Level | Item |
Ref No | OHP/3 |
Title | Derek Bennett |
Date | 6 December 2002 |
Extent | 2 minidiscs, 2 cds, 1 file, 4 AIFF files (997 MB) |
Creator Name | Bennett; Derek (1931-); printer |
Description | Interview with Derek Bennett, printer for the Guardian. Conducted by Leslie Plommer on 6 December 2002. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording and notes on his career.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1 Track 1: 00.44 Born in Manchester 1931, family not in printing 01.17 Got stereotyping apprenticeship at Salford City Reporter, description of duties and printing process 03.03 Description of a 'flong' 06.00 Moved to the Guardian in 1951 08.42 Discussion of his duties and posting to Korea whilst on National Service
10.10 Reunion of troops in combat together in Korea, August 26 2000, and discussion about army career 15.30 Return home from Korea 16.10 Work at Cross Street casting advertisements 16.30 Description about casting - making plates, flongs etc. 18.00 Further casual jobs at City News in Manchester, and Stockport Gazette
20.30 Harold Geldard at City News docked wage by quarter of an hour, dispute led to better contract 23.50 Comparison to Guardian contract 24.20 Discussion about casual work 25.20 Buying a house 25.45 Dispute with Harold Geldard about printing and handing in notice at City News 28.00 Finding replacement Stereotyper at City News, Maurice Brown 29.10 Contacted Percy Martin at Guardian about a job 29.30 Application to go to Australia - Assisted Passage Scheme £10.00, leaving 1st February 1958
30.05 Asked Percy Martin for job for a few months before leaving 30.30 Arriving in Australia with no money 31.10 Finding work at printers - 187 Beckett Street [?White and Gellespie], proprietor - Bert Whitmore 32.00 Holiday in Sydney, discussion about moving to Sydney and finding work 34.15 Bert Whitmore helped find job in Camborne (suburb of Sydney) work in Stereotyping and vinyl plates 36.00 Work found at the Telegraph as Stereoptyper 36.15 Comparisons to Stereotyping in England 38.00 Became Deputy Overseer 38.20 Notice to leave with no prospects of another job 38.40 Went to Daily Mirror 39.50 Leaving Australia
40.40 Back in England, went to work at Guardian in 1962 40.50 Reasons for leaving Australia 42.50 Enjoying work at the Guardian 43.30 Dealing with libelous stories in the newspaper 44.00 Daily Express, [?Carol Sarler] discussion about libels in newspapers 45.40 'Chipping' plates on the press due to libel 48.20 Move to Deansgate, September 1969 printing moved 49.00 Working across two sites - Deansgate and Cross Street
51.00 Dispute with another member of staff about checking copies of Guardian and Daily Mail 54.55 Further discussion about the move to Deansgate, including moving and positioning of printing presses
Track 2: 00.15 Integration with the Daily Mail 02.10 Deputy Overseer position in 1965 03.50 Separating printers from the Daily Mail printers 1974 06.40 Stan Leggett retired 1975-1976, Derek Bennett took position of Overseer 08.15 Saving money on newsprint 13.55 Polymer plates tested
Disc 2 Track 1: 00.15 Polymer plates - reasons for using them, and introducing them into the printing process 02.45 Problems with vacuum in printing 03.00 Visible improvement in quality of print 03.40 Colour printing press bought from Canada 05.20 Vibrations affected colour register, sensors put on 07.05 Role of Overseer
Track 2: 00.10 Responsibilities of role of Overseer 03.25 Discussion about Len Spate, Stereotyper 07.05 Guardian not best paid job in comparison to other newspapers 08.40 Discussion about working with metal (fumes etc.) and conditions in print room
|
Access Status | Open |
Access Conditions | Access via GNM Digital Repository |
Format | Minidisc recording |
Electronic record |
Copyright | Guardian News & Media Ltd and Derek Bennett |
Show related Persons records.