January/February 77 No. 123
THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN
Leading fireman Dave Read inflates the air cushion while Jack Barnard and
Maurice Brain release ‘Fred’; John Hyett stands by to assist. Making radio contact
at the wheel of the new fire tender is leading fireman Bob Young.
Fire Service Gets Upiift
RHIDIAN GODDARD GOES . . .
RESOLUTELY
INTO ’77 As the last day of 1976 drew to a
close, millions of good-intentioned
souls applied themselves to the task
of selecting a New Year’s Resolution.
Those of us w i th a strong
humanitarian streak reflected on our
past mischief and promised a year
dedicated to the pursuance of better
personal relationships with the
human race.
Foremen, supervisors, managers,
section leaders, resolved never again
to suspect the parental relationship
of their charges. Oh, how Christmas
softens the human heart — not to
mention the abdominal wall after
the seasonal onslaught by roast
turkey and plum pud !
The more generously proportioned
amongst us will have been busy
listing the forbidden fruits of
gastronomic excess and making
ready to swear that never again
would they be tempted by sherry
trifle, whipped cream, turkish delight
and chips.
Many of you will have found this
resolution particularly easy to
embrace, as you reached for the
empty tin of Andrews or searched in
vain for the already over-subscribed
Alka-Seltzer. We trust you did not
place money on your good intentions
with a fellow fatty — once the
stomach settles, old urges invariably
prove stronger than vain personal
promises.
At least a million people busily
working their way through a box of
a hundred Embassy Filter Tip, or
frantically tearing the gift wrapping
from seasonal cheroots, will have
prepared their lungs for a New Year
filled with nothing but fresh air.
Beware these addicts of the weed,
for until they once more succumb
to their tranquillisers, like they did
last year and the year before, their
rabid symptoms will antagonise all
who come into contact w i t h them.
Who was it said : ‘Like a bear with
a sore head’ ? They should have
said : ‘Like a smoker without a
Woodbine.’
Children —those most attractive
members of the human race —
approach the New Year w i th an
innocence and enthusiasm that we
adults, w i th our worldly cares, all
too easily forget.
Their simple resolutions, like
promising to wash hands and face
before sitting at the dinner table,
are desperately hard to keep up for
a whole year, but, if that’s what
Mum wants, then here goes.
Harder still is resolving to do all the
homework before going out to
play — ‘but please God, make Father
resolve to stop shouting at me if I
forget.’
Kids often give us recipes for better
living in their idealistic approach to
the New Year. How often have mums
and dads, at question time over the
first breakfast of the year, heard
things like ‘I shall always remember
to visit Grandma on Friday after
school’ (until her supply of Mintoes
and biscuits dries up) or ‘I shall
never again forget to feed the rabbit
and the hamster’ (unless it’s too
cold to gather dandelions or there’s
Tom and Jerry on the telly).
Dad in turn will promise always to
feed the cat first thing in the
morning, until it gets under his feet
on the stairs and Mum’s early
morning cup of tea alters the pattern
on the stair-carpet.
On that morning the moggy will
once more be carried unceremoniously
to the back door by the scruff of the
neck and be deposited equally
briskly amongst last year’s geraniums.
However, a f ew dedicated souls
will pursue their resolutions to a
happy conclusion ; addictions will
be cured, pounds of unwanted fat
will melt away, relationships will be
adjusted, and a few rabbits will
grow fat. Come next year, the
faithful will look back upon a
personal triumph that will have
made the struggle worthwhile.
What is your New Year Resolution ?
To be nice to somebody you don’t
particularly like, to do something
you don’t want to do (but doing it
would keep the wife quiet for the
rest of the year) to improve your
life-style and the family’s comfort
by affording that new three-piece
suite?
The possibilities are endless, but all
resolutions have one thing in
common —they are designed to
please somebody else in the end.
Even though the prime motive is
often a selfish one, the ultimate
payoff is when somebody else falls
in love w i th the slimmer you, or
responds gratefully to your extended
olive branch.
My New Year Resolution? Well, it’s
simply ‘to contribute’. I figure that
if I can contribute to life in every
way that I can, whenever and
wherever a contribution of any sort
is needed, then I w i l l have achieved
something.
Happy New Year I
2
Discussing the shooting script for the production with Roger Acland of Training Department
(second from left) are several members of the Solar Project Team — (from left) Julian
Alington, Bob Bowman, Solar Project l\Aanager, and David Davies.
The SOLAR P r o j e c t T e a m s a y : Now irs Up to Us
If you’re thinking ‘SOLAR ? That’s
nothing to do with me,’ then you
couldn’t be more wrong !
No matter what your j o b —
operator, clerk, supervisor, manager —
your work in some way affects, or
is affected by, SOLAR.
Did you realise that SOLAR is now
fully operational ? All of our
procurement, manufacturing, and
assembly is controlled by the system
to ensure that the correct parts are
ordered at the right time or made
in the right quantities.
In order to do this, SOLAR uses
information which you provide by
counting quantities of parts, or
filling in forms, issuing components,
and so on. We are all part of
SOLAR and none of us can afford
to play at being ostriches by burying
our heads in the sand and displaying
our shortcomings I
The system can only work on
information which we feed it — any
mistakes which it makes are usually
the result of our errors. Our aim
must be to eliminate the number of
errors which we create daily, and
one of the ways to do this is to
understand more about what the
system does, what it requires from
us, and what happens when we
make mistakes.
This step towards improvement of
our understanding will be assisted
by the making of a video colour
recording at Mitcheldean.
T V S t a r f o r SOLAR
Lasting some 30 minutes it will
feature Michael Rodd of BBC TV
‘Tomorrow’s World’ and ‘Screen Test’
who will be seen talking to various
people about SOLAR.
An RX TV and film unit w i l l work in
conjunction with the Training
Department, and shooting is expected
to start in the second week of
February.
The programme will explain how all
parts of the system work together to
provide one of the most advanced
Material Planning Systems in Europe.
It will explain not only how the
system works, but also the effect of
errors. It will explain the part which
each of us has to play — not as a
Lord Olivier or Raquel Welch, since
SOLAR has no celebrities — every
person is an important player in the
total scene.
A D i f f e r e n t Game
Implementation of SOLAR has
meant many changes — something
which some of us dislike since it
takes time to get used to the new
shape of things. But, unfortunately,
change is the only way in which
we progress, and even square wheels
were no good until someone
invented round corners.
The looseness of the system which
preceded SOLAR, combined with
excessive stocks, meant that poor
paperwork disciplines and errors
could usually be carried within the
system without bringing production
to a stop. The game is now very
different indeed.
SOLAR provides us w i th a
sophisticated system; but at the same
time every one of us must meet the
system’s requirements for
accuracy.
Mistakes in quantities are lies to the
system, so that it over-orders or
under-orders w i t h the result of
excess stock or line stops — either
way it costs money and makes our
product more expensive than it
should be.
What does SOLAR do for us? The
answer depends on the accuracy of
our information to the system. If
we give it the right facts, SOLAR
provides us w i t h far better
information w i t h which to control
the business than we have
ever had.
Whereas the previous system merely
pinpointed the most obvious errors,
SOLAR can not only tell us of many
ways in which we may be going
wrong, but also inform us what and
where the problems are.
This all helps to keep our costs
down, to keep us competitive
and to help safeguard our jobs.
SOLAR is more than an advanced
system — it is a basic tool which is
the foundation of our livelihood and
future, provided we give it the correct
information.
It is our method of manufacture
which, like a new car, needs tuning
and running in. But treat it carefully,
maintain it well, and monitor its
performance, and it will give us
good service.
The Spirit of Christinas Past
// our canteen staff were tired of seeing turkey and Christmas pud by the time December 25
arrived, it wouldn’t have been surprising — not after cooking and serving 1,400 portions!
Our compliments to Bill Broome and his staff for coping so cheerfully and efficiently.
Congratulations also to conductor Derek Wade and the RX Christmas Bandsmen who
brought a professional musical touch to the Xmas lunch programme and raised £23 for
Dr Barnardo’s by their performance. Our picture shows some of the after-lunch carollers
in the self-service canteen.
3
Motorbikes ancient and modern! Len Ore
arrived at work recently on this piece of
history (a 7928 Ariel motorcycle) —says it’s
like riding a machine gun. Dave Mills came
more quietly on a ‘ Whispering Snail’, the
Velocette Vogue seen in the background.
B e l o w : Mike Wicksteed leads on a ’36 Ariel
500 at a Vintage Motor Cycle Club race at
Cadwell P;uk. in 1975.
Currently ‘resting’ at its Ross retreat is this 1930 Triumph sidecar outfit which appeared in
‘The Brensham People’ on BBC2 along with owner Ray Moses (in sidecar) and his son
Richard. Ray collects pre-war cars as well and is the proud owner of a 1933 Alvis, a
’34 MG and an Austin Ruby ’37. ¥HC S U R V I V O RS To you, the machines featured on
this page may be just motorbil Keeps
C o m p e t i t i ve
After a close fought run ( w e were
leading at half time), we lost our
battle against Ross Photo Society
on November 3 last. They had some
rather good slides, and our only
consolation was that Bob Dixon
tied for best slide in t he competition
with one of the Ross entries.
The open print competition on
December 8 was w o n by Richard
Walford of Design Department with
a black and white print of frosty
cobwebs. Mr Inhelder of Wotan
Photo Ltd w h o judged the prints,
gave a presentation on his firm’s
lighting equipment and also
presented some of this equipment
to Richard as t he competition prize.
Afterwards, Denise Gittings (Design)
modelled for those who took their
cameras along.
The competition below offers a
chance for non-members as well as
members to show what they and
their cameras can do.
V a n c e H o p k i ns
VISION COVER PICTURE
W e ‘ d l i k e t o s e e a p i c t u r e t a k e n b y Y O U o n t h e f r o n t c o v e r o f V I S I O N .
I f y o u w i n o u r p h o t o c o m p e t i t i o n , w e ‘ l l p u t i t r i g h t t h e r e . Y o u ‘ l l g e t £ 1 5
a s f i r s t p r i z e , a n d t h e r u n n e r – u p w i l l h a v e £ 5 .
H e r e a r e t h e r u l e s :
# The c o m p e t i t i o n i s o p e n t o o u r e m p l o y e e s o r p e n s i o n e r s o n l y.
9 T h e s u b j e c t i s ‘ P e o p l e a t W o r k ‘ . A n y p e o p l e a t w o r k a n y w h e r e ( n o t
n e c e s s a r i l y a t M i t c h e l d e a n ) . J u s t o n e p e r s o n i f p r e f e r r e d .
9 P r i n t s m u s t b e b l a c k a n d w h i t e g l o s s y , 1 0 i n . x S i n . m i n i m u m s i z e , a n d
o f a h o r i z o n t a l f o r m a t .
9 Y o u r f u l l n a m e a n d d e p a r t m e n t m u s t a p p e a r o n t h e b a c k o f e a c h p r i nt
s u b m i t t e d . Send i n a s m a n y e n t r i e s a s y o u l i k e .
9 P i c t u r e m u s t h a v e b e e n t a k e n d u r i n g 1 9 7 6 / 7 7.
# C l o s i n g d a t e : M a r c h 2 5 , 1 9 7 7 , f o r j u d g i n g n e a r E a s t e r . A l l p r i n t s
m u s t b e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e e d i t o r . M y r t l e F o w l e r . T h e y c a n b e h a n d e d
i n t o G r o u p P u b l i c R e l a t i o n s O f f i c e , B i d 2 3 / 1 , o r l e f t a t a n y G a t e H o u se
f o r c o l l e c t i o n b y h e r .
L u n c h – t i m e C i n e ma
Once again a series of Wednesday
lunch-time films (20 to 30 mins.
running time) is being shown in the
Education & Training Department,
Building 6.
The current programme includes the
following features:
‘Voices in Orbit’ (the g r o w th of
communications by satellite),
February 2 ; ‘The Private Life of the
Large White Butterfly’, February 9 ;
‘Rain from the Danube’ (an
irrigation project involving UK and
Romanian co-operation), February
16; ‘Laser Holography’ (its use in the
field of micro measurements),
February 2 3 ; ‘Canada’, March 2 ;
‘Add Penicillin and Stir Well’ (a
unique fungus found in South West
France and its effect on the locality),
March 9; ‘Knock for Knock’
(insuring things large and small),
March 1 6 ; ‘Voyage of the Beagle’
(the voyage of Charles Darwin and
his observations), March 2 3 ; ‘The
Cattle Carters’ (transportation in NW
Australia), March 3 0 ; and t he last in
this series, ‘The Blue Nile’, April 6.
HOME MARKET
When sending i n i t e m s please give your
extension number a n d / o r department t o ensure
inclusion.
F o r S a le
Ideal S t a n d a r d s o l i d fuel boiler, o u t p ut
7 5 , 0 0 0 B T h U , g o o d c o n d i t i o n , £ 6 0 o.n.o.
ext. 9 2 6 .
L a d y ‘ s b r o w n shoes, size 6, w o r n once
£ 5 o.n.o. T. W a l l , ext. 2 7 5 .
N e w W o r l d 7 3 0 g a s f i r e , as n e w , £ 4 0 o.n.o.
E. M a t t h e w s , ext. 8 6 5 .
4 – p l y t y r e f o r T r i u m p h Herald, 5 – 2 0 – 1 3 ;
b o o t l id f o r 1 1 0 0 / 1 3 0 0 . M . H a l e,
T e a r d o w n , ext. 5 8 5 .
T w o 6 f t 6 i n X 2 i n f l u s h doors, hardboard
face, £ 4 ; R a l e i g h C h i p p y bike t o suit
2 t o 3 – y e a r – o l d , £ 5 ; t w o H K w n i g h t
s t o r a g e heaters, £ 1 5 . G. K. W i l l i a m s ,
ext. 1 3 4 6 or L y d b r o o k 5 0 6 .
M i n i a t u r e Y o r k s h i r e terrier pups, available
e a r l y M a r c h . M. H o l b r o o k , ext. 8 4 7 .
F g u i t a r , u n u s e d , £ 1 8 o . n . o . Mrs. O. Sick,
ext. 1 1 9 2.
C o l e f o r d — S p a c i o u s c h a l e t – s t y l e house
w i t h rustic s t o n e c h i m n e y , residential area
c l o s e t o s h o p p i n g centre, 3 bedrooms,
24ft l o u n g e , s t u d y / 4 t h b e d r o o m , large
f i t t e d k i t c h e n , e n t r a n c e hall, g a s – f i r e d cent,
h t g , d e t a c h e d d o u b l e garage, large garden,
£ 1 8 , 0 0 0 . A. C r o w d e n , ext. 9 6 2 / 7 5 9 or
evgs C o l e f o r d 3 7 8 3.
M a r c o n i p h o n e TV, 2 6 i n . black & w h i t e,
V H F / U H F , e x c e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n , can be seen
w o r k i n g , £ 4 0 . M o r r i s 1 1 0 0 , ‘ D ‘ r e g . , t i dy
car, e c o n o m i c a l , £ 2 0 0 . C. P o w e l l , ext. 6 39
or C i n d e r f o r d 2 2 1 8 4 after 6 p m .
T w o T o w n & C o u n t r y tyres o n w h e e l s ,
suit 1 1 0 0 . Offers. M. A r n i s o n , ext. 4 6 5 .
M o r r i s 1 1 0 0 ( D ) , e n g i n e & g e a r b o x as
new, b o d y w o r k & i n t e r i o r f i r s t – c l a ss
c o n d i t i o n , tyres g o o d , l o w m i l e a g e , £ 2 2 5.
Lady driver. C i n d e r f o r d 2 2 5 9 6 or e x t . 4 1 2 .
1 6 0 B B l u e b i r d Datsun t o w b a r , £ 1 0 .
Astrali steering w h e e l f o r M i n i , £7. Brake
servo unit, £10. Ext. 1 3 0 7 o r B l a k e n e y 3 1 1 .
W a n t e d
101b c a p a c i t y Calor gas b o t t l e or 61b
C a m p i n g Gaz b o t t l e ring. D. T u f f l e y , Tool
Design office, ext. 6 2 8 .
Christmas began in a big way on December 10 for George Gapper
of Production Planning & Control when he won one of the four
top prizes — portable black B white TV sets — in the Bonanza
Draw. ‘It’s the first time I’ve ever won anything in my life,’ said a
delighted George. The sets, wired up for sound and picture, were
on display together with numerous other prizes of drinks, cigars,
chocs and crackers. A crowd of would-be winners gathered in the
ballroom during the lunch-hour and different people were invited
to draw the lucky numbers. John Ireland chalked them up for all to
see while committee members identified the holders.
11
CAT 1 AND Cat 1 has no official name. Grey and
white, he arrived four years ago and now
lives comfortably in a Fyffes banana box
at RX Cinderford.
An attempt last year to hand him over to the
RSPCA failed (pussy got a tip-off and
disappeared discreetly). A ‘Save our Cat’
campaign, led by Mike Duberley. pictured
left with the moggy, and John Weatherley,
resulted in Cat 1 being designated a
protected pet.
If you’ve wondered what the term Cat 2
refers to, we have a possible answer — the
moggy known as Whisky, seen right in the
arms of Margaret Treasure.
Last time he was featured in VISION it was
on the front cover of the May I June 1967
issue, photographed asleep in a ‘pending’
tray! Fred Brickel remembers him coming
in through the window as a small kitten
some 12 years ago, and he’s stayed
pending at Mitcheldean ever since.
Today, as handsome as ever, he takes his
cat-naps in a box beside Margaret in
Electrical Subs. 7 keep an eye on Whisky
during the day and we all club together to
feed him,’ she explained.
Both cats are believed to work on night
shift; as for holidays, they have very
satisfactory contingency plans!
CAT 2
E n g a g e m e n t s
Barbara Beard ( S u p p l y Centre) t o M a l c o lm
S m i t h on November 3.
W e d d i n g s
Robert Lewis ( 9 2 0 0 QC) t o Lesley Rooker
at St Peter’s C h u r c h , C l i f f o r d ‘ s Mesne, on
September 25.
Sally Russell (Electrical S u b – a s s e m b l y)
t o Jeff B a l d w i n at St J o h n s Church,
C o l e f o r d , o n November 20.
M i k e Duberley (QC, C i n d e r f o r d ) t o Hilary
B o w d e n at U p t o n B i s h o p o n December 4.
M i k e Powell ( M a c h i n e Shop, RXC) to
Barbara B r o w n at L i t t l e d e a n C h u r c h on
December 4 . –
J o s e p h i n e Barnett ( S u t c l i f f e Catering) to
P h i l ip J e n k i n s at Lydney Register O f f i c e on
December 1 1 .
S i l v e r W e d d i ng
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o Harold Butler ( 9 2 00
Dept) and his w i f e J e a n w h o celebrated
t h e i r 2 5 t h w e d d i n g anniversary on
December 17.
O u r A p o l o g i e s t o —
Young Neil Geoffrey, born o n September 1 6;
our note in t h e last issue s h o u l d have read
‘a son for Geoff W o o d ( M a c h i n e Shop)
and his w i f e Pam ( f o r m e r l y Personnel).’
ANY NEWS FOR VISION?
If y o u have, t h e n please —
mail it t o me c / o R e c e p t i o n , B u i l d i n g 23,
or leave it at any Gate House for
c o l l e c t i o n by me,
or post it t o me at Tree Tops, P l u m p H i l l,
M i t c h e l d e a n ,
or r i n g me — ext. 5 6 6 or D r y b r o o k 5 4 2 4 1 5.
Myrtle Fowler, Editor
12
J. Ingram
A b o v e : Philip and Josephine Jenkins
B e l o w : Robert and Lesley Lewis
O b i t u a r y
We are sorry t o have t o report t h e f o l l o w i ng
d e a t h s :
Fred Kimberley ( 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 ) on October 8 at t h e age of 5 8 ;
he had been nine years w i t h t h e Company.
W i n s t o n Roberts ( l a b o u r e r ) on October 16,
aged 6 3 ; he s t a r t e d w i t h us in November
1 9 6 8 and retired in M a y 1975.
S i d Prothero ( G o o d s I n w a r d s I n s p e c t i o n)
in November, aged 6 3 ; his service
a m o u n t e d t o 11 years.
Gilbert Brain on November 6 at t h e age of
68. Gilbert j o i n e d us in M a r c h 1 9 6 5 and
w a s a member of our S e c u r i t y f o r c e for
e i g h t y e a r s ; after retirement in J u n e 1973,
he r e t u r n e d t o w o r k as a p a r t – t i m e Mail
R o o m assistant.
S a l l y S t a n t o n , secretary t o Works
E n g i n e e r i n g Manager Les Inskip, on
November 2 8 ; she w a s 4 1 , a n d had been
w i t h us s i n c e November 1972.
S t a n l e y Gates ( S u p p l y Centre) on
December 13 ; he w a s 4 9 and had been
w i t h us s i n c e A u g u s t 1975.
We w o u l d like t o express our s y m p a t h y to
all t h e i r f a m i l i e s.
Export
Year
1 9 7 7 i s E x p o r t Y e a r a n d w e p l a n to
b e ‘ o n t a r g e t ‘ w i t h a s e r i e s o f
a r t i c l e s c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n R a n k X e r ox
e x p o r t e f f o r t s a n d a c h i e v e m e n t s.
W a t c h o u t f o r t h i s s y m b o l !
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd.
