The Work of Ron Williamson
I was born in August 1928 at South Shields, in a house just yards from the river Tyne. A true Tynesider and proud of it. My wife and I share four children and nine grandchildren. I've had an adventurous and happy life so far. Including two years just hitch-hiking around Europe, financed by any old odd job I could find. Following a two year stint at Leeds Polytechnic 1972/3 I worked as a Social Worker until I retired in 1990. My wife and I have travelled extensively since then. We are both involved in local voluntary work, and I've completed a couple of solo long distance walks; notably the Coast to Coast Path in 2004 (152miles); and the Thames Path in 2008 (240miles). I wrote and self published a book about the former and sold them raising over £250 for Cancer Research UK. An account of the second trip is started but I currently seem to have come to a dead end. However I'm confident that it will completed eventually. Watch this space?
Recent success includes coming second in the 2009 FEVA short story competition.
I have also had articles published in "Spectrum Magazine", "Yoga & Health Magazine", "Yoga Institute News", "U3A News" and "Stray News"
I have had poetry published in "Poetry Now" and stories in "Scribble Magazine", "Countryside Tales", "Peninsular Magazine" and "Best of British"
Recent success includes coming second in the 2009 FEVA short story competition.
I have also had articles published in "Spectrum Magazine", "Yoga & Health Magazine", "Yoga Institute News", "U3A News" and "Stray News"
I have had poetry published in "Poetry Now" and stories in "Scribble Magazine", "Countryside Tales", "Peninsular Magazine" and "Best of British"
My Very First Job - first Published in "Best of British" Magazine
I was thirteen on the 4th of August 1941 and, still in short pants, I started work the following Saturday. I had the necessary piece of paper allowing me to ‘follow lawful employment, outside regular school hours’ issued by South Shields local authority.
I became an errand boy at a high class tailoring establishment specialising in naval uniforms as well as bespoke clothing for ladies and gentlemen. My first task each morning was to spread what I think was a mix of paraffin wax and sawdust on the linoleum covered floor in the workshop area. After vacuuming the carpets in the main shop, I’d go back to the ‘sawdust mix’ and sweep it all up to find a shining lino floor underneath, and a rather pleasant smell.
My main job however was to deliver the carefully wrapped parcels of clothing by bicycle - no easy task. It was a real beast of a bike. It had a small wheel at the front under a huge square wooden box, big enough to take the parcels without the risk of creasing the contents. The bike was black with the name of the tailor in large green letters painted on the box. There were no gears and it was very heavy to pedal, especially when loaded, and had to be pushed up even the slightest hill. However, it used to go like the clappers downhill!
I also got to deliver naval uniforms to ships in the local shipyards. Once I was given a large parcel to be delivered to the captain of a Greek ship lying at Jarrow a few miles away. It had to be delivered straight away as the ship was to sail later that afternoon. (So much for wartime security!) After a short bus ride I came to the shipyard and naturally was stopped by the gateman. He accepted my explanation, showed me where the ship was berthed, and told me to hurry as she was sailing shortly. (What wartime security?)
Once on board I was shown to the captain’s cabin, and was told to wait in the crews’ quarters until he had tried the uniform on. I became quite anxious, and had visions of being high jacked and taken to Greece, or wherever. However the captain soon appeared resplendent in his new uniform. There were quite a few jocular remarks made by the crew, in Greek of course, which he took in good part. He said something to the crew who then all dug into their pockets and lockers and gave me all the English coins that they had. The captain escorted me to the gangway, handed me a ten shilling note, shook my hand, and wished me ‘Good Evening’. The coins in my shorts pockets jingled all the way down the gangplank and to the bus stop. I sat in the shelter and counted up. I had three pounds, eleven shillings and four pence. A vast amount in those days and without doubt the biggest tip I’ve ever had, or likely to get. Because of the time, my working day was ended and I went straight home. The whole family celebrated by having fish and chips all round, with a bottle of ‘brown’ for my Dad, a ‘Guinness’ for Mam, and a ‘Cherryade’ for me
There were no women employed in the shop, although there were plenty in the tailoring workshops located above the shop. Every member of staff was referred to as ‘Mister’ followed by their surname. (A bit like ‘Are you being served!) Always there was an air of quiet efficiency. The ladies department was upstairs and reached by an elegant curved and carpeted staircase.
One day Mr. Armatage, who was in charge of ‘Ladies Tailoring’ came skittering down the staircase and had a whispered conversation with both the General Manager Mr Marsden, and Mr. Watson of the ‘Ready Made Dept. ; A whispered conversation that I listened to with great interest. Apparently a lady had requested a pair of made to measure trousers, an event that had never happened before. From a practical tailoring point of view there was no problem. The difficulty was in obtaining the lady’s inside leg measurement and an all male staff. Naturally she was wearing a skirt.
Suddenly Mr. Marsden seemed to have a brainwave and told Mr. Armatage to follow him and they both walked purposefully up to ‘Ladies Tailoring’. Even I wasn’t cheeky enough to follow. But I did find out what took place. Firstly, Mr Marsden took the ladies outside leg measurement from waist to ankle whilst she was standing. She was then asked to sit on a chair and he measured from her waist to the seat of the chair. The second measurement was taken from the first, and viola! That was the inside leg measurement! I believe that that became standard practice thereafter, and I thought it was rather ingenious.
I learned many other snippets of tailoring lore such as why men’s trilby hats always had a little feather or two tucked into the hat band. It was –so I was told- a remainder of the Cavalier times when they wore huge ostrich feathers in their flamboyant hats –always on the left side so that it didn’t interfere with their sword arm.
That was almost seventy years ago and I’m still waiting for someone to ask why men’s trilby hats have little feathers tucked into the hatband.
I became an errand boy at a high class tailoring establishment specialising in naval uniforms as well as bespoke clothing for ladies and gentlemen. My first task each morning was to spread what I think was a mix of paraffin wax and sawdust on the linoleum covered floor in the workshop area. After vacuuming the carpets in the main shop, I’d go back to the ‘sawdust mix’ and sweep it all up to find a shining lino floor underneath, and a rather pleasant smell.
My main job however was to deliver the carefully wrapped parcels of clothing by bicycle - no easy task. It was a real beast of a bike. It had a small wheel at the front under a huge square wooden box, big enough to take the parcels without the risk of creasing the contents. The bike was black with the name of the tailor in large green letters painted on the box. There were no gears and it was very heavy to pedal, especially when loaded, and had to be pushed up even the slightest hill. However, it used to go like the clappers downhill!
I also got to deliver naval uniforms to ships in the local shipyards. Once I was given a large parcel to be delivered to the captain of a Greek ship lying at Jarrow a few miles away. It had to be delivered straight away as the ship was to sail later that afternoon. (So much for wartime security!) After a short bus ride I came to the shipyard and naturally was stopped by the gateman. He accepted my explanation, showed me where the ship was berthed, and told me to hurry as she was sailing shortly. (What wartime security?)
Once on board I was shown to the captain’s cabin, and was told to wait in the crews’ quarters until he had tried the uniform on. I became quite anxious, and had visions of being high jacked and taken to Greece, or wherever. However the captain soon appeared resplendent in his new uniform. There were quite a few jocular remarks made by the crew, in Greek of course, which he took in good part. He said something to the crew who then all dug into their pockets and lockers and gave me all the English coins that they had. The captain escorted me to the gangway, handed me a ten shilling note, shook my hand, and wished me ‘Good Evening’. The coins in my shorts pockets jingled all the way down the gangplank and to the bus stop. I sat in the shelter and counted up. I had three pounds, eleven shillings and four pence. A vast amount in those days and without doubt the biggest tip I’ve ever had, or likely to get. Because of the time, my working day was ended and I went straight home. The whole family celebrated by having fish and chips all round, with a bottle of ‘brown’ for my Dad, a ‘Guinness’ for Mam, and a ‘Cherryade’ for me
There were no women employed in the shop, although there were plenty in the tailoring workshops located above the shop. Every member of staff was referred to as ‘Mister’ followed by their surname. (A bit like ‘Are you being served!) Always there was an air of quiet efficiency. The ladies department was upstairs and reached by an elegant curved and carpeted staircase.
One day Mr. Armatage, who was in charge of ‘Ladies Tailoring’ came skittering down the staircase and had a whispered conversation with both the General Manager Mr Marsden, and Mr. Watson of the ‘Ready Made Dept. ; A whispered conversation that I listened to with great interest. Apparently a lady had requested a pair of made to measure trousers, an event that had never happened before. From a practical tailoring point of view there was no problem. The difficulty was in obtaining the lady’s inside leg measurement and an all male staff. Naturally she was wearing a skirt.
Suddenly Mr. Marsden seemed to have a brainwave and told Mr. Armatage to follow him and they both walked purposefully up to ‘Ladies Tailoring’. Even I wasn’t cheeky enough to follow. But I did find out what took place. Firstly, Mr Marsden took the ladies outside leg measurement from waist to ankle whilst she was standing. She was then asked to sit on a chair and he measured from her waist to the seat of the chair. The second measurement was taken from the first, and viola! That was the inside leg measurement! I believe that that became standard practice thereafter, and I thought it was rather ingenious.
I learned many other snippets of tailoring lore such as why men’s trilby hats always had a little feather or two tucked into the hat band. It was –so I was told- a remainder of the Cavalier times when they wore huge ostrich feathers in their flamboyant hats –always on the left side so that it didn’t interfere with their sword arm.
That was almost seventy years ago and I’m still waiting for someone to ask why men’s trilby hats have little feathers tucked into the hatband.