The comong of the Video Recorders:
Among the many events this year was to be more time spent way from home at Ampthill Road , Bedford. Granada H.Q. training roms beckoned to me yet again . This time it was to test my aptitudec and attitude toward the mechanics of tape transport mechanisms and the technology involved with servo controls, signal processing, button pushing, timer activating excercises involved in being a two VHS VCR owner. Fame at last ! , I was singled out to be one of a few Technicians allowed to spend time with Mr. Granada's latest expensive toys. VHSVH! Hitachi offerings were mine. !
In the WB region of the Granada empire was Howard Peacey (Gloucester), Roger White (Chippenham) and yours truly (Bristol) under the supervision of the Regional Technical supervisor Bryan Thickins. (A Welshman impressed by all new things ). We mottley crew were soon to be seen in all the 13 showrooms on our patch, being introduced to staff and installers of these new devices. Quite a lot had to be taught to quite a number of staff, and I got invoolved with Harry Davis at Avonmouth Zonal office and his equipment to prepare course notes. Bob Hughes (Zonal T.S.) , Lesley Lillie (Zonal Trainer) were on hand if anything was needed. A wonderful new team !
I was now based at Kingswood regional office with Bryan Thickens as a cell mate, no sorry , teammate. We got on well , I soon introduced him to all my aquaintances in the area, he never failed to be impressed by the number of people i knew. Everywhere we went sombody would pop up and say hello. Mostly from outside the circle of Granada employees which he seemed impressed by. Perhaps he was a "Billy no Mates kind of person , i was a kind of "In your face" kind of person in those days. Keen to get on with life.
