Editorial

A small band of stalwarts recently ventured into the big city and enjoyed a conducted tour of the Leicester Mercury offices.   Having worked on a local evening newspaper thirty-odd years ago, I was particularly impressed with a couple of aspects in the production process that were different to what I remembered.  The first, predictably, was the advance in technology, particularly in the use of lasers and computers.  The second, and far more significant to my mind, was the employment of women in the despatch area, which came as something of a shock to me.

 In my day, the printing trades unions were very strong and the production departments were most certainly not graced by the presence of the fairer sex.  The trade was, I suppose, one of the last bastions of male supremacy, but newspapers have joined the likes of stuffy golf clubs, the Long Room at Lords and, indeed, the armed services, where gender is no longer an issue.  Welcome to the twenty-first century.

I have always believed that everyone has a story to tell – and the surface has only to be scratched very lightly to reveal a tale that will fascinate the reader or listener. Being a modest bunch, we think that our story will be of no interest to anyone else.  Not true. I enjoy doing a voluntary stint at the Harborough Museum and, being an inveterate chatterer, I often strike up a conversation with visitors.  I had hardly to touch, let alone scratch, a couple the other day to hear an interesting yarn which, I hope, will appear soon. 

I hope to produce a bumper edition of the newsletter in the near future to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the formation of our branch.  I would like to include anecdotes, humorous or otherwise, about any aspect of the history of the branch.  So, if you have memories or mementoes of activities, ceremonies, outings and social occasions, please let me know.  If there is sufficient response, we could have a small exhibition at a branch meeting, so photographs would be welcome, too.   Don’t be put off because you think your contribution would be too insignificant – remember Tesco’s slogan, “Every little Helps”!  

Back to newspapers and the photograph of branch officers that appeared in the Harborough Mail last month.  Let’s face it, with a handsome line-up like that, is it any wonder the branch wins accolades?  Perhaps we should try for an Oscar next!

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