Page 13 - SPR

Our Gallery

From a slide sent in by Bob Dunn, showing the best quality I can get, here is John Treays (Machine room assistant) washing up rollers or the ink slab, or maybe cleaning the forme on the Perfector. This would have been taken in the late '60s

Another of the slides from Bob--- A lovely picture of Roy Howe taken during the break on the night shift in the machine room at Love Lane. I think it would have made a good record sleave. Late '60s

Also taken on the same nightshift, from Bob comes this slide of Ken Morrist on the left and Derick 'Ookle' Woolmer. This is on the old 'fly-stick' Perfector and shows a sheet being turned over, top left, into the machine delivery. Nobody can remember why Derick was nicknamed so, but everyone knew him as Ookle. He was a cheerful and very well liked worker, but sadly went home one evening from work to do a job at the bottom of his garden and died suddenly. I think he must have only been thirty something.Also taken on the same nightshift, from Bob comes this slide of Ken Morrist on the left and Derick 'Ookle' Woolmer. This is on the old 'fly-stick' Perfector and shows a sheet being turned over, top left, into the machine delivery. Nobody can remember why Derick was nicknamed so, but everyone knew him as Ookle. He was a cheerful and very well liked worker, but sadly went home one evening from work to do a job at the bottom of his garden and died suddenly. I think he must have only been thirty something.

Also from Bob,------ playing cards during their break in the machine room at Love Lane on the nightshift are, Derick Woolmer (nicknamed 'Ookle') left, --Ken Morrist,-- then Mac (? MacDonald the night boiler man)-- and Big John Treays.

Another old slide sent in by Bob Dunn is, we think, from Syon Park. Taken on a Staples outing in the very late 1960s it shows on the left of the scene,--- Jay Curtis, then Robbie Dunn, then Peter Howe and Michael Howe. The Fathers, (including me far right) all worked on the printing machines at Love Lane.------ GTC

'Running on' during that same shift, this shows Roy Howe on the delivery of the hand fed Quad Royal. Roy, who now lives in Howick N.Z., was possibly printing sheets for one of the Europa Directories. ---Slide from Bob Dunn.

Ken Warren (machine assistant) at work cleaning up on the perfector. Another very popular workmate-- I think at one time Ken played football for the 'Gills'.-------- Slide from Bob Dunn.

Good ole' Phil Gunningham. Phil was a machine assistant and a real character. He came out with the most ludicrous things which he swore were true. His favourite saying was "Prick from the War office", who apparently was responsible for anything and everything that went wrong. He had an amazing throwing arm --- and if he threw something at you, if you was messing about--- IT HIT YOU.---- Read about this great guy in the memories page.-- Slide from Bob Dunn.

Again it is amazing what things survive over the years.------ This is the original telegram sent by Staples committee of the social club to Ken Morrist and Janice Pett on their wedding day. Ken worked in the machine room at Love Lane and Janice in the bindery.