Nov/Dec 80 No. 146
THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN
£2,500 Gift for Spinal Unit
Two members of /Vl/tche/dean Operations
Committee moved on last October. At the
end of his two-year assignment from Xerox
Corporation, Assembly Manager John Wigg
{far right) took up the position of Manager,
Manufacturing at our Welwyn Garden City
site. Our picture shows Roy Powell, his
successor as Assembly Manager, making a
presentation to Mr Wigg at a farewell party
attended by his Mitcheldean colleagues.
Our picture left shows Richard Cowser, who
took over as Materials Manager from Dick
Holcomb (far left), presenting him with a
farewell gift before he returned to the USA to
take up a new post. During his five or so
years at Mitcheldean, Mr Holcomb fulfilled
various assignments on the technical and
material side of manufacturing operations.
Both he and Mr Wigg have made a major
contribution to our activities and they have
our best wishes for the future.
INTERPICS
goes on-line
W i t h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of an
o n – l i n e s y s t em k n o w n as Central
S u p p l y F u n c t i o n , t h e I n t e r n a t i o n al
S u p p l y Centres at M i t c h e l d e a n,
W e l w y n and Venray can v i e w t he
v e r y latest INTERPICS i n f o r m a t i on
o n a t e r m i n a l screen i n s t e a d of
r e l y i n g o n o u t – o f – d a t e summaries.
A n o p e r a t o r c a n , at t h e t o u c h of a
b u t t o n , get t h e u p – t o – d a t e s t a t u s of
any order a n d t h e latest s t o ck
p o s i t i o n , a n d c a n receive early
w a r n i n g of parts l i k e l y t o g i ve
t r o u b l e .
Roger Pepereil, w h o , as Manager,
S u p p l y C e n t r e Services, is r e s p o n s i b le
f o r i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e s y s t em at
M i t c h e l d e a n , c o m m e n t e d : ‘ C S F has
e n a b l e d us t o get a v e r y q u i ck
r e p o n s e f r o m a w e l l – e s t a b l i s h ed
s y s t e m . ‘
T h e c o m b i n a t i o n of I N T E R P I CS
( t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l P r o g r a m m i n g and
I n v e n t o r y C o n t r o l S y s t em w h i c h was
i n t r o d u c e d in 1 9 7 6 ) a n d t h e o n – l i ne
s y s t em w a s d e v e l o p e d by a S u p p ly
C e n t r e Systems t e am w o r k i n g in
c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h User Programme
M a n a g e r Roy N i v i s o n , f o r m e r ly
M a n a g e r of M i t c h e l d e a n S u p p ly
Centre.
The c o m b i n e d s y s t em makes p o s s i b le
a d i r e c t c o m m u n i c a t i o n s l i n k b e t w e en
t h e S u p p l y Centres, t h e O p e r a t i ng
C o m p a n i e s ‘ material c o n t r o l and
w a r e h o u s i n g s y s t e m , a n d T e c h n i c al
Services & D i s t r i b u t i o n s t a f f at
M i t c h e l d e a n a n d W e l w y n sites as
w e l l as O b s e r v a t o r y House.
Sheriff’s
Visit
Director of Personnel
(and Ross town
councillor) Ron Barnett
welcomed the High
Sheriff of
Gloucestershire, Mr
Oscar Colburn. when he
visited Mitcheldean
during a tour of the
Forest of Dean last
October. He was
accompanied by the
Chief Verderer. Dr Cyril
Hart (far right).
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o D o n M c C a l l of t h e S u p p ly
Centre, o u t r i g h t w i n n e r of t h e q u i z p u b l i s h ed
in our J u l y / A u g u s t issue w h o s e answers
were almost 1 0 0 per c e n t correct.
He is b e i n g i n v i t e d t o t a k e his prize of t w o
days in L o n d o n some t i m e d u r i n g December.
For t h e benefit of any s t i l l p u z z l i n g over t he
questions, here are t h e c o r r e c t a n s w e r s:
1 . Mitcheldean became part of Rank Xerox
L i m i t e d in 1 9 6 5 .
2. Rank Xerox first w o n t h e Q u e e n ‘ s A w a rd
for Exports in 1 9 6 6 .
3. The RX t u r n o v e r in t h e year e n d i ng
October 1 9 7 2 w a s £ 2 6 8 – 1 m.
4 . The M o n o p o l i e s Commission published
its report o n p l a in paper c o p y i n g in 1 9 7 6 .
5. The p h o t o g r a p h s h o w e d Mrs T h a t c h er
b o a r d i n g a h e l i c o p t e r o n l e a v i n g M i t c h e l d e an
after her v i s i t in 1 9 7 8 .
6. The i n i t i a l s S O L A R stand for S u p p ly
Ordering L o a d i n g A n d Release.
7. The d e r i v a t i v e s of t h e 9 1 4 w e r e : 4 2 2 ,
720, 1 0 0 0 , 1 0 0 0 m i c r o p r i n t e r.
8. M i t c h e l d e a n has 1 • 6m s q . f t . f o r
p r o d u c t i o n , e n g i n e e r i n g and s u p p l y,
i n c l u d i n g C i n d e r f o r d a n d Lydney.
9. P r o d u c t i o n of t h e f i r s t 9 1 4 c o m m e n c e d in
B u i l d i n g 11 ( t h e w o o d s h o p ) .
1 0 . T w o major f i g u r e s associated w i t h t he
Labour Party w h o v i s i t e d M i t c h e l d e a n in t he
last t e n years w e r e Labour Chancellor Denis
Healey a n d f o r m e r T U C General Secretary
Vic Feather.
1 1 . Ardri is a n c i e n t Gaelic for ‘ C h i e f of
K i n g s ‘ . (Has a n e w w o r d entered Forest
j a r g o n as a r e s u l t ? One e n t r a n t reckoned
A r d r i w a s a n o l d Forest expression f o r t h e
w e a t h e r I)
1 2 . In 1 9 7 8 , 6 2 – 7 per c e n t of M i t c h e l d e an
e x p e n d i t u r e w a s a t t r i b u t e d t o p r o d u c t i on
materials.
1 3 . Hamish O r r – E w i n g is t h e C h a i r m a n of
Rank Xerox L i m i t e d.
1 4 . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 1,000 d e m a n d s a d a y are
r e c e i v e d for parts by t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Supply
Centre.
1 5 . To b e c o m e a member of t h e L o ng
Service A s s o c i a t i o n y o u n e e d t o have
c o m p l e t e d 2 0 years’ service.
1 6 . Floppy disc d r i v e s f o r t h e 8 5 0 Display
T y p e w r i t e r are m a d e by S h u g a r t A s s o c i a t i o n s,
S u n n y v a l e , C a l i f o r n i a.
1 7 . Of t h e s ix n e w p r o d u c t s l a u n c h ed
r e c e n t l y , t h e X e r o x 5 6 0 0 and 9 6 0 w e re
f e a t u r e d in t h e same issue as t h e q u i z a nd
t h e other f o u r w e r e t h e X e r o x 8 2 0 0 , 9 5 0 0,
3 3 0 0 and 4 8 5 .
1 8 . If a b u s i n e s s m a n in Gloucestershire
w a n t e d t o rent or b u y a Rank Xerox copier,
y o u s h o u l d refer h im t o Rank Xerox ( U K )
L t d . , H o w a r d House, Queen’s Avenue,
B r i s t o l , A v o n .
1 9 . The r u n – u p t o a general e l e c t i o n is a
g o o d t i m e f o r our c o p y i n g business —
G o v e r n m e n t areas and p o l i t i c a l parties hire
many more machines t o handle paperwork.
2 0 . Xerography gets its name f r om t h e Greek
w o r d s xeros (dry) a n d graphein (to w r i t e ) .
2 1 . Rank Xerox L i m i t e d celebrates its 5 0 th
a n n i v e r s a r y in 2 0 0 6.
4
Peggy Grice, Darcey Brown and Dawn Yemm made the presentation for the quality circle in Electrical Subs. 9155 section, supported by
members Dave Williams, Ruth Reed, Pat Hughes and Joan Bennett (Brenda Kibble and Dave Williams (f\AED) were unable to attend).
W e ‘ r e m o v i n g into
0
‘ A t a w a l k i n g speed of 3 m p h and a
4 8 – w e e k year, w e c o u l d save 2 w e e ks
3 4 hours in i n d i r e c t tinne, or a
r e d u c t i o n of 4 0 2 miles per year, in
v i s i ts t o t h e stores.’
This w a s not a t i m e a n d m o t i on
s t u d y expert s p e a k i n g ; it w a s s h op
f l o o r o p e r a t o r Peggy Grice
d e m o n s t r a t i n g t o a m a n a g e m e nt
a u d i e n c e t h e a d v a n t a g e s t h a t w o u ld
result f r om r e – l o c a t i n g t h e bulk
storage area in Electrical S u b assembly,
BIdg 2 9 / 2 .
She w a s f o l l o w e d by w o r k m a t es
Darcey B r o w n and D a w n Y e mm
w h o put f o r w a r d for c o n s i d e r a t i on
associated layout p r o p o s a l s , all
s u p p o r t e d by c a r e f u l l y researched
f a c t s and figures.
A p a r t f r om a c h i e v i n g better
h o u s e k e e p i n g and c o n t r o l these
w o u l d , t h e y p o i n t e d o u t , release
v a l u a b l e space needed f o r o t h e r w o r k.
The p r e s e n t a t i o n , o n 2 4 November,
w a s t h e first t o be held by o n e of t he
n e w ‘ q u a l i t y circles’ w h i c h have been
set up on site as a p i l o t scheme.
Peggy and her c o l l e a g u e s are
‘ s p e c i a l i s t s ‘ w h e n it c o m e s t o t a l k i ng
a b o u t their o w n j o b s ; a n d it is to
t a p such specialist k n o w l e d g e and
make it w o r k for t h e b e n e f i t of all in
t e r m s of q u a l i t y , c o s t – s a v i n g and
p r o d u c t i v i t y t h a t t h i s scheme has been
i n t r o d u c e d w i t h t o p management
b a c k i n g .
The s y s t em of q u a l i t y circles is
w i d e l y p r a c t i s e d by Japanese
m a n u f a c t u r e r s (Fuji Xerox among
t h e m ) and is b e l i e v e d t o be o n e of
t h e e l e m e n t s of t h a t c o u n t r y ‘s
success in a c h i e v i n g h i g h standards
of q u a l i t y a n d r e l i a b i l i t y a n d a
s t r o n g l y m o t i v a t e d w o r k f o r c e.
A large n u m b e r of US c o m p a n i es
have also i n t r o d u c e d it a n d t h e idea
is g a i n i n g g r o u n d r a p i d l y in Europe
w i t h m a n u f a c t u r e r s like Ford of
Europe, Rolls Royce a n d o t h e r s.
Ron W a t k i n s of Q A E n g i n e e r i n g has
been a p p o i n t e d ‘ f a c i l i t a t o r ‘ f o r t he
M i t c h e l d e a n p i l o t s c h e m e ; as s u c h he
is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c o – o r d i n a t i ng
a c t i v i t i e s a n d o b t a i n i n g specialist
a s s i s t a n c e w h e r e needed.
He p r o v i d e s a l i n k w i t h the
M a n a g e m e n t S t e e r i n g C o m m i t t e e,
w h i c h gives general d i r e c t i o n t o t he
c i r c l e s , a n d c o n s i s t s of Ralph
Z i m m e r m a n n , J o h n Roberts, Vic
B u h l m a n n a n d Paul R i c h a r ds w i th
M i k e Carter in t h e chair.
I n i t i a l l y , t w o q u a l i t y c i r c l e s have
been f o r m e d , e a c h w i t h e i g h t / n i ne
m e m b e r s ; p e o p l e w e r e asked to
v o l u n t e e r a n d ‘ w e w e r e overs
u b s c r i b e d , ‘ Ron t o l d us.
T h e c i r c l e in Electrical Subs is led
by Foreman Bryan G r e a v e s ; t he
o t h e r , set u p in t h e Fuser Roll
s e c t i o n of t h e M a c h i n e S h o p , has
T o n y W o o d as leader.
Each c i r c l e i n c l u d e s a r e p r e s e n t a t i ve
f r om M E D t o p r o v i d e p r o d u c t i on
e n g i n e e r i n g e x p e r t i s e if r e q u i r e d.
P r o b l e m – s o l v i n g
A l t h o u g h t h e y are g i v e n t r a i n i n g in
some basic p r o b l e m – s o l v i ng
t e c h n i q u e s ( a n d t h e f i r s t p r e s e n t a t i on
s h o w e d t h a t t h e s e had been put to
g o o d u s e ) , c i r c l e members are f r ee
t o i d e n t i f y t h e p r o b l e m s t h e m s e l v e s.
These c a n f a l l i n t o a n y c a t e g o r y —
s c r a p cost, q u a l i t y h i s t o r y,
p r o d u c t i v i t y , c o m m u n i c a t i o n s,
a b s e n t e e i s m . A n y t h i n g t h a t e f f e c ts
an i m p r o v e m e n t q u a l i f i e s f o r a t t e n t i o n.
Regular b r a i n – s t o r m i n g sessions are
h e l d at w h i c h p r o b l e m s are
d i s c u s s e d , ideas put f o r w a r d and
s o l u t i o n s s u g g e s t e d , a n d Ron sits
in o n these.
W h e n , after c o m p l e t i n g t h e ir
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , c i r c l e m e m b e r s have
d e c i d e d o n t h e i r p r o p o s a l s , t h ey
present t h e s e t o t h e m a n a g e m e nt
c o n c e r n e d f o r a p p r o v a l a n d a c t i o n.
Ron Watkins with circle leaders Brian
Greaves and Tony Wood (far right) and Dave
Mills, Manager, Quality Systems Assurance
(second from right).
‘ S o m e 19 p r o d u c t i o n hours w e re
b o o k e d o n t h e e n t i r e exercise’,
r e p o r t e d leader Bryan Greaves at t he
Electrical Subs p r e s e n t a t i o n , ‘ b ut
members spent t w o or t h r e e t i m es
t h a t in p r i v a t e w o r k.
‘ W e had t o g a t h e r a great deal of
d a t a , a n d w e w e r e d e l i g h t e d w i t h t he
c o – o p e r a t i o n t h a t has been
f o r t h c o m i n g f r om F a c i l i t i e s P l a n n i n g,
QA and o t h e r areas.’
S p i n – o f f s
A p a r t f r o m t h e n u m b e r of g o od
ideas t h a t have c o m e u p already, t he
q u a l i t y c i r c l e d e v e l o p m e n t is
p r o d u c i n g some i n t e r e s t i n g s p i n – o f f s.
It is p r o v i d i n g an e x c e l l e nt
o p p o r t u n i t y f o r ‘ u p a n d d o w n ‘
c o m m u n i c a t i o n ; it is also i n s p i r i n g a
s t r o n g f e e l i n g of i n v o l v e m e n t,
e n c o u r a g i n g t e am s p i r i t and
m o t i v a t i n g people.
One c i r c l e member t o l d V I S I O N : ‘ It
has o p e n e d our e y e s ; w e see our
j o b s in a d i f f e r e n t l i g h t a n d w e are
b e c o m i n g more c o s t – c o n s c i o u s.
‘ T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g is t h a t i t ‘s a
j o i n t e f f o r t a n d w e w a n t everyone
in t h e d e p a r t m e n t t o be i n v o l v e d .’
A s w e w e n t t o press w e learned
t h a t t h e Electrical Subs p r o p o s a ls
have n o w been a c c e p t e d in p r i n c i p le
a n d t h e necessary steps f o r p u t t i ng
t h e m i n t o e f f e c t are b e i n g t a k e n.
The Fuser Roll c i r c l e , w h o are
t a c k l i n g some d i f f i c u l t process and
p r o d u c t i o n p r o b l e m s w h i c h require
e x t e n s i v e m o n i t o r i n g , are i n t e n d i ng
t o g i v e a m a n a g e m e n t p r e s e n t a t i on
e a r l y in t h e N e w Year.
6
S am P h i l l i p s t e l l s h ow
A
I t ‘s 7 am o n a s o g g y S a t u r d a y in
September, a n d a s q u a d of s t a l w a rt
s o u l s set o u t t o c y c l e a c e n t u r y of
miles f r om t h e s i te t o S t r a t f o r d – o n –
A v o n a n d back.
What o n e a r t h f o r ? Y o u m a y w e l l
ask. By t h e e n d o f t h e d a y m o s t of t h e
p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e a s k i n g t h e same
q u e s t i o n .
The w h o l e e x c u r s i o n w a s t he
b r a i n c h i l d of Les L a n e ( k n o w n f o r
g o o d reason as ‘ A p p l e j a c k ‘ ) . As
y o u may k n o w by n o w , it w a s a
s p o n s o r e d event in a i d o f J i m my
S a v i l e ‘ s n a t i o n a l appeal f o r t he
r e b u i l d i n g of t h e s p i n a l u n i t at S t o ke
M a n d e v i l l e H o s p i t a l.
Few of t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e regular
c y c l i s t s — t h e m a i n e x c e p t i o n s being
Derek S h u t t l e w o r t h f r om E n g i n e e r i n g,
a n d Nigel B l u e t t f r o m Reed
C o r r u g a t e d Cases at L y d b r o o k , plus
some members of t h e Forest of
Dean Cycle C l u b w h o r e g a r d e d t he
w h o l e t h i n g in t h e n a t u r e of a
w a r m – u p I
F r a g m e n t e d
The r o u t e w a s t o t a k e us t h r o u gh
G l o u c e s t e r , T e w k e s b u r y a n d Evesham
t o S t r a t f o r d – o n – A v o n . Manager
M i k e Cooper w a s t h e r e t o w i s h us
w e l l a n d m o s t of us set o u t in a
g r o u p w h i c h r a p i d l y spread o u t a nd
w a s f r a g m e n t e d . W o u l d y o u b e l i e v e ,
by L o n g h o p e?
The hill s o o n s o r t e d o u t t h e f i t a n d
t h e m a d ( w h o r o d e u p t h e h i l l ) , a n d
t h e w i s e ( w h o w a l k e d ).
The starting line-up.
By t h e t i m e w e w e r e passing t h r o u gh
T e w k e s b u r y t h e r a in had s e t t l e d in
in earnest a n d e v e r y o n e w a s g e t t i ng
s o a k e d but n o t d i s p i r i t e d , w i t h t he
p o s s i b l e e x c e p t i o n of N i g e l w h o
s u f f e r e d an i r r e p a r a b l e p u n c t u r e a n d
had t o w a i t f o r h is d a d , Derek, to
b r i n g his s p a r e bike.
The f i r s t s t o p , a b o u t h a l f w a y b e t w e en
T e w k e s b u r y a n d Evesham, w a s
r e a c h e d w i t h o u t major mishap,
e x c e p t f o r t h e f a c t t h a t Steve G o o de
h i t t h e k e r b of t h e l a y b y at t h e w r o n g
a n g l e a n d l e f t part o f h i s s h i n t h e re
as a s o u v e n i r.
The f e e d i n g s t a t i o n w a s m a n n ed
by V i c J o h n s o n , his w i f e J o y c e a nd
d a u g h t e r A n n . T h e y h a n d e d o u t
b u n s , cakes, b i s c u i t s , p o r k pies a n d,
most i m p o r t a n t of a l l , b r e w e d g a l l o ns
of tea.
A m p l y refreshed, w e s q u e l c h e d a nd
s w i s h e d o u r w a y o n w a r d s t h r o u gh
t h e rain, e n c o u r a g e d b y t h e t h o u g h t
t h a t every r e v o l u t i o n o f t h e p e d a ls
b r o u g h t t h e e n d a l i t t le closer.
S t r a t f o r d w a s a w e l c o m e s i g h t a n d
w e d r i p p e d o u r w a y i n t o t h e t o w n
hall w h e r e t h e c u s t o d i a n s i g n e d o u r
t i m e sheets a n d p o i n t e d t o t h e f r ee
c o f f e e . T h e o n l y t r o u b l e w a s , it cost
2 0 p t o g e t i n t o t h e r o o m w h e r e it
w a s b e i n g s e r v e d I
Gerald Brain, h o w e v e r , neatly t u r n ed
t h e t a b l e s . A c o u p l e a p p r o a c h e d h im
D r a w i n g b y E r i c W e e ks
At a disco held in the club house on 26 November,
Les Lane presented cheques for £2,500 to Ivor Elmes,
chief PRO for the Stoke Mandeville spinal building
appeal. The ride produced £2.000 and to this were
added the proceeds of the disco and draw (£54) while
a further sum of £446 was donated by the Company.
‘We never guessed the amount was going to be so big’,
said Hilda Elmes. Earlier, she and her husband were
entertained to lunch and taken on a tour of the Plant.
a n d asked h im w h a t w e w e r e d o i n g.
T h e n t h e y p r o m p t l y h a n d e d over
£1 – 5 0 f o r t h e c a u s e a n d r e v e a l ed
t h e m s e l v e s t o b e t h e m a y o r a n d
mayoress o f S t r a t f o r d.
Les Lane w a s l o o k i n g fresher t h an
a n y of u s as h e p u f f e d c o n t e n t e d ly
at his p i p e o n t h e t o w n hall s t e p s;
A p p l e j a c k w a s s t i l l g o i n g s t r o n g.
R o c k o n . T o m m y !
On t h e r e t u r n h o m e , t h e s w i s h of
t h e rain w a s b a c k e d u p b y t h e s t r a i ns
of ‘ R o c k o n . T o m m y ‘ f r om t h e c a bs
of a c o u p l e of ‘ E ‘ t y p e t r a c t o r s w h i ch
f l e w b y .
T h e p a i n s in t h e seat w e r e b e g i n n i ng
t o t e l l b y n o w , a n d it w a s d i f f i c u l t
t o d e c i d e w h e t h e r t o s i t t h e r e a n d
‘ t a k e i t ‘ o r s t a n d o n t h e p e d a l s , ease
t h e a g o n y , a n d t h e n suffer even
m o r e w h e n s i t t i n g d o w n again.
We had o n e m o r e e n j o y a b l e stop,
w h e n t h e t e a p o t t o o k another
b a s h i n g , a n d t h e n it w a s a q u e s t i on
of ‘ k e e p y o u r head d o w n a n d t he
6
pedals t u r n i n g ‘ u n t i l G l o u c e s t e r and
t h e last stop.
Here w e t o o k s t o c k of w h o was
s t i l l g o i n g a n d w h o m i g h t not make
it, a n d prepared o u r s e l v e s m e n t a l ly
f o r t h e f i n a l c l i m b t o M i t c h e l d e a n —
a b o u t 2 9 , 0 0 0 f t . ! ?
We set off in a pack, g o t soaked
and sore o n t h e w a y and reached
B a r t o n Gate in o n e s a n d t w o s w h e re
Personnel D i r e c t o r Ron Barnett
s i g n e d us i n.
One rider w a s heard t o e n q u i r e as
he a p p r o a c h e d t h e main e n t r a n c e:
‘ W h i c h w a y d o w e g o t o die ?’
Seasoned c y c l i s t Derek S h u t t l e w o r t h,
on t h e o t h e r h a n d , d i d nearly an
extra half c e n t u r y ; he c y c l e d 22
miles f r o m his home t o M i t c h e l d e an
a n d b a c k h o m e a f t e r w a r d s — a t o t al
of a r o u n d 1 4 4 miles for t h e day.
It w a s a great a c h i e v e m e n t t h at
a l m o s t all g o t back t o M i t c h e l d e an
( t w o s t o p p e d off at G l o u c e s t e r ) . Our
t h a n k s g o t o t h e s u p e r b b a c k – u p t e am
w i t h o u t w h o s e help and
e n c o u r a g e m e n t many of us w o u ld
not have made it. Our t h a n k s , t o o,
t o t h e C o m p a n y for t h e i r assistance.
A final ‘ t h a n k y o u ‘ (if t h a t ‘ s t h e right
phrase) t o Les ‘ A p p l e j a c k ‘ Lane w ho
set all t h e w h e e l s in m o t i o n and
t h e n c o m p l e t e d t h e ride l o o k i ng
fresher w h e n he f i n i s h e d t h a n many
of us d i d b e f o r e w e started.
W i t h t h e f i n a l p r o c e e d s of a r o u nd
£ 2 , 5 0 0 f o r t h e cause — w e l l , all t he
s u f f e r i n g w a s w e l l w o r t h w h i l e.
No Pub C r a w l !
If d u r i n g t h e f e s t i v e s e a s o n y o u see
a n y o n e c r a w l i n g a l o n g t h e street on
t h e i r hands a n d knees, d o n ‘ t t h i nk
t h e w o r s t . It’s p r o b a b l y not a p ub
c r a w l but s o m e o n e g e t t i n g in
t r a i n i n g f o r t h e next crazy c h a r i ty
v e n t u r e w h i c h Les a n d his merry
men are p l a n n i n g f o r t h e N e w Year.
T h i s is t o be a c r a w l o n h a n d s and
knees f r om M i t c h e l d e a n t o C i n d e r f o rd
Market Place in a i d of local c h a r i t i e s!
UOmSSMAmHOH
msKNUPTtmsAum
W h e n t h e S a i n t s c o m e m a r c h i n g i n to
t h e f o o t b a l l f i e l d . Rank X e r o x n ow
s c o r e .
For a t h r e e – y e a r s p o n s o r s h i p deal has
been s i g n e d b e t w e e n t h e UK
C o m p a n y and t h e S o u t h a m p t on
F o o t b a l l C l u b w h i c h is f o c u s s i n g t he
eyes of t h o u s a n d s o n our name.
At every t e l e v i s e d m a t c h . Rank
X e r o x a d v e r t i s i n g b o a r d s w i l l be
s t r a t e g i c a l l y p l a c e d a r o u n d t h e p i t c h,
w h i l e at n o n – t e l e v i s e d games, in
a d d i t i o n t o t h e boards, t h e t e am w i ll
p l a y in t h e i r Rank Xerox ‘ s t r i p s ‘,
r e p o r t s In Focus, a n e w m a g a z i n e for
t h e UK Co.’s sales f o r c e.
A n d w h e n S o u t h a m p t o n is p l a y i n g at
European matches, o u r o p e r a t i ng
c o m p a n i e s a b r o a d w i l l also get t he
b e n e f i t of t h e a d v e r t i s i n g.
RX salesmen are s c o r i n g t o o . T h ey
get an o p p o r t u n i t y t o ‘ w o r k miracles’
— w i t h t h e help of t h e S a i n t s —
t h r o u g h special t i c k e t and
e n t e r t a i n m e n t f a c i l i t i e s w h i c h are
b e i n g made a v a i l a b l e t o b r a n c h sales
managers a n d o t h e r s w h o w i s h to
t a k e c u s t o m e r s a n d / o r t h e i r o wn
s t a f f a l o n g t o S o u t h a m p t o n home or
a w a y matches.
S a i n t s c a l e n d a r s a n d f i x t u r e / t e am
sheets are also b e i n g s p e c i a l ly
p r i n t e d f o r g i v i n g t o customers.
T h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s of t h i s a s s o c i a t i on
w i t h a t o p f i r s t d i v i s i o n c l u b are
e x c i t i n g , a n d s h o u l d have t h e c r o w ds
q u e u i n g up t o b e c o m e c u s t o m e r s of
Rank Xerox
S p o r t s f l a s h : The deal has already
p a i d d i v i d e n d s in n a t i o n a l press
c o v e r a g e . W h e n t h e S u n d a y Mirror
f e a t u r e d a c l o s e – u p of S o u t h a m p t on
star Kevin Keegan b e i n g h e l p e d off
t h e f i e l d after g a s h i n g his leg in a
t a c k l e w i t h an A s t o n V i l l a player
r e c e n t l y , t h e name Rank Xerox
s h o w e d up large a n d clear on
K e v i n ‘ s m a n l y chest I
Sporting their new Rank Xerox ‘strips’, some of the celebrated Saints (that’s Kevin in the
centre, of course) toast the Rank Xerox/Southampton sponsorship deal that will surely work
miracles.
The pupils and staff at St Rose’s, a
special school for handicapped
children at Stroud, were thrilled when
they were given a kayak. Completely
refurbished, this was the craft in which
Bob Moore of the Tool Room did his
marathon trip down the Severn last
summer. Manager Jack Woods,
Personnel Administration,
accompanied Bob to the presentation.
The proceeds of the marathon, some
£800, have now been handed over to
the Kidney Appeal Fund.
7
The Xerox Store
Note the Xerox 2300 — well placed to attract attention.
E u r o p e ‘ s f i r s t d e p a r t m e n t store for
t h e o f f i c e w a s o p e n e d in L o n d o n ‘s
P i c c a d i l l y o n November 6 by Rank
Xerox L i m i t e d in a major
d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n of its t r a d i t i o n al
m a r k e t i n g m e t h o d.
T h i s December w i l l see t h e o p e n i ng
of a s i m i l a r s t o r e at H o l b o r n , and
of o t h e r s in L o n d o n as w e l l as in t he
c e n t r e s of o t h e r European cities
d u r i n g 1 9 8 1 .
These UK o p e n i n g s c o m e o n ly
m o n t h s after t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of The
Xerox Store c o n c e p t in A m e r i c an
c i t i e s f o l l o w i n g t h e f o r m a t i o n of a
Retail M a r k e t s D i v i s i o n of Xerox
C o r p o r a t i o n .
In o n e – s t o p s h o p p i n g f a s h i o n , The
Xerox S t o r e serves t h e business
e f f i c i e n c y e q u i p m e n t needs of
B r i t a i n ‘ s smaller businesses — and
t h e r e are s o m e 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 of t h e m in
t h e UK.
Range a n d c o n v e n i e n c e are regarded
as t w o of t h e s t o r e ‘ s m a i n a t t r a c t i o n s.
Rank X e r o x p r o d u c t s a n d t h o s e of
o t h e r s u p p l i e r s are s o l d — e v e r y t h i ng
f r om c a l c u l a t o r s t o c o m p u t e r s.
T h e y are a v a i l a b l e o n a cash and
c a r r y a n d d e l i v e r y b a s i s ; f i n a n c i n g is
a v a i l a b l e a n d major c r e d i t c a r d s are
a c c e p t e d .
B r i t a i n ‘ s smaller businesses, a l o ng
w i t h t h o s e of W e s t e r n Europe
g e n e r a l l y , are seen as t h e o u t s t a n d i ng
g r o w t h prospect by t h e w o r l d ‘s
b u s i n e s s e f f i c i e n c y e q u i p m e nt
m a n u f a c t u r e r s .
The X e r o x S t o r e s u p p o r t s t h e sales
e f f o r t w h i c h Rank Xerox has used
t o reach t h i s market sector u n t i l n o w,
a n d i m m e d i a t e l y increases t he
c o m p a n y ‘ s presence a n d range in i,^
t h i s d y n a m i c sector.
Besides c a t e r i n g f o r a s u b s t a n t i al
market a m o n g c u r r e n t n o n – u s e r s.
The X e r o x Store a n t i c i p a t e s a
c o n s i d e r a b l e r e p l a c e m e n t trade.
T h e S t o r e c o m p l e m e n t s t h e e x i s t i ng
Rank Xerox sales f o r c e w h o w i ll
c o n t i n u e t o s e r v i c e e x i s t i n g a n d n ew
larger a c c o u n t s . It is s t a f f e d by Rank
X e r o x e m p l o y e e s t r a i n e d t o analyse
t y p i c a l small business needs and
r e l a te t h e e q u i p m e n t range t o s p e c i f ic
c u s t o m e r a p p l i c a t i o n s.
S i l i c o n c h i p t e c h n o l o g y is b r i n g i ng
s o p h i s t i c a t e d business e f f i c i e n cy
LETTER
A familiar figure now missing from the
Mitcheldean scene is that of Harold Hale,
Assembly PCD. Harold, who retired at the
end of October, had worked in the Stores
environment for most of his 30 years with
us. He is seen here receiving a retirement
gift from Mike Crow, Manager, Production
B Configuration Control.
It was a triple goodbye on October 30 when
three ladies from Stock Control
Administration left. Identifiable by the
bouquets they received, our picture shows
(from left) Jean Overbury with 20 years’
service, Cynthia Morrell (8 years) and Eileen
Cinderey with 18 years’ service. Gifts from
colleagues were presented by Manager
Julian Hazell.
m a c h i n e s w i t h i n t h e p r i c e bracl small businesses. A m i n i – c o m p u t er
package, for e x a m p l e , is available
o f f – t h e – s h e l f f r o m T h e Xerox Store
f o r £ 1 , 5 9 5 p l u s V A T — r o u g h l y t he
same cost as t h e l e a s i n g t i m e f o r one
m o n t h on a m a i n f r a m e c o m p u t er
1 0 years a g o , a n d t e c h n i c a l l y capable
of f u l f i l l i n g t h e same f u n c t i o n s.
The Xerox S t o r e is d e s i g n e d t o give
smaller businesses a better p e r c e p t i on
of p r o d u c t p r i c e s a n d c a p a b i l i t i e s.
Its ‘see a n d t o u c h ‘ e n v i r o n m e nt
d i s p e l s t h e o f t e n p u r c h a s e – d a u n t i ng
m y s t i q u e s u r r o u n d i n g computers
and w o r d processors.
S i t u a t e d at 8 4 P i c c a d i l l y , Green
Park, t h e 4 , 0 0 0 square f o o t Xerox
Store is o p e n six days a w e e k and
has f o u r m a i n d e p a r t m e n t s :
c o m p u t e r s ; w o r d processors and
t y p e w r i t e r s ; c o p i e r s and d u p l i c a t o r s;
t h e E x e c u t i v e Suite — calculators,
d i c t a t i n g e q u i p m e n t and t e l e p h o ne
a n s w e r i n g machines, etc.
A c c e s s o r i e s like paper, t r a n s p a r e n c i e s,
t a p e s , t o n e r , etc., f o r these items
are a v a i l a b l e in a separate d e p a r t m e n t.
T h e r e is also a c o n f e r e n c e f a c i l i t y.
T h e Store o p e n i n g w a s marked by t he
i n t r o d u c t i o n of t h e first Xerox
e l e c t r i c t y p e w r i t e r — the X e r o x 5 9 0 —
at a special £ 5 0 – o f f price of £ 6 9 5,
a n d t h e f i r s t p l a i n paper c o p i e r —
t h e Xerox 5 5 0 — to be a v a i l a b l e at a
list price under £ 6 0 0.
One of t h e p o i n t e r s t o increased
o f f i c e e q u i p m e n t purchases by
small businesses is t h e s o a r i ng
d e m a n d for l o w – v o l u m e copiers.
Seven c o p i e r s are a v a i l a b l e f r o m The
Xerox Store, a m o n g t h e m t h e Xerox
2 3 0 0 .
I S Get the Birds
One n i g h t last S e p t e m b e r an
u n i d e n t i f i e d (at f i r s t ) f l y i n g o b j e ct
l a n d e d in o n e of our car parks,
c o n t r a v e n i n g RX M i t c h e l d e a n air a nd
g r o u n d t r a f f i c r e g u l a t i o n s.
Dave H o w e l l s of IS O p e r a t i o n s , w ho
had been c a l l e d in at 3 am for q u i te
a n o t h e r reason, f o u n d t h e UFO and
i d e n t i f i e d it as a b l u e b u d g i e.
The p e n e t r a t i o n w a s p r o p e r ly
r e p o r t e d t o t h e p o l i c e a n d , w h i le
e n q u i r i e s w e r e made, t h e b u d g i e w as
h e l d in a h u r r i e d l y c o n t r i v e d cage.
( S e c u r i t y is v e r y s t r i c t in IS a n d , w e l l,
b u d g i e s have been k n o w n t o t a l k I)
R e c e p t i o n i s t J o y c e S t r a n g e k n ew
e x a c t l y w h a t p r o c e d u r e t o f o l l ow
w h e n she came o n d u t y — she issued
a v i s i t o r ‘ s i d e n t i t y badge, made out
in t h e name w h i c h t h e staff had
t e m p o r a r i l y a s s i g n e d t o t h e bird,
‘ C o c k – u p ‘ , a n d f i x e d it t o t h e cage.
The b u d g i e w a s later c l a i m e d by an
8 0 – y e a r – o l d lady l i v i n g in t h e v i l l a ge
w h o w a s most g r a t e f u l f o r t h e return
of her pet.
M o r e r e c e n t l y , d u r i n g some very w et
w e a t h e r , J o h n East of G r o u p Data
C e n t r e b r o u g h t in a w a t e r l o g g ed
w a g t a i l ; t h e RSPCA w e r e c a l l e d and
came o u t f r o m G l o u c e s t e r t o c o l l e ct
it f o r s u i t a b l e t r e a t m e n t.
IS staff are n o w k e e p i n g a r o u n d –
t h e – c l o c k w a t c h for f u r t h e r birds.
We hear t h e y are p a r t i c u l a r ly
i n t e r e s t e d in d e a d , b u t f r e s h , geese
or t u r k e y s I
John Johnson has made a varied contribution
to life at l^itcheldean during his 24 years’
service. Having worked in Small Batch,
Plating Shop and BBH Assembly, he moved
15 years ago to Engineering’s ‘Dev. Lab.’
where he remained until retiring last
September. A former member of the Sports B
Social Club committee, he at one time ran
Chess Club activities and also organized our
arts B crafts shows. He has also long been a
member of the RX Workers Christian
Fellowship. Our picture shows LSA chairman
Jack Woods wishing him all the best.
Manufacturing Progress Supervisor Graham
Trafford spent most of his 22 years with us
in the PCD sphere, chiefly in assembly/
manufacturing progress. Here Ron Martin.
Manager Scheduling in Mfg Production
Control, is seen presenting him with a
goodbye gift on his leaving the Company
last October. (Another LSA member who
took ‘assisted release’ in recent months was
Nigel Brookes of Parts Manufacturing, who
had been 23 years with us.)
9
The 7’s and 4’s won the ladies’ interdepartmental skittles KO with 256. 41 pins up on the 215 scored by runners-up Hits & Misses.
John Wigg kindly presented the trophies.
T a n g e r i n e Talic
The A m a t e u r C o m p u t e r C l u b ‘s
s e c o n d o p e n e v e n i n g , h e l d o n 8
O c t o b e r , w a s e v e n better a t t e n d ed
t h a n its f i r s t w i t h a r o u n d 6 0 p e o p le
present.
President M e v S h e l l e y i n t r o d u c ed
guest speaker M r J i m R e w o f
T e k t r o n i x w h o t a l k e d a b o ut
‘ T a n g e r i n e ‘ — a m i c r o – c o m p u t er
s y s t em f o r a m a t e u r a n d b u s i n e s s use,
a n d a f t e r w a r d s p e o p l e s aw
d e m o n s t r a t i o n s of a r a n g e of m i n i c
o m p u t e r s .
T o n y Penny, w h o f o r m e r l y w o r k ed
at M i t c h e l d e a n a n d n o w manages
h i s o w n c o m p u t e r busines, w a s t o
have s p o k e n a b o u t amateur a nd
p r o f e s s i o n a l c o m p u t e r s at t h e
m e e t i n g o n 1 2 N o v e m b e r . He w a s
u n a b l e t o c o m e , h o w e v e r , a nd
i n s t e a d c l u b m e m b e r s Terry Gardner
a n d Steve H a r d c a s t l e d e m o n s t r a t ed
h o w t o use a l o g i c analyser to
f a u l t – f i n d c o m p u t e r s.
S k i l f u l D r i v i ng
W e l l , w e ‘ r e back a g a i n w i t h an
event t o report at last — and w h a t a
g o o d event t o o !
Seven l u c k y p e o p l e entered i n to
t h e f u n a n d e x c i t e m e n t of a S k i l f ul
D r i v i n g Test o n t h e a f t e r n o o n of
S u n d a y , 9 N o v e m b e r , in ‘ A ‘ car park.
A m i d m u c h l a u g h t e r at cars o n t w o
w h e e l s ( a n d at t h e f r e e z i n g toes
of t h e m a r s h a l s ) some d e t e r m i n ed
a n d c o m p e t i t i v e d r i v i n g s k i l l s w e re
s h o w n ; w e e v e n had s p e c t a t o r s w h o .
Gerald Linnell, lately mine host at The
Foresters Inn, Mile End, and now full-time
steward at the club house, presides at the bar
with his wife Cynthia.
Club secretary Harlene Denning presents
some flowers to Mrs Joan Wigg.
b r a v i n g t h e c o l d , j o i n e d in t h e s p i r it
of t h i n g s.
A l o t o f t i m e , t h o u g h t a n d p l a n n i ng
by M a r k Parry, o u r c o m p e t i t i on
s e c r e t a r y , c o m b i n e d t o m a k e t h is
event a g r e a t success — t h a n ks
M a r k !
W i n n e r s w e r e as f o l l o w s : Class A
{front-wheel drive)—Alan Haines;
Class B {rear-wheel drive) —
G r a h am J o n e s ; Bollard Basher
{men’s) — Frank T o n g e ; Ladies’
Class — C h r i s t i n e T o n g e ; Bollard
Basher {ladies’) — C h r i s t i n e T o n g e.
As w e l l as w i n n i n g Class A , A l an
Haines also w o n t h e O v e r a l l Prize.
Well d o n e , A l a n I
The M o t o r C l u b w o u l d like to
c o n v e y t h e i r t h a n k s t o S e c u r i ty
a n d T r a n s p o r t f o r t h e i r h e l p in m a k i ng
t h i s e v e n t possible.
S p o t l i g h t
R o u n d i n g off t h e S e a s on
The f i n a l o u t i n g of t h e 1 9 8 0 G o l f i ng
S o c i e t y c a l e n d a r w a s a v i s i t t o t h e
C l e v e d o n Golf C l u b o n 2 9 September.
I t w a s C a p t a i n ‘ s Day, a n d c a p t a in
Roy T a y l o r had n o m i n a t e d a 3 6 – h o le
e c l e c t i c c o m p e t i t i o n w h i c h , t o t h e
u n i n i t i a t e d , means over t h e t w o
r o u n d s of 1 8 h o l e s t h e p l a y e r takes
h i s best s c o r e o n e a c h hole f o r t he
m o r n i n g a n d a f t e r n o o n ; t h a t t o t a l,
less his h a n d i c a p , g i v e s h im a f i n al
score.
S i x g o l f e r s t i e d f o r f i r s t p l a c e ; t h ey
w e r e all o n 6 3 n e t t w h i c h is 6 under
t h e par f o r t h e c o u r s e : Ken E l l w a y ,
D a n n y Haines, T o n y Hehir, B o b
H o w e l l s , Des G i b b s a n d t h e c a p t a in
h i m s e l f .
On c o u n t – b a c k over t h e last nine
h o l e s of t h e e c l e c t i c card t h e w i n n e r
e m e r g e d as B o b H o w e l l s . T o f i nd
t h e r u n n e r – u p it w a s necessary to
c o u n t back o n t h e last s i x h o l es
b e t w e e n Ken E l l w a y a n d T o n y Hehir,
a n d t h e l a t t e r w o n b y 1 shot.
T h e c a p t a i n ‘ s prize f o r t h e w i n n e r
w a s a c u t – g l a s s d e c a n t e r w i t h a
r u n n e r – u p prize o f s i x b r a n d y c u t –
g l a s s glasses. T o t h e w i n n e r of t h e
l o n g e s t d r i v e c o n t e s t w e n t a c u t –
glass t a n k a r d w h i c h I am s u r e J o hn
Cash w i l l p u t t o g o o d use.
I n d i v i d u a l prizes of t h e d a y w e r e as
f o l l o w s : Best nett am — Ist A r t h u r
S o l l a r s ( 6 9 ) , 2 n d Ken E l l w a y ( 7 2 ) ,
3 r d B o b H o w e l l s ( 7 3 ) , B e s t nett pm
— Ist Ken E l l w a y ( 6 7 ) , 2 n d B r i an
Greaves ( 6 9 ) , 3 r d ( j o i n t ) Richard
M a t t h e w s , Roy T a y l o r , B o b H o w e l ls
( 7 0 ) . T h e y all r e c e i v e d g o l f balls,
w h i l e Bill Meek, t h o u g h n o t l i s t e d,
g o t a s p e c i a l r e w a r d — a h o l e in o n e I
At t h e a n n u a l general m e e t i n g o n 11
N o v e m b e r , t h e f o l l o w i n g w e re
e l e c t e d t o serve f o r t h e e n s u i n g y e a r:
chairman — Roy P o w e l l ; secretary —
B i l l G i l m o u r ; treasurer — J o hn
S p r a t l e y ; S & SC representative —
Roy T a y l o r ; press officer— Harold
G a r d i n e r ; committee— Des G i b b s ,
D o n M e e k , M i k e W a r d , M i ke
N e w l o v e , D a n n y Haines, M a rk
B a r n a r d , G e o f f Paton.
V e n u e s f o r 1 9 8 1 , d e c i d e d by
m e m b e r s ‘ v o t e s , w i l l b e : M a l v e r n ,
H e n b u r y , W o r c e s t e r , C l e v e d o n,
K n o w i e , St. M e l l o n s ; reserves —
C i r e n c e s t e r , B r o a d w a y.
10
At the mens skittles finals, the Misfits (left) beat the Bit or Shust team from Commodity Operations 320;291. Local sports personality
Terry Biddlecombe (I’ve broken 42 bones during my career as jockey!’) came along to present the prizes. Club chairman Mike Cooper now
has both men’s and ladies’ winners trophies on display in his department.
Under A O B a p r o p o s a l w a s p u t
f r om t h e f l o o r t h a t f o r f u t u r e o u t i n gs
p a r t n e r s s h o u l d be d r a w n in t h r e es
f r om t h r e e sets of h a n d i c a p s —
s c r a t c h t o 8, 9 t o 1 6 a n d 1 7 t o 2 4 .
On a s h o w of h a n d s 1 4 w e r e f o r
a n d 1 4 a g a i n s t , a n d t h e n ew
c h a i r m a n had t h e u n e n v i a b l e task of
m a k i n g t h e c a s t i n g v o t e ; after much
d e l i b e r a t i o n a n d n a i l – b i t i n g he came
d o w n o n t h e ‘ a g a i n s t ‘ side w h i ch
meant t h e r e s o l u t i o n w a s d e f e a t e d .
W i v e s j o i n e d members f o r t he
remainder of t h e e v e n i n g w h i ch
w a s spent e n j o y i n g an e x c e l l e nt
b u f f e t laid o n b y t h e S p o r t s &
Social C l u b , c h a t t i n g over d r i n k s , a n d
p l a y i n g s k i t t l e s , darts, s n o o k e r , e t c .
H a r o l d Gardiner
Good Y e a r f o r T e n n is
1 9 8 0 had b e e n a n o t h e r very
successful year f o r t h e RX T e n n is
Club, r e p o r t e d Ken B l a c k w e l l at t h e
A G M / p r i z e – g i v i n g held in t h e c l ub
house last September.
They w e r e very pleased w i t h their
n e w venue — Crossfields, R o s s – o n –
Wye — and t h e m e m b e r s h i p h ad
been p a r t i c u l a r l y impressed b y t he
f a c i l i t i e s at t h e P r i n c e of W a l es
p u b l i c house j u s t across t h e r o a d I
A l l t h i s year’s t o u r n a m e n t s w e re
s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p l e t e d a n d t he
c o m p e t i t i o n had b e e n t o u g h e r t h an
ever.
In a d d i t i o n t o t h e R o n M o r f e e t r o p hy
d o n a t e d by t h e i r president f o r t h e
w i n n e r of t h e m e n ‘ s s i n g l e s league,
t h e c l u b n o w h a v e a n e w c u p f o r
t h e ladies’ event, g i v e n b y Personnel
D i r e c t o r Ron B a r n e t t .
T r o p h i e s f o r 1 9 8 0 W i n n e r s w e re
presented as f o l l o w s : Men’s
singles league (Ron Morfee Cup) —
D a v i d Hodges, runner-up — Laurie
W a l k e r ; women’s singles league —
Sue Walker, runner-up — Pat
H a w k i n s ; men’s singles KO —
Laurie W a l k e r , runner-up — Neil
B a t e s ; women’s singles KO — S ue
Walker, runner-up — Tania S y m o n d s;
men’s doubles KO — Neil Bates &
Ken B l a c k w e l l , runners-up — J im
Evans & Laurie W a l k e r ; women’s
doubles KO — Sue W a l k e r & Fiona
Forrest, runners-up — Sandra Lee &
Pat H a w k i n s ; mixed doubles KO —
F i o n a Forrest & M i k e P r i t c h a r d,
runners-up — Helen & G w yn
R i c h a r d s .
C h a i r m a n Ken, treasurer M i k e Keen
a n d secretary Helen R i c h a r d s w e re
all r e – e l e c t e d w h i l e Sue W a l k e r w a s
a p p o i n t e d t o u r n a m e n t s organizer.
S e c o n d i_eg f
T w e n t y – f o u r pairs t o o k part in a
p a i r s s k i t t l e s k n o c k – o u t held by RX
L y d n e y at t h e C a u s e w a y Club,
C i n d e r f o r d , o n 8 O c t o b e r.
W i n n e r s w e r e Barry L e w i s a n d R oy
Creed, w i t h T o n y P r o t h e r o a n d J o h n
W i l l i a m s r u n n e r s – u p , a n d t he
e x c e l l e n t t r o p h i e s w e r e p r e s e n t e d to
t h e m b y M a n a g e r Kevin H o r r o b i n.
T h e o r g a n i z e r w a s C l i f f ( P e g Leg)
T h u r s t o n , a n d in v i e w of t h e m a ny
r e q u e s t s r e c e i v e d , it is e n v i s a g ed
t h a t a s i m i l a r f u n c t i o n w i l l be h e ld
‘ w h e n C l i f f ‘ s leg is b e t t e r ‘ , as o u r
i n f o r m a n t p u t s i t !
Mike Newlove — one of the prize-winners at the Golfing Society’s annual meeting — holds
aloft the America Cup donated by John Wigg.
Service Awards
Last October Don Peates, c l o c k e d up 3 5
years as M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ s seventh longest
s e r v i n g employee.
P r a c t i c a l l y all t h a t t i m e he has w o r k e d in
t h e Model Shop, p r o g r e s s i n g f r om shop
boy t o manager.
W h e n he f i r s t came t o M i t c h e l d e a n in 1 9 45
it w a s k n o w n as t h e Experimental
L a b o r a t o r y , and u n d e r Ray C a m p ‘ s d i r e c t i on
he w o r k e d o n t h e m a g n e t i c t r i p l e – h e a d ed
b a c k g r o u n d projector for t h e 3 5 m m f i lm
S t u d i o s . ‘ I t w a s a s s e m b l e d in a garage
d o w n by t h e o l d b r e w e r y ‘ , he recalls.
‘ O n e of t h e b i g g e s t j o b s I w a s i n v o l v e d in
later w a s o n t h e fast p u l l – d o wn
t e l e – r e c o r d i n g cameras for t h e t e l e v i s i on
s t u d i o s o n w h i c h t h e f i r s t r e c o r d i n g s f o r
TV w e r e made.’
Don, w h o b e c a m e f o r e m a n in 1 9 6 1 a nd
supervisor eight years later, w a s part of t h e
t e am w h o m a n u f a c t u r e d t h e h a r d w a r e a nd
assembled t h e f i r s t p r o t o t y p e 9 1 4 ‘ s at t h e
b e g i n n i n g of t h e X e r o x era at M i t c h e l d e a n.
D o i n g a q u i c k sum, he came u p w i t h t he
f a c t t h a t he h a d w o r k e d on n o less t h an
57 d i f f e r e n t programmes since t h e f i r st
9 1 4 ‘ s , w h e t h e r n e w m a j o r machines, or
d e r i v a t i v e s and accessories of t h e o r i g i n a l
c o n c e p t .
A n LSA m e m b e r f o r 2 3 years, D o n has
served o n t h e a s s o c i a t i o n ‘ s c o m m i t t ee
for 12 y e a r s ; h a v i n g been hon. treasurer
for seven of t h o s e years before h a n d i ng
over t h e b o o k s t o George Turner, he must
surely rate a ‘ s e r v i c e a w a r d ‘ for t h a t as w e l l .
The f o l l o w i n g also r e c e n t l y became e l i g i b le
f o r C o m p a n y service awards as f o l l o w s :
2 5 Y e a rs
October — Terry B u f f r y ( F i n i s h i n g ).
2 0 y e a rs
October—Clarrie Dickinson ( M a c h i ne
S h o p ) , N o r m a n G r i f f i t h s (Technical
A s s u r a n c e ) , A l b e r t Hatch ( A s s e m b l y ),
G r a h am Linley ( A s s e m b l y ) , J e a n Marshall
( I n f o r m a t i o n Systems), Ray R a w l i n gs
( M a c h i n e S h o p ) ; November— Stan Cherry
( M a n u f a c t u r i n g E n g i n e e r i n g ) , Ron Mayers
( M a c h i n e S h o p ) , Barrie M o r g a n ( M a c h i ne
S h o p ) , Roy S t e w a r d ( P e r s o n n e l ) , Dennis
W e d l e y ( F i n a n c e ).
N a n c y B e a rd
T h o u g h not an e m p l o y e e , Nancy Beard w a s
one of M i t c h e l d e a n ‘ s best k n o wn
p e r s o n a l i t i e s . She a n d her h u s b a n d Cyril
( n o w o n e o f o u r p e n s i o n e r s ) w e r e for many
years t h e p o p u l a r s t e w a r d and s t e w a r d e s s of
our c l u b house and w e r e c o r d w i t h regret her
d e a t h o n O c t o b e r 22. Our s y m p a t h y goes to
all her f a m i l y .
11
| i f i n i T T ^ – ‘ »
.
Michael and Janice Holder
B i r t h s
David Frederick, a son for Don James
(Technical Assurance) and his w i f e Brenda
on 4 September.
Christopher Richard, a son for Harold Hale
( D e s i g n Engineering) and his w i f e Jane
( f o r m e r l y E n g i n e e r i n g ) , on 27 September.
Simon J o h n , a son for S a n f o r d Gaylard
( M a n u f a c t u r i n g P l a n n i n g ) and his w i fe
C h r i s t i n e on 2 October.
W e d d i n g
J a n i c e Merry ( P r o d u c t i o n C o n t r o l ) to
Michael Holder (QA) at Wesley Church
C i n d e r f o r d , on 1 9 J u l y.
R e t i r e m e n t s
Doug Bates ( S t o c k C o n t r o l ) 1 1 i years;
Edgar B r o w n i n g ( M a i l / S t a t i o n e r y ) 15
y e a r s ; Fred Burley (Internal Transport)
14 y e a r s ; Frank Coleman (Works
Engineering) 14 years; T om Collett
( P r o d u c t i o n Stores) 7 y e a r s ; Brenda
C r i p w e l l (Paint S h o p ) 9 y e a r s ; J i m Davis
( M e d i c a l ) 12 years; Mary Fern (Engineering)
11 y e a r s ; Peter H i g h m a n ( S u p p l y Centre) 5
y e a r s ; Kathleen Hopkins (Electrical Subs.)
7 years; Sheila J a c o b ( S t o c k C o n t r o l ) 13
years; Hazel J o n e s (RX Lydney) 7 years;
Bill Luker ( T r a i n i n g ) 14 y e a r s ; J o hn
M a c D o n a l d ( S h o p C o n t r o l ) 14 years;
J im M a r t i n (Parts M a n u f a c t u r i n g ) 11 y e a r s;
Fred Miller ( S e c u r i t y ) 12 y e a r s ; Cynthia
Morrell ( S t o c k C o n t r o l ) 8 years;
J o h n Preece ( A s s e m b l y ) 13 y e a r s ; J a ck
Smart (RX C i n d e r f o r d ) 10 y e a r s ; J a c k T i m ms
( S a f e t y ) 14 y e a r s ; J i m W a t t s ( E n g i n e e r i n g)
14 years; Ernie W o o d ( P r o d u c t i o n C o n t r o l)
1 1 i years. (See also LSA Letter, pages 8 / 9 ).
O b i t u a r y
We report w i t h regret t h e f o l l o w i n g deaths :
Glyn Lancaster (RX C i n d e r f o r d ) on 21
September, aged 51 after 2 ^ years’ s e r v i c e;
Harold Mason (Internal T r a n s p o r t ) on 9
O c t o b e r — he was 57 and had been w i t h us
since 1 9 6 7 ; J im W i l c o c k ( G o o d s Receiving
I n s p e c t i o n ) on 23 October aged 4 4 — he
came t o us four years ago ; Ossie Radford
( D e s i g n Engineering) on 6 December, aged
47 — he j o i n e d the Company in 1 9 7 1 .
A l s o that of pensioner Ernest Timms on
5 October at t h e age of 69.
Our s y m p a t h y goes t o t h e f a m i l i e s of all
of them.
12
Many apprentices, past and present, joined Training staff to wish Bill Luker, Apprentice
Training School Supervisor, a long and happy retirement last October after 14 years’ service.
Among the numerous gifts presented to him in appreciation was a digital clock, made by
apprentices Colin Cackett, Paul Ward and Steve Wynn, while to Mrs Luker they ‘saidit with
flowers’. A Personnel Department party was held to mark Bill’s retirement and that of Saletv
Manager Jack Timms (also 14 years’ service). Inspector Fred Miller of Security (12 years)
and Jim Davis of Medical (12 years), as well as the departure of APO Mike Logan
receptionist Cynthia Haynes, Beryl Berry (Training) and Theresa Daffurn (Records), all of
whom are pictured below.
A well-known PCD personality — Ernie Wood, Manager, Demand Entry & Customer Liaison
— retired last October after a total of 14 years’ service. At a goodbye party he was presented
with a silver watch from friends at Mitcheldean, together with a silver chain — a gift from
Lille staff with whom Ernie has had close connections.
eves BN SAFETY
Total number of
accidents for period:
Sept/Oct ’79 Sept/Oct ’80
The cumulative total to October was 138,
compared with 170 for 1979 — a 20 per cent
improvement I
I V I y r a N e w m an
If any of V I S I O N ‘ S readers are f i n d i ng
it more d i f f i c u l t t o get a reply these
days on e x t e n s i o n 566, I apologise.
The reason is a sad one.
M y r a N e w m a n , w h o was secretary
t o Corporate A f f a i r s Manager Jimmy
Bake, d i e d s u d d e n l y on October 18.
Editors c a n ‘ t be e v e r y w h e r e at once,
and I w a s i n d e b t e d t o Myra for
many a n e w s i t em that came over the
‘ p h o n e .
Her c a lm in t i m e s of stress was
u n f a i l i n g , her sense of humour a
d e l i g h t d u r i n g the nine years we
w o r k e d together. She was also a
f r i e n d and a very t a l e n t e d one t o o.
Readers w i l l , I’m sure, j o i n w i t h me in
e x p r e s s i n g s y m p a t h y t o her husband
D a v i d and t o her Sbn Stewart Jones
w h o is a p r o g r a m m e manager at
RXHQ. Myrtle F o w l er
Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd., Cheltenham
