Stroud author Melvyn Wilkins has just published his latest book, At the third stroke it will be… recounting his 25-year career as a telecommunications engineer with the GPO and later British Telecom.
This follows his previous books, Stroud Valleys to Alpine Passes, the history of Rover Coaches and Beavis Travel and Dehydrated Chicken Supreme and other great Scouting Adventures, recounting his time in Scouting in the Five Valleys.
Melvyn describes how the career came to be, after initially wanting to join the Royal Navy: “Early in the spring of 1969 I was called into my grammar school tutor’s office (I started in a technical school, but it amalgamated with the grammar school when I was 12 years old). He had some bad news, I had applied to join the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and was hoping to become a navigator/observer in Buccaneers, Gannets or Sea Vixens, however a change in defence policy stated that the FAA was going to concentrate on helicopter pilots and crew so I would have to change my plan.
“I certainly did change it; no way was I going to go up in a helicopter – I didn’t trust them one bit. So, I went home that afternoon distraught, three months away from my GCE exams and no future. When I got home there was a green van parked outside and a man in dirty overalls, flat cap and wearing a leather safety belt up the pole opposite. Another engineer was on the ground watching him. Noticing that I looked upset, the engineer asked me why, so I told him. ‘Why not join the GPO and become a telephone engineer?’ he said, he turned out to be Peter White who was the Stroud POEU branch officer. So, this was exactly what I did, a good choice too as the only GCE passes I obtained were in geography, geometrical and technical drawing, physics and chemistry. A failure for entry into the FAA, I didn’t even get maths and English.
“Prior to even receiving my GCE results I was called to the Technical College in Brunswick Road, Gloucester to sit the GPO entrance exams, along with, believe it or not, another six pupils from my school as well. I passed, some of the other five hadn’t. A few weeks later I went to Bearlands House for an interview, where I was shown two ends of a multi-coloured cable. ‘What colours do you see?’ the man asked, I told him but said it was strange that there was a white wire at one end but a grey one at the other – another pass.
“Later still I collected a tool wallet and some tools, bib and brace overalls, wellington boots, paramatta raincoat, sou’wester hat and a very heavy but warm GPO labelled overcoat – I was ready to go – almost. As I was about to leave, I was ushered into a room by a POEU rep. He told me the virtues of being a member of the union and the security it would get me, just sign on the dotted line please, which I did like almost everyone else. Then the political levy to the Labour party was discussed, which I had no understanding of, so I agreed to that too. Just a holiday in the USA with my parents then off to work at the beginning of August. A start to a fascinating, character building, happy and very rewarding 25 years – 1969-1994.
“Many in the book I call by name, some have sadly passed away, but others are still with us. Some recollections from myself and others may not necessarily be in chronological order, if you know differently, please don’t tell me. You will also note that the book is full of abbreviations, seemed to be rife in the Civil Service, so a glossary is placed at the front of the book to help you – and there are dozens of them. Finally, this book would not have been half as amusing or even possible if it wasn’t for the help from many others scattered the length and breadth of the UK and beyond.”
At the third stroke it will be… is available for £11.95 plus P&P. Contact Melvyn via text at 07866 459170 or email: melvynwilkins@gmail.com
