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I remember typing pools...

Steve Bridger

I remember my first day at work. The summer of 1981. County Hall. The smell of polished corridors and trolleys laden three-feet high with leaver arch files and buff folders. I opened a door and there it was: The Typing Pool. Page 3 of The Sun were always plastered on the walls of the printing unit whenever I was asked to make errands. We still had a few discussion threads on that topic in the early days here - in 2004!


And I've seen Made in Dagenham, the movie!


I only mention this as the CIPD published a report called Work Audit today, a fascinating look at how the world of work has changed
in Britain since 1952.


I thought we could share our own compelling vignettes of social history comparing changes in the way we work.


What do you reckon?


Steve

Parents
  • So funny!  I remember before leaving school wanting to go to Art College, but was turned down as I did not have arithmetic (Scottish education system).  I was heartbroken so applied to the local Tech to do a Secretarial course - computing was with cobolt and some other such thing with hole punched cards and typing with manual olivetti machines.  when they put me on the golfball thing, I was so heavy handed every letter came out 6 times.  I then went for my first interview after finishing college for a Glaziers in Ayr, they tested my typing and then got me to use a Gestetner - I remember using copious amounts of the pink nail varnish stuff to correct the errors.  They offered me the job £30 a week in 1982.  I turned it down as I thought the salary was way too low and I went off to be an artist in residence.  Oh how things change!!
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  • So funny!  I remember before leaving school wanting to go to Art College, but was turned down as I did not have arithmetic (Scottish education system).  I was heartbroken so applied to the local Tech to do a Secretarial course - computing was with cobolt and some other such thing with hole punched cards and typing with manual olivetti machines.  when they put me on the golfball thing, I was so heavy handed every letter came out 6 times.  I then went for my first interview after finishing college for a Glaziers in Ayr, they tested my typing and then got me to use a Gestetner - I remember using copious amounts of the pink nail varnish stuff to correct the errors.  They offered me the job £30 a week in 1982.  I turned it down as I thought the salary was way too low and I went off to be an artist in residence.  Oh how things change!!
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