LETTER: Memories of Derbyshire Times' old home

I have been sent some cuttings from a recent Derbyshire Times (January 16, 2016) regarding the old Station Road printing works of the paper. '¨I started work as an apprentice to the plate-making and machine printing departments on December 27, 1957, a couple of days after leaving school. I was there for more than three years and then, through an arrangement between John Edmunds, director, who was also an officer in the Territorial Army, and my father, I was released from my apprenticeship to join the Royal Signals.

Former Derbyshire Times offices which are due to be demolished

I would think that after I left, Eric Lowe probably replaced me, the timing is about right. I was lucky to make three months in fact. As the newcomer, I was an errand boy for the first three months and was threatened with the sack for, instead of posting someone’s wages on a Friday evening, I forgot and had them in my pocket throughout the weekend. The poor man was on a monotype course and stranded in London.

It happened more than once and I was hauled up in front of Mr Edmunds who gave me one more chance and put me straight into my apprenticeship. The wages were £2 10s 6d which was handed over unopened to my mother each Friday. I lived more than four miles from the works and mostly cycled, used the bus or was picked up on the way by a colleague. Being the centre of industrial England I often arrived home in the evening on my bike with a black face from the soot in the air and two white rings around my eyes - the sky constantly lit up from the old Staveley Works. I was given day-release to attend Chesterfield College of Art for my printing exams. It was a family firm in every meaning of the word - they were very caring owners.

Barry Stephenson

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