OSAmag88

Hi Tim,
Ross-on-Wye,
25th September 2018.
I am forwarding this on to you as I believe
you are at present the acting OSA
magazine editor.
In 1954, a very long time ago, six of the
49-54 intake left the School and all
joining the Port of London Authority as
Junior Clerical Officers. At different times
during the following years five of us left
the Authority to follow careers elsewhere
until only Eddie Dennison remained. At
very infrequent intervals whenever I heard
anything about their subsequent careers I
passed this onto Geraint for publication.
Some three years ago I wrote to Geraint
bringing together all I had previously
heard into one final letter. However I then
heard from Eddie that quite by chance he
had run into Bruce Holloway who had left
the Authority in the early 1960’s and of
whose subsequent career I had only heard
the odd snippet.
With Eddie’s help I have been able to
contact Bruce who has sent me the
attached summary of all he has done since
he left the Authority. He has no objection
to its publication should it be of interest.
Regards,
Lucien
Lou,
Bruce Holloway
brucejholloway@gmail.com
23rd August 2018
So it was almost 4 months ago when I was
delighted to receive this email. One can
argue that pressures of retirement provide
an excuse for not replying sooner. Anyway
here goes. I will probably need one or two
sessions to complete it but if I don't start it
will never get finished.
Employment
As you correctly stated I left the PLA just
after finishing my National Service. This,
as I understand, many PLA staff were, was
with Movement Control section of Royal
Engineers. After initial training I was
lucky enough to spend most of my service
at the Hook of Holland seeing the transfer
of troops to and from Germany. I was
promoted to lance corporal but they took
the strip back as I was reluctant to get my
hair cut. (Problem would not happen
now!)
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 5
CORRESPONDENCE
As you say I joined the 600 Group in their
Raw Materials Division, scrap metal to
you, as a Management Trainee. I was with
them when I got married. I toured many
aspects of metal production throughout
the country which was most interesting.
However I wanted to get back into
shipping. I went to a company called the
Caribbean Steamship Agency which was
situated in Adelaide House on London
Bridge. It was a subsidiary of Elders &
Fyffes (bananas) which itself was owned
by The United Fruit Company. They were
huge in Central America.
This worked out quite well but I had itchy
feet and,since I had moved to Benfleet on
my marriage, I looked for something more
local. A neighbour offered me work in his
motor repair business on Canvey Island.
This suited me very well and after a few
years I rented a body repair shop again on
Canvey. Around 1970 the Oil Company
gave me some money to vacate their site as
they wanted to sell it.
I became Body Shop manager of a Vauxhall
main agent in Southend and then moved
to be Service Manager at Fiat main agent
in Dalston, near Hackney.
It was time to settle down, I thought, so
after a few years trading and selling
secondhand cars I applied for a position as
an agent operating service stations for
ESSO. This was now 1977. My first site
was on the A10 Cambridge Road, near
Enfield. I went on to operate other sites in
Seven Kings, Chelmsford, Barking and
Leytonstone. They dumped me when
they found I had arranged for my wife to
run a TEXACO site on the A127 in Leigh
on Sea. So, moving on I took over another
garage in Leigh on Sea.
We are now up to 1987. Itchy feet again.
We gave up the first TEXACO site and
my wife took over my one. Would you
now believe I wanted to improve my image
so opened an estate agents across the road!
This was called Belfairs Estates and was
quite successful until I had an offer to sell
out in 2002. We both worked for another
year for the buyer and then thought that's
enough.
Domestic Life
I married my wife, Maureen, in 1962 and
we are still plodding along very happily.
Two boys came along inheriting my itchy
feet. One is something big in Payroll. He
has just purchased a small holding of 8
acres in mid Wales with is partner. They
are working towards a holiday letting
business while still retaining his office job,
mainly on line and lecturing nationally.
The other is now running a Sporting
Injury Clinic and massage in top class
cycling events here and abroad. We were
both very much into cycle racing in the
past which has him enabled to have some
good contacts. He is married, living in
Amersham and has eventually produced
two grandsons. We waited a long time
while he tested the marriage market!
Hobbies
I am very keen on big band music and jazz.
(This is how I bumped into Eddie
Dennison at a music Pub). Cycle racing
was my main sport although I never
achieved much unlike my son who was
very successful.
Of course, when I was with the PLA I
played a little rugby for them to improve
my chances of promotion. I did get a
transfer to Port Rates through Henry
Greedus, I think. That's when I resigned!
Golf is now my game. My wife also plays
which is happy since it gives us something
to do if we are bored on holiday. However,
like cycling, I am only an average golfer
but it keeps us fit.
I was initiated into freemasonry in 1960 so
will be celebrating my 60th year soon.
This is something for which I am proud
although I have always kept it at arms
length. I am still active but meeting in
London is becoming a chore.
I think the Stationers Lodge is still going
and I ought to make an effort to attend
one day.
Enough. Done this in one evening while
wife is playing bridge. A game I am very
happy not to have taken up. Our health is
pretty good so long may that continue.
Hope this nonsense is of interest.
Bruce Holloway
rogermansfield@btinternet.com
Hello Tim,
I have had today this e-mail from Cedric
Steet which you wanted to have for
inclusion in The Old Stationer Magazine .
I don’t suppose that you will want to print
all the correspondence, but I am sure that
you will be able to pick the bones out of it
to make an interesting entry. I of course
wish to add my condolences to Geraint
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