Others have said it all Muriel. Because of our schooling we still expect Miss to appear and rap our knuckles. I do enjoy your memories and their conversational style. Most of us probably think that yours is the definitive spelling any way.... -- Joe Connell Checked by Norton 2004 before transmission with Mozilla Thunderbird

Thank you Dawn Dorothy

Hi Folks, I am having computer problems ( a weird fault ) at the moment so have been offline for a few days, while it is in hospital. I now have this old laptop going and a steam connection to the Internet so here I am back to bother you again! ( how I miss Broadband and a fast machine!) However... the reason for this message is that someone wrote me a very nice message..... about having been at the same school as me in Coventry ..... just before my machine had to go away and of course that letter is locked up with the computer. I can't reply till you write to me again. Or will have to wait till my PC gets home again. I am wondering if it was Muriel who wrote? Dorothy (Gibbs)

Yes it was Muriel Dawn

Dearest Muriel, You should not work yourself up into such a lather over minor flaws in your writing, as I am sure that others, as with myself, are too engrossed in the recounting of your memories to worry about such things. Usually I am a stickler for correct spelling and grammer useage, but losing my 44 year old self within the mental images of a world that for me is vastly different in a geographical sense, yet in other ways so familiar [ memories of a 'dressed to the nines' Mother on special occasions] makes it so easy to glide past any errors contained within your correspondence. You remind me of my Mother [ gone 18 years now], in that whilst writing letters to her daughter living many miles away, would edit her letters for any spelling errors pre posting. To this day, I have every one of those letters and would have treasured them any way they came. Spelling errors did not detract from who she was and how much I loved receiving and reading each one! Please keep up the writing so that we get a glimpse now and then of another world, familiar to some, yet new to others. Thanks for the memories... Julie in a sunny Elizabeth Downs, Adelaide SA _________________________________________________________________ Searching for that dream home? Try http://ninemsn.realestate.com.au for all your property needs.

Stop Press * Scrabble Book* confirmation APING. (B)

Just a bit of "Trivia" VERONICA LAKE born Constance Okleman (Hyperactive) Oh! ...that Blonde Hairdo.... Seem to recall - she changed it for the *War Effort. The style was copied by the young ladies of the era and found to be dangerous ( for factory girls and the like) Then came the "Snood" and later ENA Sharples (copy cat ha!!) -------------------------------- BTW Muriel Don't worry about the spelling - your tales are so interesting - we wouldn't have noticed - *really!!! from ex: Data on *The Little House Door* Which also included the "Times Table" I before E except after C; When A or I is the sound it's the other way round.. re: Apeing or Aping.. Drop the E if next letter a vowel Keep it if next letter a consonant.. Senior Memory.... "slides" into action sometimes. !! *>)~ betty

Hi Everyone, A very contrite Muriel grovels and begs your pardon. "She who often uses BIG words" has tripped up again. Serves me right! Getting too big for my boots aren't I? Senior moments seem to be on the increase---am I starting on the long slippery slope? I HOPE not! It should have been "hoi polloi", when referring to the common folk, like my grandma, who had to burn their fingers, curse (under their breath) and singe their hair to achieve the Alexandra look! There is a name that is used for the little piece of false hair that Queen Alexandra---and High Society ladies---- attached at the front of their coiffures, does anyone remember it? Having another moment of self doubt, I checked with my Concise Oxford Dictionary. Oops, I'd done it again! "coiffeur or coiffeuse" are the people who arrange the hair, i.e. Hairdressers. Their "creation" is a coiffure" My poor brain is now in a whirl, but the facts will eventually sink in! I also have doubts about "to E or not to E" in aping. Please can anyone put me right? The dictionary doesn't help when I belatedly thought to check on it. I have been haunted by the Booboo I made the other week. Yes, the word should have been "weird"! It doesn't conform to the "i before e except after c" ruling.I will remember in future!!!!! Now comes the problem of picking myself up off the ground, not easily managed these days! Is there a kind gallant out there?!!!! Regards, Muriel.

The shop-floor was effectively a village community with the usual cast of characters. Each operator lived in his own small area containing a machine, a secure locker (sometimes several), a wooden duck board to stand on, and some form of seating. Seats varied from elderly office chairs on casters (liberated from offices) to wooden boxes. Individual areas were separated by lockers, work racks, and miscellaneous sheets of cardboard on which were pinned examples of physically improbable graphics. Engineering fashions such as product cells or machine groups were not yet in vogue, and machines were collected together by type: rows of lathes, milling machines, etc. Running along the ceiling were the vestiges of an overhead pulley drive system. The work mix contained 'good' jobs and 'bad' jobs. Delivery of new jobs into the communal work rack initiated a dash to examine and select 'good' jobs for one's own work rack. It was not unknown for jobs to be spirited between individual work racks, and the pecking order in any section soon became obvious. Position of the apprentice in this pecking order was understood by everyone. Each operator was responsible for his own machine, although a maintenance crew was available for repairs, and an elderly gentleman visited occasionally to remove swarf. Some machines were lovingly cared for (five minutes were allowed each evening for cleaning), but most looked very sad for themselves. The village had its commercial representatives. Everyone knew which two operators (those with three lockers) could supply cigarettes and other gentleman’s items. Everyone knew the village bookmaker, and during three months in the tool room my duties included daily delivery of the leather bag with a time lock to the garage for transmission onwards. Village policing was the role of the Foreman in his white coat and pocket full of pens. He was not a disciplinarian [trade unionism was strong], he was not an organiser [the role of the production control department], and not an instructor [some of them were legendary in their ignorance]. I eventually decided that his role was to sign bits of paper and be squeezed between ‘them upstairs’ and the shop steward. Supervision was a career I intended to avoid. Smokey Checked by Norton 2004 before transmission with Mozilla Thunderbird

----- Original Message ----- From: "pollyp" <pollyp@xtra.co.nz> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 8:36 PM Subject: [BAN] Remember------this and that? It was Veronica Lake. I can remember sing songing "Veronica Puddle". Enjoyed your memories as always! Barb USA > Hi Lister Friends, > As Betty says, "things are quiet", so I am bursting in to print > again to fill the void, and perhaps tempt some of the lurkers from > out of the woodwork! I had things on my mind, anyway! > Last week, walking down Market St., I spied the prettiest dress > that I have seen for many a year, at the front of a shop window. > It had a fitted strapless bodice and flared skirt and was in what I > call "a bedroom wallpaper striped" print .It was straight out of > the 1950's, that era of such pretty and feminine dresses in lovely > cottons. Does anyone remember the brands "Californian Cottons" > and "Brilkie"? Of course it was in my hey day when I was the right > age and shape to wear them and naturally mixed up with other > pleasurable memories! > Next to this dress was one with a handkerchief pointed hemline, > in vibrant colours; the style, if not the colour reminiscent of the > 1920s. My mother was a physical type that suited the styles of that > decade and the following 1930s. Bobbed hair, but not too drastically, > cloche hats and the loose fitted garments became her. I remember > one vivid blue dress with a creamy oyster draped collar, which > she wore to a 21st, when I was very small. A chain and pearl > necklace was around her neck. She leaned over me for a goodnight > kiss, smelling delightful and very different to her workaday self; > transformed into a glamorous being. I have two photos to treasure of > that period. One as a young woman, wearing that necklace and a > pretty dress of the 1920s.The other was on her wedding day, 31st > July 1930, when she wore a dress in beige, and brown voile, (I think), > with a pattern of acorns, topped by a sweet little cloche hat. She > looked lovely. > With what joyful abandon and delight my mother's generation > threw away constricting corsets and cut off their long tresses. A > feeling of light-headedness! Freedom! War is not to be recommended > but apart from the downside it did loosen womens' bonds in so many > ways due to them being needed in the war effort. It was reflected > in shorter and less confining clothing, which in the 1920s was taken > much further. > Older ladies were often slow to follow the trends---if at all. > When I was very young many of them still stuck to long black > or dark coloured apparel, others were glad to "ease their stays" > and be comfortable. I had a grandmother in each camp! There > is a photo taken of Grandma Parritt circa 1930, in strong sunlight, > and a hard line in her clothing must surely denote the edge of very > sturdy "foundations"? She had a very upright carriage, which she > has bequeathed down the family line, but in anycase I think that her > corsets would have "stood alone"!!! > I did mention hair, didn't I? I have a photo of Fanny Mary > Campbell, later to be my Grandma Lucas, when she was 17 or 18. > She is wearing a high necked dress with leg o' mutton sleeves; > her silver "Fanny" brooch pinned to it. Her long hair was pulled > back into a bun, and the front fringe area was "frizzled" in the > fashionable "Alexandra" look. Society ladies achieved this > appearance with an attached hairpiece. The "hoy poloi" did so > with heated curling tongs! Can you imagine the smell, burnt fingers > and other disasters that accompanied this operation? > "Singed hair"----"Mmmmmmm, one of my favourite aromas, > since as a 7 and 8 year old I passed a small blacksmith's forge, > en route to Grandma's for lunch and piano practice.The smell > wafted into the street as I paused to watch him shoeing a horse, > because there were still a lot of delivery horses around, prewar. > I think the hair ritual, with its problems, was described in > "Little Women", by Louisa M. Alcott or if not that book, one of > the subequent volumes. > Continuing with hair. How little girls suffered with hair rolled > up in rags each night to produce ringlets or curls. I can remember > only one such occasion, myself, and the result was less than > successful as a short time later the curls were gone and I was left > with what was known as "sore fingers", where the hair sticks out > at an ugly angle.Our elders went in for the Marcelle wave for sociable > occasions, and hairdressers premises were proliferating. I still > have some wave grips around, somewhere! > Dinky curlers afflicted most of us as we passed into our teens. > I was adept in their use, unfortunately, as very often I was roped in > by my mother to help my sister. It restored the peace! They were > uncomfortable to sleep in and the results in the dampish winter > canal mists of Foleshill didn't last long, unless you combed it into > a roll and secured with pins. Not the most flattering coiffeur for a > fourteen year old! This was pointed out to me by the family, but > defiantly, when out of sight of home I restored it. Sneaky, see? > Women in war-work were rolling their hair over a ribbon tied > around their heads---at least it kept tidy for hours Before then > there had been some accidents when young women, aping their > favourite filmstars, got their locks caught in the machinery. > They risked a scalping, at the very least. I'm trying to think who > had such long peekaboo tresses. Was it Veronica Lake? > (Betty will know! Rescue me, please!). > Permanent waves at this time required you to be strung up > to a device above. The skill and concentration of the operator > determined whether you left, smiling, with a head of tightly > arranged waves and curls, or a sour expression due to numerous > burns! Joyce and I experienced this, just once when for a treat > we had our "ends" permed. We achieved some curls, but also > a row of small burns on our necks! Sore, but curly! > Fortunately, relief was not too far away as someone invented > other types of perms---namely based on the application of lotions. > Not that this affected me---until the advent of the Home Perm. How > this liberated us! Mind you the lotions could be smelt throughout > the house and those involved, and bystanders, wept copiously! > Still, as they say, "no pain, no gain!" > My first Home Perm was the most memorable as seeing > me struggle my father volunteered to wind for me. Now he was in > the engineering trade and took the instructions very seriously. He > almost measured the length for each curl and parted so precisely. > The process was going forward, oh so slowly, because of this, until > my mother rescued me. If not, I fear that he would still have been > winding it to this day! > I feel that the inventor of the Home Perm deserves a Nobel > Prize for freeing us from "bondage and misery"! Over the years I have > lived in some weird and wonderful places, and many were far from > a town, let alone a hairdressers. I have become adept at perming my > own hair, through necessity at first and by choice nowadays. > Of course the extremes of hair fashion, require an expert, so are > not for me. Do you remember the bouffant and teased hair of the 60s? > Nowadays I am fascinated by the myriad tiny plaits some sport; > ethnic in origin and looking fabulous on the heads of some North > African races, who also have wonderful facial structure. I have, > more recently admired this style on an ashblonde pharmacy > assistant, who by the way had wonderful cheekbones and brow > bones to complete the look. Still---not for me, as I like to get a > brush or comb through my hair! > I can remember fashion following the Jackie Kenedy look, and > sitting at home in the fastness of Nydia Bay, making a fur fabric > pillbox hat to wear on my next visit to the capital! It was also the > era of crimpelene (Sp?) I had reason to be grateful to the > goodnature of this fabric and will relate why.(Ian, get ready to hold > your sides!). > My four year old son, Colin, broke his arm and had to be > transported by boat and car to Wairau Hospital, where it was > Xrayed and put in plaster. We had to stay overnight so that the > plaster could be checked next morning, so our neighbour promised > to collect us then. En route he said that we were stopping off for > lunch at his home. We lived in neighbouring bays, but with no > road access I had never been there,so I was pleased. We tied up > to his wharf, and it being not too far from low water there was a > stiffish climb up a vertical ladder onto the decking itself. "Don't > stand on the lower rung as it is rotten" I was cautioned. So I > stepped up higher----and crack, the rung broke; the momentum > pushed out the launch, and I was left hanging in mid-air whilst > my friend endeavoured to swing the boat in.The inevitable happened > as my wrists gave out and into the water I went.Colin, meanwhile > was frantic, and I had to make reasuring noises without taking > aboard any more water! It proved impossible to hoist me up the > side of the boat, so I elected to swim alongside the wharf shorewards, > until my feet touched bottom. > A sodden Muriel Wells emerged, still in her crimpelene suit, > shoes, stockings and handbag over my arm. I was very grateful that > I had remembered how to swim, as with 4 little ones aged between > 1 and 5, my supervisory water duties hadn't given me opportunities > to do more than paddle for some years. I was dried off and wrapped > in my hostess's very voluminous clothes and we had lunch.Suddenly > I realised something was missing. Oh, my glasses! We trouped > back down and there, with the tide dead low, we spied them on the > bottom. Some deft work with the boat hook and they were soon on > my nose! But---look! Low water revealed broken off piles and huge > ballast stones littering the sea-bottom. I'm glad that I 'd timed my > plunge when I did! > Like so many happenings, all turned out well, but it might not > have done so. Tragedy and comedy are often close bed fellows! The > history of the Sounds abounds with tragedies-,--and comedies, too, I > suspect, as it can be an unforgiving environment. I was lucky! > I hope that I haven't bored you. Perhaps I may have even > encouraged you to look at some of your memorablia with fresh eyes, > or triggered off a few memories. I do hope so. It brings our past alive. > Regards, > Muriel. > > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

Hi Lister Friends, As Betty says, "things are quiet", so I am bursting in to print again to fill the void, and perhaps tempt some of the lurkers from out of the woodwork! I had things on my mind, anyway! Last week, walking down Market St., I spied the prettiest dress that I have seen for many a year, at the front of a shop window. It had a fitted strapless bodice and flared skirt and was in what I call "a bedroom wallpaper striped" print .It was straight out of the 1950's, that era of such pretty and feminine dresses in lovely cottons. Does anyone remember the brands "Californian Cottons" and "Brilkie"? Of course it was in my hey day when I was the right age and shape to wear them and naturally mixed up with other pleasurable memories! Next to this dress was one with a handkerchief pointed hemline, in vibrant colours; the style, if not the colour reminiscent of the 1920s. My mother was a physical type that suited the styles of that decade and the following 1930s. Bobbed hair, but not too drastically, cloche hats and the loose fitted garments became her. I remember one vivid blue dress with a creamy oyster draped collar, which she wore to a 21st, when I was very small. A chain and pearl necklace was around her neck. She leaned over me for a goodnight kiss, smelling delightful and very different to her workaday self; transformed into a glamorous being. I have two photos to treasure of that period. One as a young woman, wearing that necklace and a pretty dress of the 1920s.The other was on her wedding day, 31st July 1930, when she wore a dress in beige, and brown voile, (I think), with a pattern of acorns, topped by a sweet little cloche hat. She looked lovely. With what joyful abandon and delight my mother's generation threw away constricting corsets and cut off their long tresses. A feeling of light-headedness! Freedom! War is not to be recommended but apart from the downside it did loosen womens' bonds in so many ways due to them being needed in the war effort. It was reflected in shorter and less confining clothing, which in the 1920s was taken much further. Older ladies were often slow to follow the trends---if at all. When I was very young many of them still stuck to long black or dark coloured apparel, others were glad to "ease their stays" and be comfortable. I had a grandmother in each camp! There is a photo taken of Grandma Parritt circa 1930, in strong sunlight, and a hard line in her clothing must surely denote the edge of very sturdy "foundations"? She had a very upright carriage, which she has bequeathed down the family line, but in anycase I think that her corsets would have "stood alone"!!! I did mention hair, didn't I? I have a photo of Fanny Mary Campbell, later to be my Grandma Lucas, when she was 17 or 18. She is wearing a high necked dress with leg o' mutton sleeves; her silver "Fanny" brooch pinned to it. Her long hair was pulled back into a bun, and the front fringe area was "frizzled" in the fashionable "Alexandra" look. Society ladies achieved this appearance with an attached hairpiece. The "hoy poloi" did so with heated curling tongs! Can you imagine the smell, burnt fingers and other disasters that accompanied this operation? "Singed hair"----"Mmmmmmm, one of my favourite aromas, since as a 7 and 8 year old I passed a small blacksmith's forge, en route to Grandma's for lunch and piano practice.The smell wafted into the street as I paused to watch him shoeing a horse, because there were still a lot of delivery horses around, prewar. I think the hair ritual, with its problems, was described in "Little Women", by Louisa M. Alcott or if not that book, one of the subequent volumes. Continuing with hair. How little girls suffered with hair rolled up in rags each night to produce ringlets or curls. I can remember only one such occasion, myself, and the result was less than successful as a short time later the curls were gone and I was left with what was known as "sore fingers", where the hair sticks out at an ugly angle.Our elders went in for the Marcelle wave for sociable occasions, and hairdressers premises were proliferating. I still have some wave grips around, somewhere! Dinky curlers afflicted most of us as we passed into our teens. I was adept in their use, unfortunately, as very often I was roped in by my mother to help my sister. It restored the peace! They were uncomfortable to sleep in and the results in the dampish winter canal mists of Foleshill didn't last long, unless you combed it into a roll and secured with pins. Not the most flattering coiffeur for a fourteen year old! This was pointed out to me by the family, but defiantly, when out of sight of home I restored it. Sneaky, see? Women in war-work were rolling their hair over a ribbon tied around their heads---at least it kept tidy for hours Before then there had been some accidents when young women, aping their favourite filmstars, got their locks caught in the machinery. They risked a scalping, at the very least. I'm trying to think who had such long peekaboo tresses. Was it Veronica Lake? (Betty will know! Rescue me, please!). Permanent waves at this time required you to be strung up to a device above. The skill and concentration of the operator determined whether you left, smiling, with a head of tightly arranged waves and curls, or a sour expression due to numerous burns! Joyce and I experienced this, just once when for a treat we had our "ends" permed. We achieved some curls, but also a row of small burns on our necks! Sore, but curly! Fortunately, relief was not too far away as someone invented other types of perms---namely based on the application of lotions. Not that this affected me---until the advent of the Home Perm. How this liberated us! Mind you the lotions could be smelt throughout the house and those involved, and bystanders, wept copiously! Still, as they say, "no pain, no gain!" My first Home Perm was the most memorable as seeing me struggle my father volunteered to wind for me. Now he was in the engineering trade and took the instructions very seriously. He almost measured the length for each curl and parted so precisely. The process was going forward, oh so slowly, because of this, until my mother rescued me. If not, I fear that he would still have been winding it to this day! I feel that the inventor of the Home Perm deserves a Nobel Prize for freeing us from "bondage and misery"! Over the years I have lived in some weird and wonderful places, and many were far from a town, let alone a hairdressers. I have become adept at perming my own hair, through necessity at first and by choice nowadays. Of course the extremes of hair fashion, require an expert, so are not for me. Do you remember the bouffant and teased hair of the 60s? Nowadays I am fascinated by the myriad tiny plaits some sport; ethnic in origin and looking fabulous on the heads of some North African races, who also have wonderful facial structure. I have, more recently admired this style on an ashblonde pharmacy assistant, who by the way had wonderful cheekbones and brow bones to complete the look. Still---not for me, as I like to get a brush or comb through my hair! I can remember fashion following the Jackie Kenedy look, and sitting at home in the fastness of Nydia Bay, making a fur fabric pillbox hat to wear on my next visit to the capital! It was also the era of crimpelene (Sp?) I had reason to be grateful to the goodnature of this fabric and will relate why.(Ian, get ready to hold your sides!). My four year old son, Colin, broke his arm and had to be transported by boat and car to Wairau Hospital, where it was Xrayed and put in plaster. We had to stay overnight so that the plaster could be checked next morning, so our neighbour promised to collect us then. En route he said that we were stopping off for lunch at his home. We lived in neighbouring bays, but with no road access I had never been there,so I was pleased. We tied up to his wharf, and it being not too far from low water there was a stiffish climb up a vertical ladder onto the decking itself. "Don't stand on the lower rung as it is rotten" I was cautioned. So I stepped up higher----and crack, the rung broke; the momentum pushed out the launch, and I was left hanging in mid-air whilst my friend endeavoured to swing the boat in.The inevitable happened as my wrists gave out and into the water I went.Colin, meanwhile was frantic, and I had to make reasuring noises without taking aboard any more water! It proved impossible to hoist me up the side of the boat, so I elected to swim alongside the wharf shorewards, until my feet touched bottom. A sodden Muriel Wells emerged, still in her crimpelene suit, shoes, stockings and handbag over my arm. I was very grateful that I had remembered how to swim, as with 4 little ones aged between 1 and 5, my supervisory water duties hadn't given me opportunities to do more than paddle for some years. I was dried off and wrapped in my hostess's very voluminous clothes and we had lunch.Suddenly I realised something was missing. Oh, my glasses! We trouped back down and there, with the tide dead low, we spied them on the bottom. Some deft work with the boat hook and they were soon on my nose! But---look! Low water revealed broken off piles and huge ballast stones littering the sea-bottom. I'm glad that I 'd timed my plunge when I did! Like so many happenings, all turned out well, but it might not have done so. Tragedy and comedy are often close bed fellows! The history of the Sounds abounds with tragedies-,--and comedies, too, I suspect, as it can be an unforgiving environment. I was lucky! I hope that I haven't bored you. Perhaps I may have even encouraged you to look at some of your memorablia with fresh eyes, or triggered off a few memories. I do hope so. It brings our past alive. Regards, Muriel.

Ian books arrived, whre is the pipe, dressing gown and carpet slippers? Barry Marriott

Thank you very much, Ian The books arrived this morning and I have had to tear myself away from reading them before all of today's good intentions disappear. This really has been a worthwhile exercise and we are all very much in your debt. If you are on the list and have not ordered the books, move now else you miss a not to be repeated opportunity. Len

29th October,, Birthday .....*Lord Horatio NELSON. Just thought i would add that to the **Quiet List.?? Hope the pigeons in Trafalgar Sq. remember..?? He would be aged..246 All old Salts extra Rum rations. !!!! Betty

Kismet Laurel! Ian

Brian in hosp. once again. Have you posted off my order for the books? I have yet to organise my sis- in -law to send the cheque to you for the payment. Have already ascertained that Jean is willing to do it.If that falls through I will get a sterling cheque, costs more but that is no problem cos I really want the books. If I get Bank cheque or sis_in_law do we make the cheque in payment to you? If different please let me know. My goodness Ian you really have been a 'busy little beaver'. You have really done well and we all appreciate it, thank you so much! Ann Wheeler NZ where you would think it was deep winter rather than Spring. Bye, keep well, Ann

Congrats on the bub....hope all are well (you included) ;o) Carole Hamilton, NZ -----Original Message----- From: IRHUCKIN@aol.com [mailto:IRHUCKIN@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, 28 September 2004 1:27 p.m. To: ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BAN] Angela and Co!! Dear List. Angela has asked me to pass her apologies on. She is still computerless!! And, to top it all, she is moving on Friday. She reckons they will have to send the computer to Yeovil Comet. But she is determined to get it sorted, by hook or by crook!! Helen is staying on as temporary list admin for now. I personally thank her for that. I will keep you upadted as I get any news. By the way, I am a granddad again. Daughter had a daughter this morning (27th). Carla Louise Ellen. 8lb6oz - A Porker!!! Ian ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

CORKS ARE POPPING ,??in *HUCKINVILLE* HERE's CHEERS from AUS.. Betty

I have sent/delivered all those ordered. Anyone else in the local area I can take, so let me know if you fall into that category. Ian

Smokey's latest couldn't have been better timed, in light of the recent news from Jaguar. Thanks for giving the rest of us a prod, and an insight into a life very different from working amongst carnations and tomatoes. Jill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Connell" <jfc.public@virgin.net> To: <ENG-BANBURY-AREA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 10:56 PM Subject: [BAN] Re: Memories of the 50s > Seven o'clock every morning (including Saturday), and a large herd of > double-decker buses sat purring in the central bus station. Their > destination blinds provided a roll call of once-proud names: Daimler, > Morris, Jaguar, Wickman, Herberts, Standard, Alvis .. the list goes on. > Employees made their way into the town centre and boarded a free bus which > delivered them directly into the premises of their employer. A return > service was provided in the evening. > > The principal competition was bicycles. Darwin principles meant that > factory gates were left completely clear at five o'clock, as the evening > hooter heralded an avalanche of massed cyclists which stopped for no-one. > Very little company car parking was available; but there were rows and > rows of bicycle racks. There were some private motorists; the > Superintendent with his bowler hat drove an ancient Siddeley car, whilst > senior staff seemed to favour the Standard 10 model. > > On reflection, the class distinctions were unbelievable. My employer > operated five canteen separate arrangements for lunch. A bare table area > for shop-floor workers, a paper-covered table area for weekly staff, a > cloth-covered table area (with drinking water) for monthly staff, a > separated dining area (with waitress service) for management, and a darkly > mysterious entertainment suite for superior creatures. There was also a > hierarchy of tableware. This ranged from thick white crockery as smashed > in Greek restaurants, up to thin china with a tasteful green and gold line > around the rim. > > Democracy also took a hammering during tea breaks. In the trenches we > queued for a metal mug of tea from Veronica’s trolley. Shop-floor > supervision had a crock mug of tea delivered to their desks. Monthly > staff received a china cup and saucer with two arrowroot biscuits, > delivered on a metal tray. Senior Management left to attend important > liaison meetings. I find it difficult to believe myself. > > It is also surprising that everyone accepted this environment. In a > strange way, it provided public recognition of advancement through the > ranks. > > Smokey > > Checked by Norton 2004 before transmission > with Mozilla Thunderbird > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >