About Me

The later 80's

So back from St Lucia and life will not be the same again. Whilst I had been away Anita had spent a lot of time at my parents, in fact she helped Pop decorate the bathroom. For the first couple of months we spent most of our time there - obviously when not working, and I was back at the Green Man working Fridays and Sunday lunchtimes. Friday nights was still full every night - and it really had a great buzz about it. From my understanding Saturday was not so great - and any of the "special" nights were targeted to Saturdays (not much point wasting a theme night on a night where probably every week we close to capacity). I would also point out that although Anita did not spend much time directly with me when I was working - it seemed her influence was in place as the flirty females seemed to stop coming over to speak with me - unless they actually wanted a song! On Sundays she was normally with me - and one week one of the strippers actually asked her is she was new "to the game". That really tickled her for some reason.

Workwise I spent my time either on Outward Payments, or the Foreign Exchange desk - splitting my time fairly even over the year. We were split over a couple of floors that we had in the building - but as OPs and "Dealers" (Foreign Exchange) were on the same floor it was a little restrictive ha ha. At the time there was quite of a lot of new people coming and going within the branch, mostly all internal moves - and I somehow managed to get promoted, but remained with the usual work teams. Even a few ideas that I came up with at the time seemed to be accepted and became the norm.

The "Outward Payments" team was made up of four "sub" teams: routers, inputters, checkers, and query clerks. The "inputters" sole job was to get the information from the customer's handwritten forms into the payments system, along with other information that was written on the form by the "routers", and their combined efforts were confirmed by the "checkers" who released the payments. The query clerks would deal with the aftermath of the payment be that an error on the customer's part, our part, or a subsidiary bank etc. After a while the inputters could look at what the routers had written and realised that it was incorrect, or needed refinement, and often the routers did not understand what the inputters were doing. So.... Gordon suggests that perhaps for a hour or two a day, some of the team members change with, or sit with, someone from the other team - to get a better understanding of the tasks. Also as the checkers had to wait for the routers and inputters to get the payments into the system, there was often a time lag. Again I suggested that perhaps the checkers could spend half an hour first thing to input payments (of course the checker could not release their own work) and that was also put in place. Finally to assist with training, I wrote a "user guide" for the routing of payments. (NB this was before the "dummies guides" books were ever thought of). I had written the guide for use in my branch - but within a month or two it was being used by all the International branches of the Bank. I like to think of it as the gospel according to Gordon lol. Not bad for a lowly clerk at the time.

Anita was now working for the an insurance company in their accounts department and was based in Central London. Most Thursdays, as she was working on flexi-time and left at 4pm she would come into the City and she would meet at the hostelry of choice for that week. During 1983 we had started to use the nearest public house to Arthur St where we were based at the time (having moved from the original Canon Street offices) which just so happened to be called the Square Rigger.

In those days lunchtime drinking was not seen as an issue - and we would be in there most lunchtimes, and evenings once work finished. Funnily enough we (my workmates and I) were well known in there quite quickly - and we knew the manager and he knew us. In fact it got to the point where even on a Friday lunchtime when the pub was heaving, the barstaff recognised us as we walked down the stairs, and our pints would be on the counter waiting for us to pay for.... On Friday nights however as I was working at the Green Man, I tended only to stay for a drink or two before we (Anita and I) left normally at about 6 to give me the time to get home and change ready to put my DJ head on.

The Square Rigger, just like all the pubs at the time in the city, closed by 8pm. Sometimes we might head out of the City and grab a pint or two in the Market Porter which was (and in fact still is) over the river in Southwark, if the old thirst had not been quenched. The Squre Rigger, although the entrance was on street level, had stairs leading down to the level minus 1 where there was a wine bar, and the more steps down to level minus 2 where the main bar was.

One Thursday, Anita arrived at the Square Rigger just after 4 (probably had bunked off a little early), and ordered herself a drink while waiting for me. Ian, who was the publican at the time, knew her and he was running the wine bar and she sat there and started to chat with him, asking him where the usual barmaid was. She had phoned in a few minutes before to say she was sick - which meant that Ian would have to run the bar upstairs himself as there was no one he could call in at this short notice. Anita suggested that she could help out, and Ian said yes. So when I arrived after finishing work I was shocked to see her behind the ramp, but it would mean that I could just hang out with the guys (playing the video machines). At the end of the night I stayed with her and helped her collect the glasses etc and tidy up a little. Ian was very impressed with her and asked her is she wanted a job? She said she would need to check with her main employers but would love to. Her thinking was that she could make up some of the money that we were spending there during the nights (smart lady).

Her employer was OK with her taking a second job - and so from that Friday she was officially a barmaid. There were a couple of times that I got a bit worried for her - like the night there was a group of fireman in, who had a big circle of tables and chairs. At one point she was collecting glasses - and entered the "circle" to get the glasses that were on the tables. They closed the ring - meaning she was kind of trapped - and began to get a little "handsy" with her. Perhaps someone should have warned them, but as one tried a sly grab of her bum - she spun round and slapped him - quite hard I would imagine given the sound and the red hand print that appeared on his face quickly. She then whispered something in his ear and he looked around with trepidation on his face. The other fireman burst out laughing and started to take the mickey out of him. No one placed hands on her again - and in fact when she had filled the glass collecting basket - actually moved out of the way to allow to go to the bar - one even offering to carry it for her. He got a whithering look - and quickly sat down again.

As last orders were called the fireman began to pack up their stuff and get ready to leave. Mr faceprint walked over to where Anita was at the bar - and said goodnight to her - and then walked towards me. As he got close to me he smiled and told me how lucky I was to have such a great girlfriend (I would add he was probably about a foot taller than me - and at least three times my size...). The firemen were normally in every couple of weeks or so - and they became very friendly towards us (and I mean us both - I would often get a handshake or a slap on the back). There was one night where they were involved but for a slightly different reason. I was working later - that was one of the downsides of being on OPs where you were a checker and had to balance the last batch - sometimes it took forever - and this was one of those days. Anita was working and again as she did when the bar was quiet she went out to collect glasses. A very drunk punter decided, like a certain fireman before him, to try and grab Anita and like the previous occasion she slapped him. However being so drunk he didn't take too well the slap and decided that he would hit her back. As he pulled back his hand - it was grabbed by one of the fireman who happened to be close - and shall we say not very gently yanked. "Men do not hit young ladies ever" boomed a very deep voice. Drunk boy falls to the ground and begins to get angry. Ian comes over to see what is happening, so see drunk boy being picked up - and with an arm behind his back escorted off the premises. When the fireman came back in he was nursing a slightly swollen hand and explained that drunk boy decided to try and kick him - so he showed the error of his ways. Anita and Ian were both grateful but the fireman just laughed it off - and let Ian buy him another pint! He got another from me when I showed up by the way.

Come early 1984 and we both felt that we had probably overstayed our time living at my parents (not to put to finer point on it Anita and my mum didn't always see eye to eye on a lot of things) and we were both becoming a little depressed with the situation. When we stayed at Anita's parents place it was nearly always a early get up for me - so that it didn't appear that we were sleeping together, and sometimes I would actually sneak out of the house before anyone else was up. The reasoning was that Anita was worried that her Dad (Ray) would be none too happy with the situation. One evening when we were at her parents, Doreen (her mum) - who I might add was a social worker - noticed that we were both looking a little down, and asked what the problem was. Doreen was easy to speak to - and we both explained the "home" situation we felt we were in. She immediately said why don't you move back here full time? When we questioned in relation to Ray - she laughed - and said he knows - and finds it very funny when I leave early. To assist us - she offers us her double bed (Anita only had a small single whan she lived there, and I didn't want to cause any issues asking my parents if we could take my slightly larger single). We journeyed back to Ilford, and got most of our stuff, Doreen driving the car, and I have left my family home for the last time (so to speak).

Once we had moved in - any depression we had been feeling dissipated and our life began to get better. The house consisted of us, and Doreen and Ray and Wal - who although not blood related was looked upon as Anita's granddad. He had taken Ray in when Ray was a young man when for family reason he was made homeless. Wal was a great man - in so many ways a pillar of society. He had been Mayor of Walthamstow (in fact he was the last Mayor of Walthamstow, as the following year it the title chnaged to Mayor of Waltham Forest. He loved his pipe and was a great storyteller - and was always interested in whatever was going on. Two great stories around Wal - I had never heard him swear ever - until we were watching England play Brazil (the game that John Barnes scored his amazing dribbling goal) which was being shown late at night and we stayed up together. One of the England players was chopped down and he got up out of his chair and yelled you're a real bugger at the screen - and the proceeded to apologise to me for the rest of the game for his language. The second story took place when he was a young man - and he had to make a financial decision. He could only afford either a motorbike or a girlfriend - and he choose the motorbike!

With both of us working two jobs, and living relatively cheaply (Doreen did take some housekeeping but nothing like I had been paying my parents - or if we had been living in rented accommodation) we had a little spare money. We did try and live life to the full, and we had lots of fun at the same time. We became firm friends with June and Mon who lived next door to Doreen and Ray - who were closer to our ages than theirs. thats not to say they weren't friendly with Doreen and Ray - but we seemed to spend more time with them. Indeed when I mentioned to Mon that I played five a side football on Sundays and we were looking for players - he volunteered along with his brother Mark - and we played together for a couple of seasons. June was a hairdresser and Mon was a dental technician, and they were great fun to be with.

For Anita's 17th birthday her parents got her driving lessons, and her first car - a Citroen Ami 8 - which was such a great little car - the gear stick actually came out of the dashboard and it had the smallest engine ever. Once she passed she was whizzing all over the place - and her moped became a thing of the past for her.

One weekend we arranged to drive to Canvey Island to friends of ours, Terry and Sue. Terry and I first met on the phone through work - it was while I was on the Foreign Exchange desk and he worked for the Eastcheap branch of the Bank. Early every morning he would ring in to get some daily rates - and always being the first in (because Anita started at 8 I was nearly always first in - well after the messengers who opened the doors) I tended to pick up Terry's call. After a few months of chatting (we had a similar sense of humour) it was decided that we would go for a drink. So off down the Square Rigger and our friendship sparked into life. a few lunchtime drinks were followed by a few evening ones - where of course he met Anita. When Doreen and Ray went on holiday - visiting friends who had just moved out over the pond to the States, we decided to invite Terry and Sue, his wife, up to London for a barbecue. Anita and Sue got on like a house on fire - and so we were going down for the weekend - well Saturday overnight to Sunday. When we arrived and found their house (no sat-navs in those day) we managed to find a parking space on the hill beside the house. Sue prepared a great meal, and we had a few drinks and it was a very pleasant evening.

Woke in the morning, and when we looked out of the window, there was no sign on the car. We dressed quickly and went out and there was the car - at the bottom of the hill, with one of the doors all smashed in. During the night it had been hit - and pushed down to the bottom of the hill, and the bastard driver had driven off. No witnesses, and CCTV didn't exist either at the time, no chance of finding him (or her). The car was still drivable - but it spoilt what had been up to that point a great weekend!

As 1984 was ending we sat down with Doreen, and we discussed our options as to our next steps with our life together. Working for the Bank I could get a good deal on a mortgage, and it would allow us to have our own home. It was decided that it made sense to get the house first and then later sort out the marriage. So, we began to look at our options. I had to go to Human Resources and fill out an exceptionally long form, and then they wanted us to provide Anita's payslips, which we did. I then had to get one of the Managers in the branch to approve the application. This was all done before year end, and I was then told that I would have to have an interview with my Human Resources Manager, and the Branch Manager of the branch where I banked which would be early in the New Year. I asked if they wanted Anita - but was informed it was to be just me.

On the day of the interview when I entered the room, I don't think I have ever felt so intimated. Now whilst there was no black mastermind chair - and floodlights aimed at me - they were sitting at the ends of a very long desk - and there was a seat about 6 feet back - which I was asked to sit on. I must admit sitting there I was waiting for a spotlight to appear - directed at me! "So Blowfeld you want me to talk" was firmly in my mind..... ha ha. The first hour was spent going through my career to date - and where I saw myself 5 years down the line. They also asked lots of questions about my family life - and future plans in that area.

I was then asked to leave the room - and sit outside while they discussed the application. They called me back in but only to answer a few questions related to Anita, and I was again asked to leave them. A full hour later they again call me back. As I sit the Branch Manager advised me that they would be prepared to offer me a mortgage, but they would expect us to marry by year end if not sooner. I must admit I was a little shocked, but they pointed out that if we married it would cement the relationship - and in a strange way protect their interests! I agreed to the conditions (we had already said that marriage was to be the next step after the house) - and left feeling a bit excited.

I rang Anita when I got back to the office (had to ask permission to make a personal call) - and told her that we would speak that evening with Doreen and Ray. When we got home, I told them about the mortgage - and how much they were prepared to offer me, and once that settled in, I mentioned the added condition. We had previously looked at the local papers and the Estate Agent's windows and had an idea of what we may need to spend, and given the level of the mortgage, and our small amount of savings and an assurance policy that I could cash in, would give us just about enough. We began in earnest looking, but it was Ray that came up with the goods so to speak. One of the administration clerks in the local council where he worked was moving out of the area and had a two-bedroom house she was selling, in Leytonstone whilst not where we had been looking was just about on budget.

So we all jumped in Ray's car - and drove over to Leytonstone, and found the road. It was a quiet road almost on the Stratford/Leytonstone border but had shops and a pub or two quite close! When we knocked on the door the house looked great from the outside. It was a typical London 2up 2down but once inside we noted there was an extension to the rear - where the kitchen and bathroom were. The two bedrooms were of a good size, as were the two reception rooms downstairs (doh - they would all be the same size lol). The kitchen was in long galley style and the bathroom at the back was basic. Having said that the whole place ticked all our boxes. There was, however, something that might cause some people issues. The garden backed onto a cemetery. You could say people were dying to get into the area, or it is the dead centre of town! Fortunately, this doesn't bother either Anita or I, and we would like to buy the house. The owner wanted slightly more than we could afford - but Ray and Doreen pointed out to her that by having a private sale she was saving herself a quite a bit of money, on estate agents fees etc - and she agreed on the figure that we could afford. She then dropped another bombshell in that if possible, she would like it all to be completed within a month.

The following day and I am on the phone to Human Resources, and the Branch Manager, and they give me a name in Legal Department for me to speak to. They already have all the pieces so far agreed - and the girl I speak with asks for the details of the sellers' solicitors (thank goodness Doreen had been with us and asked for these before we left) and she would ring them. I explained that there was a little (ok lot) of urgency over this and she no worries she would handle it. About an hour later she phoned me back to advise that everyone wanted a quick turnaround and that I would be needed within a week to sign some papers. She also told me to get the insurance sorted - something that no one had thought about before. I had heard horror stories over the Legal Department, but I can only say they were superb. By the end of January everything was signed, and we would be moving in at the end of February.

So now there was just the issue of the marriage and we went to the church where Doreen and Ray had married (they had married in Walthamstow, and it was close to where we were living) and although we weren't churchgoers so to speak - the Reverend would be happy to marry us, and he had an open booking for the end of April! So now the pressure was on - to arrange everything by end of April, plus of course move into the new house. Anita and Doreen immediately started the planning and every time I offered to assist, I was "politely" invited to "go away" or other not so polite terms, and leave them to it. They mentioned the wedding to June who immediately volunteers to do all the hair on the day. Gill and Glenda were to be Anita's bridesmaid and Gill's Mum and Dad (Sheila and Ted) were chefs, and they offered to do the food and the bar at cost. One of Ray's friends was a professional photographer, and he was approached and agreed to take the photos, and another of Ray and Doreen's friends offered to video the proceedings for us - as he had recently purchased a newfangled video camera! One of Anita's friends at her work was in her spare time a baker and she agreed to do the cake (which will get a mention in a bit...). Ray also knew a Bridal car hire owner, who agreed to provide one at almost cost. The local community centre was approached, and they could fit us in on the weekend we were to marry. So, my only parts to arrange - once everything else had been sorted, was a DJ and the best man. One of the original DJs at the Green Man who did the Sunday and Tuesday nights had his own mobile rig and agreed to do the music. I had wanted to play myself - but that got shot down in no uncertain terms! On the best man front there was only one choice and that was Dennis - who I had known since primary school and was still in touch with via Rentamob!

So, everything was arranged, and then almost immediately we were moving into the new house. We were the proud owners of 8 Blenheim Road!

We had managed to get a few pieces of furniture (amazing what you can find in the local papers and boot sales - although I suppose nowadays with the internet it is easier lol). We got a great sofa and armchairs for a steal, and even managed to buy a table and chairs set which we had to put together from a flat pack. That in itself was a major job - and never as good as "properly" made furniture. Almost at once the house became the centre for our friends - we were the first to have a house - so lots of nights we had company (OK truthfully nearly every night.....).

Workwise there was an announcement made - and that City Branch where I had spent most of my career so far, would be combining with West End Branch to become London International Services Branch. The branch would be based where the West End branch was - it was by far cheaper for the Bank - but rather than "big bang" the transition it would be a gradual process, and to make it even more fun - some of the "West Enders" would come to City and some of the City staff would go to the West End. We had to keep City open as we had a lot of big city branches that we "looked" after that would still require the same service. There were plans to arrange collection of the work and delivery to the "combined" branch by motorbike - but that would take some time to put in place. Some of the staff would not be required in the "bigger" branch - this would be the first time that I witnessed a "cull" where some people were let go or moved to an area that they didn't want to go to.

I was designated to stay in City until the final tranche of staff moved over and was given the responsibility to take up the mantle of senior checker for OPs, as the foreign exchange team all went to the new branch - and all the inputters and routers that I had worked with virtually all went to the new branch. So, we had a lot of "new" people arrive - but it only took a week or so to understand strengths and weaknesses of all. We quickly became a very efficient team - and although we still had a lot of later payments to process, we were not getting out too much later than we used to.

I had already booked my holiday for when I got married - although it was only a week - as with the house and the wedding we couldn't really afford a honeymoon as such. We had decided that we would have our hen and stag night on the same day - and return to the house and have a combined party - on the Saturday before the wedding. I was a little nervous about the stag night - most of the guys would be Rentamob plus a couple of the guys from work, and a few from the footy teams I was playing for. Most of my old schoolmates were no longer in the picture, although Dave and Sue who were now married, and Stuart and his wife were coming to the wedding, neither would be at the stag although not surprising that Denis was going.

The stag was also a pub-crawl, starting off at the Green Man (no surprise there) as on the walk from there to our house there were four other pubs. Part of me was worried that a strippergram might appear at some point - there had been a few over the years for birthdays etc. although none to match the one that occurred in the office when one of the Senior Managers was leaving us (before London ISB was in place). I should add at the time we shared part of our floor with a very Senior Manager in the International Services Branches hierarchy, and for once the stripper was in the branch. So as the Manager was being presented with his leaving gift - this very large and buxom woman shook off her coat and pushed through the throng and started to "unleash her puppies". The leaving Manager was in shock - but one of the other managers grabbed his coat and covered her up before the "puppy noses" popped out - and almost manhandled her out of the door! Once the rest of the event finished - the instigators of the "show" (no I wasn't involved) were hauled over the coals. Within a week the Bank announced that from this point onwards strippergrams and the like could no longer be on bank premises!

The night of the stag/hen combined party arrived, and I met the couple of guys from work and brought then to the house. After changing into slightly more appropriate clothes, we headed out to the Green Man. As I arrived Tim announced that the first pint was on him - and the 15 of so of us all took him up on it. We stayed there for a couple - although Brian, one of my football mates, was putting away two pints for every pint I did. I knew it was going to be a long night, and was not intending on getting too pissed, well at least until we got home. So off to pub 2 and a couple more pints drunk, then pub 3 and then finally pub 4. I had probably had about 8 pints at this point, and whilst not pissed I was feeling very merry. Brian however was paralytic and could barely move. Now he was a big lad - he was a body builder, so you would have expected him to be able to hold the beer, but I guess it didn't mix too well with the "drugs" he was probably taking for his bodybuilding. The final leg of the crawl (from the last pub to home) saw me manhandling Brian home, and then I put him to bed in our spare room - where he stayed all night, completely comatosed.

Anita and the hens went to the Victoria Bar for a few drinks but made their way home to Blenheim Road by 11 o'clock which was the agreed time - and then a few of the neighbours joined us and we were in party mode. For a few friends this was the first time they had been to the house - and we had a little bit of fun. Just around midnight I went upstairs grabbed a white sheet which we had previously prepared with a torch and a rope and hung it out of the bedroom window - and lowered it down to the living room window. There was a shout and a few screams before Anita let everyone in on the joke! All I would say is that I am happy we had an old brown carpet - if you get my gist.

We now had a week before the wedding and both of us were at work. Anita's last day was great for her - they really made a fuss of her - and when she returned home on the Thursday night, she was quite laden down. When I arrived at work on the Friday (Anita had taken the day off) I was advised that the other checker had gone sick, and I was the only one in. Work started off quite well until about 10:30 when we stopped, and I was presented with the card and presents. After a quick speech I got back to work, and then was called into the Manager's office. Well, when I say office it was basically an area with partitions rather than a room for him. I had only known John since he joined us at City when the managers changed, but he was a great guy. He had come across as really easy going and had requested extra staff on a few occasions only to be rebuffed, for which he apologised to the team. He opened his desk and told me that he had heard I enjoyed a good Scotch and proceeded to pour a pretty big shot, which he duplicated for himself. We chatted for a bit, and he apologised again that I was the only checker today, and that if he had his way, I wouldn't have been working at all after lunch. With that it became time for lunch and so off to the Square Rigger we all went. Ian, the original manager of the Rigger had now been replaced by Andy - and in fact he and his wife had been invited to the wedding (had to be done) and as I arrived there was greeted by all the staff and a pint - and some more pressies.

After a few pints (very difficult to refuse if the pint glass is shoved under your nose) we returned to the office. Over the years I had been checking payments the daily output from me was about 200 payments - and guess what, when I got back in the office I had almost that to check, with the last deliveries from the local "big" branches still to come. I do not know how I managed to check as many as I did - and when I returned to the office the week after my week's holiday and checked I had only made one error that could be attributed to me, and I had checked 340 payments!

Journey home and then a quick shower as I was back down the Green Man to DJ for the last time as a single man! Fortunately, I was not feeling too pissed - and managed the evening well - with a lot of people wishing me well, and a couple of ladies offering to help me that evening in preparation (like that was going to occur – ha ha) - and even Anita, Gill and Glenda turned up but only for a short while. I went back home after finishing with Dennis and Brian who were both staying the night and spending the morning with me.

I awoke quite early and pottered around until the guys woke. They decided that the condemned man should have a final meal - and they went out and returned with steak and all the trimmings which I had to cook! They wanted to make it a beer breakfast - but Anita had warned that if she could smell beer on my breath, she would not marry me, I let them have a beer - but I only had a coke. The wedding was due to start at 3pm so just after 2 we headed out to the church. The next hour shot by - and then Dennis and I walked into the Church, and he pointed out the exit at the side of the Church and said "last chance"…. I laughed and we waited for Anita. Ray walked her down the aisle and she looked stunning.

The service was good - although there was an amazing, and probably a unique piece to it. The organist obviously didn't want to be there too long and started the first hymn with a little quicker beat than anyone was expecting (All things bright and beautiful played at 125 miles per hour). Fortunately, Pop (who had a wonderful singing voice) decided to slow him down and his voice rose - almost drowning out the organ, until the organist was forced to slow it down. On the video when he starts the camera is pointing at Gill who is clearly seen saying "bloody hell!" as Pop starts to sing, as he can be heard over the music!! Funny thing is my Grandma (his mum) also has a good voice, but over the years it had been weakening, otherwise they really would have put the organist in his place.

Once the ceremony is over, Anita, Ray, Dennis, the vicar and I (plus Bernie on video and the photographer) head off into the Vicar's office to sign the forms, and when the photographer asks us to pose for some pictures suddenly the vicar decides he should be the star and tries to get in all the shots! Photobombing at it's best. We head back outside into the car park and get a few pictures but there is little or no "natural" surroundings, so the shots are quite bland. The church used to have lovely grounds – but they had recently been concreted over! The whole party then heads off to the local community hall where the reception is taking place, as it has some nice gardens around it, making for more colourful pictures.

The sun is still shining, and we get some great photographs, including a couple showing everyone who had come - and boy there was loads of people! Really wide shot ha ha. As I am gasping, and the pictures have been done we head into the hall and I grab my first beer as a married man! Now we had decided given parties we had thrown over the years (both us and Ray and Doreen!) that a free bar often causes issues with people only taking one mouthful and disgarding, or people going crazy and getting drunk quickly we made a fixed price of 50p for a pint or a wine or a short (which were hidden from normal view - primarily to stop some people getting too pissed). Couple of things to add - both my brother and sister had been invited (I was told I had to by Ray and Doreen although I had doubts). In the case of my sister, she had said that she could not come - and in my mind all ok - but my brother had made a big thing about cost of the clothing his three kids. Doreen made dresses for the girls, but she gave Geoff some money, which he used to buy some trousers, a shirt and a waistcoat. I found out a few years later that he had pocketed the money as Pat, Micheal's mum had already bought them for another wedding!

The first part of the evening is based around food, so everyone is ushered back into the room and requested to go and get some of the buffet. The food is exquisite - and once some is consumed it is time for the speeches. Now being a DJ speaking to 100 plus people is a normal event for me - but for both Ray and Dennis it was a little daunting. Ray does start the speeches - but his one is over quickly, and he sits down. I then begin and being relaxed words come out and we have gifts for those involved - flowers for Doreen and my Mum, as well as June and Sheila - which caught both unawares. The Bridesmaids get some jewellery and Dennis got his present too, and then I get to toast the bride (ooh I had too as she is so beautiful - i know creep!) and the bridesmaids!

Dennis then stands to make his speech - and as I look across at him, I can see his hands shaking as he holds his notes. Anita also notices and I try and calm him down a little. Once he finishes, we all begin the process of clearing the hall - cleaning up the tables and then making it easier for the DJ to begin. Just before he does, we get a visitor. One of Anita's oldest friends who cannot join us for the evening Melanie. Now Melanie and Anita had been very close before Anita and I got together - Mel being quite a few years older - but she was a force of nature.

Mel had quite a life before I knew her, she had been a gogo dancer, and in fact the first time I met her was in a pub where there were strippers and she was one of them. That day, just to make it very memorable, she walked over to where Anita and I were sitting (yes I had been set up again - I must be so gullible…… ) and vocalised that it was time for a scientific experiment, at which point she reached into her knickers (she was only wearing nix and a very small bra) and pulled a few hairs out - and spread them into my pint and stated loudly "yes pubes don't sink!" Now the dirty boy in me just went "bollocks" and necked the pint! Anita's face was a picture and Mel laughed like a hyena.

She turned up at the wedding on her motorbike on the way to a gig - but wanted to say "congrats" and also give us a pressie. As we went out to greet her as she wouldn't come in as not attired correctly (in her words) - the clouds got a bit heavier over us, and then it started to snow - in April no less! Before we had a chance to get the photographer (no mobile phones with cameras then) it stopped. What a picture that would have made. Just another great memory from a good day.

If you have been married, and had a big evening event, you will know that the evening goes so quickly and indeed it did. However, our plans to leave at 11 and retreat home (couldn't afford a honeymoon as mentioned), went out the window as Doreen, Ray, Sheila and Ted came up to us after our first dance (Paul Young - wherever i lay my hat - whihc was "our song") and gave us an envelope. It was for a night in a hotel in Epping for us, and Ted was going to drive us - I obviously couldn't drive and by that time Anita had had few wines. It was decided that we would go in our car with Ted driving, and he would transfer to the car Sheila was driving for the journey home! We were amazed and happy that we would have a proper first night.

Now - all this sounds good - until the following morning. No-one had given us anything for return home - so Anita had to wear her bridal dress down to reception. Whilst we were signing out the lovely receptionist offered Anita a hairbrush as she definitely had "bed-hair" (said with a Kenneth Williams type laugh). We returned home and changed and spent Sunday with Doreen and Ray. As we both had a week off - we decided to do a few things, and as neither of us had been to London Zoo for a while it became the first target. When we mentioned this to Brian and Glenda (who were actually a couple at this point), and had turned up at Doreens that evening) they decided to join us, as our Monday became planned. A great day was had, including getting a West End show in (regrettably I cannot remember which one).

Workwise I returned after the holiday and was informed that the branch would close within the month, and after that closure I was to go and join everyone else in the new branch - along with a few of the other staff. The funny thing about this is that I had not realised until that point that my job was at risk, and from what occurered to others it was really at risk!

At the end of June, after the last day on the Friday, I still had to go into the old branch on the following Monday, and with my manager Bob - John having moved on earlier in the month - we emptied the safe, everything in it was placed into a briefcase which was then attached to my arm by a chain! We then "kicked the cat out" and closed City branch for the last time. Grabbing a cab took a while with me standing on the roadside looking like a real target only thing missing was the big arow above my head. Can honestly say I was a little worried. Bob and I then travelled to the West End, whihc took a very long time but given the traffic and teh fact i wasnt paying the bill - pretty good, and we joined London International Services branch.

To begin with it appeared that they didn't know what to do with me - I thought I might be on dealers or Ops - but ended up on the admin desk. However, as part of that job, and because I was always in early, they decided that I should be a branch keyholder (not for the safe as I was in City but as in the front door keys). Also, I had to oversee the Remittance desk (returning back to my first job so to speak). Whilst it was a fun job - it was not too stretching and after a month or so, I was moved onto the Bills department.

Bills department was based by the window overlooking Oxford Street. Directly opposite we had John Lewis department store, and it was funny that a lot of people I hardly knew within the department started coming over to chat with me. A little background here in that we had blinds on our windows as did John Lewis, and they were the type that could be opened or closed. One day I turned around and got the shock of my life - as from where these people stood with our blinds opening downwards- they could look directly into the ladies' changing rooms with the blinds looking up meaning it was not obvious to those in it that anyone could see them. I did indeed get a real eyeful! For about two months this continued until one of the ladies in the branch with a work reason stood at my desk and looked downwards! Her face went bright red - and then she stated, "you bunch of pervs!" and stormed off. About an hour later there was a commotion over the road - and workmen were seen putting up some tinted coverings for the windows! Suddenly no one wanted to chat with me anymore at my desk - ha ha.

In September 1985 we arrange a party for our birthdays (Anita being the 6th and me – I'm the 12th) - and it was to be a toga party. Unknown to me - because no one had organised a stripper gram for the stag which Anita thought they would do - she arranged for one to arrive during the party. It was about 10 pm and I was feeling no pain having had a few beverages - and there was a knock on the door - and I was called to the front door. A lady in a leather outfit stood there - and as my chin hit the floor my hands were grabbed, and my hands tied. I was dragged into the main room - and the music changed.

Doreen and Ray had also arrived at some point - although not in fancy dress - and were looking on as the leather lady proceeded to remove her clothes. I was then bent over, and my pants pulled down and I had my bum hit by her whip! Now I am not sure what had been decided between her and Anita - but I can honestly say the whipping bloody hurt. After about 5 very loud "smacks" I was turned around and given a kiss on the cheek (on my face before anyone thinks a different cheek), and she grabs her clothes and disappears. Anita is absolutely pissing herself - as are Doreen and Ray. About an hour later Anita during a slow dance let her hands drop to my bum - at which point I screamed out in pain. She took me into the bathroom, and she grimaced as I dropped my pants, as it was covered in deep red welts! I slept on my front that night after the party ended!

Come October and both of us have holiday - and it is decided that we will drive down to Devon to see the "southern" part of her family. What I should say is that Doreen was one of 11 siblings, and some were still based in Devon where Doreen was born, and some had moved to Scotland. Anita knew the area well and as wanted to take me to a pub that she had frequented on the regular family holidays to Fowey in Cornwall, as they always stopped at her grandma's (who lived in Devon) on the way down. The pub is called the Highwayman Inn and is on the A303 the main route into Devon. We managed to arrive during lunchtime (if we hadn't it would have closed as all pubs did at 3pm at the time) and we were the only people in - so were chatting with the barmaid, who was about Anita's age.

We were generally just chatting and my birthday party and "leather lady" were mentioned. I had had the pictures developed, and Anita had them in her handbag along with photos of our life together to share with the family. When she showed the barmaid the photos - the barmaid looked shocked, and then moved away and shouted up the stairs for her mum. When mum came down, she showed her the picture of "leather lady" and both confirmed that they knew her - the barmaid having gone to school with her, and the last they had heard was that she had moved to London to be an actress! Lets just say it was weird rest of afternoon until we left the pub. The rest of the holiday was not as enlightening - but we did have a great time and I did meet a lot of the family that I had not met previously.

A fall out from that holiday was that the Scottish family was none too happy that we had not visited them - so that would be the next holiday we take. When we got back from Devon and I went to work at the Green Man, Tim advised me that the whole pub was going to be closed for refurbishments, and we only had about three weeks left. When it was to re-open, he gave me the impression that it would be as it had been - with me doing the Fridays, but there would no longer be Sunday lunchtimes. No worry I thought. The last few weeks were a complete blast the last night so good - totally packed and everyone just wanted to party. Come 12 O'clock and as I play the last record and say "Ciao" to the crowd they all give a great round of applause - and tell me that they can't wait until the next time we meet up.

The Green Man was shut for a couple of months - and then Tim contacted me and said that there had been some changes to plans - and that Mark who had been doing the Saturdays for a year or so, and Steve who had done my wedding and used to do Sundays would be taking over Fridays as a pair - and that I would be taking a break while they trialled it out. I was pretty angry - my crowd of five years being taken over by lesser DJs certainly hurt a lot - although I did find out that Mark had been working on Tim and Jackie for the whole closed period whereas I just left them to it.

The club side of the Green Man was renamed as The Cube, and I was invited to the opening night. We did go, and I can say that that I wasn't impressed with the new club. The stage had been removed - making the dance floor area larger - and the DJ area was where the kitchen had been. The dress code was more formal no jeans or trainers at all (they had been allowed during the week just not on Fridays and Saturdays). The atmosphere was also not what it had been - and the music was a lot more commercial. A lot of the crowd who recognised me asked why I wasn't working, and I told them that the management wanted a different vibe to what we had. I was somehat relieved when a few said that they felt that was out of order, and unles it changed they wouldn't be back! Over the next couple of months, I dropped in and the crowd was always small - in fact one Friday night coming home from work late I dropped in at 11 o'clock and there was only about 50 people in the club - with two hours until closing as they had managed to get an extension to the closing time – much to the annoyance of the locals.

A couple of months later I did get a call from Tim asking (ok almost begging) me to return but I had already decided that trying to rebuild what we had was too big a job so said no. I did hear through the grapevine that Mark and Steve had been sacked - but the club was never the same, in fact it was sold a few years later and reverted to being a pub with a club attached. Football wise I was still playing the games at the weekend and the Sunday night five a side team were doing OK. We had taken to having a pint or two after the games - and there were two barmaids who were always getting chatted up by the teams, and they always seemed a little aloof! Thing was Dennis fancied Linda who was a small blonde, and the other was Noreen who was a real fiery redhead! Dennis did manage to ask Linda out, and they became a couple, and so both Linda and Noreen became part of our wide circle of friends.
New Year's Eve and we are having a party - again fancy dress, which virtually everyone follows with the exception of a few. There was one incident with one couple who were travelling from South London, and they were dressed and very well made up in an horrific way. Nick had a few scars and fake blood on his face, but unfortunately had to stop for petrol. The cashier apparently thought he had been involved in a car crash! I decided to dress in drag - and actually think I made a perfect woman - ok perhaps not perfect lol!

The New Year started well, but like many newlyweds, finances etc were not going so great but not our love which seemed to increase every day. Money was tight, in fact some months in the days before payday it was beans on toast, or we invited ourselves to Doreen and Ray's. Brian, who was proving himself a bit of a lothario, having had relationships with both Glenda and Gill over the 9 months since our wedding, came up with an idea to assist us. He stated that if he moved in and paid rent we would be better off, and I guess being naïve we listened. He moved into the spare room and for the first month everything was good and indeed we were better off. However, during the second month things changed. Brian had changed jobs and was basically a door-to-door salesman, and when not selling spent his time down the gym. Thing was he was eating a lot to keep his bulk up, but rather than providing his own food he was eating all of ours. Come payday he was unable to give us any money, stating that his commission would come through in a couple of weeks. Well, the couple of weeks became a month, then two and still no cash. The final straw for us was when we came home early one day to find he had some company and they had used our bed not his. The company was Noreen - who he had taken to lunch and got ever so drunk and had his wicked way with. She was in the process of sobering up and was mortified as she knew that he was still going out with Gill. We told him to leave, and he did after an argument or two, but we never saw any of the money we were owed or promised. Just what we needed! He was ostracised from our group of friends and was no longer welcome anywhere where we were.

As mentioned earlier, the family in Scotland were making noises, and we decided that we would take a week off, and drive up to Scotland, Anita telling me she intended to drive all the way in one hit – which I was a bit worried over. We had a really early night to bed, and were up about 3am, and on the road after a biggish breakfast. I had the maps ready, and the route planned to hand, and we set off. The journey was pretty good, we did stop a couple of times though. There were a couple of silly events on our journey. At one point Anita finished her cigarette and lobbed it out the window, only for it to be blown back into the car, landing on the back seat. I don't think I have moved so fast, and I did to get it, without much damage occurring! Actually, no burn which was pretty amazing. The other one relates to the car – she is still driving the Ami 8 - with the hairdryer for an engine (ha ha – ok just seems like it), and on the journey there is a series of hills, one after another, each getting a little higher. It was during one of the upwards climbs that the car almost came to a standstill – in fact with her foot almost on the floor – the car was travelling about 5mph and was struggling. She suggested that perhaps I should get out and push, as it might be faster…… still once we hit the summit, the car whooshed down, so giving her some speed to assist in the next climb. I was a little worried - but I shouldn't have – as once through that section it was pretty much straight forward travelling.

I would also point out that Anita had never driven to Scotland before, but had been in the car a few times when Ray and Doreen had come, so I guess the journey must be in her mind – as just before 8pm we are in the town of Forres – and to me all the houses look the same, and she makes one final turn and then pulls up on a kerb and informs me we are here. As she opens her door, from Brian and Jean who we are staying with open their back door and greet us.

I had met Brian a couple of times when he visited Doreen and Ray, so I knew him, but none of the rest of the family. Alongside Brian and Jean were their three kids, Richard, Stuart and Christina, and all were very welcoming. Brian was amazed that Anita had found them so quickly but helped me empty the car. After a very quick supper and a couple of drinks, given the long day we are shown to the bedroom we would be using for the time we are here, and within minutes both of us crash. Christina, who is about 4, is very much taken with her cousin Anita, and they become almost inseparable. Anita had got into making felt toys – and she had brought a pink pig to do while here, and in fact when we leave it remains as one Christina's most prized animals!

Forres is a great town, the high road is about 1 mile long and has something like 14 pubs! We did try and visit each one, at least once – although drew the line going for the full set in one night! We had a fantastic time – and got to meet all the family over the space of the week. Far too quickly we made our return home, although Brian and Jean stated that they would like to see us again- but at home.

About six months later they did indeed come and visit us, although I think that Doreen was a little put out when they decided that they would stay with us, in our somewhat smaller house (well cramped with 4 adults and 3 kids oh and a certain stuffed pink piggy). Again, we had a blast and showed them a lot of the sights of London.
Another New Year and another party and again it is suggested I do the drag bit again - although this time I have some plastic boobs - so rather than like last year where I looked like a lady, this time I looked more like a lady it's a lot more like a parody. Also, there is one young lady from Anita's work who actually has real boobs the same size as my pretend ones - and she keeps coming over to me to compare - which to say the least is a little weird.

At the end of the year, I spent a month or so back on the admin desk and the strangest thing happened while I was there. One morning when I was one of only a few in - there was a ring on the customer reception doorbell, and when I went to the window, there were two gentlemen there, and one showed me his credentials and asked me who I was. After I told him my name - he asked if the Manager was in, to which I said no, but given that they were branch inspectors, I suggested that they come in and wait for him, in the staff room. When the manager arrived, I showed them into his office, and the door was shut. About an hour later, I was called back to the office, and once in they asked me about the process, we had set up for staff to cash cheques. The branch did not have cash facilities (it did at one point but given the closest "normal" branch was less than 200 yards away it was deemed surplus to requirements), but for all of the staff to go over to the branch (there was over 130 of at the time) could have delayed the "real" customers from being served.

The process that we devised was that if you wanted a cheque cashing, you would fill out the cheque, and on the back write down how you wanted the money (i.e. denomination of notes) and placed in a box on the admin desk. At 10:30 the chief admin clerk (me at this time) would fill in the cash advance form that the cashier would normally fill in, and I would check all the details (like date, signature, and breakdown etc) and then total up all the forms (only about 12 cheques per form). Once completed the forms were faxed over to Hanover Square branch, and about 11:30 one of the messengers would go over with the original forms and cheques, and collect the packet - containing all the cash, and the fax copies of the forms. I would then check the cash and sort it out ready for the rush, which would normally be just before lunch. Then each person who put a cheque in would come to the desk and collect their money. The inspectors listened to this and then thanked me - but told me not to mention any of this to anyone.

About an hour later one of the checkers on OPs was summoned into the office. When he came out, he was escorted by one of the inspectors, and he went over to his desk, and collected his belongings, emptying out his draw, and then into the staff room to get his coat. The whole branch was looking at him, and it was eerily quiet. He then with his shadow went out of the branch - and about 10 minutes later the inspector returned, and after a little while the two of them left the branch. At about 3 o'clock everyone was called into the staff room - and all the rumours that were starting to be bandied about were put to bed. The "naughty boy" had reported a cheque book as "stolen" about a year ago, and the Bank had paid out a few hundred pounds for checks that had been "fraudulently used". Apparently, the cheque he put into the box the day before, was one from the missing cheque book. When pressed he admitted the fraud and was dismissed on the spot! Thing is he was clever - so no idea why he made what basically was a schoolboy error – and why would you defraud your employers is a question that just can't be answered.

We had again begun to look for houses, as Anita wanted to be closer to her mum, and given the market at the time - our little house had almost doubled in price! We managed to find one close to Doreen and Ray's - and when I mean close, it was the next road in fact. We would need to increase the mortgage although not by a great deal - and we moved into the new house in Forest View Road. Although we have lost some good neighbours in Blenheim Road - we fortunately had some more - and some of which we become really close with. Chris who is an older lady and we really hit it off - she was a character and being an ex-teacher very knowledgeable. She was also a party animal, and we quickly got very used to either her popping in for a bevvy or two - or Anita dropping next door, when I wasn't around. Chris and Anita became very close - and she would be involved in our lives for a very long time! At the bottom of the garden we had the local railway line – which had about 8 trains an hour (peak time) literally 10 yards from the fence. The last train was about 1am with the first about 5am. When we first moved in I had about two weeks of disturbed sleep, due to the noise of the trains, but quickly I got used to it.

Workwise 1987 saw me start the year on Outward Payments, and to begin with I was on the queries section, which I found I really enjoyed. It also helped me understand what can happen when you get payments wrong. In April I moved back on to the checking team, but on a day where the dealers were short of staff, I worked there. Unfortunately, I booked a forward foreign exchange deal the wrong way round and made a loss of just over £200 when it got reversed. In those days small losses were just "written off" but unfortunately mine was not considered a small loss so a report had to be created and signed off by senior management. At the time the branch manager took a very dim view of this - and I was put on disciplinary on the lowest level, (called disciplinary one) which was a bit like a "slapped wrist". I could continue doing any of the jobs as required.

At the middle of the year when I returned after a short break, I was immediately escorted to the Manager's office and informed on the last day before I left, I had released a duplicated payment for US$ 50,000 which had gone to Nigeria, meaning that there was a chance that we would be unable to get the funds returned. He was livid with me, and I was immediately put on to disciplinary two, and informed that I would have to face a Tribunal but that would not be for a couple of weeks. He also advised that one of the outcomes of the Tribunal could be dismissal if the decision really went against me. In the meantime, I could not work on either the dealers or the OPs sections, so would be sent to the Documentary Credits Department where I would be taught how to open the DCs (easiest and least risky job there, as everything would be checked by a senior clerk). I was also informed that if I wanted, I could have a union representative join me for the Tribunal, if I was a member of the union (which I was at the time).

At lunchtime one of the query clerks from OPs sought me out and gave the lowdown on the duplicated payment (being a mate he wanted me to have the facts). Part of the job of the checkers is to batch up the released work, and figures agreed for the Sterling and the Currency equivalents. Once the batch was agreed all the payment forms were stamped with a big PAID stamp - which included the date. My payment had two separate PAID stamps, one being the day before I released "my" payment. I found it strange as that was one of the first things I normally checked - having found a couple of already made payments with the PAID stamp visible when I first started the checking - back in the day - but more of that later.

When I got home, I explained to Anita what had happened and the potential outcome as she was a little distraught to say the least. We were going through one of those patches where we had a series of rows - nothing violent I might add, but differences of opinion over the silliest of things, as we were in the process of moving. She asked me if that could be a factor as to why I might have made the mistake. At the time I didn't think it really had - but it made me think. She also suggested that I spoke with our friend Terry who was a union rep, which I did. He couldn't be the rep in the Tribunal - that had to be the one in the branch - but he told me what to expect, and also agreed with Anita on the "play the relationship problem card". The next day in the office I found the rep and he and I went through the details, and he told me that it did not look good, but he would assist in any way he could.

Come the day of the Tribunal I was worried, and as we entered the room were greeted by three senior managers - the manager of the branch, and one from another International Branch, and the big boss of the International Branches sitting behind the desk - and there were two chairs in front of them. My manager went through the details of the issue and mentioned the first issue too. He also at that time advised that the bank had got the money back, although some charges had been deducted from the amount sent. They asked if there was any mitigating reasons why I had made the mistake, so I said that I was having marital problems which might have caused the lack of concentration. They also asked about my career so far, and the big boss even commented that he knew my Dad, and they also had copies of all my reports in front of them. They asked me lots of questions - and I was asked to make a statement, that may assist them. I was sent out of the room with the rep - who told me that I had spoken well, but even given that the money had been returned - he had seen people dismissed for less! The next 30 minutes were like standing waiting for the executioner to drop his axe on my neck - and it was the worst ever feeling. I was called back into the room - but told to stand. I was advised that they had taken into consideration of my previously clear record, and that as the two incidents occurred close together that they could be attributed to the marital problems. They suggested that we go to marriage guidance to get to the bottom of them before we end up in a very dark place. They then dropped the bombshell - that I was not going to be fired - but I would remain on Disciplinary 2 for six months, and if during that time any further incidents occurred, they would have no option but to dismiss me. They also suggested that I be left on Documentary Credits for that period. They also stated that the record of these findings should remain on my file for no less than 2 years, at which point they should be destroyed. They also told me that they would record on my file, that they would suggest that any bonus due next year should be negated. They wished me the best - and instructed me to leave the office.

Walking down the office with everyone stopping and staring at me was quite a task - but I think most people realised my good news as although I wasn't smiling, I wasn't looking too down. When I sat at my desk and picked up my work and started to action it there was almost a communal exhale of breath. I picked up the phone and let Anita know the good news. She was almost ecstatic about it, and suggested we celebrate that night.

To add some more detail to this story later in the year when I was back on queries on OPs. I was working on a payment query from the same day of the original of my payment "cock-up" (i.e. the original payment). I noticed that the payment did not have a PAID stamp. Now the Sherlock Holmes part of my brain came into play - so I did some more research and found about 30 items on that day that were unstamped. I looked on the batch sheets for that day and all the payments that I found were in the same batch, along with one for US50,000! I then looked at the query file from the "cock-up" and the person who had done the batch was the same as the releaser of both of the payments, and then to really muddy the water he was also the original query clerk who had processed the query. That person had left the employ of the Bank a couple of months previous - but I raised my concerns with the section head. He was shocked to say the least, and after speaking with the Branch Manager it was decided that the records on my file about the payment should be removed, and the threat of no bonus revoked. One final piece was I saw him a few years later at a leaving do - and when I cornered him, he admitted having realised his mistake when he picked up the query and trying to cover his tracks so that he would not be in trouble. He did apologise to me and say that he didn't think it would be as bad as I had it. He thought that it wouldn't have got where it did, and when he did realise, he knew he would have been dismissed for hiding it! When I told him what I had found later i.e. the other payments etc - his chin hit the floor - and he said he was lucky that none of the other payments had got into the following day's work as it would have definitely pointed the finger at him.

On 16th October our journey to work was somewhat strange. There had been some predictions of bad storms, but the weather forecast we had watched in night previously had advised that whilst it would be bad - it would not be that bad - ooh to have the ability of hindsight! Firstly, we had woken to find that our alarm clock had not gone off and was just flashing "00:00" so overnight we had had a power cut. I checked my watch. and it was not so bad we were only about 10 minutes later than normal. Quick coffee - and we jumped in the car to get to Walthamstow Central tube station. As we drove to the station there were a few trees that were down - so the winds overnight had possibly been worse than they predicted. I would add that Walthamstow is on the Victoria Line - which is the only completely underground line on the London Underground network. So, park up the car as usual in the side streets (this was before all the road restrictions came in) and walked to the station - all of 500 yards. There was a train waiting as we got to the bottom of the escalators, jump on and Anita gets out at Kings Cross and I continue to Oxford Circus. When Anita went to change trains there were massive delays - so she decided to walk to work from Kings Cross - about 20 minutes in total.

I get to Hanover Square to find the branch all locked up (normally one of the messengers had beaten me in) but there was no one there - and it was all dark. Nor problem as I held a set of keys - so I opened up and went into the staff room - and put the kettle on. It was about 7:30 but by 8:00 I was still the only person in the branch. The phones were still on night service, so I went over and put it on normal, and within a minute there was a call. It was the branch manager asking me how I managed to get in - and how many others there were with me? When I said I wasn't sure what he meant he told me that the South of England had been hit by a hurricane overnight, and the transport network was at an almost standstill. Boy, was I surprised that I had managed to get into work. Within the next half an hour 6 others managed to get in - some lived close and one other by using the Victoria Line.

Fortunately, one was the telephone operator (who everyone referred to as Auntie Joan), who became very busy with all the calls from staff who were unable to get in. I was running the dealer's desk, until one of the "real" dealers came in, and then fortunately another of the safe keyholders got in. The branch's spare sets of safe keys were held in two other branches close by, and after confirming that their key holding members of staff were in, and we went and collected the safe keys. When I got back, before we could open the safe, Auntie Joan told me that Anita had been trying to get me. So, I rang her - and she said she had been told to go home, as they were an non-operational area. She had packed up and was waiting for my call before leaving and wanted to know if I can also come home, to which I said no as there was things that we could do, and some of the work was time critical. She told me to let her know when I was leaving, and she would come to the station, to which I countered I would ring her when I got to the station or rather the pub close to the station! She laughed and said f course. Her journey home was longer than normal - but she was home late morning.

We opened the safe and got out the passwords for OPs (which were printed the night before) and the code books, which were needed if we had to confirm the authenticity of something that one of our branches sent us. I was the most senior person that managed to get in the branch so had the pleasure of being "branch manager for the day". I gave out the couple of passwords for OPs (we only had two inputters and one checker (other than me) and prioritised the work that we needed to do. It was only a few payments, but then we started to get the normal day's work coming in, and it became obvious that we would struggle. Also the fax started and we were getting in other urgent payments with codewords (the authenticity piece above relates…. ) and I had no idea how to check the codewords. I tried to ring the "real" Branch Manager, but he did not pick up his phone. At the time there was an international branch in Bromley, and an old friend was the manager there - so I rang him. He told me they were fully staffed (everyone living close helps) so he helped me understand the logic behind the codewords (fortunately it wasn't anything like the enigma machine) so that I could prove the authenticity. He also said that any urgent stuff could be sent to them via fax - as we could authenticate with them now!

Come 2 o'clock we had permission to get everyone off home, and I was supping my pint at 4 when I rang Anita, who came to get me, from the Victoria Bar. What a day! On the Monday, I was called into the Manager's office, and he was so impressed with how I had stepped up and told me he would be suggesting that I be promoted, as I had shown a maturity that no one expected from me. He also would be putting me in for an award (which turned out to be a cheque for £75). All the residue from my "payment cock-up" were completely forgotten, and I was certainly on the up.

In early November we were away on holiday - we had seen adverts for a new type of UK holiday which had only opened this year - in Nottingham called Centre-Parcs. Anita and Linda (Denis' other half) had researched it - and along with Linda's mum and her son Chris we had decided to get a big villa for everyone. We were there from Monday to Friday - and it was an amazing time. The best thing about the holiday we all thought, was the rapids in the Swimming area - which actually started inside but went outside too. Not too bad I hear you say but that November was cold. In fact, during one dip the outdoor jacuzzi we had a snow flurry! The rapids were quite slow to begin with, but at one point they were very violent, so much so that Anita who was by far the best swimmer of us all hit the side quite hard and actually drew blood! The lifeguards were pretty hopeless, but the rapids themselves left us all breathless. They were so exhilarating even for me, and I am real coward when it comes to water. Funny thing is when we came back a year or so later, they had calmed the rapids down - and renamed them to a crazy river! Guess more blood was lost than just Anita's. Such a brilliant time was had by all!

The year ended with me back on Doc Credits mainly opening, but doing more, including some checking as my star was kind of on the rise. I had become quite close to Louise and Steve, who although working "relationships" were frowned upon, were living together. One funny thing to note here is that Louise had been on my cashiers' course a few years earlier, and she and I had got steaming drunk and ended up in club in the West End one night, which made for an interesting night bus journey home for us! Louise was normally on dealers or Doc Credits, and Steve was either on dealers or OPs like me. Most lunchtimes would find us either in the Lion and Key, or the Burlington Bertie, both of the pubs providing cheque cashing facilities, useful when close to payday!

It was quite a boozy time - and quite a few nights I was very late home. Anita did not seem to mind. It was also at this time that one of the managers took the longest lunchtime ever recorded (probably). He was on Dealers at the time and went out at 11:30 on one day - and returned to the office at 12:30 two days later! He was also found a couple of times asleep in the staff room when I got in, having spent the night at the branch as he had missed the last train home. He was also a keyholder, hence he could get in - but never seemed to get caught out. Later in the year he was given the option to assist in the new dealers" system that they were designing - and left the branch, going back to the main dealing room.

As the New Year progressed, I was moved from opening DCs to looking after the Cheques for Negotiation desk, which put me in contact with bigger customers. This was a step up for me and also a major shift in my knowledge base. It was an exceptionally manual process with a lot of confusing formulas to be taken into consideration. It will seem crazy now - but it was all done by hand, and without computers - well unless you class a calculator with a printout option as a computer! The last time I had been on admin they had sent me on a two day Lotus 123 course which at the time was the spreadsheet software that was used by the Bank, on a standalone PC. So, I "borrowed" the PC from Admin, and set up a basic spreadsheet to make it easier to do the negotiations. Everyone on the senior management team was impressed - and suddenly each of the areas had a request for their own spreadsheet or spreadsheets - and so for about three months that was what I was doing - building spreadsheets. This was where my love for programming started to begin. Whilst I had bought myself a computer for gaming it was only an Amstrad CPC 6128 not a "real" PC, but it come with some coding and spreadsheet software and suddenly the likes of Space Invaders, Pacman etc were pushed to the back as I began to build things for myself and start to think about how I could help the bank.

I was now one of the more "senior" clerks and was moving every couple of months, onto sections where often I was trying to automate some tasks, at the same time as doing the "real" work. There was a minor fall out on Doc Credits, where a few of the team thought that they should get promoted but the Bank decided that they weren't going to play ball. One Manager and a couple of the senior clerks (including Louise) decided to leave "en masse". Louise joined another bank who was based really close to us - so lunchtimes (and sometimes evenings) continued without much change. Many an evening Louise, Steve and I would stop and have a further drink at King Cross where our journeys parted. About six months after Louise left, Steve also decided he had enough, and joined the same bank as her - but that did not change our meeting up. Funny thing is within the year they had broken up – Steve moving out – and it meant that lunch was with one and after work with the other for a while, until they became friends again.

The house had a small lean too at the back, but it was in fairly poor repair, and after discussing with Ray, we decided to take it down, and build a proper extension (we didn't need planning permission at the time, as we were replacing something that already existed. Chris (neighbour one side) and John and his parents (neighbours other side) we both happy we were replacing what was a bit of an eyesore. It was decided that Ray and I would plan the build, and he would teach me any skills I needed to get the job done. I would take a week off work – and do most of the manual work – with him helping as much as he could. There would be three rounds of brickwork, then a wooden frame around which we would use shiplap on the outside and plaster board on the inside, with a clear plastic corrugated roof.

So on the first weekend we laid some cement, and built the small brick walls, and although I was very tired on the Sunday night I was looking forward to the week. Building the wooden framework was fun, cutting the noggins to all be the same size a bit daunting, especially as all I had was a hand saw- rather than an electric one. Anita was working during the week, and Ray was there as much as possible, so we got the three sides built really quickly. The comes the fun of putting the sides on. I have a big fear of heights – even climbing a ladder can make me feel dizzy at times, so you can imagine Anita's face, when she came home one night to find me sitting astride one of the wooden frames for the walls, hammering the piece I am sitting on which is about 8 feet off the ground! I was fortunate with the weather – in fact by the end of the week I had a pretty good tan! I was also quite confident over the building, which had gone exceptionally well. I had learnt a few skills, and built something with my own hands and I was very proud of my achievements, although I was helped quite a lot. (Funny thing is that almost 20 years later it was still there – although we weren't lol)

<<< images of the extension >>>

Anita's work, as they did every year, had their sports day and for once Anita wanted to take part, and as it was during a week off for us I agreed to go with her. The week before the event, she came and asked if I could help out a little. She knew that I had played 5-a-side football for a few years but wanted to know if I could referee it? I wasn't qualified - but felt that I as knew the rules etc it wouldn't be that difficult for me. I read up on the current rules and felt pretty confident. The event was being held at a sports complex in Ealing, and we left early and arrived in good time. Anita was involved in the netball and the relay obstacle races, and went and got changed, and I found the organisers and introduced myself and got ready for the footy - only to find out that it wouldn't start until after lunch. No problem - headed for the bar and bumped into Ian one of Anita's team who I had met a few times over the years. He was easy to chat with, was full of enthusiasm, and enjoyed the odd bevvy - and as he was there for the football, we grabbed a beer and chatted for a bit.

The main referee informed me of the rules they were using (not the current official ones that I read up on - but close enough) and so I stepped out for my first ever game as an official, which although fun made me realise just what referees go through every game. The moaning and groaning and the lack of respect for the man in the middle was quite eye opening. When one really bad tackle occurred, and I yellow carded the tackler it almost went off big time. He walked over to me and threatened to kick my head in if I didn't rescind the card. I immediately put my hand in my pocket and pulled out a red card and told him he had given me no option!

His teammates ran over and begin to harass me, and it all gets a bit nasty. Some of the spectators ran onto the pitch at the same time as some of his teammates pulled him back away from me, and towards the side-line. Some of the organisers came over - and very quickly the situation became more manageable. The game continued for the 2 minutes left - and the short-handed team ended up losing. Once I blew the whistle and walked towards the side-line, I could see the hothead looking at me with daggers. Ian ran over to where I was and walked beside me. I could hear the scathing comments over my game - and then one of the organisers approached the moaning team. It was pointed out that slide tackles were not allowed, and any contact between players could be the cause of a yellow card. The sent off guy stopped in his tracks and confirmed with him if this was in the rules that we were playing under.

Ian took me into the bar as I was shaking and quite worried and got me a beer. As I was enjoying the old amber nectar "Mr Sent-off" came into the bar and started walking towards me. Ian, who I might add is quite a bit taller and more muscular than me stepped in front of me. As he got close the guy held his hands up and stated very loudly, he was out of order and wanted to apologise, and called the barman over and bought me a pint! Originally, I had been asked to ref 3 games, but ended up with 5 games including one semi-final - and would have had the final too but Ian's team got there, and it was deemed I might be a little biased. It should be noted that they did actually win it without my help!

Ian and his girlfriend Kathy became regular visitors to home - often spending weekends with us, so that they could have some "time together" and we had a double bed in the spare room and that was utilised a lot, not just by them - but most weekends we had company.

Anita's work also did a yearly beano - and this year Brighton was the location. We all met at Victoria station - fortunately partners were allowed although some people preferred to go without, and all jumped on the train and headed down to the coast. The drinking started really early - and there was lots of pretty drunk people before we arrived! I happened to mention that I had lived here for a bit in the late 70s so was made tour guide for our little group. Yes, we did visit some of the places of interest - and a few of the pubs, I even took them into the pub where Kate and Dee had had some fun with me. It had been arranged that everyone would travel back together on a latish train - and the train itself was really old stock, with compartments that did not have access to any other part of the train. If you were in one on your own - or with a person you fancied you would be completely secure and "alone" for about 15 minutes until the next station. Well let's just say a few people who hadn't brought their other halves got together and had some fun on that train.

Two of our friends Andy (who Anita had known for a very long time) and Yvette were getting married – and because both had frequented the Green Man when I was there, wanted me to DJ at their wedding. I no longer had any equipment, but agreed, and we hired some from Early Riser Disco Supplies, who were based in Walthamstow Village. It was a lovely day, and I had a blast being behind the decks again. It was a weird feeling – but found it easy, and a good night was had by all

In late 1988 it was decided by the "international" hierarchy of the Bank that although only a few years previously it had amalgamated the two main London branches into one ("big is beautiful"), that there would be lots of smaller offices opened, with a rebranding of International Business Centre (IBC) - a sort of "small is smooth". London was to be covered by about 20 of these mini branches, and as each branch manager was identified, they could pick their teams. I was chosen to join Southwark IBC running the dealing and OPs sections. Bob was to be my manager and along with Val we would be the senior team. Val had been the foreign clerk at Southwark branch, but until such time as the branch was kitted out she would come to the West End and get acquainted with how the branch would run. She was a very likeable person and we got on like a house on fire - nothing to do with the fact that she enjoyed a drink (or 10) of course.

We were informed that Southwark IBC would open in April 1989 - and so our planning continued, and some of the branches had opened and the work that was allocated to them moved. Pop (my father) became part of Threadneedle St IBC - although he was still dealing with International Guarantees that had not been part of the work that we (as in international branches) had done previously. As London ISB was still working in the normal way, but we were also supplying assistance to some of the IBCs. For one day only I was in the same branch as my dad as due to sickness they didn't have a dealer. Although I had started work - I was sent back into the City and so had a great day there, and even though it wasn't a Thursday went for a drink with my dad. What I should add is even though I had moved to the West End back in 1985 - Thursday lunches with dad remained - although we met at the Princess Louise in Holborn which was about halfway between us.

I also had a couple of days at Great Portland St IBC where they had a "strange" system for their lunches. You had to find a "partner" within the team who do the job(s) you do - and vice versa - and then one would go to lunch at 11:30 returning at 12:30 when the second would go to lunch. When they returned the first went out again for their second lunch, and when they returned the second went. Let us just say that was a very strange couple of days….

In a move a bit similar to the Conservative Government of late 2022 the idea of IBCs was u-turned and immediately put on hold, and that was in March - one month before we were to move to Southwark. For about a month we were left in limbo and then they announced that London was to remain open as is, and all the IBCs that were already opened would remain open for at least a year. Bromley ISB would be closing, and their staff and work would come to London. Also, their manager would take over as overall Manager of the newly combined branch. We had about two weeks to prepare and then everything changed big time. Some of the Bromley staff, including the manager I might add, were not overly friendly although there were a couple who would become very close friends. Geoff would become my sidekick within payments for quite a few years to come!

We have a firework party – which is a lot of fun. As mentioned previously we have a railway at the bottom of the garden, and at one point I almost take out a train with a rocket – as the bottle used for launching slipped a bit – just as a train came through (I had not heard it over the music and was not expecting the bottle to move. From that point onwards – I stuck the bottle into the bucket with sand so that no more would fall over. The next rocket went straight up – and then down – right onto my head – and as my somewhat sparse hair starts to smoke – everyone breaks out in laughter including Anita, and had it not been for someone beside me chucking their pint over my head – I would have probably repeated the Michael Jackson Pepsi advert issue (although his was in the 90s lol). Also unbeknown to me – Anita had instructed some of the people at the party to rip down the fence between us and Chris – which truthfully was a mess – and add it to the bonfire – which because the wood was so old, dry and rotten made for a major blaze! I was a bit worried as the flames were at least 20 feet in the year – but there was nothing around to feed the fire anyhow – well apart from the next expanse of fence. We needed to clean up the garden – and this really helped, although I was not expecting to replace a whole 100 yard long fence just before Christmas!

Again, we have a New Year Eve's party – again fancy dress – and although not as manic as previous years it is still an enjoyable evening with friends. Ian manages about 5 costume changes and is definitely the star of the show, although Digby falling asleep with a balloon under his head – only for it to be popped by someone a little evil waking him up as his head hit the floor – and no it wasn't me!

It was at the beginning of 1989 that Anita and I began to discuss about having a baby. We both wanted kids, and as we were pretty settled now in Forest View, and both of us were making decent money, we could afford (to a certain extent) having a baby. So, it was decided that Anita would stop taking the pill, and we would see what happens. Anita as section head was actually making slightly more money than me - so we even discussed me leaving the bank and becoming the home body, but I could see that that idea did not sit well with her – so it was easily dismissed. It was decided however that Anita would leave her job, once the baby was born (after taking her maternity leave). A couple of months of trying, and then Anita broke the news that we were expecting, and that the baby was due mid-March 1990!

It was strange having more people back into the office, which had been slowly losing numbers - and it made the place better to work in. The "drinking" team changed a bit as did our location - the Golden Fleece being the new "main" West End drinking hole we used - as a lot of the younger team did not want to be seen in either of our normal pubs - as they were deemed too much for "real drinkers" and not for young and upwardly mobile people! I just went with the flow (of beer) ha ha.

Ian and I had become great friends, and although he was no longer with Cathy, he spent quite a lot of time with us. He was also a gooner like me, and it was one evening when we had a fantastic night, when Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield to win the league, with almost the last kick of the game, and that game was being shown live on TV. One heck of a bit of celebrating went on that night I can tell you ;-)

My work Christmas party was held at the King Cross Conservative club (the chairman of the social committee at the time was a member and got us a good deal) - and I didn't have to DJ - so got to enjoy myself. Thing was Geoff was also enjoying himself - probably a bit too much - and was feeling no pain as we left at 11pm. He didn't seem too able to get himself home in one piece - so I suggested that he came home with me and sleep in the spare room, which at the time was still the spare room and none of the baby's preparations had occurred at that time! I didn't think it would be a problem - but Anita was not happy when she woke in the morning and there was a strange man in the spare room. Fortunately, she cheered up quickly and I lent Geoff some clothes, and we headed off to work and got all the gossip that we had missed the night before (not that there was much ha ha).

I had major run in with the Manager of the branch when it came time for my annual reviews. Over the six months or so that he had been in charge there had been a couple of things which we did not see eye to eye on. At times I was expected to run the dealing desk and the Outward Payments sections, and he asked me to "remove" myself from OPs section to allow some of the juniors to step up. So, to see on my review that I was unapproachable to part of my team made me see red, especially as my overall rating went down. After we had discussed the report and he refused to amend it so, I for the only time in my working life, started a grievance procedure. I was called into his office and after some further debate, he agreed to amend my review slightly in my rating at least. My grievance was therefore nipped in the bud. For the next few months while we were awaiting any confirmation as what was to happen to the branch - he and I did not really talk.

One evening when I got home, I found a stranger with their head alongside Anita's, under the bonnet of the car. I was introduced to Russell who had gone to school with Anita, who happens to live down the road with his parents! It appears that Anita had a problem with the car and he was walking by, recognised her and they got chatting. It was pretty obvious that we had a similar sense of humour and began a long friendship. He immediately became like one of the family, and at times it was like having a younger brother who I got along with. From that evening onwards he would often drop in – and he was always welcome.

Out of the blue Anita got a phone call. Another couple of friends from the Green Man days, Carl and Anna, were getting married and wanted me to DJ at their wedding, and as we had had so much fun at Andy and Yvette's wedding, we said yes. Ian volunteered to assist, and then Russell dropped a bombshell on us. The manager of Early Riser where we had hired the equipment from for Andy and Yvette's wedding was almost his brother-in-law – well he was living with Russell's sister. So, we all jumped in the car and drove over to see Chris (manager) and he gave us a good deal on the equipment – in fact it was a heck of a lot cheaper. We ended up having another blast, and Carl and Anna were so happy with the evening. At the time I just thought this was another one off – oh how wrong could I be?

Just before year end – Yvette offered to decorate the Baby's room – well actually what I should say is that she was at that time the window dresser for Hamleys (the toy company in Regent Street) and she wanted to do a Disney frieze and perhaps some characters around the room. In preparation the room was painted white – to give a black canvas – so to speak, and she agreed to begin in the New Year.

So, 1989 comes to an end – there is no party this year, as I don't want to tax Anita too much, given she is now 6 months along – and we have a quiet night – well just a few friends round – to see in the new decade, with everything that will