Review from Late Edition

BANGING OUT – ‘FLEET STREET REMEMBERED’
As the title suggests, this DVD is about one of the great customs of the Printing Industry, diligently, enthusiastically and expertly compiled by the pupils of St George the Martyr and St Mathew’s, with guidance and facilitation by ‘digital works’, who also produced it.

It features a large number of members of our Branch, namely John Bailey, Chrissie Brazil, Ann Field, Pete Gold, Mike Hicks, Bernard Hunt, Paul King, Malcolm Lane, Peter Postance and Ivy Smith, with apologies to anyone I have omitted. And if I have any critical analysis, which this review will almost certainly disprove, then Pete Gold must be in line for an Oscar, with Ivy Smith and Bernard Hunt the favourites for a ‘best supporting actor’ award and a lachrymose evening for us all to look forward to!

Many of the contributors spoke of the comradeship within the industry and the appalling conditions – the smell ofthe ink,the noise – as a consequence of which most of the old printers became deaf, despite the fact that they wore protective headphones and newspapers were made into protective hats to shield them from the general grime and dust.

Ann Field explained that everyone worked hard but they were also enjoying themselves – “There was a lovely atmosphere” she maintained, whilst Paul King described Fleet Street as a “Village” and went on to say that everyone put up with the poor working environment because of the comradeship.

Apprenticeships for the boys, and ‘Learner-ships’ for the girls, was the way most youngsters were introduced to the trade and John Bailey, Malcolm Lane and Ivy Smith all spoke about their early days before explaining the first of the print’s ‘Banging
Out’ procedures, which were somewhat unedifying for the male contingent involved but undoubtedly prepared them in advance for their subsequent stag nights in the years to come.!! Ivy did not divulge what happened to the girls – hopefully they were treated with a little more dignity – but she did vividly explain the difficulties that women encountered getting both recognition and equal pay, a fight, which, sadly, has still to be fully achieved.

Bernard Hunt explained the closed shop and how everyone had to be a member of the Union, which organised the shift rotas as well as improving the wages and terms and conditions of its members. And then came Wapping when, as Pete Gold put it, “Murdoch took the opportunity to cut the wages and increase the work-loads of the work force and did a deal with Thatcher to pass a raft of anti Trade Union legislation.”

Those speaking about the dispute did so with a passion, anger and emotion that illustrated the comradeship already spoken of, which was never more needed at this difficult time, as food parcels were distributed to those in need, marches were organised in solidarity and the local residents were, in the main, supportive – a local publican offered shelter for demonstrators fleeing from the police. Ann Field reminded us that most of those sacked by Murdoch never worked in the print again, which was a disgraceful way for him to treat those who made him.

Many lost their lives – including one of the local residents – and the green light had been given to other newspapers to jump on the technology bandwagon, which, effectively, saw the death of Fleet Street.

Mike Hicks explained that he had been arrested 5 or 6 times, the police claiming that he had pushed a megaphone into the face of an Officer – totally untrue, which prompted the ‘Free Mike Hicks’ campaign, with appropriate stickers proudly displayed by many in this fine film.

Malcolm Lane brought a little light relief by pointing out that the police horses hated the noise of bag-pipes, which is something which we should always remember, and a possible trump card to use in the future.

And those who will need to play this card will, in all probability, be those children who were so integral to the making of this DVD, and I’m sure all of those who were interviewed will join me in saying how genuine, courteous, professional and charming they all were, and if we could say just one thing to them it would be to join a Trade Union, and become active in it, in order to fight for their rights and those of their fellow workers.

The Late Edition is not a high class publication, and I realised how obvious that was immediately after typing it, so it does not give ‘stars’ for its reviews, but there is no doubt that ‘Banging Out – Fleet Street Remembered’ is essential viewing for all of our readership and, in order to try and make this a reality, we intend to screen it at a future RMA meeting.