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"The general switchroom (15th October 1980) taken on a time exposure; you can see ghostly figures who were moving around. This was shot from the western end of 2A switchroom looking towards the main exit (east end) which dropped down to the middle of Knightrider Street." |
The Photo
Malcolm Knight recalls:
"The general switchroom (15th October 1980) taken on a time exposure; you can see ghostly figures who were moving around. This was shot from the western end of 2A switchroom looking towards the main exit (east end) which dropped down to the middle of Knightrider Street.
I had about 140 day staff, but very few of them can be reliably matched to the photo. The switchroom had been newly carpeted. Most people preferred the old wood block as it didn't give everyone static shocks. With nearly all of the positions manned it was a hive of activity."
The girl in the red cardigan is Lisa. Then the blond haired one with her face out of the picture is Janet Tranter. Standing behind her on the phone is Lesley Holmes (acting) Assistant Supervisor. Standing in the background with the green scarf is Helga Hindler.
Seated in the distance is Supervisor Elsie May next to Chief Supervisor Gladys Gascoigne in the light blue outfit (standing). On the right hand side immediately to the left of the 'pink blob' is Lesley Ford. Behind Lesley is Maria Bruno - one of 2A's several linguist staff. In the check shirt (right foreground) is Gerard Flynn - also linguist.
Seated in the foreground, back to camera in grey, is Christine Blow. She is sorting ISOCC tickets ready for despatch.
Sadly, Miss Gascoigne died during the Christmas holiday 1981."
Note: This orange/red carpet was typical of the type of floor coverings which were starting to replace polished floors and lino, throughout British Telecom, at that time. Also at the far end is the black notice board (with white letters) on a wood surround, which features in 'The Closure' web page.
The Switchroom and Staff
Switchroom Staff circa 1980, just a few of the very many staff who worked in 2A.
Supervisors
Chief Supervisors (CSRs) Day: Miss Gladys Gascoigne & Miss Stevens (Steve).
Divisional (Divi) Supervisor Day: Elsie May
Assistant Supervisors (ASR) Day: Rita Atkinson, Jean Brand, Pat Howe, Colleen Mitchell.
Long term ASRs and stalwarts of 2A were Iris Ings (who had worked in Faraday since the war) and Elsie Edwards.
Telephonists
Christine Blow, Lesley Ford, Helga Hindler, Lesley Holmes (also ASR cover), Laura McGusty, Sylvia Matthews, Jennifer Tall, Janet Tranter, Janice Turner, Karen Whybrow, Rhona Viera, Gloria, Lisa.
Linguists: Maria Bruno, Gerard Flynn, Barry Le Boutillier and Nanette Parmenter.
Design, images and text compiled by ©
Light-Straw. With special thanks to
M.Knight.
Page last updated
August 2011. Checked May 2021.
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