Not long after I started work at Percy Brothers, way back in 1965, I was the involved in an incident which is topical in today’s climate. I was walking up the stairs to start work when a group of girls and one in particular, started making comments about my appearance and ‘wolf-whistling’. I took this as being a compliment and carried on walking with a bounce in my step. Now I had gone to an all boys’ grammar school and as such had no idea how to behave in the company of the female sex, except through the advice given to me by lay brothers who had made the vow of chastity. As such, I knew nothing on how to conduct myself with girls.
Later on that week I had to make a trip through the folding room which was an all female environment where publications were folded and bound for despatch. I noticed one of the girls who had been so vocal earlier in the week bending over and I saw no harm in smacking her albeit slightly, on her behind. A heard a yelp and carried on through the room to the next department and thought no more about it.
Later in the day the composing room FOC (Father Of The Chapel – the union shop steward) told me that I had to accompany him to the folding room. When I got there, I was then handed over to the MOC (The Mother Of The Chapel, the folding room union shop steward, please keep up) who proceeded to give me a dressing down and told me how my behaviour was totally unacceptable, how I had upset the poor girl’s feelings and I needed to apologise which I duly did. I had the strange feeling that both the MOC and the FOC were trying hard to disguise their suppressed laughter.
There is a footnote to the story. Some weeks later after working Saturday morning overtime, I was asked if I would like to accompany a fellow apprentice and his girlfriend on the train that afternoon, and make up a foursome with Maggie, the girl I had assaulted in my ignorance. One afternoon together at the copper mines in Alderley Edge made us both realise that this coupling didn’t have any future in it but we became really good friends and had many laughs together in later years.