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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7 The second question is really the more fundamental. What events would members and eligible non-members find attractive? Some of this is important fine-tuning, e.g. lunch or dinner, venues, etc. If not enough people turn up at the Imperial lunches, do we stop them, or perhaps we change the venue and have more of them? In this way we can have different formats, some more formal than others and cater for smaller numbers, but frequently. The real issues are what new events are needed: do we do more with the Stationers’ Company, either at the Hall or joining wider Company events (note that only about 10% of OSA members are also Company members); do we develop activities where our partners are welcome (possibly a summer event at the Hall); do we organise trips/visits (e.g. day at the Races, day at Lords, “behind the scenes visits”, etc.); is there an appetite for more social events (e.g. countryside ramble, afternoon tea, garden party, etc.)? My email address is at the front of the magazine. I would welcome and appreciate your response, thoughts and ideas on the way forward: it is your Association. Peter Winter ANNUAL DINNER 2018- Stationers’ Hall – Friday 24th March 2017 The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Old Stationers’ Association Master, Clerk, President, gentlemen, Good evening, and thank you Peter for inviting me to say a few words about yourself tonight. Unfortunately as I am sure that you now realise that was a mistake in providing me with an opportunity for revenge. Gentlemen let me explain, what you will be unaware of is that Peter on a number of occasions has spoken for me at similar events to tonight and to say the least has been somewhat unkind. On one occasion informing the attendees of my development into a property magnet which I achieved by means of four divorces and the subsequent result of being the proud owner of half a house on each occasion. No wonder women found me attractive, for one night only of course. I have known Peter since the 1980s having met through our connections in the paper trade. Peter worked on the mill producing side of the business whilst I was the middle-man or paper merchant buying from the mills and selling it on to printers, publishers and the like. But what I would like to briefly talk to you about tonight are Peter’s interests outside of work. Music and entertainment have always played a very big part in Peter’s life and he has taken part in a number of lack of talent competitions. But how did it all start? Well gentlemen, he took part, he performed to the best of his ability and he won. I know what you are thinking, how poor was the competition? Glynis forgave him and did not throw him out. To top things off in the audience was a tv talent scout. I am sure that, like me, you remember the Saturday night talent spotting show New Faces which was hosted amongst others by Clifford Davis and the record producer Mickie Most. The talent spotter at Gillingham was from the show and Peter was invited to take part the year 1976. He sang, played guitar and did the odd impression which enabled him to fill his 3 minute slot, a similar period of time he offorded his long suffering wife in their occasional more intimate moments. Sadly the clapometer which if you remember was the machine Guest speaker, Andy Thompson which judged the audiences reaction to the contestants performance, unfortunately did not recognise Peters talent as it registered extremely low on the Richter Scale. Peter left the then ATV studios in Birmingham a not-so-creditable last having been beaten by a dancing horse, a singing parrot and a performing monkey. But Glynis felt he had done well and partially forgave him, so defeated yes, but deterred, no. And he continues to talk to himself today having very successfully failed on the football pitch. Peter’s desire to entertain remained and for a period of time the villages and greens of Rainham and Bexley Heath were unluckly enough to witness a sixty minutes or so performance of his greatest miss, weakest joke and out of tune guitar. What else could he do? After a while he saw the light and started to take a great interest in what he called his 7 inch growth. 6
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7 Please let me explain... Much to Glynis’ disappointment Peter’s seven inch growth referred to his collection of seven inch records or singles as we call them. His large collection allowed him to take advantage of the need for mobile disc jockeys and he was seen spinning discs at many of the local pubs, schools and community centres that held dances at the time. This all came to an end when he moved to Redditch where the family still live and he made the decision to concentrate all his efforts on his career in paper. Not for long however, as the pull to get back out in front of the disco lights and witness those young beautiful lovely girls moving to the hits of the day was just too great. Now to be fair, which you probably think that I have not been so far, after a short period of time he secured a number of residences and one in particular at the Abbey Park hotel which he held for 15 years. Some achievement. It was at this time that his love of public speaking came to the fore, and he has since spoken on many, many occassions to hundreds of unsuspecting victims. I must say at this stage that in my opinion he is probably the best non-professional speaker you will listen to. As you may well know Peter is a huge football fan and has followed his beloved Tottenham Hotspur home and away for many years. An experience I have enjoyed with him both at White Hart Lane and St. Andrews, the home of Birmingham City who are my team, on the odd occasion that we were in the Premiership. Prior to his spectatorship Peter did try his hand at playing. Being quite tall and of large stature, I hesitate to say fat, the obvious position for Peter to play was centre half as they called it in those days. Delighted at having been given the chance he unfortunately did not have the experience he would have wished for ending up on the wrong end of a five nil scoreline. The match report afterwards stating that Bothwick’s debut showed him particularily slow on the turn, however players had to run a long way to get round his large physique, he did get up well to low crosses, normal ones being more of a problem but despite his obvious desire too do well he did display a total lack of ability. Cruel, but true, and he was never to put on the boots again. Yet another failure but this did not deter our would-be hero from continuing to want the lime light. But his greatest love is his family. Married to Glynis for 40 years plus... The poor sod... Glynis that is. They have 2 daughters, Jane and Katie, who in turn have provided Peter and Glynis with 4 grandchildren, Lllly, Liam, Hari and Grace. What a lovely family... But it could have been oh so different. An incident after their honeymoon nearly changed all that. Peter being the, strong, dominant, forceful, male that he thinks he is, decided that he felt it only right and proper to advise Glynis of what his expectations were of his new wife. So he produced for Glynis a full list of wifely do’s and don’ts. This list in effect represented a ‘job description’ for being Peter’s wife. As every self-respecting husband in the room will recognise, Peter was too scared to present this list to Glynis, so he therefore adopted a sensible principle for their marriage, which he often quotes - "she goes her way and I go hers". Gentlemen, Peter has been a loyal friend to me, a valuable supplier to my various companies, and I’m sure he has been an efficient President for the Old Stationers’ Association. Gentlemen would you please join me in a toast to The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, and the Old Stationers’ Association. Andy Thompson Peter Bothwick, Peter Thomas, Mike Pinfield, Nick Steidl and Peter Winter. 7
Page 1 and 2: NO 87 / JULY 2018 The Old Stationer
Page 3 and 4: T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o
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Page 29 and 30: ge I believe that I am right in say
Page 31 and 32: generous description). My home was
Page 47 and 48: Digging out a cross from the cabbag

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