Work

WORK. AT HOME JUNE 1945 SOUTHERN ROW LONDON W10.
On arriving home it took sometime to settle down everything was very strange. Mary had to go back to school and I had to find a job. For the first few weeks we had to get our bearings, outside in the road were big burnt patches where celebration bonfires had been, mum said that the heat from them had been terrific. Rationing was still in force and when I mentioned the monotonous meals mum said well you have been living off the fat of the land, now you can see what we have had to live on. I also remember my first walk down Oxford Street on my own, the number of people made me feels a bit dizzy, and it took me several days to get used to the crowds. Soon I was looking for work. Dad got me a job at David's Universal co. which was a commercial art company close to the Oval. This meant a long journey on bus and tube to get there. The work was not difficult mainly looking after the phone or running errands at lunch time we found a local cafe for a cheap dinner, pie and chips, Vienna steak and chips, etc.

V-J NIGHT.
After President Truman had dropped the two atom bombs on Japan, and the Japanese had surrendered we had another celebration. More bonfires more dancing in the streets. Mum and Dad decided to take us up the west end to see the King and Queen and all the other goings on .we went on a bus and walked up Oxford Street, Regent Street and to Piccadilly (The Americans called it Rainbow Corner). When we got to the Mall in front of the Palace, the re was a massive crowd there. There were drunk climbing up the ornamental lamp posts and sculptures still with beer glasses in their hands some waving flags both star and stripes and union flags. After what seemed a long time the King and Queen and their children came out on the balcony to wave, the roar of the crowd was terrific. They were encouraged to come out a second time but after that we had the problem of getting out of the crush, which was rather difficult as we found we were in amongst the rose bushes. Eventually we managed to get up towards Green Park and Hyde Park Corner, and finally a bus home. I think it was a trolley bus from Edgware Road to the Half Penny Steps, and then a walk home. Where the bon fires and singing and dancing continued into the night.

WORK
I was not sure I would make a living in the art world, so my father and I started looking for jobs in printing. The first try was with Uncle Jim Dyett’s Firm Welbeckson Press. My Father and I got an interview with Mr. Murdock the manager, but he said he had so many people coming back from the armed forces that he could not offer me a post. I then got a job with a small printer in Fleet Lane right near the Old Bailey. Portsdown Press was a small but varied print shop with three large machines, a Heidelberg, platen and a Victoria platen for the heavier platen work. I was told to be there by half past eight, which I was, but the owner Mr. Gee said I should have been there by eight. I was soon learning my way around all the alleys and squares, print shops machine rulers, Ink merchant’s etc.in the locality, and was also sent to the local cafe for takeaway meals snacks and drinks. I was also prey to printer’s jokes like sending me for a long wait, half a pint of pigeon’s milk. When it was time to go home the printers had five minuets to wash and clean up. It was then I discovered that printers went home looking like city gents i.e.; suits white shirts and ties and shiny shoes. I also discovered that bib and brace overalls were better replaced with a boiler suit. Mr. Gee and Mr. Arloff were always at loggerheads and Mr. Gee especially would try to get me to support him in the argument, but I would not. In a short time with the firm I learned my way all around London by bus and tram, sometimes if I could walk it I saved the fare money. Once I went to Prince of Wales Road to collect a steal rider roller but on the way I had to deliver some printed labels to a Cider factory. The day was very hot and when I asked the girls working there for a drink they opened a bottle of newly bottled cider for me. I quenched my thirst but the drink was quite strong so with a rider roller in my possession tried to get on a bus back to the factory. The busses were getting crowded by this time but one kind conductor let me stand on the running board grasping the roller and the bus as hard as I could. After several weeks at Portsdown Press I was well versed in topography of London, when Asked about an apprenticeship, Mr. Gee did not seem so keen: in consequence of this I started to look at the papers for adverts for jobs

WEATHERBY & SONS
. Weatherby and sons were advertising for machine managers at Notting Hill Gate, so I wrote off for an interview, and received an appointment on the following Saturday. Dad must have got time off from work and came with me. Mr. Northam interviewed us: he took one look at Dad and said I suppose you’re the boys Father, please sit here. He turned straight to me and said “tell me about yourself”. After I had spoken for only a few minuets he said “O.K. that’s enough I just wanted to know if can speak for yourself, go outside for a minuet while I speak with your Father”. When I went back inside he said “If you are any good I will back date your apprenticeship to this date, but if you’re not any good or for any other reason I find you unsuitable you will be outside the door “. We shook hands on this I gave a weeks notice at Portsdown Press and started my new job the following week.

THOMAS HEWSON THE LIVE IN APPRENTICE.
I was taken all around the firm to find out where thing were, the warehouse was immediately behind the office, there were two Warfedale printing machines on the same floor and two very old, Middleton Bars in the basement, which were used for the Racing Calender and any Tatersalls catalogues that we printed. The deal was that I worked five days and a Saturday morning, plus I might have to stay late on Thursday which was publication day. In return I would be sent to printing school at The North Western Polytechnic; for half a day in the firm’s time and one evening in my time. Wages started at 28 shillings a week, but in fact soon advanced to 34 shillings. The Forman was an elderly printer by the name of Thomas Hewson. He was very good to me and I helped him on the offside of the press, He also told me about his apprenticeship. He had to live in he and the rest of the boys had a dormitory above the factory, and they worked a full day on Saturday. After which they went to the market to buy food and then back to the factory to cook it. On Sunday Mornings they would have to go to church with the master, otherwise they were in trouble and unless they were Ill would have there wages docked. Old Tom taught me quite a lot, and when things were not so busy he sometimes sent me home a little early but always said," slip out of the back door and don’t let anyone see you". He also supplied some basic tools, hammer and planer a shooting stick for wooden quoins plus a quoin key for mechanical quoins.

ALBERT SHORT.
About this time I was introduced to our neighbours the Shorts: Albert was slightly older than I he was very tall and had staid on at school to get extra exams he needed to become an electrician. He taught me how to swim every Sunday morning we were at the local baths, very often until chuck out time. He also taught me the basic chess moves, and also a bit about serious music we went to the Albert Hall: the Proms, he also played the piano. He practiced Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata quite a lot. At this time we only had a wireless set for entertainment, plus a windup gramophone. The pictures were of course a weekly amusement, once or twice a week if we could afford it. The cheapest seats were a shilling, the dearest about Two shillings and six pence. .Sometimes small children would ask if we could take them in as some pictures were only for grown up viewing unless accompanied by an adult. My Mother and her friend Norah did this one Saturday afternoon but the girl they had assisted let all her friends in for free at the exit door. when the usher came around to check the tickets , asking Norah are these all with you she said no their not : and the whole line of kids stood up did a left turn and disappeared out of the exit door in double quick time.

WEEKENDS WITH THE BOYS.
A number of the boys I knew in Cornwall lived locally I met up with the Townsends Dennis Dorrington and several others , Dennis had joined a youth club and played football for them , we also met up in a chapel club house in Pervis Road Kensil Rise . I joined the club; we went on outings in the summer and arranged to meet at other venues. Some of my friends had motorbikes and I got lifts to places like Chertsea or Rickmansworth. If a football game was local we would go on mass then afterwards would arrange to meet at the cinema or the Empire, or Metropolitan. A special performance might be a strip tease show. The Lord Chamberlains rules were in operation at that time and meant that no nude model was allowed to move. Philis Dixy was a well-known performer at this time but it took her about twenty minuets to remove her elbow length gloves. She also did a dance with ostrich feathers: supposedly in the nude, but although we strained with opera glasses we did not see a thing. On Sunday evenings in the winter Edgware Road was the venue for the movies as there was a wide choice of picture houses The Grand Kinama, the Blue Hall.- The Connought. The films were mostly old movies so we would elect to see” Charley Chan “or a “Boris Karlof “or” Lon Chainy”; or some crumby cowboy Roy Rogers. In a chorus we would shout he went that way, or jeer or shout in the appropriate places, or whistle when the love scenes took place. After being threatened with eviction we got a bit quieter. Then Monday it was back to work. The club also had an Easter outing to the Isle of White, at Culver Cliff camp. Sandown was absolutely filled up with cyclist’s singles tandems and three wheelers all taking part in races along the front. Easter Sunday we all took a hand in the cooking, which meant that dinner arrived a bit late. The girls in the club also ran a netball team; we also played tennis at Queens Park. One club night I got the idea to get the girls to pose for portraits as long as they would agree to poses for about four two hour sessions I would give them the portrait free. This meant I got plenty of practice; painting them, and chatting to them. At this time I was also attending printing school one night and painting three nights at the Kensington Men's Institute. If I had to work late on a Thursday at the firm it meant a pretty full week. One day at work I noticed some of the apprentices waiting outside Mr. Charley Northams office on inquiring what was happening? I discovered they had been skipping printing school to go to the pictures, later on I found they had all had their pay docked for the offence.
The apprentices reckoned Charley’s parents had not been married.

SIR FRANCIS WEATHERBY.
On beginning my apprenticeship, it was often my duty to take copy to the head Office at Cavendish Square. Weatherby & Sons were the Stakeholders, printers for, Lord Willaby De Broke who was virtually the Jockey Club; Francis Weatherby was his secretary. One day I was taking Copy to Mr. Miller the Editor of the” Racing Calendar “, (which was the official racing paper), when a smartly dressed moderately sized man asked me why I didn't use the lift. The editor’s office was on the top floor, he said he would show me how to operate it. We got quite friendly on the way up and he asked me about my hopes with the firm and my future ambitions. I told him I would like to get exams in the printing game, and also of my artistic, painting ambitions. He wished me luck; disappearing- About his business. On a later visit happening to use the lift with the same gentleman, who disembarked on the
same floor as myself where Mr. Miller was checking news on the ticker-tape machine; I said good -bye to him turned to the editor , who said" You're getting on well aren't You?”. “ O that little old boy I’ve spoken to him quite often”. Mr. Miller said “Little Old Boy my foot that’s Sir Francis Weatherby he owns the whole works”. Sir Francis was a gentleman and also his oldest son William, the rest of his children was snobs. I base this supposition just on the fact that when we visited his home in Oxford shire for a game of cricket the other children were made to serve us at the chicken and salad tea which was after the match. Then there were tennis matches, which Sir Francis took the leading part in . Then a coach home. I believe Sir Francis paid for the lot. When we were arranging the firm’s annual wayz –goose. There was at least one ways-goose a year but also a visit to a restaurant and a theatre, or a show. An invitation was always sent to Sir Francis who would courteously decline but would wish us well and most times paid for the dinner or some part if not the entire outing. One such outing was to the Isle of White. Coaches on the train were reserved and we were all aboard for the nine o'clock departure. Card games started and drinks from hip flasks and bottles. When the train pulled into the pier. It was onto the ferry and straight down to the bar; when the boat hit the pier the other side it was onto the trolley train straight into the pub at the pier head until lunch time. Lunch was at Osborne House Hotel. The usual speeches were some what inebriated: Quote the toast to “Wessers Meaverby and Sons,” will always stay in my memory, also the Forman Bob’s un belief that his street door key would not open the door of the pub which was by then closed; until 3 o’clock. Some of us went with the assistant manager by taxi to “Browns “ golf courses at Sandown, to spend the rest of the time until it was time to start for the ferry for the journey home ; on which all the boozy items happened in reverse. I still have some of the obligatory firm’s photos taken before the beer had too much effect. Boozy outings are no longer in vogue, and most of the characters, have long gone. Years later when mentioning this fact, to the “Printer,”at the firm I worked he said “We are the characters now!”.

EXTRA PAY.
One spring one of the machine minders was off sick, just at a time when we needed the extra staff to print the Tattersals Sale catalogue. Mr. Norman asked me if I thought I could manage a Middleton Bar I said yes. When the catalogue was finished which took two weeks; I found extra money in my pay packet. Two pound extra for each week. When Bob the Forman found out he was furious .I guess he did not get any extra and was therefore jealous. I also got rises when I passed exams at The North West Polytechnic. Mr. Northam always kept a sharp eye on our school reports he also did other things as he thought like once he introduced me to one of his acquaintances on the street at Notting Hill even though I was still dressed in a boiler suit with a jacket over the top.” This is one of our apprentices he said”. I was most surprised but shook the gentleman’s hand. On another occasion I was going to Cavendish Square on a 17 bus Mr. Northam got on the same bus, I went upstairs he went down. I also remember that he never went on any of the firm’s outings: they probably never invited him.

NORTH WESTERN POLYTECHNIC
As I had mentioned the North Western Polytechnic was our venue for printing school. To get there I left the firm at lunchtime and caught a 31 bus to Kentish Town, or sometimes Camden Town and walked to Prince of Wales Road. The tutor in charge of the machine room was Mr. Acordingly he was a North Country man and although he had worked in London most of his life still had a broad ascent. He was also a snuff addict. Lots of printers used snuff, as some firms frowned on the smoking habit because of fire risks. Mr. Acordingly used to have a short sleeved brown coat and would tip snuff from his wrist to his elbow and then sniff it all up in one big intake without the slightest sneeze; on the occasions when he did get a cold it was usually a beauty: his handkerchiefs were stained light brown in fact the same colour as his working coat. In the afternoons we had a practical session and in the evening we were lectured in printing science. The school had a large cafeteria, which was available between classes and was subsidized. It was a longish journey home after classes and I still had my notes from the lecture and any other piece of information to write up in a large hard cover note book.

THE FIGHTS.
At work one of the operative printers asked if I ever went to the fights? We agreed to meet up and spent an evening at Lime grove baths. If the proceedings were a bit slow in starting the crowd would yell, “Wheel them in”. At that time I was quite interested in the mechanics of boxing but I did not like to see a fight go on when the opponents were badly matched or when one man was loosing and had no chance of wining and the fight was better stopped. At about this time Dad used to dress up in a dress suit and attend the Jack Solomon’s promotions. Uncle Charley had introduced him to the schema if they ushered people to their seats they could then watch the fights free of charge and any payment they would have received went to charity. I think Dad saw all the big fights from the Bruce Woodcock fight on. I also remember going to Wembley with some of Dads workmates to see Randolph Turpin in what I believe was his last amateur fight. There was this huge American Turpin hit him twice boof! boof !!and the next boof! Was when the American hit the floor? It was all over in no time. Dad told me that when he was coming from the Albert Hall one night after the fights a man was standing on the running board of a 52 bus, the bus was over full and an inspector asked the conductor to tell the man on the running board to get off. The conductor ignored the inspectors Instruction, when told about it the second time the conductor said “you can tell him yourself but I should warn you that’s Jack Doyle.” Mr. Doyle had a notoriously bad temper.

OLD PALS.
The first of the old-time NATSOPA assistants I met used to feed the Middleton Bar. To do so he would place a bundle (Two Reams) on to the feed board then roll them out, then sitting on the feed board with a wooden stroker would feed each sheet to the lays, in time with the press. After he retired we had another hand-feeder a Samuel shields. There was also the need for a casual hand on occasions. Spider was a casual hand that I dreaded he would do exactly as you asked him but no more and would invariably ask if I thought he could get a sub off the management. My answer was that he could try if he liked but I did not think so. I mentioned. This to the Forman Bob he said if they give money he will be straight over the pub and we will not see him again. On the very first occasion that Spider and Sam met they both stood as though transfixed. A whole lot of abuse past between them .you old f***** you old B*******. How are you? Then they fell about each other’s necks in fond embrace. Another of the operatives was caught making a book, now at that time there were no betting shops and taking bets on the streets was illegal. Bookies had runners on street corners and other known places, but they were always on the lookout for the police and ready to run; with the betting slips or to get rid of them quick if they thought they would be apprehended. Our operative was called into the office and sacked immediately: being given five minutes to get off the premises with all his possessions.

SACKINGS
There was a dispute in the comps department; the rumor was that a number of the compositers would get the sack. On the Friday morning Mr. Northam was about to take the wages round, Sid Rees the Forman of the warehouse asked if he could take the wages round for him. Mr. Northam said” he had to do the job himself but Syd could do him the favour of putting a number of waste paper sack into the bottom of the lift shaft incase they decide to throw me down it.” I was interested in this scenario but Mr. Northam came down the stairs in his usual fashion. In the end the comps were re-instated.

END OF APPRENTICESHIP. INTO THE ARMY.
During all my time at North West Poly I was putting in for the City and Guilds certificates first the Intermediate Certificate second-class pass only. Then the Final of Machine and presswork. I got a First Class for that. Then the Qualifying exam for Compositors works for Machine Candidates. I passed First class. By this time I was near the end of my apprentice-ship and although I had been deferred from National service I would finally have to do my duty. I did not even think of contentious objection that would have been beyond the pale in those days: cowardly. The exams were held in extra time on Saturdays, especially the practical tests there was also a long wait for the results. I had hoped to do a full Technological Exam but as I said I ran out of time. At the end of my apprentice-ship I received a full copy of my indentures signed and stamped; this did not necessarily mean I could do any job. In fact I afterwards found that employers seemed to take more account of your practical skills based on a week’s trial. Weatherby, s at this time offered me a temporary job at £10 per week. I went over to the Printing Managers Trade Society, which was in Mermot Street to get advice. Mr. Went told me I could do as I liked they could give my casual work, but if I staid at my firm for a full four weeks they would have to re-instate my after my National Service. I decided to take this option but in fact I was in the army in two weeks. My medical exam was somewhere in the city in an afternoon after doing all the form filling at Bromyard avenue. This group of offices was filled with an elderly set of Doctors so we knew we had no chance of being ruled out for the services. First off we were all told to strip off. Probably to see, if we had any outstanding deformities. One stroppy teenager insisted on keeping his hat on during the whole of his examination. Each Doctor was given a specialty One the heart One the Lungs One the ears. I’m sure that the old bugger who tested my ears was stone deaf himself. Anyway I passed A1. And within a few days had my warrant to travel to Aldershot.