大象传媒

During the period that I worked for the Americans, things began to change on the domestic front. In 1951, Churchill became P.M. again, and we had the Festival of Britain in London. The Festival Hall was built on the Thames, and the displays helped us to feel that at least we were getting it together, and coming out of the down period of the post-war. The pensionable ages were brought down from 65 and 70 as originally planned, to 60 for women and 65 for men. We had television in the North West for the first time, as previously transmissions had only been in the London area.
In 1952, King George V1 died, and we felt we had lost a friend. He seemed a gentle man, who understood the problems of the people and had stayed with them in London during the war. He had even had his house bombed, so knew how it felt to lose his personal possessions. He had never been trained to be the king, but when Edward V111 abdicated, he immediately stepped forward and did his best ,in a very difficult time. We were sorry for Princess Elizabeth, who had just left for a visit to Kenya, and had to return immediately. It was a very big job for a young women to undertake, but she in turn, followed her father鈥檚 footsteps and has never shirked from any duty she has to fulfil.
Identity cards were at last abolished, and now once again, there is talk about bringing them back in the 1990鈥檚. There were other advances in such diverse fields, such as Britain developing the first atomic bomb and the first British film in colour.
When the American family returned, I worked for a short time as a domestic, cleaning a large house from the attic at the top, through the other three floors. The lady of the house was very particular, and walked behind me, running her finger along all the ledges. I have never liked anyone watching me work, and after about six weeks, I gave it up. I could never feel any enthusiasm for housework, and I still haven鈥檛 changed.
As Christmas was rapidly approaching, I got an evening job at the local Post Office, in the sorting Office, and having worked in the R.A.S.C. Record Office, with units all over the U.K. I was familiar with many of the towns and counties, and this helped to sort the mail into areas. I really enjoyed this, but of course, it only lasted a few weeks.
One of the mothers at the nursery, said she was working as a waitress at the Pattern Arms, and they were short-staffed. I applied and said I had had experience. I was started immediately for lunch times, as many business men came there for lunch. The wages were poor, but the tips were very good. I was also sure of a lunch, as the chef knew we did not have very much money, and always saved something for me. I was also initiated into the art of silver service, and began to get quite good after a while. We had a very important lunch for the managers, and I was very nervous. When I served the roast potatoes, I managed to drop one into the lap of one of the men, (the Chief Accountant of the Brewery, no less). I apologised profusely, and offered to pay to have his suit cleaned, he laughed and made some remark about 鈥渃ooking the books鈥� and the meal continued. I was terrified, that I would get the sack, as David was in hospital, for an operation and I wanted the money to pay for things to take to him there.
Each day, we had many regular customers, and after I had been there for a few weeks, one of men asked me if I liked my job. I had to admit, that it was not my idea to continue if I could find another post. He told me there was a position as his personal assistant, and after we had discussed my qualifications, especially my distinction in maths, he advised me to apply for the post. (1952)
Part Three: The World of Transport
1952 was the beginning of my long relationship with the transport world and I have never regretted any of my time in that field. When it was found that my son required an operation, I wanted to be able to give him toys and other things when he was in hospital, so I looked for a way to earn more money. One of the mothers at the nursery, said she was working as a waitress at the Patten Arms, and they were short-staffed. I went to the local hotel, who were advertising for waitresses and said quite confidently that I had had experience. The working time was from eleven o鈥檆lock until two thirty, and this meant I could go to the hospital in the afternoon. The wages were very low, but doubled by the tips given by the business men who lunched there, and as the chef was a friend of mine, I always had a good lunch.
I was initiated into the art of 鈥榮ilver service,鈥� and began to get quite proficient after a while. One day, a few weeks later, we had a very important lunch for a group of managers, and I was very nervous. When I served the roast potatoes, I managed to drop one into the lap of one of the men, (the Chief Accountant of the Brewery, no less.) I apologised profusely, and offered to pay to have his suit cleaned, but fortunately he had a sense of humour, laughed and made some remark about 鈥榗ooking the books鈥� and he could afford it. The meal then continued as though nothing had happened. I had been terrified that I would get the sack, as David was still in hospital, and I really needed the money.
Each day, we had many regular customers, and after I had been working there for a short time, it seemed that fate had stepped in. When one of my customers asked me what I was doing in such a job. (Why do some people think that waitresses are lower citizens, or at least they used to ?) I replied that there was nothing wrong with the job, but I hoped that I could find a better one, eventually.
He said that he thought that someone with my education should not be there, (especially my distinction in Maths.) As a result of this conversation, I went to work with him in the Transport Department of the steel company. (Rylands Bros. Ltd.)
Now came the difficult part, for men did not see women as having a part to play in the transport field, ( this was over forty years ago). When I first tried to join the Chartered Institute of Transport, the secretary (male) did not want to know. When I went to meetings I was ignored in many cases, especially by the older men, but I found that by studying the subject of the meeting beforehand, I could ask intelligent questions and gradually, it was accepted that I did indeed, know something about transport.
I attended night-school in Manchester and Liverpool for three nights a week for the next five years. We studied law, statistics, planning, accountancy, and all forms of transport. I sat the exams in Manchester, and here again I encountered the attitude of some people to women. The exams were held in the Y.M.C.A. and I had trouble getting into the building. During the lunch break, we all went down to the canteen. Here I was told that I could not stay, even though I explained the unusual circumstances. The staff were adamant, and so I left, accompanied by most of the men taking the exam.
After I passed my exams, I was admitted to the Chartered Institute of Transport. Later I was to become the first lady to serve on the Executive Committee, and also the first female 鈥楩ellow鈥� in the Institute. This led to a headline in the press, 鈥楢 fellow named Jean.鈥� Eric, my husband, had to put up with various remarks about being married to a 鈥榝ellow鈥�, which became rather boring after a while.
I became obsessed with transport, as it was not a static subject, and there were so much legislation to be considered. We sent steel wire, nails, fencing, barb wire, rope and many other products, all over the world, so there was many forms of documentation and the job never got boring.
A year later, we had an Organisation & Method study, and it was agreed that I was doing a man鈥檚 job, but as I was a woman, I was given 75% of the man鈥檚 wage. Although the principal of equal pay had been accepted in the civil service, in 1952, it was a long time before this was put into practice throughout the country. Then came the retirement of the Traffic Manager, and everyone thought I would succeed him, but it didn鈥檛 happen. The position was given to a man who had worked in the department for a longer time, but ironically had failed his C.I.T. exams. I was also denied the title of assistant traffic manager, until I was invited to serve on the Transport Committee of the Iron & Steel Wire Industry in the U.K. This led to my decision not to attend, without some sort of status and so I got the title, but no extra pay.
The 1950鈥檚 continued to see many changes: In 1953 we had our first television, just in time for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. As very few people owned television, we entertained many of the neighbours, and had a great day.
In 1954, we saw the end of rationing, after 14 years. Until I researched the matter, I think I had assumed that at the end of the war, we had reverted back to the normal way of life with rationing ending. It is funny how one can remember some things in detail, and other things become confused. For instance I had not realised that as long ago as 1954, that smoking was first linked with cancer. Having watched the decline in people smoking, it now seems in 1995, that the younger generation are returning to smoking, especially young women. I see so many young mothers smoking, with young babies in their prams, and I long to rush over to them, and tell them what happened to me, how I had lost a lung, and I didn鈥檛 even smoke.
1956 Suez.
Col. Nasser of Egypt, decided to nationalise the Suez Canal. Troops took over the Canal, and it was stated that the revenue would be used to build the Aswan Dam. There was talk of Eden sending troops to re-occupy the Canal Zone. The Anglo/French Forces invaded the area, in order to allow the free passage of ships through the canal. The threat to the Canal did not affect the U.S.A. in the same way. It was hoped to put the Canal under international law, but Nasser would not agree to this. The troops took Port Said, but one of the factors was, that the U.S.A. were not in favour of the invasion. Although we could have advanced and taken control of the whole area, we needed a loan of a billion dollars, and we were given the option of 鈥榥o cease-fire, no money鈥� As we could not find any other source, we ended the conflict, and British troops handed over control to U.N.
1956 saw the start of electrification of the railway lines between London and Manchester and Liverpool. There was also the end of third class carriages, for up until now, there was 1st, 2nd and 3rd travel. I suppose that there were differences between each class, but I cannot remember, apart from the lacy squares on the back of the first class seats.
1957. Britain said 鈥楴o鈥� to joining the Common Market, when the Treaty of Rome was signed. Of course, at that time, we had Commonwealth connections, and we were very wary about any alliance, which would take away some of our rights to make our domestic decisions. I took a course with the 鈥極pen University鈥� about joining the E.E.C. I passed the course, but I was still no nearer a solution, about 鈥榯o join or not to join鈥� as there were so many unknown factors.
1957 was also an eventful year for me, when I entered a world-wide competition to submit a thesis in the Administration Section of the Steel Industry. I won first prize, and was taken to Halifax to give my paper. We travelled in a Lagonda car, which was sent to Warrington to take me there, and after a wonderful lunch, I was taken to the training school to give my lecture. During the session when I was delivering my speech, there was one man who was very disparaging about my remarks about the rise in the use of containers for the movement of products. At that time, the container revolution in freight movements in small containers, was only just beginning. He went on to add that if this would happen he would eat his hat. I would have liked to have seen his face, when the following years proved me to be right. I was presented with a cheque for 拢75.00 and was asked to sign away all rights to the paper. The article was later printed in 鈥榃ire and Wire Products鈥� in the U.S.A. and a copy of the magazine sent to me.
The following year, I won second prize in the same section. I made a return visit to Halifax, where I was presented with a cheque for 拢50.00. When I went to the Income Tax office, about another query, I found they had a file on me, with cuttings about my winnings. Perhaps they thought I was going to take up writing for a career.

Of course, 1957 was a significant year to us all, as the first hydrogen bomb was exploded, and the threat of a nuclear attack would always be there. If we could believe everything that other nations told us, what a perfect world it would be, but there will always be the suspicion that the threat will never go completely.
1958. This was a great year for my 鈥榯ransport鈥� world. The B.O.A.C launched it鈥檚 first transatlantic jet flight. I remembered my invitation to Manchester Airport, to a buffet lunch, followed by the departure of the first direct flight to New York. All the Mayors and Mayoresses from the surrounding areas were there, and after several speeches, boarded the plane. The B.O.A.C. rep gave me a hurried kiss and off he went as well. I wished then, that I was going as well, and I made up my mind, that I would go, sooner or later. I have now crossed the Atlantic 18 times, so I achieved my ambition.
During that year, we also saw the first stretch of Motorway opened, The Preston by-pass. There was also another remarkable invention, the Hovercraft. It was amazing how it could travel above the level of water, at great speeds. There was a great deal of discussion, as to whether it was a ship or plane. The driver was however designated as a 鈥榩ilot鈥�. The prototype was launched in the following year, but it was only two tons in weight. The first passenger service was opened in 1962, running from Rhyl to Wallasey.

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