Mum's First Foray Into Print - (Published in Best of British magazine)

Mum's First Foray Into Print

The first article Mum wrote, originally entitled "Working Life," was published in 2007, in Best of British. It was shortened slightly to fit the space available, but I have found this original text that Mum sent to the editor.

LOOKING AFTER THE PENNIES

by
PHYLLIS WHITWELL

Phyllis, aged 18

I was born in 1919, in Liverpool and, like many little girls, my dream working life was to be a dancer, and maybe enjoy some success, if not as a prima ballerina, then at least in the corps de ballet in a good, reputable company. I was trained in ballet and tap but alas, after a bout of rheumatic fever at the age of 7, which left me with what was in those days called "a weak heart," this was not to be.  

Instead, my parents were told that a nice, sedentary job would be best for me; so in 1937, when I had passed all my matric. exams and I was ready to find a job, my father saw an advertisement for staff at the local Midland Bank and went in to ask about it for me. He saw the Manager and was told there was a clerical vacancy for a "suitable young lady, aged 18 or over, with a good head for figures."  

I was given an appointment to see the bank manager and on the agreed date, presented myself for interview.  I was dressed in an elegant costume and blouse and, feeling somewhat nervous, was ushered in to see the great man.

He made me feel at ease, and invited me to sit down, and then followed questions about arithmetic, maths and English; I must have done well, because he then asked me, what sort of salary I expected.

I thought for a moment and, not wanting to sell myself short, I said, "Twelve shillings and sixpence a week, please sir!"- 62 1/2 p in current money!

Well, the bank manager looked flabbergasted!  He spluttered and coughed and nearly fell backwards off his chair.  When he had recovered a little, he asked me how old I was.  I told him I was eighteen and after a few more moments, he harrumphed a bit and said I could start at the bank the next week  - at a salary of 12/6 a week.

I could hardly believe it!  I had got a job, at a good salary, and I rushed home to tell my mother and father all about it.

As soon as I got in, I told them everything that had happened, and of course they were delighted for me, until I got to the part about asking for the enormous sum of twelve shillings a sixpence a week!  

Unbeknown to me, my father had agreed with the bank manager, that if I was suitable for the job, my salary should be only seven and six  (37 1/2 pence) per week, and my father insisted I go straight back to the bank and tell the manager I'd made a mistake, and would be happy to accept the lower sum.

Very reluctantly, I did as I was told.  There was a short wait until the manager was free and once again, I was ushered in to his office.  I told him what my father had said, and that I should have asked for only 7/6 a week.  

"Young lady," the manager said, "If you're not worth 12/6 a week, you won't be worth 7/6.  You were right to set your sights high.  Your salary will be 12/6 a week, as arranged!"

With that, I flew home, and my father felt that as I had gone back to volunteer for the lower salary, honour was satisfied.

The following Monday, I started work at the bank, and the first thing I had to do was sit in a little office and familiarise myself with customers' signatures - there were no pin numbers or automated telling machines then!   There was such a personal touch to banking, with the managers knowing all their customers and understanding their needs. I suppose the downside was if a customer and manager did not have a rapport, then it could prove difficult for that customer to obtain a loan or overdraft!  but I think the impersonal way we bank now does also leave a lot to be desired.

I worked my way up through the ranks and left as a teller.  My fiancé had managed to get a few days' leave and we got married in 1941; he then had to return to his unit and was sent to Kos, where he was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Germany for over three years. After the war ended, my husband got home and we settled down in Cheadle Hulme in Derbyshire; my daughter was born in Buxton in 1946.  After a dreadfully cold winter in 1946/47, we decided to go abroad and see what life was like in a warmer country.  

At sea, on the way to East Africa, 1947

We sailed on the Empress of Scotland for East Africa and landed in Dar-es-Salaam. It was a completely different way of life, of course, and the sunshine and easy pace of life was a tonic after all the difficulties experienced post-war in England, with continuing shortages and rationing, but being in the tropics meant the heat was relentless, all year long.

With Alexandra in Dar-es-Salaam, 1948

Sometimes it would be so hot you could almost fry an egg on a slate in the sun. We always made sure we were covered up and protected from getting sunburn. Working and school hours were mostly organised so that people could start early in the cool of the morning, and have a siesta during the fiercest heat of the day; and then we worked on longer in the afternoon, when it had cooled down again.  

There was no air conditioning when we first went out to East Africa, just large electric "punkah" fans suspended from the ceiling that would turn lazily round and round, moving the warm air about a little.

For some years I continued to work in East Africa, first in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Uganda (Kampala), Kenya (Nairobi), and I have enough tales of my experiences there, to fill a book!  

I always worked in accountancy; it was an interesting career, and all started by that first interview with the bank manager at our local branch.

Nowadays, people have to complete long application forms, provide detailed CVs, and undergo psychometric and aptitude tests;  but even with these modern interviewing "tools,"  I wonder if companies get people any better qualified or suited to their posts as I obviously was, all those years ago?!

Even after I had officially retired, at the age of 66, I still felt active and energetic enough to see if there was something I could do in accountancy to keep my skills up to date.  For a further 18 months I worked in Fenchurch Street, and thoroughly enjoyed going up to the City every day.  It was exciting being at the centre of things and it gave me a real buzz to think I was working with the "whiz kids" in high finance! However, now my pleasure is spending a lot of time with my 11 year old great-grandson, Al Wilde.  I am so proud of him, because even though he is so young, he is also an author, and had his first book published this year; but he always has time to escort me whenever we go out for tea!