l e b y of BBC
fame visits M i t c h e l d e a n . First v e n d i ng
machine i n s t a l l e d — for milk and orange
squash only. Relaxation of i m p o r t r e s t r i c t i o ns
b r i n g increased c o m p e t i t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r ly
f r om J a p a n . Cine & P h o t o g r a p h i c Division
head British r e p r e s e n t a t i o n at P h o t o k i na
w o r l d p h o t o fair. We meet f i lm star Mai
Z e t t e r l i n g and author husband — making
r o u n d – t h e – w o r l d d o c u m e n t a r i e s using B & H
627 cine camera. Bell & H o w e l l Circus does
f o u r – w e e k t o u r of England and S c o t l a nd
t o l a u n c h Sportster IV c i n e camera and
Lumina s e l f – t h r e a d i n g projector. Export
Department t o u r S c a n d i n a v i a . RPI Cine
C l u b f o rm ‘ s t i l l ‘ s e c t i o n . More t h a n 4 0 out
of every 1 0 0 8 m m cine cameras s o l d made
at M i t c h e l d e a n . Sir Edmund Hillary takes
t w o B & H A u t o l o a d 1 6 m m cine cameras
on e x p e d i t i o n ; hopes of f i l m i ng
‘ A b o m i n a b l e S n o w m a n ‘ . Export Department
break t h r o u g h Iron Curtain and sell one
camera. Three-year Craft A p p r e n t i c e s h ip
Scheme p l a n n e d t o speed craft labour to
p r o d u c t i o n departments. C o l l i s i o n of oil
tankers causes c o l l a p s e of Sharpness-
Lydney r a i l w a y bridge, c u t t i n g gas s u p p ly
t o Plant. Tool R o om w i n first
I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l Skittles KO Tournament.
Linda B r o w n (Purchase) becomes first
‘ M i s s Rank Precision Industries’. Division
leads p h o t o g r a p h i c f i e l d in t a k i n g stand at
Ideal Home E x h i b i t i o n . First b u i l d i ng
( B I d g 24) for assembly of Xerox 914
machines goes up. Subsidiary companies
created t o market B & H p r o d u c t in Europe.
Works Fire Brigade r e – f o r m e d . Eric Knight
( 6 3 5 A s s e m b l y ) w i n s Darts Singles
C h a m p i o n s h i p for t h i r d year r u n n i n g.
A n g l i n g Club r e – f o r m e d . Sportster V cine
camera i n t r o d u c e d , f e a t u r i n g z o om lens
and s l o w m o t i o n f i l m i n g device. Export
Manager visits M o s c o w for British Trade
Fair. Xerox p r o d u c t i o n s t e p p e d up on
t a k i n g over n e w 2 5 , 0 0 0 sq. ft b u i l d i n g.
Wagnerian singer v i s i t s Plant and sings
aria in B & H Assembly. Margery Brooks
( M a i l Room) elected next ‘ M i s s RPI’.
Chess C l u b f o r m e d . T r a i n i n g School started.
Tool Room w i n Interdepartmenta l Skittles
a g a i n .
S p o r t s & S o c i a l C l u b t a k e 2 0 0 c h i l d r e n to
p a n t o m i m e . We q u a l i f y for British Safety
C o u n c i l ‘ s Industrial Safety A w a r d.
C o m p e t i t i o n in cine e q u i p m e n t business
i n t e n s i f i e s . We become part of Cine &
P h o t o g r a p h i c D i v i s i o n of The Rank
O r g a n i s a t i o n . I n t r o d u c t i o n of 6 4 1 / 6 42
series of p r o j e c t o r s . M o n i c a Penn of
Camera A s s e m b l y represents M i t c h e l d e an
as c h a l l e n g e r on BBC TV programme
‘ W h a t ‘ s My Line’ a n d beats t h e panel.
Lord Rank a n n o u n c e s retirement as
Chairman of t h e Rank O r g a n i s a t i o n ;
successor J o h n Davis c o n t i n u e s as Chief
Executive of t h e Group. A p p r e n t i c e s w in
c r i c k e t match w i t h Management. Lawson
Bonser (Xerox Liaison) is Table Tennis
S i n g l e s C h a m p i o n and Eric Knight and
Bert Hale (641 line) w i n Darts D o u b l e s —
f o r t h i r d year r u n n i n g.
Working up an appetite on three wheels is
Alan Cryer of Accounting Services.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Film Festival at W o b u rn
A b b e y w i t h B & H e q u i p m e n t as the
prizes. Fire d e s t r o y s b u i l d i n g s at Litson
J o i n e r y W o r k s w h e r e our p r o j e c t o r cases
are b e i n g made. Houses and f l a t s being
b u i l t for e m p l o y e e s in M i t c h e l d e a n.
2 2 , 0 0 0 sq. ft e x t e n s i o n t o Xerox p r o d u c t i on
b u i l d i n g enables 3 0 per cent increase in
m a n u f a c t u r i n g capacity. W e n d y Haile,
secretary t o Bob Baker, Manager
M a n u f a c t u r i n g , becomes ‘ M i s s Rank,
M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ . Cine & P h o t o g r a p h ic
D i v i s i o n re-enter ‘ s t i l l ‘ camera f i e l d w i th
Asahi Pentax cameras — w e have sole UK
d i s t r i b u t i o n rights. Tool R o o m w in
I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l S k i t t l e s for t h i r d year
r u n n i n g .
N a t i o n a l P r o d u c t i v i t y Year. Rank
O r g a n i s a t i o n f o r m s n e w M a r k e t i ng
D i v i s i o n c o n t r o l l i n g Rank A u d i o Visual,
Rank F i lm Library and Rank P h o t o g r a p h i c.
B & H Sales A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , Service
Department and W a r e h o u s e transferred to
L o n d o n . V I S I O N c o n c e n t r a t e s on
M i t c h e l d e a n Plant. First, s e c o n d and t h i rd
prizes in A n n u a l Film C o m p e t i t i o n all go
t o Tool R o o m men. B & H A s s e m b l y w in
W i c k s t e a d Shield in Chess KO C o m p e t i t i o n.
S t o r y of £ 1 , 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 e x p a n s i o n of Plant
‘breaks’ in local press. Xerox b u i l d i n g is
e x t e n d e d . B u i l d i n g 29 goes up, n ew
C a n t e e n / S o c i a l Centre begins t o rise.
9 1 4 copier n o w in p r o d u c t i o n at Fuji
Xerox. First a w a r d of RPI Cup t o our
a p p r e n t i c e s by Forest of Dean M i n i n g &
T e c h n i c a l College. Management w in
annual cricket match w i t h A p p r e n t i c e s.
Warehouse o p e n e d f o r storage and
d i s t r i b u t i o n of 9 1 4 machines. Savings
G r o u p earns c e r t i f i c a t e of merit for increase
in m e m b e r s h i p and s u b s c r i p t i o n s.
J e a n e t t e Short (Purchase) is n e w ‘ M i ss
Rank, M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ . Xerox Capstans are
n e w I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l S k i t t l e s champs.
Total number of a p p r e n t i c e s reaches 50.
First Xerox plant o n C o n t i n e n t — at Venray
— is p r o j e c t e d . Chairman J o h n Davis says
d e m a n d for Xerox machines is ‘ e x p l o s i v e ‘.
First careers c o n f e r e n c e in c o u n t y held at
Plant. Teenagers f r om D o u b l e V i ew
S e c o n d a r y School w o r k at Plant, get taste of
life in a f a c t o r y . ‘ C a n t e e n skyscraper’ opens
f o r business. First professional Xerox t r a i n i ng
o f f i c e r s ‘ course. Rumour that Canteen is to
e m p l o y B u n n y g i r l s t o cheer up tired
e x e c u t i v e s proves u n f o u n d e d.
C h a i r m a n J o h n Davis is guest of honour
at 1 1 t h annual d i n n e r of LSA in n ew
Canteen. M o t o r C l u b and Ladies’ Keep Fit
class s t a r t e d . M a n a g e m e n t beat A p p r e n t i c es
a g a i n at c r i c k e t . Debut of 8 1 3 copier in
L o n d o n — w e p a r t i c i p a t e t h r o u gh
c l o s e d – c i r c u i t TV w i t h Raymond Baxter as
c o m m e n t a t o r . Removal of 1 1 0 , 0 0 0 t o n s of
earth t o prepare site f o r B u i l d i n g s 36, 38
and 40. Lesley Davis ( 8 1 3 I n s p e c t i o n)
e l e c t e d ‘ M i s s Rank, M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ ; she
v i s i t s M o r e c a m b e & Wise at P i n e w o o d.
Local d o c t o r s grade our medical f a c i l i t i es
A . I . 3,000 people come t o first ‘open
e v e n i n g s ‘ at t h e Plant. A p p r e n t i c e s ‘ first
annual dinner. ‘Variety o n Tour’ f e a t u r i ng
A n i t a Harris, Dennis G o o d w i n and David
Hughes recorded at Plant.
‘ A n y Q u e s t i o n s w i t h Freddy G r i s e w o od
broadcast f r om Plant. 9 1 4 A s s e m b l y ‘C
t e am beats its ‘ A ‘ t e am in Interdepartmental
S k i t t l e s KO. Keep Fit g r o u p raise £ 8 2 for
M u l t i p l e Sclerosis S o c i e t y . M a n u f a c t u r e of
Bell & H o w e l l p r o d u c t s ceases at
M i t c h e l d e a n . M e c h a n i s a t i o n procedures
s t e p p e d up. W a r e h o u s e t e m p o r a r i ly
a c c o m m o d a t e d at Gloucester T r a d i ng
Estate. W o r k c o m m e n c e s on n ew
Heading for the falls—resident engineers
Roy Taylor, Brian Lewis and Doug Broughton.
4
^ S KK:::v::;-..::::i:-^-:^^-:^^-^ •• i . x
warehouse ( B I d g 3 2 ) . Dancing Club
f o r m e d . A p p r e n t i c e s w i n cricket c u p f r om
M a n a g e m e n t . 1 4 – m i l e road race revived
by Sports & Social Club. First full Rank
Xerox Company Conference at M a i d s t o n e —
Fred W i c k s t e a d t e l l s of M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ s rapid
g r o w t h . Control of Plant transferred f r om
Rank Precision Industries t o Rank Xerox
L t d . We are n o w Rank Xerox M i t c h e l d e an
Plant. Pre-retirement course held. Sue A l l en
(secretary in Chief Executive’s Dept)
becomes ‘ M i s s Rank, M i t c h e l d e a n ‘.
A l l W a r e h o u s e o p e r a t i o n s n o w in BIdg 32.
4 0 employees go on coach t r ip t o Austria.
I n t r o d u c t i o n of 2400. ‘ P i o n e e r s ‘ f r om L o n d on
c e l e b r a t e 2 5 t h anniversary. Planning
Department w i n Interdepartmental Skittles
KO. New Cricket S e c t i o n plays local teams.
R e c o n d i t i o n i n g becomes M i t c h e l d e an
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . We operate in 2 0 main
c o u n t r i e s and n o w have nearly 2 0 0 branches.
Employees at Plant a r o u n d 2,000 mark.
Standards R o o m created. Venray Plant
c o m m e n c e s o p e r a t i o n . Group f r om Plant
a t t e n d p r e s e n t a t i o n of Queen’s A w a r d to
I n d u s t r y to The Rank O r g a n i s a t i o n ‘for export
a c h i e v e m e n t by Rank Xerox and Rank
Taylor H o b s o n (Leicester U n i t ) ‘ . Treorchy
M a l e Voice Choir concert helps Aberfan
disaster f u n d . T h a l i d o m i d e Children and
M i t c h e l d e a n Church. Jean Davies
( A c c o u n t s ) elected ‘ M i s s Rank,
M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ . First p r o d u c t i o n models of
2 4 0 0 come off line. Direct l i a i s o n w i th
Fuji Xerox developed. • M i t c h e l d e a n and Venray R e c o n d i t i o n i ng
Centres set up. First Variety Night. Total
raised by Ladies’ Keep Fit C l u b for c h a r i ty
since 1 9 6 4 reaches £400. Ray Pyart
becomes first resident engineer w i t h Xerox
C o r p o r a t i o n . Death of T o m m y Law,
M a n a g i n g Director of Rank Xerox. Design
Engineering move i n t o B u i l d i n g 38.
Company n o w has placed a r o u n d £65
m i l l i o n w o r t h of c o p y i n g machines. Nigel
Foulkes becomes M a n a g i n g Director. Ladies
j o i n 25-year Club for first time. M i n i b us
service starts on site. Interdepartmental
S k i t t l e s KO w o n by M a c h i n e Shop
O p t i m i s t s . Xeroettes ‘ s h o w a leg’ on
Variety Night. A p p r e n t i c e s beat
Management at cricket match. Expansion
of t r a i n i n g f a c i l i t i e s . T r a i n i n g Centre
develops. Troughs of i n d o o r plants sprout
a r o u n d offices. M a m m o t h d r i l l i n g machine
j o i n s three j u m b o – s i z e d ones in 2 4 0 0 Dept.
First c o m p u t e r is i n s t a l l e d . A u t o m a t ic
sorter i n t r o d u c e d for 2 4 0 0 c o p i e r / d u p l i c a t o r.
S a l l y a n n Teague (Computer Services) is
‘ M i s s Rank, M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ . Top Rank
T e l e v i s i o n shop opens on site.
I d e n t i f i c a t i o n numbers appear on b u i l d i n gs
Amateur Boxing T o u r n a m e n t in Social
Centre.
D i v i s i o n renamed P r o d u c t i o n & Supply
Operations (PSOD) w i t h Fred W i c k s t e ad
as Director. Readership survey shows
93 per cent of employees read V I S I ON
regularly. Magazine gets f a c e – l i f t.
Company w i n s g o l d medal for 7 2 0 at
Leipzig Fair. PTFE c o a t i n g t e c h n i q u es
d e v e l o p e d for f u s i n g area of 2 4 0 0 . Use of
TIR t r a n s p o r t raised t o 11 v e h i c l e s per
week. 3 6 0 0 c o p i e r / d u p l i c a t o r l a u n c h e d.
Sorter assembly moves t o Gloucester
T r a d i n g Estate. I n t e r n a t i o n a l Warehouse
w i n n e r s in I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l Skittles KO.
Groups of w o r k e r s g o on e d u c a t i o n a l visits
t o S c a n d i n a v i a n O p e r a t i n g Companies.
Showing a leg on Variety Nights—six
shapely Xeroettes.
Erection of B u i l d i n g 4 0 c o m m e n c e s —
m u c h e a r t h – m o v i n g . Management beat
A p p r e n t i c e s at c r i c k e t . J e a n n e t t e Madden
( S u p p l y Planning) is ‘ M i s s Rank Xerox,
M i t c h e l d e a n . ‘ P r o d u c t i v i t y Campaign
m o u n t e d under Fred O l d f i e l d ‘ s g u i d a n c e.
Design Department open day. Don Presdee
helps set up R e c o n d i t i o n i n g Centre in
A u s t r a l i a . PED w i n Interdepartmental
S k i t t l e s KO.
3 6 0 0 Dept move i n t o B u i l d i n g 40.
M i t c h e l d e a n men assist W e l w y n b u i l d CFP
processor. S h o w b a n d f o r m e d . Karate Club
s t a r t e d . For t h i r d year r u n n i n g RX
a p p r e n t i c e w i n s James F i e l d i n g t r o p h y in
C r a f t m a n s h i p C o m p e t i t i o n . M a c h i n e Shop
move t o B u i l d i n g 36. Christine Ingram
( A c c o u n t s ) c r o w n e d ‘ M i s s Rank Xerox,
M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ .
3 0 0 0 people n o w w o r k at RXMP.
Reappearance of Small Batch department
w i t h N / C m a c h i n i n g centre. Standards &
M e t r i c a t i o n c o m m i t t e e t o r e v i ew design
aspects of m e t r i c a t i o n . O n e – w a y traffic
s y s t em i n t r o d u c e d . ‘Sell a Picture’
C o m p e t i t i o n — some entries b o u g h t for
our n e w b u i l d i n g s . Youngsters go on Sail
T r a i n i n g A s s o c i a t i o n cruises. N e w Medical
Centre opens. Eastern European Operations
g i v e p r e s e n t a t i o n . T h a n k – y o u party for
M i t c h e l d e a n men w h o helped start up
Venray 3 6 0 0 line. Staff and Management
D e v e l o p m e n t Scheme l a u n c h e d . 4 0 00
appears o n h o r i z o n ; 7 0 0 0 r e d u c t i on
d u p l i c a t o r t o be h a n d l e d at Venray.
Company n o w has 1 8 , 0 0 0 people in 23
d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s . Variety Club put on
s h o w at Denham. Tool R o o m w in
I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l S k i t t l e s KO. Computer
gets ‘ l i t t le brother’ t o help cope. We buy
Painter Bros, at C i n d e r f o r d as feeder
f a c t o r y . More space a c q u i r e d at Gloucester
T r a d i n g Estate. N e w Telex f a c i l i t y installed
J . M a l d w y n Thomas is M a n a g i n g Director
and Chief Executive. Preparations for
d e c i m a l i s a t i o n . First t r a i n e e secretaries.
Work starts on £2 m i l l i o n International
D i s t r i b u t i o n Centre. Site area increased
f r om 34 t o 67 acres. Record £ 7 0 7 presented
in professional a w a r d s scheme. Jill
Marshall (Data Processing) is n e w ‘ M i ss
Rank Xerox, M i t c h e l d e a n ‘.
S t a r t – u p of 4 0 0 0 p r o d u c t i o n . D ( D e c i m a l)
Day arrives February 15. M o v e of raw
material store, press a n d sheet metal and
t u r n i n g o p e r a t i o n s t o RX C i n d e r f o r d . New
c o m p u t e r replaces earlier equipment.
Press l a u n c h of 4 0 0 0 at M i t c h e l d e a n.
Rank Xerox w i n s Queen’s A w a r d to
I n d u s t r y for s e c o n d time. Fourth g o ld
medal w o n at Leipzig Fair. M a c h i n e Shop
I n s p e c t i o n w i n I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l Skittles.
Canteen d i n n e r s c o o k e d by natural gas.
N e w p l a t i n g plant d o u b l e s A u t o Plating
c a p a c i t y . Derek Portman succeeds Fred
W i c k s t e a d as Director of PSOD. Peter
S a l m o n made Plant General Manager.
M i t c h e l d e a n w o r k f o r c e n o w 3,500.
Company has t o t a l staff of nearly 2 0 , 0 0 0.
M a r k e t i n g o r g a n i s a t i o n built up in 36
c o u n t r i e s . Chess C l u b r e s u s c i t a t e d . Table
T e n n i s s e c t i o n w i n every c u p in Lydney &•
D i s t r i c t League. Fred W i c k s t e a d takes up
a p p o i n t m e n t as V i c e President,
M a n u f a c t u r i n g & Logistics, f o r Xerox
C o r p o r a t i o n . V I S I O N goes
m o n t h l y . Employees visit O p e r a t i ng
C o m p a n i e s in S w i t z e r l a n d , B e l g i um and
West Germany. G o l f i n g S o c i e t y f o r m e d.
C h r i s t i a n F e l l o w s h i p started. Plant people
a t t e n d Queen’s A w a r d to I n d u s t ry
p r e s e n t a t i o n in L o n d o n . J o i n t Works
C o m m i t t e e and Area Efficiency C o m m i t t e es
f o r m e d . RX D e v e l o p m e n t Laboratory opened
at W e l w y n . Prince Bernhard opens Venray
e x t e n s i o n . 6 6 0 Assembly w i n first
I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l Football C o m p e t i t i o n.
Launch of Telecopier. J a n i c e A n d r e ws
( G o o d s I n w a r d s ) is ‘ M i s s Rank Xerox
M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ . P r o d u c t i o n Control
w i n I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l Chess C o m p e t i t i o n.
Lagoon appears on bank above IDC
b u i l d i n g . Death of J o s e p h C. W i l s o n,
f o u n d e r of ‘ t h e x e r o g r a p h i c dynasty’.
Bonanza D r a w commences. I D C return
f r om Gloucester and o c c u p y n e w b u i l d i n g.
N e w r o u t e i n g system via B a r t o n Corner
reduces t r a f f i c t h r o u g h v i l l a g e Divisional
staff o c c u p y part of I D C o f f i c e block.
Power cuts affect p r o d u c t i o n . Office
B u i l d i n g 4 4 rises. N e w pay agreement
marks m i l e s t o n e in t e am relations. Derek
Portman a p p o i n t e d Director of
M a n u f a c t u r i n g Group. Bob Baker n ow
president of LSA. A u t o m a t i c test sets for
cable assemblies. Our t h i r d Queen’s A w a r d.
I m p r o v e d p e n s i o n s f o r retired RX staff.
First Pensioners’ Reunion & L u n c h e o n.
Open Day d r a w s about 1 4 , 0 0 0 visitors.
B u i l d i n g 4 4 o c c u p i e d . Formation of
E n g i n e e r i n g Group. Supervisory Society
Continued next page
5
Continued from previous page
f o r m e d . A p p r e n t i c e s lose t o Personnel
Management at cricket. Tool Room w in
I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l S k i t t l e s KO.
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 w on
by P r o d u c t i o n C o n t r o l . IDC becomes
S u p p l y Centre, part of S u p p l y D i v i s i o n.
4 0 0 0 t h employee signed on. J o hn
H u t c h i n s ( P r o d u c t i o n C o n t r o l ) w i n s ‘Sell a
Picture’ c o m p e t i t i o n for second time.
Waitress service restaurant opens in
r e – p l a n n e d Canteen. J. M a l d w y n Thomas
becomes Chairman and Chief E x e c u t i v e:
Robert Pippitt is M a n a g i n g Director and
Chief Operations Executive.
Dramatic increase m t r a i n i n g . Plans for
M a n u f a c t u r i n g expansion in France,
Germany and Spain a n n o u n c e d . We sign
biggest order ever placed for N / C machine
centre. Cine & P h o t o g r a p h i c Club hosts
for f i lm festival. S e l f – s e r v i c e f o o d hall
opens in Canteen. We d o n a t e £ 1 , 0 0 0 to
M i t c h e l d e a n C o m m u n i t y Centre. Rank
Xerox t r a in leaves for t w o – y e a r p r o m o t i on
t o u r of East Europe. W o r k starts on
c o m p u t e r block. V I S I O N adopts present
format. N e w Pension Scheme. Art Club
f o r m e d . Estelle Davies ( G r o u p Facilities
P l a n n i n g ) elected ‘ M i s s Rank Xerox,
M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ . Social Service Leave
Programme i n t r o d u c e d . Larry’s Lads
(PED) w i n Interdepartmental S k i t t l e s KO.
Bernard S m i t h becomes LSA president.
Getting around the plant on ‘Open Day.’
Developments in t o p – l i n e management of
M a n u f a c t u r i n g Group. Manual j o b g r a d i ng
‘ r e v i e w e d and r e v i t a l i s e d ‘ . Last 7 20
( r e m o d e l l e d 9 1 4 ) comes off line.
Engineering G r o u p c o n f e r e n c e at O x f o r d;
Dr Fred W i n t e r n i t z n o w Group Director.
Duke of Beaufort, Lord Lieutenant of
Gloucestershire, pays us a v i s i t . SOLAR
material requirements p l a n n i n g system
appears over horizon. New, more p o w e r f ul
c o m p u t e r i n s t a l l e d . ‘ W a k e ‘ for 3 6 0 0 , n ow
phased out. A p p r e n t i c e s beat Personnel at
c r i c k e t . Forest Rook O l d Boys w i n Interd
e p a r t m e n t a l Chess C o m p e t i t i o n . Vic Feather
v i s i t s p l a n t . Ron M o r f e e is n e w General
Manager at RXMP. 3 1 0 0 ‘ c o m e s out’ in Paris.
D a r t s / S k i t t l e s I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l Tournament
b e g i n s . Director of Engineering
Stan Pratt leaves M i t c h e l d e an
for RX House. T o m m y Knight jnr j o i n s Don
Presdee in s e t t i n g up Xerox assembly plant
in Brazil.
Roger Haggett j o i n s as Director of
M a n u f a c t u r i n g O p e r a t i o n s ( U K ) . Plant
General Managers for Lille a n d Aachen
a p p o i n t e d . A p p r e n t i c e s w i n Rank Xerox
Cup ( f o r m e r l y RPI Cup) for e i g h t h time.
A d v e n t u r e Group f o r m e d . N e w type
i n c i n e r a t o r for p r e – t r e a t e d e f f l u e n t goes up
at RX C i n d e r f o r d . Three more storeys to
t o p up c o m p u t e r block. European
A r c h i t e c t u r a l Heritage Year.
Four M i t c h e l d e a n men get
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 n t . Energy
c r i s is — w e pull t o g e t h e r and keep
p r o d u c t i o n g o i n g . W i l l i am F. Glavin
succeeds Robert P i p p i t t as M a n a g i ng
D i r e c t o r & Chief O p e r a t i o n s Executive of
Rank Xerox. P r o d u c t i o n operations
c o m m e n c e at Lille. RX get f i f t h g o l d medal
at Leipzig Fair. S a t e l l i t e plant set up at
Lydney. M u l t i – p u r p o s e centre p l a n n e d for
use by Sports & Social Club. Employee
service a w a r d p r o g r a m m e launched.
4 0 0 0 ‘A’ t e am w i n Interdepartmental Football
C o m p e t i t i o n . V I S I O N makes a century.
D A F T D E F I N I T I O NS
Poverty — a state of m i n d s o m e t i m e s i n d u c ed
by a n e i g h b o u r ‘ s n e w car.
Virus — a L a t i n w o r d used by d o c t o r s to
mean ‘ Y o u r guess is as g o o d as mine’.
Parasite — o n e w h o goes t h r o u g h a
r e v o l v i n g door on a n o t h e r ‘ s push.
From VISION issue No. 8.
D O N
E L L I O T T
It seemed unbelievable when the editor of
” VISION handed me a copy of issue No. 1 and
suggested I contribute a few words to the 100th issue
due shortly. I well remember the scepticism of some
employees when Mr Wickstead, with his usual vision,
agreed to the publication of our first house magazine.
We thought we had a very large family then in 1960 and
that communications were a major problem. We could
then hardly pronounce the word ‘Xerox’, let alone use
it to aid communications.
If improved communications were needed then, how
much more they are needed now with our phenomenal
growth. The name VISION was well chosen and the
message in the first leader article is now even more
appropriate. As we herald the 100th issue I quote
‘work with — and not against each other and security
will be assured’.
We should all be grateful to Myrtle Fowler as editor of
our own magazine which, despite massive growth and
unending Plant changes, has retained its original spirit,
and has played such a vital part in improving
communications and providing interest, not only
for employees, but their families and friends also,
The importance of effective communication has
• ~ long been recognised, particularly in view of
the explosive growth of the Mitcheldean site.
It is very difficult to assess accurately the tremendous
contribution made to this end by our house magazine,
VISION, from the first issue until the present time.
I do know, however, that each issue is eagerly awaited,
and that the eventual circulation includes people in
many parts of the world who are not employed at Rank
Xerox but have copies passed to them and appreciate
news of the Company, former colleagues, relatives, etc.
Best wishes for the future success of Rank Xerox
VISION.
A N T I C S O F A . K L O T T
l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e mee<
l e e t i n g p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a ct
a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e mee<
Deadly poison is part of H e r b ie
C o m p t o n ‘ s life as foreman of Heat
Treatment (Finishing), one of the
least glamorous but nonetheless
essential aspects of our manufacturing
operation.
It is here that any part comes which
requires hardening before assembly.
‘We inject a certain amount of
carbon in the parts by soaking them
in cyanide, or packing them in carbon
and heating them in a furnace,’ he
told us. ‘Of course, we have strict
safety rules — special boots and
overalls and so on. And you have to
be careful about washing your
hands.’
Herbie was born at ‘The Farmer’s
Boy’ and was landlord there for 18
years before giving up the licence,
nearly five years ago, on doctor’s
advice.
One of his daughters, Pauline,
worked as a tracer at Mitcheldean ;
she married works photographer
Tony Hamblin, as many may recall,
and now has t w o lively young sons.
Another daughter, Denise, also
worked here in the Punch Room at
one time.
Herbie was mentioned in the very
first issue of VISION in connection
w i t h the Interdepartmental Darts
Trophy competition — he and
Maurice Brain were the current
Department Pairs champions. ‘I was
very keen on darts then, but I haven’t
played since I left the pub.’
‘I keep all my copies of VISION,’ he
said, pulling out a drawer to show
us. ‘I often find them useful for
reference.’
J o s i e S a u n d e r s was playing cards
w i t h her colleagues in Works
Laboratory when we called — she
usually does during the lunch hour.
It is nine years since, after three
years spent in Purchase, she became
secretary to Manager Les Davies.
‘I’ve picked up a lot of chemical
terms over the years’ although I
didn’t know anything about the
subject at first I
It was at Mitcheldean that Josie met
her husband, J im Saunders,
Draughting Section Leader in
Engineering. He’s a keen motor cycle
racing competitor, and Josie, not
surprisingly, is a regular spectator.
Josie’s sister Marina works in the
Canteen, and her brother-in-law
Tony Kibble (PED) was one of our
apprentices.
In earlier issues of VISION we
featured Josie among the members
of the former Ladies’ Keep Fit group
which, while keeping figures trim,
raised some sizeable funds for good
causes by holding demonstrations
and fashion shows in the Social
Centre.
Josie has little time for any hobbies
these days, but she loves dancing
and J im and she go whenever
possible to Plant dances.
E r n i e B l a i c h of PED was one of
VISION’S first contributors. In
issue no. 7 we published an article
by him on ‘Project 4’ (now Building
24) —t h e very first building erected
entirely for Xerox production. That
was in 1961, when, as Plant
Engineer, he included plant layout as
one of his responsibilities.
He joined the Company at Woodger
Road in 1938 and has packed a
varied set of experiences into his
career since then. Like the other
‘pioneers’ he came to Mitcheldean in
1941, and he bore the titles of Tool
Room Supervisor and Chief Tool
Engineer before going over to Plant
Engineering.
Of those early years at Mitcheldean
he says: ‘There must have been
more than 24 hours in the day.
Despite the extra hours worked
during the war, there was time to
attend regular drills and competitions
in the National Fire Service, take
active part in Works sports, fit in the
odd shoot, and some skiing and
skating in the winter. I even
managed to re-build completely my
first car, a 1932 MG Magna.’
In 1967 he and his wife Ivy made a
big decision, to join their farmer son
in New Zealand. ‘We hoped to set
up in business, but it didn’t work out.’
Two years ago he returned to work
in PED at Mitcheldean. ‘I was
staggered at the growth of the place
during my absence,’ he said.
Today his j o b is w i t h Liaison
Engineering, liaising w i t h our suppliers
of press parts and sub-assemblies on
tooling and other technical matters.
Ernie admits to not being entirely
free of Wanderlust, but he’s got
emigration out of his system and
confines his roaming to walks with
his w i fe in the country around their
home at Dymock.
l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e me&
7
The LSA dinner held on May 3 at
the Chase Hotel, Ross-on-Wye,
was a particularly significant one
on two counts.
It was the 21st anniversary dinner
of the Mitcheldean association ; and
for the very first time a salesman —
in the shape of Hamish Orr-Ewing,
Group Director, UK Region—
ventured into the ‘august gathering’.
Mr Orr-Ewing, who had kindly come
along to present the 25-year awards,
was at pains to point out that his
presence was not inappropriate.
‘Although a sales and service man,’
he said, ‘I was material controller of
quite a large factory at one time.
Furthermore, you may be surprised
to hear that I am quite a reasonable
turner I’
But his main justification for being
there was the fact that he represented
‘our biggest customer’.
A joke from chairman Henry Phillips is
appreciated by Jackie Smith.
‘It is my people’s job to sell and
service the machines in this country
that you and your colleagues in other
plants make, so my operation and
your operation are complementary.
‘There are about 5,000 of us and every
year we ship something like 10,000
machines from you and, more recently,
your Dutch colleagues in Venray.
We have something like 60,000
machines in place in the field today.
‘We depend absolutely on you people.
Without the manufacturing operation,
there would be no selling, no
servicing, no money coming in.’
Mr Orr-Ewing particularly
complimented us on the way we had
managed ‘to perform miracles’ by
producing machines under the
difficult conditions that obtained
earlier this year.
The recovery since that time has
enabled our side of the Company to
reach record performance once again
in the month of April.’
He said he could never remember an
occasion when there had been
hostile criticism of the quality of the
machines produced by the
Manufacturing Group. ‘On the
contrary, there is universal acclaim
for the products you produce.
‘People on the sales and service side
of businesses are often heard to make
rather ungenerous remarks about the
manufacturing side’s contribution.
That it doesn’t happen in this
Company is a fantastic tribute to the
way that RX people work, and work
together.’
LSA president Bernard Smith had a
compliment for our guest too, ‘on
recognising which comes first — the
chicken or the egg !
‘As engineers we have always
Harry Astbury of Rank Taylor Hobson Optics, Leeds,
tells of our ‘uncommon courtesy’. On the left: new
LSA secretary Edna Hanman (RX Cinderford) and
Personnel Manager Ron Barnett. After the speeches.
known, but it is nice to hear the
other side admit i t !’
It was Mr Smith’s pleasurable duty
to propose the toast to the guests —
to Mr Orr-Ewing, old friends and
former colleagues from other Long
Service Associations, and
representatives of Manufacturing
Group and Mitcheldean management
— Lionel Lyes, Roger Haggett, Ron
Morfee and Ron Barnett. (Vicepresident
Stan Pratt and
Manufacturing Group Director
Derek Portman sent telegrams
expressing their regret at not being
able to come.)
Replying on behalf of the visiting
LSA representatives, Harry Astbury
of Rank Taylor Hobson Optics,
Leeds, commented on the ‘uncommon
courtesy’ shown them when they
toured the Plant earlier in the day.
Long service line-up — 25-year
award winners pictured with
Mr On-Ewing (centre) are (from
the left) Amy Hewlett (Goods
Inwards Inspection), Ray Haile
(Polishing & Deburring), Arthur
Barnett (Machine Shop), Ted
Adams (RX Cinderford), Horace
Evans and Charlie Maynard (both
Machine Shop), and Darrell Timms
(Assembly Inspection).
He quoted an outstanding example
of t h i s ; they had been watching
lenses being assembled into
remodelled machines and Mr Astbury
asked one operator where the lenses
came from. The operator explained
they were imported and then added,
out of courtesy to a representative of
Rank Taylor Hobson Optics: ‘But
they’re not as good as yours 1’
Our visitors were: Vi Holder, Peter
Hall and Jock Prior (Rank Audio
Visual, Brentford); Harry Astbury and
Bob Friend (Rank Taylor Hobson
Optics, Leeds); Ray Woodman and
Gordon Shakespeare (Rank Taylor
Hobson Optics, Leicester); Eunice
Stansbury and Valerie Cann (Rank
Radio International, Plymouth);
Diane Rees and Arthur King (Rank
Radio International, Chiswick);
Rosina Clark and Elsie Stafford
(Rank Xerox, Welwyn).
Presidential address from Bernard
serious business!
LETTER
21 Y E A R S A CO
It all started as a result of a chat in
the Machine Shop between Bob
Baker, Jock Currie, Tommy Knight
and Taffy Morgan, who came to the
conclusion that an association should
be formed of those who had come
to Mitcheldean from London
(Woodger Road) 12 years
previously to start up the Plant.
The first formal meeting. Tommy tells
us, was held in Mitcheldean’s town
hall and the inaugural dinner took
place at Bradley Court, then a hotel,
in October 1953. There were 40
members present, including Bernard
Smith (chairman), Ray Camp
(secretary) and Ron Wrigglesworth
(treasurer).
Guest of honour was the late
Tommy Law, Managing Director of
British Acoustic Films, as the
Company was known. Three of the
40 were local people who had joined
the firm in 1941 and 11 of them are
currently working full-time at
Mitcheldean.
Many are the stories that circulate
about those early days, and when
the long-serving get together, as they
did the other night, reminiscences
f l ow like wine.
Tommy told us one story about when
he and his wife Winnie (Engineering
Records) came to live in the Forest,
at Redbrook. Tommy was chatting
with one of the locals who asked :
‘Where do you come from ?’
‘London,’ replied Tommy.
‘Where in London were you born ?’
‘Paddington,’ came the answer.
‘What platform, then ?’
There was no answer to that one !
W A L L Y R E T U R N S—
T O S A Y G O O D B YE
Wally Grainger finished his time with
us last autumn, on doctor’s advice,
but it wasn’t until last month that he
retired officially.
We had a chat w i t h him when he
called in to shake hands with
Mr Morfee and say cheerio to all his
friends at the Plant.
He has to take things easily these
days because of ‘ticker trouble’;
fortunately his wife Barbara, a cook
at Ross Cottage Hospital, is well
qualified, and well placed, to watch
his diet and see he keeps off rich
food (‘but I get away w i t h it at the
LSA dinner,’ he said).
It was for health reasons that Wally,
a Londoner, came to live in this area
in 1951. ‘I’m full of holes,’ he told
us. ‘I stopped the best part of a
bomb when I was a prisoner-of-war
in Formosa. They dug a grave for
me but I cheated them.’
He started on the projector assembly
line, then moved over to Service
Department under Pat O’Hare who,
we learned from Wally, is planning to
retire in Ross-on-Wye.
Wally did a stint in Quality Control,
then became chargehand on the 813
line. ‘I remember getting the optical
tent set up for the closed-circuit
TV line-up w i t h London when we
launched the 813, and Raymond
Baxter compered the Mitcheldean
part of the programme.’
After that it was the 660, 2400, 3600
and, finally, the 4000 Department.
Both Wally’s daughters have worked
w i t h us, Pamela in the Print Room and
Maureen as secretary to Engineering
Manager Tony Burke. Maureen and
husband Philip have just presented
Wally w i t h a grandson (see page 14).
Wally relaxes in the armchair with stool
which 4000 Department gave him on
retirement. With him is his wife Barbara.
G E O R G E
T U R N E R
Arriving in IVIitchieldean from London in
February 1959,1 was insulated from contact
with the Foresters for the first few days by pressure of
worlc. However, at 5.30 pm on the Friday I finished at
the same time as the rest of the factory — all 750 people.
Walking out to Eastern Avenue, I boarded the ‘bus, and
walked toward the back to find an empty seat, failed to
note any acquaintances and settled down to ride alone
to Littledean.
From the seat behind I heard voices muttering and the
sound of money changing hands. Then, suddenly, a
raised voice: ‘Thi’ cos n’t *** count, co’sta ?’ For one
moment I thought I had been transported to a strange
world, but I bravely concentrated on interpreting the
remark I had heard.
A half-hour later, on arrival at Littledean, I gathered that
one man had told his brother: ‘You can’t *** count,
can you ?’ Thus my introduction to a breed of
people I like and largely admire.
DOWN T O B U S I N E SS
The membership of Mitcheldean
LSA as at April 29 (when the annual
general meeting was held) was
reported to be 283, 23 of whom
joined this year.
Officers of the association are now as
f o l l o w s : President: Bernard Smith ;
vice-presidents: Frank Edwards,
Vic Buhlmann, Fred Court (Stan
Pratt has resigned his vice-presidency
f o l l o w i n g his move to London);
chairman: Henry Phillips; secretary:
Edna Hanman ; treasurer: George
Turner; committee: Bill Beech, John
Brain (Publicity Officer), Len Hart,
Ernie Hughes, Chris Malsom,
Tommy Morgan, Eric Parsons,
Basil Walker, Bill Williams.
A summer outing has once again
been arranged for retired members;
this will be on June 26 and will take
the form of a coach tour round
picturesque Cotswold villages, w i t h a
visit to Prinknash Abbey.
Pay-off line: subscriptions are going
up to 15p per week from July 4
(weekly paid) or August (monthly).
10
C. Les Inskip took up his appointment
as Manager, Works Engineering, on
May 20. A Member of the Institution
of Electrical Engineers, Mr Inskip’s
engineering experience spans the
manufacture of steel and aluminium,
rubber, domestic appliances,
electronic components and
consultancy work.
In recent years he worked with Avon
Rubber Company as chief engineer,
responsible for machine design and
development as well as works
engineering; he comes to us from
Inskip Engineering Ltd, engineering
consultants of Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
A Welshman, he lives just outside
Trowbridge with his wife, daughter
aged 14 and son aged 10. He likes
to ‘switch o f f aboard his sailing
cruiser based at Poole, and, he told
us, he is keen to master the art of
dinghy sailing, perhaps on
Gloucestershire waters.
Mr Inskip succeeds Pat McAllister
who transferred in March to RX
Engineering Group as Manager,
Facilities Planning.
The Personnel Department has been
restructured to meet the everincreasing
needs of the site. The
major changes in accountability are
as f o l l o w s:
Royston Charles, Personnel Services
Manager (employee services,
pensions, personnel administration,
recruitment, welfare);
Derek Lee, Compensations &
Benefits Manager (compensation
and benefits administration,
personnel research);
Derek Knibbs, Industrial Relations
Manager (area personnel service,
industrial relations);
Jack Timms, Training Manager
(clerical & administration,
management, technical);
Richard Coleman, Organisation &
Development Co-ordinator
(organisation analysis, staff
development);
Gordon Nicol, Manpower Planning
Co-ordinator (manpower forecasting
related to recruitment and training).
The transfer of management
responsibility for each of the sections
has taken place, although the handover
of precise activities is determined
by staff availability and the
completion of appropriate re-training.
The whole department is being
transferred in t w o stages from
Building 6 to the ground floor of
Building 23. Initially the Personnel
Services, Compensations and
Benefits and Industrial Relations
sections will be transferred in July,
w i t h the Training Department
following in about a year’s time.
Derek Knibbs, Richard Coleman and Gordon
Nicol (I to r), whose pictures have not been
published before in VISION, are three of
those involved in the latest Personnel
restructuring.
CAN YOU K E E P UP
WITH US?
This was the question which
Manufacturing Group Director
Derek Portman asked representatives
of our main suppliers at a conference
held at the Plant on June 7.
There had been a lack of investment
in this country, a lack of faith, which
had resulted in capacity shortages.
Mr Portman gave our visitors good
reasons for having confidence in our
continuing development.
We had increased our productivity at
Mitcheldean; Venray had doubled in
people over the last 18 months; we
had 300,000 sq. ft. at Lille and were
considering the possibility of
doubling the size of that plant; the
plant located at Madrid would
come on stream later this year or
early in 1975; we were buying 74
acres for a plant at Aachen and by
1977 both that and the Lille plant
would be in production.
Our turnover had jumped from £115
million in 1969 to £370 million in
1973. ‘We see this kind of trend going
on into the future,’ said Mr Portman.
In this climate, investment made
good sense. The pattern of our
requirements was changing, and it
was important for our suppliers to
anticipate our demands in the
future. ‘We are looking at the
possibility of buying on a worldwide
basis,’ Mr Portman told his
audience.
Keith Oriel, Director of Product
Programmes Division, described the
marketing potential for our new
products — the 3100 desk-top
copier and the 6500 colour copier.
Earlier, our guests were taken on
a tour of certain areas of the Plant,
and entertained to lunch.
Mr R. Hall of Plessey Ltd expressed
our suppliers’ appreciation. ‘You
have this wonderful way of bringing
us into the family party and involving
us in your business,’ he said.
Summer V i s i t o rs
Two further visits of note have
recently been arranged.
On June 27, William F. Glavin, newly
appointed Managing Director and
Chief Operations Executive, Rank
Xerox Ltd, w i l l be coming to see us.
He will also be visiting the
Manufacturing Group locations at
Venray and Lille.
Then on July 5, Charles Loughlin,
MP for West Gloucestershire, is to be
our guest for the day.
B E T W E E N T W O STOOLS
Mitcheldean Endowed Primary
School wish to thank the donors of
the t w o music stools now in use at
the school—^the music teacher can at
last sit down !
O B I T U A R Y We regret t o report t h e deaths of t w o l o n g – s e r v i n g e m p l o y e e s:
Herbert L i t t le on May 19 at t h e age of 87. Herbie, as he w a s k n o w n , w a s carpenter
at t h e plant for 17 years until he retired in his 7 0 t h year. Before j o i n i n g us, he
w o r k e d on t h e site for W i n t l e ‘ s Brewery.
Gene Lark on J u n e 5 at t h e age of 67. Gene w o r k e d in QC I n s p e c t i o n and retired
in 1971 after 19 years’ service. He served on t h e Sports & Social Club c o m m i t t ee
and at one t i m e c o n t r i b u t e d a w i t t y ‘ S o c i a l Diary’ for these pages.
11
Chatting at the reunion are (from the left) Phyllis Bourne, UK Pensions fi/lanayei
Alan Champion, Doug Green, now International Pensions Manager, Marjorie
Osborne, Emily Marshall and her husband.
Familiar f^aces
Our new computer could doubtless
calculate the number of years’
service you represent, but not your
skills and dedication.’
General Manager Ron Morfee was
speaking at the third annual
pensioners’ luncheon and reunion,
held on May 18 in the Social
Centre — an event which is the
Company’s way of acknowledging
that contribution.
Giving them a brief account of
recent developments at the Plant,
such as the new computer centre,
the N/C machine centre, the new
assembly areas here and at Lydney,
Mr Morfee commented : ‘There are
lots of new faces here — one of them
mine. There are around four times
as many people in the Company now
as when I joined eight years ago.
‘ N ow things have to slow down a
bit — we are running out of space
and are having to expand across the
Channel.’
Our guests were hosted by longserving
employees of all levels.
Mr Portman made a point of coming
along; so too did Doug Green,
elevated to the peerage’ as
International Pensions Manager, and
his successor as UK Pensions
Manager, Alan Champion.
Ray Camp, formerly Manager of the
Model Shop at Mitcheldean, thanked
‘the Company and all concerned
w i t h the organisation of this reunion.’
He specially mentioned the Personnel
Office and Pensions staff. ‘We really
do appreciate the service they give
us,’ he said.
The Variety Club provided an
afternoon’s entertainment for our
guests. And the guests entertained
us.
There was Ted Lewis wondering
why, when he took his driving test
w i t h a car that had automatic
transmission, they managed to fail
him on the clutch. There was Bob
Smith w i t h stories about his mynah
bird.
And there was Albert Wing who
arrived hours late, thirsting for the
blood of British Rail.
Why didn’t you come down the
motorway,’ he was asked.
They don’t allow pedestrians,’ came
the snappy answer.
Ray Camp and his wife (standing) enjoy a
joke with Les Davies, one of the hosts,
Mrs Vida Seal, wife of our works
photographer, and hostess Marion Cornwall.
Cyril and Nancy Beard were called
to the bar 15 years ago, just a year
before the first issue of VISION
appeared (there’s no truth in the
rumour that the early copies were
used as beer mats ! ) .
It would be hard to find a couple
better known at the Plant. Apart
from their duties as stewards in the
club house, they unfailingly appear
behind the counter in the ballroom
where, with the help of various
assistants, they are ready to take our
orders at gala dances, annual dinners,
receptions of all kinds, etc.
Their energy seems limitless, and
their reliability almost a legend. They
don’t get home until midnight or
later, and Cyril has to be back at
work next morning, but they seem to
thrive on it. There’s obviously job
satisfaction in handing out jars !
Says Roy Steward, Sports & Social
Club secretary: ‘Nothing is too much
trouble for them.’ Chairman Tony
Haynes is more forthright: ‘They do
a bloody good job.’
Nancy, as many Mitcheldean people
know, was born to the business. The
Lamb Inn was her home, her
Dear Sir
It was no problem 14 years ago. If
you addressed an envelope to
Mr Davies or Mr Williams or
Mr Jones, it usually got to the
right person without too much
nail-biting by the Mail Room. Not so
today, when there are some 13
Davies, 1 5 Williams and 19 Jones
listed in the internal directory. Yet
the Mail Room still get envelopes
bearing just the surname and (if
they’re lucky) the initial of the
addressee — no department, no
building number and, in the case of
mail for Xerox Corporation, no
location number.
A look at the contents often leaves
them none the wiser, and they have
to stop everything to ‘phone, write
or telex, sometimes even to places
as far distant as the USA, in an effort
to locate the right person.
So if someone somewhere is waiting
to hear from you, please help by
making sure an inadequate address
is not going to keep them waiting
that much longer.
•orWanianc
grandfather being licensee, and her
parents, Marcus Larl< and his wife,
lived at the inn. Mr Larl< recently retired
after 26 years’ service in local
government at both district and
county levels.
When Nancy married Cyril, they took
over the running of the pub for ten
years, from 1946 to 1956, and served
refreshments to many a thirsty Plant
pioneer.
Cyril came to us as stock checker in
1 947 working for Fred Wickstead.
In 1950 he left to help Nancy,
business being very demanding at
the Lamb. But seven years later he
was back in Production Control, and
he is now a member of the team
concerned with new products under
J im Cannon. Cyril supervises the
Production Control side of Small
Batch work. ‘We order all our own
raw materials in this section’ he told
us.
Today, he and Nancy live in Pound
Cottage, Longhope, where Cyril was
born. They have five children (David,
one of their sons, was an apprentice
of ours) and seven grandchildren.
and they celebrate 30 years of
marriage this year.
We asked them about changes in
drinking habits over the years. ‘People
drink more lager than they used to.
Orange squash was the stuff in the
old days — gallons of it. We used to
have them all lined up ready on the
club house counter every lunchtime.’
Now they are looking forward to the
time when, provided all goes
according to plan, they will be
‘lining them up’ on a counter at least
twice the size.
or Maxiam 44
D E N N I S
B A R N A R D
As secretary of the National Savings Club at
Mitcheldean I rated two paragraphs in the first
issue of VISION. Now I’m writing from RX Venray —
something I never dreamt of 14 years ago.
Most of us residents here are approaching the end of
our assignments and by September all will have returned
except Clive Brain. Mike Smith, George Swainson and
Ian Forster are already back home.
Communications haven’t been much of a problem over
in Venray, except as regards TV, the cinema and theatre,
because the Dutch, in general, have a first-class
command of the British language.
Nevertheless, we residents (I believe I speak for all, no
matter where they’ve been posted) appreciate being
kept in touch with our home base.
I hear that the editor of Venray’s magazine XEROKRANT
has visited Mitcheldean this month and that VISION’S
editor is to pay a return visit here, so the ‘Dutch
connection’ will be very much in the news. 99
ANY N E W S F O R V I S I O N ?
If you have then please—
* let your departmental correspondent know,
• or leave it at any Gate House for collection by me,
• or post it to me at Tree Tops, Plump Hill, Mitcheldean,
* or ring me—it’s Drybrook 542415. Myrtle Fowler, Editor
13
2 1 s t B i r t h d ay
J a n e W h i t l o c k ( G o o d s I n w a r d s O f f i c e ) on
May 16.
E n g a g e m e n t
Peggy M a t t f i e w s (PED) to J o h n Ryland
( R e l i a b i l i t y , M a l t i n g s ) on May 1 1 .
W e d d i n g s
J e n n y Reed ( M e c h . S t o c k C o n t r o l ) t o J o hn
J o n e s at Lydney Register O f f i c e on A p r i l 13.
S h i r l e y A n n e C o l l i n s (Technical
C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Engrg) to C o l i n Brickel
( E n g i n e e r i n g Group) at St. J o h n ‘ s Church,
C i n d e r f o r d , o n A p r i l 15.
B i r t h s
C h r i s t i a n , a son for M a l c o l m Turley (Design
e n g i n e e r ) and his w i f e A v r i l , on April 28.
M a r t y n , a son for Maureen Walker (formerly
secretary t o Mr A. Burke, Engineering
Manager) and her h u s b a n d Philip, on
May 2.
Paul Cefni, a son for Peter W h i t f i e l d (PED)
and his w i f e Sandra ( f o r m e r l y secretary to
J o h n Hankin, n o w M f g Programmes D e p t ).
on May 1 1 .
The Inter-Design Skittles Tournament
finished for another year w i t h the
Design Engineering team, Ardri Big
‘A’, coming out winners.
The knockout competition started
w i t h 13 teams from areas within
Engineering such as Draughting,
Reliability, Development, and the
clerical sections and Print Room
taking part. It reached the semi-final
stage w i t h Ardri Big ‘A’ playing
Model Shop Swingers, and Fourairs
(4.000 £f Aries draughtsmen) playing
Draughting Deliniators.
Ardri were given a very tough game
by the Model Shop men and the
eight-man team hit a total of 295
over six legs against the Model
Shop’s 294. Fourairs had a
comfortable win, hitting 289 and
beating Draughting by 23 pins.
J o a n n e , a d a u g h t e r for Roger Phillips
( D e s i g n engineer resident at Webster, NY)
and his w i f e Pat, o n May 13.
Dale J o h n , a son for J o h n and Sheila Reed
( f o r m e r l y I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m u n i c a t i o n s ) on
May 15.
J a s o n A n t h o n y , a s o n for S a n f o r d Gaylard
( M a c h i n e Shop) and his w i f e Christine
( f o r m e r l y Purchase), on May 30.
R e t i r e m e n t s
The f o l l o w i n g retired in May and w e w i sh
t h em all t h e b e s t : Phyllis Knight ( F i n i s h i n g)
w i t h 4 J years’ s e r v i c e ; Bert Hale ( 4 0 00
Assembly) w h o has been w i t h us 14 years:
Konrad O r l o w s k i ( I n f o r m a t i o n Systems) who
came four years ago ; a n d Bill Wardle
( M a i n t e n a n c e ) w i t h 65 years’ service.
O b i t u a r y
We report w i t h regret t h e death on May 10
of Bill Wall at t h e age of 61 years. Bill, w ho
had been on t h e sick list for q u i t e a t i m e,
s t a r t e d w i t h the C o m p a n y in 1966.
A l s o r e c o r d e d w i t h regret is t h e d e a t h of
J a c k B u t l i n ( S t o c k and Order C o n t r o l,
S u p p l y Centre) on May 27 at t h e age of 58.
He had been w i t h us for six years.
The final didn’t show the t w o teams
on their best form, but Ardri Big A’
won through, hitting 287 against the
Fourairs 282. The trophies were
presented to the winning team by
Tony Burke, Engineering Manager,
Mitcheldean. Roger Roberts of the
Ardri team received the tankard for
the highest individual score of 52.
Arrangements for next year’s
tournament will be somewhat
different, this year’s organiser ‘giving
way to a more experienced hand’ —
that of Roy Barton.
The tournament will start on a
league basis and then revert to a
knockout with four league winners
in the semi-final. This will give all
teams at least three games, and
enable both winners and runners-up
to receive trophies.
R i c h a r d M a t t h e ws
SP@RTS & S&CIAL CLUB
S p r i n g S h ow
The beautiful singing of the Mathern
Ladies Choir, conducted by Dai Rees,
started off the Variety Club’s latest
show on a promising note. Home
talent provided the next item —
the second movement of Haydn’s
Trumpet Concerto, played on the
cornet with fine intonation by David
Jones from Material Handling.
Moving from the sublime to the
ridiculous, a conversation piece
Ladies Gossiping’ (written jointly by
the club committee) gave us a
glimpse behind the loo door, with
lots of double meanings which were
much appreciated by the audience.
Then there were Irish ballads from
Sadie Pritchard, w h o can always be
relied on for her sweet singing as
much as for her hard work in other
quarters.
After a ‘journey to the mystic Orient’
in company with Ken Farmborough
and Gordon Davies, the first half
concluded with ‘The Sound’ folk
group who gave a quiet and neat
performance.
In the interval, four charmers
competed for the title of ‘Glamorous
Grandmother, 1974’; first place went
to Hilda Baldwin (Medical Centre)
who has eight grandchildren to her
credit, while Florence James
(Machine Shop office) came second.
Judging their mature charms were
Mrs Jock Yuill, Ron Barnett
(Personnel Manager) and ‘Wee’ Jock
Cruickshank (Production Control).
The Mathern Ladies Choir returned
to the stage in the second half,
followed by Gordon Davies
(Production Control) singing
beautiful ballads and love songs.
‘Your Life in? Hands’ starred
Dr Seymour Legg assisted by Sister
Dropsy, Nurse Fanny Forceps,
Nurse Ouickly, Porter Chillbladder
and a very brave patient. After seeing
this, the writer made a mental note
not to go to Medical Centre in future
but to seek advice from a vet.
Andy Hardy compered the show,
sang a bit, joked a bit, and soon had
the audience clapping to his yodelling.
The evening ended w i t h dancing to
the J M Four, followed by a good
disco for the younger generation.
The show was stage managed by
John Earl (Production Control);
lighting and sound were by Bill
Pritchard and Mike Quinn (Works
Engrg), while Stephen Cooper looked
after stage properties and acted as
carpenter.
The proceeds, amounting to £50,
go to the Muscular Dystrophy Fund.
I r a G r i f f in
P E A R L ft RAY
R E E D
As one whose wedding photograph
appeared in the first edition of
VISION some 14 years ago, I was asked to
contribute a few lines for this special edition.
Well now. what can I say about 14 years of
married life ? We are still together, working
as a team with me in harness and Pearl in
the driving seat.
We have one daughter. Dawn, who is now
13, and Pearl is now back at work. Where 7
RX Mitcheldean — where else ? When I
questioned her decision to start work (/ really
did), her answer was: ‘I’m saving for my
divorce!’
My fondest hope is that we shall write
again, for the 200th and 500th edition
of VISION. yy
Inter-Design Skittles
14
From behind closed doors—the cast of
Ladies Gossiping—(I to r) Denise Cooper,
Ken Farmborough, Gordon Davies and
Jean Cox.
D e c i s i v e M s t c h es
Which is the champion team in the
Interdepartmental Darts Tournament —
Spares XI or Press Gang, RX
Cinderford — will be decided when
the final match takes place on
June 26th.
The final of the men’s Skittles
Tournament will be played off on
June 22 between Accounts and
Jones Boys (4000 Mini Line).
The finalists in the Ladies’ Skittles—
4000 Virgins and 660 Happy
Wanderers — played their decisive
match on June 1 9, after we had gone
to press, but we hope to publish a
photo of the winners at a later date.
F i n a l iVioves
The fourth round in the Wickstead
Shield and Portman Cup chess
tournament was being played as we
went to press. Mr Portman has
Winning Glamorous Grandmother l-lilda
Baldwin with the other glam grans—Eunice
Whittington, Pam Bolton and Florence
James (runner-up)
kindly promised to present the prizes
on the finals evening which will take
place in September.
S t a t e l y C o u r s e
The Golf Society’s outing on
May 13 to Penoyra GC, near Brecon,
will long be remembered. It was
their first visit there and they were
very impressed w i t h the immaculate
fairways and superb greens set in
beautiful parkland, which looked
splendid in the sunshine.
The turn-out of 30 was the biggest
yet, but not very many good scores
were returned because of blustery
conditions.
There was a stableford competition
in the morning, won by Mike Cooper
(Tool Room) with 36 points (bandit I).
The medal round in the afternoon
was won by Bill Meek (Cinderford
Machine Shop) with a score of 74.
HOME MARKET
F o r S a le
Polished w o o d c o c k t a i l cabinet, £21 o.n.o.
L y d b r o o k 548.
T w o black rally f r o n t seat covers suitable
for B M C M i n i . Also Mini padded steering
w h e e l . Offers for either. E. T. L. Davies,
ext. 1 3 2 or R o s s – o n – W y e 2366.
Terraced house, t w o bedrooms, lounge,
k i t c h e n , b a t h r o o m , o u t b u i l d i n g s , small
garden, £ 6 , 5 0 0 o.n.o., mortgages can be
arranged. 136 H i g h Street, Cinderford,
or ext. 712.
K e n w o o d Chefette f o o d mixer and
l i q u i d i s e r , £10. J. Lewis, ext. 330.
C h i l d ‘ s t r i c y c l e , suit c h i l d up t o age 4, £2.
Carol D a w s o n , ext. 396.
M i t c h e l d e a n — superior modern semid
e t a c h e d house in elevated p o s i t i o n.
L o u n g e – d i n e r w i t h panoramic v i e w s , three
bedrooms, b a t h r o o m , f i t t e d k i t c h e n , gas
central heating. Large garage, terraced rear
garden o p e n i n g on t o w o o d e d country,
£ 9 , 4 0 0 o.n.o., i n c l u s i v e of some f i t t ed
carpets. Drybrook 542037.
Large TV aerial s u i t a b l e for S u t t o n C o l d f i e l d.
D. Manby, ext. 853.
Late 1 9 6 3 Vauxhall Cresta, g o o d c o n d i t i o n,
e n g i n e excellent, 1 5 , 0 0 0 miles since
o v e r h a u l , M O T till May 1975, taxed
J u l y ‘ 7 4 , £ 6 0 o.n.o. David Entwistle,
PED, ext. 4 8 1 .
Pedigree A l s a t i a n puppies, ready m i d – J u n e,
£ 1 5 bitches, £18 dogs. Carol Dawson,
ext. 396.
S a l e / E x c h a n g e for t w o s o m e — Indesit Super
A u t o m a t i c , 6 m o n t h s o l d , £60. Colin
Boseley, 4 0 0 0 OC, or 24 West Avenue,
Sunnymeade, Drybrook.
Hoover Senior v a c u u m cleaner and Hoover
p o l i s h e r just over 1 2 m o n t h s o l d . Offers,
Gorsley 452.
M o t h e r c a r e pram, cream, c o m p l e t e w i th
s h o p p i n g tray, g o o d c o n d i t i o n , £12 o.n.o.
D r y b r o o k 5 4 2 0 2 8.
D e t a c h e d t h r e e – b e d r o om b u n g a l o w , full
gas central h e a t i n g , garage, £11,500.
C o l e f o r d 2 4 0 4 or ext. 210.
Pram seat, navy, brand new, £ 3 5 0 o.n.o.
A l s o t w o c h i l d r e n ‘ s sleeping bags, floral
d e s i g n , suit 3 t o 4 yrs, £2 each o.n.o.
Mrs. S. Baker ( C a n t e e n ) , ext. 568.
P u r r – s o n a l
H o u s e – t r a i n e d kittens, b o t h sexes, free to
g o o d homes. Sam Foster, ext. 1 1 9 or 353.
F o r H i re
S e l f – t o w caravan, 4 – b e r t h , w i t h a w n i ng
D r y b r o o k 5 4 2 7 2 2.
W a n t e d
Y o u n g c o u p l e u r g e n t l y require s e l f – c o n t a i n ed
f l a t , preferably Ross area. M. G i b b s ext. 9 1 2.
Tenors and basses for N e w e n t Choral
Society. Next p e r f o r m a n c e : Handel’s
‘ M e s s i a h ‘ . A n y o n e interested contact
R. Carter, ext. 3 2 2.
M i n i c M o t o r w a y items required, especially
r o a d / r a i l accessories. K. Hirst, ext. 712.
Trailer 4ft x 3ft. Roy S a l m o n , ext. 943.
L o s t
Ronson l i g h t e r in black leather case, b e t w e en
B u i l d i n g s 29 and red ‘ C car park. Owner
can be c o n t a c t e d on ext. 3 2 9.
F R A N K
E D W A R D S
G E O F F
G R A Y
If you attain your 100th birthday you receive a
congratulatory telegram from the reigning
Monarch. If you attain 100 editions, all you get is 100
words from someone like me who was featured in the
first issue.
I suppose, in these days of pending metrication and
powers of ten, it makes much more sense to honour an
anniversary of 10^ than 14 years and 100 editions —
which calculate out at 7^li editions per annum or one
edition every 7^/25 weeks.
However, whichever way we look at it, we shall ||A
be 100 editions older come 200.
Looking back at the first issue of VISION, it just
doesn’t seem like 14 years since its publication
— or since the event of my wedding (to my wife, not
Rank Xerox) which was reported in that issue.
One thing seems evident from both experiences and
that is, it is important to retain a sense of humour.
As I was Jotting down my thoughts. I reached for my
matches and I noticed the joke on the back of the box
which, incidentally, came from another house magazine,
that of the 600 Group: ‘Laugh and the world laughs
with you — snore, and you sleep alone.’
It struck me as a useful bit of advice to hand on to any
reader who may have reached the same stage in ||A
their lives as I had in spring 1960.
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd. 15
And glamorous it certainly was on
May 17, when the Social Centre
became a ‘Mecca’ for lovers of
ballroom dancing.
No psychedelic lighting, no discos —
the Big Band Sound played strict
tempo, couples actually danced with
each other, and novices mingled with
gold medallists on the dance floor.
Then Ira ‘Come Dancing’ Griffin,
chairman of the Ballroom Dancing
Club who organised the evening,
presented his biggest sensation to
date — the Sybil Marks Formation
Team from Cardiff who won the
British championship last year.
Under the eye of Sybil Marks herself,
doyenne of the dancing world, the
dancers came on in clouds of
multi-coloured tulle, their partners
w i t h buttonholes to match.
They were preceded by t w o of their
tutors — Dennis and Barbara Cole —
who demonstrated several dances,
including the exciting paso doble,
and made us more dissatisfied than
ever w i t h our own ‘quick, quick,
slow’.
The team, w h o practise once a week,
come from all walks of l i f e : they
include an architect, a bricklayer, a
sprinkling of secretaries, t w o workers
from a lingerie factory, a medical
laboratory technician.
They have represented Great Britain
three times in the European
The Sybil Marl(s Formation Team from
Cardiff — in photographic formation.
Centre is Sybil Marks herself
Championships, and were runners-up
twice before they became British
champions. In a f ew days they were
off to Blackpool to defend their
title, so we wished them luck.
Many people said afterwards ‘It was
the best dance we’ve ever had.’
Everything was done in style —
bouquets for the stars, red roses for
Mrs Ron Morfee.
The Ballroom Dancing Club certainly
rate a gold medal for the whole
performance.
Dancing Club committee member Eileen
Newman presents bouquets to the dancers.
R i g h t : Red roses for Mrs Ron Morfee.