Starting to Work
During the late seventies, I and my siblings did various part-time jobs, particularly on Saturdays and during the school holidays. Inevitably, I have more detailed recollections for my case than for my siblings and that is reflected here. In some cases, we might also have done such work in the early seventies. However, only grandad was keeping a diary then and that is not something he recorded.
My First Paid Job
My first paid job was at The Scientific Anglian bookshop in St Benedict’s Street. I was already working there by February 1975 so assume I started working there in 1974. From memory, it was only possible to have a paid part-time job once you had reached 14. That seems to be the case now too. The bookshop was owned and run by Norman Peake. I think my dad knew him and he arranged for us to work there. I believe Tricia had worked there before me and Alan worked there afterwards.
Norman Berry Peake
There is an excellent biography/obituary of Norman Berry Peake in the Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association in which he is described as a chalk revolutionary. Born in 1921, in Southend-on-Sea, he became interested in geology at school. On leaving school, he worked as an assistant chemist for May and Baker and then for Cellon. In 1944, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemists. He left Cellon when it was taken over by an American company.
He was an active member of CND and the British Communist Party. Sadly, he developed dementia in later life. In 2003, he was admitted to a care home in Sidestrand and he died there, on 24 January 2010, aged 89. The biography/obituary includes some photos of Norman Peake and one photo of The Scientific Anglian albeit in a dilapidated state. I also came across, elsewhere, a great photo of Norman Peake leading a CND march along Castle Meadow.
The Scientific Anglian
The Scientific Anglian was a well-known and much-loved secondhand bookshop located at 30 & 30A St Benedict’s Street from 1967 to 2002. The name is now kept alive in a blog which aims to “bring you the grimiest residue scraped from film, art and popular culture.” The UEA’s “New Writing” website contains a quite detailed piece about the shop by Jeremy Noel-Tod. One of the most striking features of this shop are the green tiles which are still in place.
History of the Building
According to Jeremy Noel-Tod, the building was originally occupied by a greengrocer, Walker Stores. Apparently, the original building dated to the 1840s but this burned down in 1919. The current Art Deco building dates to the 1920s. The name Walker Stores is now on the tiles although that does not seem to be the case on photos of when The Scientific Anglian was there. Apparently, when the building was renovated, two Walker’s store signs were found. Since being a book shop, the store was wedding shop John Field Formal Hire and is now a hair salon, Leveridge’s.
Origins of the Name
Jeremy Noel-Tod explains the origin of the name which brought together two of Mr Peake’s chief interests, science and East Anglia. Mr Peake, originally from Essex, was a geologist and had worked as a chemical engineer. He was considered a renowned authority on Norfolk chalk.
Closed Due to Fire Risk
When the bookshop closed in 2002, Mr Peake was 81 and the risk of fire was considered too great! According to Jeremy Noel-Tod, the basement closed in 1974 because the ceiling was too low. I do not recall this and, as far as I can recall, the basement was in use all the time I worked there. Apparently, the upper floor was closed in 1985 because it lacked a fire exit. Finally, the ground floor was also closed because of lack of a rear exit.
Memories
In 2021, the EDP produced a piece remembering “the glorious book shops that used to grace Norwich”. This featured the Scientific Anglian among others. The Norwich Evening News had produced an earlier article, in 2008, documenting the shop’s transformation into wedding shop, John Field Formal Hire. Other online recollections include those by Chris Mullen, Stephen Fry, Joe Mason, Stephen Carver and Dawn Leeder. There are also a number of recollections of Norman Peake and The Scientific Anglian in the Norwich Remembers Facebook Group.
Not all reviews and recollections were positive though. Drif Field in “Drif’s Guide 1992-93 to the Secondhand Bookshops of the British Isles” stated, without explanation, that although The Scientific Anglian could be a pleasant dessert, it “has a taste like school tapioca“. While I imagine, there are those who liked school tapioca, I don’t think the simile is meant to be positive (!) although I am not entirely sure what it means! In the alphabetical index, it states that opening hours were Monday to Saturday 10-5.30 although it also says it was closed on Monday and Thursday mornings with later opening in winter. It is described as medium to large with stock focused on readers and collectors. The guide considered calibre and prices to be average but that the shop was not strong on condition.
Working There
I worked there from some time in 1974 until January 1977. I worked all day Saturdays and also picked up extra days during the school holidays. For example, in the Christmas holidays 1976, I worked 22, 23 and 24 December.
Getting to Work
Based on memory, I mainly walked to and from work. According to Google, it is just over a mile and would take 20-25 minutes to walk. The most direct way seems to involve using the subway from Pottergate to cross Grapes Hill. I do not recall using this route but I may have done. From memory, I either went along Dereham Road and then cut across or used the footbridge higher up Grapes Hill to get to Earlham or Unthank Roads.
However, based on diary entries, I sometimes got a lift from mum and also from dad when he was visiting. For example, on 13 March 1976, dad was going to drive me to work but his car broke down. We were unable to get back into the house as I had looked us out! I walked to work and was about half an hour late. On other occasions I did walk. For example, on 25 September 1976, I got soaked by a thunderstorm on the way to work.
Cats
My first diary entry regarding work was made on 6 March 1976. However, this does not relate to work itself but to Mr Peake’s cats who were known as Scott and Liddell.
From memory, they were some form of pedigree cat, possibly Burmese Blues or something similar. I don’t recall why they were called Liddell and Scott although I am sure it was explained to me! It seems that Henry George Liddell and Robert Scott were well-known for producing a Greek-English lexicon. I am not quite sure why you would name your cats after Greek lexicographers however well-known. But, I suppose it is something a bookseller might do, particularly one with the kind of eccentricities Mr Peake had!
Anyway, on this day, I noted that the cats were very ill. I thought Liddell would probably die but Scott might survive. A week later I noted that Liddell had had to be put down but Scott had pulled through. Mr Peake had got a young female kitten to keep him company. She was to be called Mary as in Mary, Queen of Scots. I don’t recall this female kitten or the reasons behind her name. Mr Peake may have told me that was her name and I just accepted it. Perhaps it was a play on Scott’s name. It is the kind of thing that Mr Peake would have found amusing I think.
Other Staff
The diaries, my diary in particular, refer to a number of other people who worked at the Scientific Anglian at the time I did. It seems I particularly noted when they weren’t there!
Vivien Gamble
My diary refers to Vivien working at The Scientific Anglian and I believe this was Vivien Gamble who I knew from Hewett and who is now Vivien Seymour. She has confirmed that it was likely to be her although she had forgotten about working there. I noted that she was not there on 13 March 1976 as she had gone to Wembley for a hockey international between England and Scotland. She was also not there the following week as she was playing netball.
Ross
I do recall Ross but not his surname. I believe he attended King Edward school. On 20 March 19756, I noted that only Mr Peake and Ross and I were in. Two months later, on 15 May 1976, Ross was not at work as he was ill although the following week Vivien expressed doubt about the genuineness of his illness. On 5 June 1976, he was not at work as he went to watch Essex against Hampshire in a cricket match in Chelmsford.
Later that month, on the 26th, he was not in as he had his A levels. This means he was probably two years older than me. In August 1976, I noted that Ross was awaiting his A level results. He wanted to study Law at Hull and needed BCC. By October 1976, he had left as presumably he had gone to university. However, he may have worked in some holidays after that, for example, on 22 December 1976.
Terry Tidd
I did recall Terry but not his surname. I am grateful to James Tidd for explaining on Facebook that his surname was Tidd and that Terry, who sadly died in 2013, had been his uncle. Terry was older than us and I believe was a friend of Mr Peake’s. I noted he was not at work on 20 March 1976 as he was working at May and Baker. On 23 October 1976, he was not there as he was working nights.
Sometimes, he was not in because of health problems including a suspected ulcer in June 1976. In December 1976, he wasn’t in as he had had an accident with his car. He was not injured but he was shaken up. In September 1976, I noted I had some kind of bet going on with him. He paid me 10p every time Norwich won or drew. I don’t know if I paid him when they lost!
Alan
On 17 July 1976, Vivien, Ross and Terry were all on holiday so Alan came in. While I do not recall this, I think this refers to my brother.
Andrew
The same day that Alan came in, a student called Andrew came in. I don’t have any more detail as to who he was.
Deborah Tidd
This referred to Terry’s daughter. I noted that it had not been decided whether she or Vivien would work afternoons.
Mrs Morse
Mrs Morse worked on 22 December 1976. I don’t know who she was.
John Webb
I am not sure who he was but he worked on 22 and 23 December 1976. I don’t think he and I got on! On the 23rd, I noted putting up with him again! I also noted that he was not working with us anymore.
Sharon Sage
Vivien and I both recall that another girl from our school, Sharon Sage, also worked there when we did. However, I don’t see any mention of her in my diary.
My Roles
I think my main role at the shop was to help and serve customers but I also sometimes had specific jobs such as replenishing or organising stock. On Wednesday 2 June 1976, I noted that I was on my own for much of the time and had to lock up as Mr Peake was attending a sale. Later that month, on the 26th, I noted that it was hot and I had worked hard carrying books up and down stairs. The following month, in July 1976, I spent my time on the 26th serving in the shop while Andrew and Mr Peake sorted out the music section. The following week, I helped Mr Peake move some book presses while Andrew finished the music section.
On 26 September 1976, I noted that work had been quite interesting as we were reshelving the fiction that Mr Peake had “lent to the film company”. I am not entirely sure what this was about. Perhaps Mr Peake had lent a film company some books to act as props. I am not sure. On 30 October 1976, we spent the whole day doing fiction. I noted that 6 November 1976 had been boring as there was no work to do because Mr Peake had been fixing a lock.
Disorganised Stock?
One thing that many people comment on in their recollections of The Scientific Anglian was the gigantic stock which appeared completely disorganised. Yet Mr Peake seemed to know what books he had and where they were.
While there may be some truth in this, and the degree of disorganisation may have got more over time, when I worked there, there was a fairly clear, albeit idiosyncratic, organisational system which meant that it was possible for staff who had worked there for a while also to find books when it might seem impossible to the novice browser! Nevertheless, Mr Peake did have an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of his stock aided, no doubt, by the fact that he priced each book individually himself.
So, yes there was a lot of stock, yes it appeared disorganised and yes Mr Peake was able to find books when others couldn’t. But he was aided by a unique organisational system devised by him and possibly only fully understood by him!
Lunch Breaks
I had a lunch break while working at The Scientific Anglian and, from memory, it was one hour. I recall sometimes buying mushy peas from the market and sometimes eating at Grosvenor Fish Bar.
Mushy Peas on Norwich Market
I am not exactly sure where I bought mushy peas on Norwich market but there was an independent mushy pea stall that operated from 1949 to 2022 being then taken over by Lucy’s Chips. I recall eating them with mint sauce.
Grosvenor Fish Bar
This fish and chip shop is located on the corner of Pottergate and Lower Goat Lane. It is still operating although it has been refurbished and indoor seating is now downstairs while I recall it being upstairs. On 3 April 1976, I noted having lunch there and doing crosswords.
Money for Lunch
Mum sometimes gave me money (30p) for lunch. Mum may have done this every day I was working but it seems a bit out of character to me. I would have expected her to say you are earning so buy your own lunch!
On one occasion, in September 1976, I noted that I owed her 30p so by skipping lunch I was able to pay her back.
A Short Lunch Break
On 20 November 1976, I noted having a short lunch break because Mr Peake wanted to go for a drink with Terry.
Not Particularly Busy
My recollection is that, despite many people now saying how much they loved the shop, it was not particularly busy. I am doubtful that it made much money and it may have been more of a labour of love on Mr Peake’s part.
Level of Business Varied
On reviewing the diaries, it does seem that the level of business varied. In general, it was busier on Saturdays and that presumably is why he had more staff on then. I think I probably preferred it when it was busy as, when it was not, I complained of feeling bored! However, when it was quiet, I was sometimes able to do other things. For example, on 23 June 1976, I spent time reading the paper and doing chemistry revision.
Mostly Diligent
Most of the time, I was extremely diligent in going to work and getting there on time.
Time Off for the FA Cup Final
However, if there was something particular I wanted to do I would ask for the time off. For example, on 1 May 1976, I did not go to work as I wanted to watch the FA Cup Final. Given that I only watched it on TV, it might seem odd that I took a day off for this but, in those days, this was about the only football shown live on TV. It was a big deal! The final was contested betweem Machester United and Southampton with Southampton surprisingly winning 1-0, see Chapter 123.
Time Off for No Reason!
On a few occasions, I did not go because I did not feel like it or was enjoying having nothing to do!
Overslept
On 30 October 1976, I overslept and had to hurry to get to work but I don’t think I was late.
Dissatisfied With Pay
While initially, I was happy to be working in a paid job, I gradually grew dissatisfied with the rate of pay not least because my friends were earning more working in other places. Undoubtedly, this is one of the main reasons why I ultimately left.
In September 1976, I noted buying two Beatles books for £2.40 and also noted that this was the amount I was paid for a day’s work. Of course, it did mean I could make my own financial decisions and could decide to buy things I wanted if I had enough.
That month, I specifically noted that I wanted to change my job to earn more money! I am not sure if Mr Peake was aware of these things but, at this point, he said that there would be a pay rise but he had not decided how much it would be. I hoped to be able to accept the pay rise presumably because I wanted to stay there if I could. From 18 September to 23 October 1976, I noted each week that I had been expecting a pay rise but that it had not come through. Finally, on 23 October, my pay was raised from £2.40 per day to £3.20 per day. As noted in the diary extract above, in December 1976, I was paid an extra one pound as a Christmas bonus.
A Good, if Eccentric, Boss
In general, I found Mr Peake to be a good, if eccentric, boss. On one occasion, towards the end of November 1976, I noted that I had been “infuriated” with him as I was cold but he kept saying how mild it was!
Stolen Books
I recall that Mr Peake was extremely vigilant regarding being offered stolen books for sale. He reported his suspicions to the police on multiple occasions. I recorded one such incident in July 1976 when the CID came because Mr Peake was suspicious of someone selling him books. Apparently, although the person had previous convictions, the police were not sure that the books had been acquired illegally.
My Recollections
Although I recalled working at The Scientific Anglian, I had forgotten much of the detail. It is fifty years ago! However, as I have read relevant entries in my diaries, and other people’s recollections, many memories have come back.
I recall the location on St Benedict’s, the green exterior and the interior crammed with stock. I believe there was a portable bookshelf with cheap paperbacks that we put outside in the morning and brought in at night. As others have noted, the property had three floors. My memory is that there were three floors, all open to the public, although Jeremy Noel-Tod noted that the basement closed as early as 1974. I am grateful to Joe Mason for reminding me of the volumes of Everyman publications which lined the stairs.
Warehouses
In discussions on Facebook, a number of contributors commented that not all Mr Peake’s stock was at the shop and that he had a warehouse somewhere else. Various locations were suggested including Old Palace Road and Cow Hill. Of course, he may have had more than one warehouse at one time and may have had different warehouses at different times. While I worked there, I recall going several times with him to a warehouse in a yard off Guildhall Hill close to the Guildhall and what was Tesco. Based on Google maps, I wonder if it was Labour In Vain Yard.
Above – looking out of Labour In Vain Yard in May 2025. I believe the storeroom that Mr Peake had was behind one of the doors to the left
Mr Peake Bought Books
In addition to selling books, Mr Peake also bought books. He would buy them from people who came into the shop and, as a far as I recall, this was always something he did himself. He would also go to places where books were being sold often in large quantities.
While he mostly bought secondhand books, he also bought new books when he could, particularly in sales. He especially liked Jarrolds sales because of the quality and range of books sold but particularly the prices. I remember him explaining to me that he put a 100% mark up on books. So, if he bought something for £1, he would sell it for £2. For new books, he wanted to sell them for half new price which meant he would pay a maximum of one quarter new price for them.
I also remember him explaining to me that Jarrolds often reduced books by that degree in their sales but other booksellers, such as W H Smith, rarely did. If he found new books at those sort of prices, he would buy as many copies as they had. He would then tend to keep them in store for a while so he was not offering them for sale immediately after they had been sold off by Jarrolds.
Encouraged to Buy and Sell Books
He encouraged me to buy books and sell to him and I did so on a few occasions. For example, in September 1976, I bought Romeo and Juliet notes from Oxfam for 5p and sold them to Mr Peake for 20p.
I Bought Books
I quite often bought books from the shop. So, there were times when I went home with no money despite working all day as I had spent all I earned on books! For example, in September 1976, I bought two Beatles’ books from Mr Peake for £2.40 which was my entire earnings for that day! The previous month, I had bought some Beatles’ music from Mr Peake. I also recall building up a collection of Zane Grey books. In June 1976, mum noted that I had got her Catherine Marshall’s book “A Man Called Peter” from “his” shop. Sadly, I don’t, as far as I know, have any books from the shop still in my possession.
Distinctive Price Marks
One thing a number of people recalled, including Chris Mullen, Stephen Fry and me (!), was the way Mr Peake noted the price on his books. Not for him sticky labels. Rather, he wrote the price in pencil inside a square box. For a hardback, this would be inside the book, perhaps on the title page but, for paperbacks, he wrote it on the cover. Some people were convinced it was biro but, while I can acknowedge that it sometimes looks like biro, I only ever saw Mr Peake use a pencil.
However, I am not sure it made much difference as he did not write gently in a way that could be later rubbed out. No, he etched it into the book, presumably so he could recognise if he was being sold back a book he had previously sold. It also helped his staff because secondhand books often have multiple prices on them. We knew that the only valid price was one written in this way.
I am grateful to Vivien Seymour for sharing a photo of her book “The Unknown Ajax” by Georgette Heyer which still bears the distinctive Scientific Anglian price of 30p.
Discounts
Also, as an aside, as far as I recall, the price was the price. I don’t recall ever being asked for discounts and I definitely don’t remember offering one. We may have got a discount as staff but I don’t recall.
Baffled by the Name
I also recall that people were, and possibly still are, baffled by the name and I am sure this amused Mr Peake! There are those who expected that the shop would have only sold books about science and East Anglia. Clearly it didn’t and it would have been a rather odd combination if it had. Nevertheless, the name well reflected two of Mr Peake’s main interests and the term The Scientific Anglian could have been applied as much to him as to a shop!
Perhaps the most amusing misconceptions were when someone expected only to find books about fishing, Scientific Angling, or Christianity, The Scientific Anglican. The latter misconception probably amused and irritated Mr Peake in equal measure. While he did stock religious books, I think he did this somewhat reluctantly. I think Stephen Fry was quite right when he said that Mr Peake was seeking to create a secular, humanist haven.
While “Drif’s Guide” mostly gets the name right, for example, in the main entry for Norwich, it does refer to it as the Scientific Anglican in its alphabetic list.
Strong Opinions
I recall Mr Peake being a man of strong opinions and there were many things he could not abide although I do not recall them all currently.
Book Breakers
I do remember that Mr Peake did not like people who broke up old books in order to sell the prints individually. I suspect he was fighting a losing battle here as such books could sell for much more if broken up and sold as individual prints than if they were maintained as a book. Nevertheless, he did fight this battle. He did not put such books on display and would only sell to people that he was confident would not break them up.
Drif Field refers to such people as “libricides“, i.e. book killers! He notes that such establishments often call themselves specialists in natural history or travel “because they are too ashamed to admit to what they actually do“. Somewhat surprisingly, he says he does not object to what they do but to the fact that they call themselves booksellers.
Decline of St Benedict’s
He was also very concerned about the decline of St Benedict’s as a shopping street and blamed restrictions on traffic flow among other things. I am not sure what he would have made of the strret’s apparent resurgence as part of “the Norwich lanes” branding. Mixed feelings I expect!
Politics
I got on well with Mr Peake albeit in an employee/employer relationship. As others have noted, he was active in CND and the British Communist Party but I do not recall him particularly pushing those views. I was not aware, for example, that he had left his job with Cellon because of concerns when it was taken over by an American owner. I think I recall, however, that he was very encouraging when I started engaging with the Anti-Nazi League. However, the dates might not be right as it was only formed in 1977 and I left The Scientific Anglian in January of that year. I wonder if I had any contact with him after I had left.
Planning to Leave
As early as September 1976, I was thinking of leaving “The Scientific Anglian”. The main reason was money. I thought I could earn more elsewhere. That month, I noted that I needed to see mum about what I called the “proceedings” of getting a summer job. However, on Christmas Eve 1976, dad told me that I had virtually got a summer job in Birmingham if I wanted it. I am not sure when this was for but, although I did not take up this offer the next year, I did in 1978, see Chapter 114. However, I thought I might also apply for jobs locally.
Interview at Sainsbury’s
On 14 January 1977, mum phoned Sainsbury’s and arranged for me to have an interview a week later, the following Friday (21st). The following day, I went to work at The Scientific Anglian but did not say anything about it. I did tell my friends Gary Wood and Everard Mascarenhas, who both worked at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square, and they were convinced I would get the job.
Sainsbury’s in Norwich
At that time, there were two Sainsbury’s in Norwich. There was one on St Stephen’s and one in Anglia Square. A number of my friends already worked at the one in Anglia Square including Everard Mascarenhas and Gary Wood. It is that Sainsbury where I ultimately worked.
Careers Advice for a Summer Job
That same week, I did speak to the Head of Careers at Hewett, Mr Williment, about finding a summer job. However, I did not note any outcome from that meeting and am not sure it was particularly helpful.
Unsuccessful at Interview
On 21 January 1977, I had the interview at Sainsbury’s but there had been a mistake and there was no vacancy. I was irritated. Mum noted that I had been told they were not taking on any more students.
I Still Left The Scientific Anglian
Regardless of the outcome of the interview at Sainsbury’s I decided to leave my job at The Scientific Anglian. While the major factor in my decision was related to money, I wonder if that was the whole reason as, if it was, I would have presumably kept my job until I found another. Perhaps I thought I could look more effectively for a job if I wasn’t working every Saturday. Also, it is possible that there were some things I was unhappy with about the work but, if that was the case, I did not write in my diary what they were.
Applying for Summer Jobs
In the evening of 21 January 1977, I wrote letters applying for summer jobs. Apparently, mum phoned lots of shops on my behalf as I had asked her to.
I Told Mr Peake I Was Leaving
The next day, which was Saturday 22 January 1977, I told Mr Peake I was leaving.
Alan Was to Take My Place
It was agreed that my brother Alan would take my job over as I had when Tricia left. However, I do not remember this at all! Alan was to go and see Mr Peake at 4.30pm the next Tuesday.
Job Hunting
In the days that followed, I continued to job hunt.
Key Markets
On 27 January 1977, I rang Key Markets about a possible job but they had no vacancies. Key Markets was a UK supermarket chain established by Fitch Lovell. It later became part of Somerfield. According to Kelly’s Directories and Tradefinders, Key Markets Ltd occupied 67-73 St Stephen’s Street from at least 1967 to 1972. These are the shops near the roundabout opposite what was the Coop where Iceland is currently located.
Rejections
I also got rejections from the summer jobs I had applied to.
Possible Opening at Sainsbury’s at Anglia Square
At the end of February 1977, Simon Hook, who I knew from Hewett, see Chapter 118, and who worked at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square, told me that Dominic Kersey, who also went to Hewett had left his post at Sainsbury’s. I phoned but they said they had already filled the post. They told me to phone back on Tuesday as the personnel officer would be back then.
Interview at Sainsbury’s in St Stephen’s
Oddly, when I got back from school, I found a letter from Sainsbury’s asking me to go for an interview for a summer job. I think this was Sainsbury’s in St Stephen’s. The two branches had separate personnel officers and this created some issues for me later on!
Interview at Halfords
I also had an interview for a Saturday job at Halfords.
Offered Summer Job at Sainsbury’s in St Stephen’s
On 1 March 1977, I went to Sainsbury’s in St Stephen’s for an interview for a summer job and was offered the job. It was for a forty hour week on Tuesday to Saturday from 8.30am until 5.40pm with an hour for lunch, except on one day when it would be 12.30 to 8.30pm. I noted that I would be paid at least £27 per week as that was the current rate but it was likely to go up.
Interview at Halford’s
Four days later, I went for an interview at Halfords for a Saturday job and they said they would let me know.
Interview and Job Offer at Sainsbury’s in Amglia Square
The next month, in April 1977, I went for an interview at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square and noted that I’d got a job for Friday nights and Saturdays there starting a week on Friday. On 16 April 1977, I noted that that was my last free Saturday before starting at Sainsbury’s.
Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square
Starting at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square
I started working at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square on Friday 22 April 1977. My school friend, Gary Wood, showed me what to do and I copied him! The next day, I worked on the till as everyone had to learn how to use them. From memory, we were sometimes called to the tills if it was very busy or to cover breaks. However, this was a time when roles were largely divided by gender with girls expected to staff the tills and boys expected to stack the shelves! I liked the times when I was expected to work the tills probably because it was a break from stacking shelves!
The following week, one of the managers, Mr Blyth, checked what Gary had taught me. I thought he seemed impressed. Then I watched two films before starting work and was given a trolley of my own! I don’t know what the films were about but I assume they were some kind of training video.
I did have a formal induction session with the personnel officer, Mrs Jones. This took about 90 minutes. However, I only had it on 10 June after I had already been working there for around six weeks!
Getting to Work
Mum noted in her diary that, on my first day, she dropped me at work. She also noted taking me on 11 February 1978. After that, I mostly walked to work, at least until I got a motorbike. Although I recall going to work on my motorbike, this is not captured in my diaries probably because my diaries stop relatively soon after I got my motorbike. On 4 November 1977, Edward Cross, who also worked at Sainsbury’s, gave me a lift to work, presumably on his motorbike.
I often walked with my friend Everard Mascarenhas who also worked there. Sometimes, we walked with Sarah Humphries who we knew from school and who worked nearby at Hunter’s Squash Club. On 20 May 1977, Everard, Sarah and I also walked with Robert Bonwell who was starting at Sainsbury’s. We got there early so she showed us around the squash club. It was in Edward Street near Anglia Square and it may now be a pay and display car park.
I think Everard and I had different approaches to walking to work. He liked to get there early so he could spend some time in the canteen. Perhaps surprisingly, as I now have a reputation for getting everywhere early (!), I liked to take my time, wandering through the city and just getting there in time. Unsurprisingly, this caused some tensions and I complained to my diary that, despite walking at the same pace as me, he always walked a yard or two in front. I confess I don’t follow my logic here. Everard seems to have wanted to walk more quickly while I wanted to go more slowly. That is hardly the same pace! Nevertheless, we still, more often than not, walked to work together.
Others at Sainsbury’s
There were quite a few boys from my year at Hewett, see Chapter 118, who worked at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square. They included close friends, such as Everard Mascarenhas and Gary Wood and others who I knew to a greater or lesser extent including Andrew Smith, Edward Cross, Robert Bonwell, Kevin Piper and Paul Davidson. Richard Mayhew was also at Hewett but in the year below me, I believe.
Based on recent communication on Facebook, I understand that Edward Percival, who was in my year at Hewett, also worked at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square at this time. While I do not recall this, it is possible that some entries relating to Edward refer to him rather than Edward Cross. However, this is not very likely as I was closer to Edward Cross not least because of a shared interest in motorbikes!
At the end of April 1977, I referenced that there were only two boys working at Sainsbury’s who did not go to Hewett. One I referred to by surname only as Wickham. I wonder if the other was Andrew DeCreyn. He worked at Sainsbury’s and I don’t think he went to Hewett.
Occasionally, if one of my friends who worked at Sainsbury’s had a day off, they would pop in to see what was happening. For example, Gary Wood did this in May 1977. He had just had his hair cut and was on his way to swimming.
Some Boys Left
Some of the boys left during the time I worked at Sainsbury’s.
Gary Wood
Most notably, in June 1977, Gary Wood left as he was going to France in a week. I think this is when he and others went to work at Le Paradis for the summer, see Chapter 118.
Wickham
Quite soon after I started, at the end of April 1977, it seems that Wickham left creating a vacancy for Robert (Bob) Bonwell to fill. I noted that, just before lunch, he got into trouble for making a mess of the baked beans. Gary Wood witnessed what happened and thought that Mr Blyth was going to hit him! Apparently, he didn’t but he had to go and see the manager Mr Jenkins. As he didn’t come back in the afternoon, I assumed he had left or been fired.
Richard Mayhew
In August 1977, Richard Mayhew resigned. He thought he was being unfairly treated as he had been tasked to restock the sugar three times. I noted mixed feelings about this. I thought it was a lot to be asked to restock the sugar so many times but I also thought that Richard had not been the hardest worker.
Jobs and Tasks
The main job I, and the other Saturday boys, were expected to do was to restock the shelves. I recall that this required putting new stock at the back and ensuring stock was pulled forward and was neatly presented.
Operating a Till
As mentioned above, all of us were expected to be able to operate a till if we were called on to do so. However, from memory, that happened fairly rarely as it was expected that girls would staff the tills and boys would stack the shelves.
It did happen sometimes though, e.g. on 16 July 1977. In addition, presumably when the checkouts were quiet, the girls were expected to stack shelves. This happened, for example, on 30 July 1977. I noted that I liked this because it meant there was someone interesting to talk to!
Special Jobs
There were some more responsible jobs, which were done regularly by the same boys, usually those who had been there relatively longer. I am sure such jobs were seen as “cushy” compared to stacking shelves! I recall that Andrew Smith, known as “Eggy” worked in the meat department. When he was not there, Everard Mascarenhas took his place. Kevin Piper was tasked with making price changes, such as when items were put on sale. I sometimes helped him with this and was responsible for this when he was not there.
The first time I noted helping him was 16 July 1977. It seems it was quite a time-consuming job taking most of the day on occasions. On some occasions, we struggled to get it finished by the end of the day and, on at least one occasion, we stayed late to finish.
The first time I noted doing the price changes when Kevin was not there was on 3 and 10 September 1977 with Everard Mascarenhas to help me. However, although we were friends, I found him difficult to work with noting “although he made mistakes you can’t make him listen”.
The Sugar
There were some jobs that were particularly unpopular and restocking the sugar was one of the worst, presumably because it was relatively heavy work and also because customers would take sugar from where we had just stacked it! I have often thought that schools would be easier to run without pupils and hopitals without patients! It would have definitely been easier to work in a supermarket without customers!!! I was given this job, along with Gary Wood, in my second week.
Collecting Trollies
Another job that was probably considered relatively menial was collecting up trollies from outside including from within the multistorey car park. I think this job was sometimes allocated by managers as punishment as I was first given it on 4 June 1977, my birthday (!), after I had been in trouble the previous day.
However, I liked this particular job and noted that it was “dead cushy”. I suspect this was largely because it took me out of the shop away from the managers’ beady stare! I think Richard Mayhew might have done this job on a regular basis as, in July 1977, when he was on holiday, I got this job to do. As mentioned I liked this and, on this occasion, noted that it meant I was able to watch tennis. I don’t know how I managed this. The only thing I can think is there must have been a TV shop with sets in the window. The men’s final from Wimbledon was on in which Bjorn Borg beat Jimmy Connors in five sets, see Chapter 123.
I also did this job on 18 July 1977 with Andrew De Creyn and noted that I had spent most of that day “on the door”. I am not sure what that involved, possibly welcoming and helping shoppers and/or supporting security.
Cakes
On 11 June 1977, I was given a specific responsibility which was “counting all the cakes so that they can be ordered”. I recall this job and where it was carried out within the shop. I sometimes referred to it as doing the “cake book“. From memory, not only did I have to count the cakes but I had to discard any that were past their expiry date and reduce any that were close to expiring. Needless to say, I was meant to ensure that the stock was neat and pulled to the front with stock furthest from its expiry date at the back. It was definitely easy work compared to stacking shelves!
Stocktaking
Periodically, Sainsbury’s carried out a stocktaking exercise where we had to count every item of stock. From a practical point of view, it meant we started and finshed later. The first time it happened, the week after I started, I noted that Everard found it interesting but I thought it was boring! It may have been a quarterly exercise as I noted we did it again in July and early November 1977.
Money
The main reason I left The Scientific Anglian to work elsewhere was money! I am not sure exactly how much I earned at Sainsbury’s but it was much more than the £3.20 per day I was getting previously. The rate of pay was higher but I was also working more hours per week as I also worked Friday nights after school.
A week after starting, I noted that I was paid £8.00 and this meant they owed me 74p which would take two weeks to come. I am not sure why. However, the next week I only got paid £7.50. Again, I am not sure why.
I noted in August 1977 that there was a mix-up over our pay but we did eventually get what we were due.
Overtime
There were opportunities to do overtime, e.g. in school holidays, and I often took these. For example, on Wednesday 8 June 1977, I did overtime all day. I was the only Saturday boy in until 3pm when Paul Davidson came in. Most of the rest came in at 6pm as I was leaving. I did overtime the next day and most of the Saturday boys were in although Edward Cross was only there in the morning and Andrew Smith in the afternoon. I did quite a lot of overtime in the 1977 summer holidays, in late July and early August.
Mostly Diligent (2)
According to my diary and my memory, as I had been when working at The Scientific Anglian, I was diligent in terms of going to work and arriving on time, There was one notable exception, in July 1977, when I phoned in sick in order to go to see The Jam in concert at West Runton Pavilion, see Chapter 122! I did go to work the next day.
Different Environment
It was quite different working at Sainsbury’s compared to The Scientific Anglian. It was much bigger and there were many more staff. There were staff facilities including a subsidised canteen. However, perhaps the biggest difference was that there were more managers and their approach to management was light years away from Mr Peake’s kindly eccentricities! The managers I recall were the overall manager Mr Jenkins and an assistant manager Mr B A Blyth. They terrorised us with a management approach that was akin to how I imagine a Sergeant Major would treat new recruits!
Managerial Run-ins
I had a number of run-ins with Mr Blyth and Mr Jenkins who both truly terrifed me!
Dirty Apron/Overall
On 3 June 1977, some six weeks after starting work at Sainsbury’s, I got into trouble for two things. The first was that my apron/overall was said to be dirty. I noted that mum kindly agreed to wash it overnight, while I went out to a party (!), and the following day it passed Mr Jenkins’ scrutiny.
Not Telling Them Earlier About the Summer Job at Sainsbury’s in St Stephen’s
The second issue was that they were annoyed because I had not told them earlier about the offer of a summer job at Sainsbury’s in St Stephen’s. I am still not sure why I got into trouble over that! As far as I was concerned, they were the same company so I would have assumed that one knew about the other! However, they clearly didn’t presumably because they both had their own personnel office. I am not sure how this issue was resolved but I assume I declined the offer from St Stephen’s as I continued to work at Anglia Square including doing overtime over the summer.
Rusty Cans
Two months’ later, I was again in trouble with Mr Jenkins as I had thrown out a lot of rusty cans. I felt I was treated unfairly as I did so because I was told to do so by Andrew Wright, a junior manager. However, as far as I know, he did not stand up for me or acknowledge his role. Instead, the full blame was placed on me!
Price Cuts
The next month, in September 1977, I was in trouble again! While my diary did not give any details, it was after I had done the price changes when Kevin Piper was away. I recall being told that I had made multiple mistakes and it had taken a lot of time to put right. However, no-one showed me what were the mistakes I had made or how I could have avoided them. As a result, I wasn’t, and am still not, fully convinced that there were any mistakes! From memory, I don’t think I was asked to do the price changes again but my diary shows I did help Kevin Piper with them and, on at least one occasion, stayed late to do so.
Negative Impact of Managerial Approach
However, this isue and the way the managers treated us, meant that, within five months of starting at Sainsbury’s, I already hated it. I noted that I wanted to jack it all in but that I could not afford to do so.
Not Working Hard Enough and Upside-down Items
In October 1977, I was in trouble yet again, both for not working hard enough and for putting in items upside down. On this occasion, I noted I would leave if I could find another job! However, I noted that things were better the next day and there were some amusing aspects.
Broken Bottles
One of the most memorable incidents from my time at Sainsbury’s occurred in May 1977. According to my diary, it was Friday 13, and I dropped two cases of drink. In my own memory, I managed to turn over a whole plinth of spirits. Whichever, it was, it was fairly dramatic and I recall the shop smelling of alcohol for sometime afterwards! Perhaps oddly, I did not seem to particularly get into trouble for this!
A Strike
On 11 June 1977, I noted that we were not very busy as the depot was on strike, see Chapter 129. Interestingly, this was reported in the Sainsbury Journal. It was reported as an unofficial strike at depots affecting distribution from Buntingford, Basingstoke and Hoddesdon. The dispute was about pay with the journal presenting the company line that pay increases had been agreed and further increases could not be negotiated outside of that agreement.
A Rude Member of Staff
Another incident occurred on 9 July 1977 when “an old lady” reported that one of the Saturday boys had been rude to her. However, she was not able to identify who it had been as she was quite shortsighted. I don’t think it was me as I noted that “whoever it was got away with it”.
Locker Keys
One amusing incident happened in October 1977. At tea break, the personnel officer issued several of us with locker keys but, when we went to find the lockers, we found they had no doors! We were then presented with doors which we had to fit to the lockers!
A Non-existent Power Cut
Sometimes, I felt I missed out on interesting incidents. In November 1977, I noted that we spent a lot of time preparing for a power cut but it never came!
Two Stolen Bottles of Gin
I also missed our security officer arresting someone for stealing two bottles of gin!
Finishing at Sainsbury’s
My diaries ended in November 1978 and there was much less about my job at Sainsbury’s after that as mum tended not to write about it in her diary. She did note that I finished working at Sainsbury’s on 13 June 1978. I had been there for just over a year.
The Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square Closed
As noted above, Sainsbury’s at Anglia Square closed in 1989, when the big new Sainsbury’s opened in Queen’s Road.
A Note on Anglia Square
Since then, and possibly before, Anglia Square has become very rundown and is due for demolition. It was opened in 1970 and had been built in the brutalist style. The large steel and glass structure in the centre was a later addition. I don’t think it was there when I worked at Sainsbury’s.
Between School and University
I left Sainsbury’s in June 1978 which was also when I finished school, see Chapter 118, and then had a final holiday before heading to university, see Chapter 120.
Working in Birmingham
In that holiday, in addition to travelling in Europe, see Chapter 122, I worked in Birmingham, see Chapter 114. Dad had previously suggested I could work in Birmingham in the school holidays. On Christmas Eve 1976, he told me that I was virtually guaranteed a summer job in Birmingham if I wanted it. I noted that I might also apply for some around Norwich. I am not sure when this was for but, although I did not take up this offer the next year, I did in 1978.
From Memory
Mum does not mention me working in Birmingham in her diary and I do not have my diary for that period. So, everything I have put together here is from memory.
Norwich Union
I worked during the day at the Norwich Union offices in Lombard House, Great Charles Street. Aviva still have a base here although it is not the kind of branch office it was when dad worked there. I worked on the Fire Insurance side which was technically a separate company from Norwich Union Life Assurance where dad worked. My job consisted of dealing with “lost” post, that is linking post that had come in with the relevant file. Usually, if it came to me, the relevant file was not where it should have been! To be honest, I don’t recall much about it. I did not work there long perhaps a month or so.
Evening Pub Work
In the evening, I worked in a pub. I am trying to remember which pub it was. I don’t think it was the Beaufort which I believe was dad’s local. However, I think it might have been the Garden Gate which Is a little further away and is now called the New Garden Gate and seems to be an Indian Restaurant.
I also don’t remember that much about working there. However, I do recall having to prove my age as there was some scepticism about my claims to be 18, which I was! I also recall having to suspend my judgment about how drinks should be poured as customers liked a large head on their beer which I personally hated! I can’t for the life of me recall the name of the landlord. However, I do remember that when I tried to give him notice, so that I could travel before going to university, he told me to leave straight away. I recall him being quite aggressive about this as I think he thought I was then going to help myself to money from the till!
My Siblings Also Worked
As mentioned, I do not have as much information about any jobs my siblings did in comparison to what I have about my own jobs.
Tricia Worked at the City Treasurer’s Office
However, in June 1976, mum noted that my older sister Tricia had an interview for a holiday job at the City Treasurer’s office. Mum noted that she got it through Joe Woodrow. Joe and Pat Woodrow were friends of mum’s through St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church.
Tricia worked there from 26 July to 24 September 1976. However, I noted soon after she started that, based on her mood, she did not seem to like the job. I must have been wrong, or she grew to like/tolerate it, as she went back there the following year, including possibly in the Easter holidays.
An Interview in Last Year of University
In January 1979, as Tricia was in her final year at university, she had a job interview in London.
The Scientific Anglian
As noted above, my younger brother Alan started working at The Scientific Anglian after I left. However, he worked mornings only. I do not remember him working there at all and I only have very limited information from mum’s diary. This seems to focus on the days he worked and how he got there, particularly if mum took him. I am not sure when he finished there but the last time mum mentions it is in July 1977 only some six months after he started.
Gardening for Grandma
It seems grandma also paid Alan to help her with her garden. However, on 1 October 1978, mum noted that “mum can’t pay Alan any more – says she has overspent. He’s to get a job & her garden can go to pot next summer she says!!”
Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square
Very shortly after this, on 6 October 1978, Alan started working at Sainsbury’s in Anglia Square, As with his work at The Scientific Anglian, I do not recall this at all. I wonder if I had any role in him getting the job there seeing as I was the one who knew people there. I don’t know and mum does not say. She again mainly noted the days he worked and how he got there. He sometimes cycled and mum sometimes took him. On 6 July 1979, mum took him but Alan drove as, by then, he was learning to drive, see Chapter 127. He finished working at Sainsbury’s on 14 July 1979 having worked there for only about nine months.