JULY 2020 | ISSUE 94 FOR PENSIONERS OF IMPERIAL TOBACCO STILL TWO OF A KIND Pages 4 & 5 FIRST STOP LYN’S SALES SIGN OF THE BERLIN CAREER TIMES page 7 pages 8 & 9 page 12 Events have forced Mick Miller to revise the schedule of his planned charity hike. CHANGE OF PLAN FOR TREK TO On top of the world: Mick on The Great BASE CAMP Wall of China in 2018 turn of unexpected events of intensive care professionals and the He added: “I just want to do my bit to is not stopping former quality of care its patients receive. Mick help with this unique crisis that has, and Imperial sales rep Mick hopes that any money he raises can go continues to, affect so many.” A Miller from his mission to towards providing essential ventilators To support Mick, visit: www.justgiving. scale new heights for charity and other equipment for the charity. com/fundraising/Mick-Miller4 – this time raising funds for the Intensive Care Society. Mick, who was completing regular eight to 10-mile hikes and treadmill training in preparation for a demanding 19-day trek to Everest base camp in Nepal, had to alter his exercise regime after sustaining an injury. “I ruptured my Achilles tendon while playing football,” explained sports enthusiast Mick, 54, who lives in Sherburn- in-Elmet near York and, as reported in the July 2019 Gazette, was keeping fit for the trip to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society – a charity which supports people living with dementia. “I’ve been to physiotherapy and had to change my training routine so bought an exercise bike, which I’ve been using a lot to build the strength back into my calf. “I still use my treadmill but for shorter times as my Achilles tends to ache the next day.” Re-booked Despite continuing to keep in shape for the big event, Mick was dealt another blow when he was informed that the organised trek, scheduled for April 2020, was to be cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. “Fortunately, the trip was self- funded so was fully transferable and I have donated the £1,090 I raised to the Alzheimer’s Society,” said Mick, who worked as a sales rep for Imperial from 1992 until 2017. “I’ve now re-booked onto an 18-day open trip to Everest base camp, which follows the same route across varied terrain and is planned for the end of October. This time, I get to pick the charity and will be completing the trek and fundraising for UK critical care body the Change of plan: a ruptured Intensive Care Society.” Achilles tendon forced Mick to The Intensive Care Society represents change his training regime those who are crucial in the fight against Coronavirus and aims to improve the lives 2 the Gazette | July 2020 Peter Reid and David Macdonald met at Wills nearly 50 years ago and have kept in touch ever since. Both now live in Dorset and meet up regularly to reminisce about their life and times with the company. Former marketing colleagues keep in touch orking together at the Wills Still good friends: former Wills head office head office in Bedminster, marketing department colleagues David Bristol, in the early 1970s has Macdonald (left) and Peter Reid W led to a lifelong friendship for Peter Reid and David David left Wills in early 1976 to join British Macdonald. American Tobacco (BAT) where he worked The pair, who both now live in Dorset in for nearly 22 years in Hong Kong, Malawi, their retirement, still regularly meet up to Scandinavia, Belgium, USA and Germany. He reminisce about their time with the company. left the company in 1996, returning to the UK Peter joined as a management trainee in to live near Wimborne, Dorset, where his wife, 1967 fresh from completing a law degree at Jo, trained as a garden designer. The couple Trinity College, Dublin. have two children and five grandchildren. “After a good spell moving around, I landed in the new developments team where we Specialised business launched Embassy Gold and Slim Kings,” said At this time, for a year, he had a part Peter, who lives in Dorchester with his wife time consultancy role with Imperial Maggie. The couple have three children and Tobacco International and established a four grandchildren. small specialised business providing an “This was a great time with lots of exciting international network of Scottish performers developments, but the lure of travel was – pipers, pipe bands, whisky tasters, Highland there, and I went to Cape Town to work for an athletes, ceilidh bands and so on – for private advertising agency. and corporate events worldwide as well as “...both of us are grateful for filming, theatre shows and cruise ships Back in Bedminster for the start Wills gave to entertainment. “Returning to the UK, a brief, but boring In retirement, David volunteered as a spell with Whitbread as a brand manager our careers.” watch-keeper for the National Coastwatch was broken by a phone call from new Institution (NCI) and, in 2014, became a developments group manager Gerry Murray national trustee for that charity for three asking if I wanted to return to Wills. David also joined Wills in 1967 after two years. In that capacity, he met up with former “Wild horses would not have stopped years as a young officer in the Royal Marines, Wills and ITIL manager Arnold Kanarek, a me, and I was back in Bedminster in 1973 but as a company-sponsored business degree volunteer at the NCI Exmouth branch, who where I met lots of old friends and a new one student. For four years he spent half the died in 2019. – David.” year at college in London and half at Wills “David and I spend far too much time Peter became senior brand manager in various Bristol factory and head office reliving our times at Wills,” said Peter. “They for both Embassy and Lambert & Butler departments. were the best and both of us are grateful for cigarettes, transferring to Hartcliffe, before After graduation, David spent some the start Wills gave to our careers and to a moving to London in 1979 to work for months in the Glasgow sales office and lifetime friendship.” Saccone & Speed wine merchant, part of the was a sales rep based in Bedford before David added: “For all these years Peter and Imperial Group of companies at the time. becoming a junior brand manager in the new I, and our wives, have remained in touch and He then worked for several different developments department. good friends and it was entirely coincidence companies including a major wine and spirit “During my training period I recall being that we also ended up in Dorset when we wholesaler, John Lewis and Eldridge Pope, a a bit startled on my first day in Bristol to be returned to live in the UK. I had a great start in small private brewer in Dorset, before retiring told that I would be spending a week in the business life at Wills and owe a great deal to fully in 2014. beating up room!” he said. the people I met and worked with there.” Free to a good home: collection of LETTER Can anyone house Wills curios needs a curator Mike’s memorabilia? u I was interested to read the Wiltshire, and has collected a Orchestra concert sponsored by article on Player’s cards in the number of items over the years, Wills, Bristol, in October 1968 last issue of the Gazette as which may be of interest to and two black and white photos Mike Pullin, a former colleague readers of the Gazette. of the tennis team(s) – featuring and stalwart of the Wills Staff These include: a box of a very young Mike – from Pensioners Association, is looking unused souvenir playing cards around the 1960s. for a new home for his collection issued for the celebration of If anyone would like to rehome of Wills memorabilia. Wills’ 200th Anniversary in any of these items, please do get Mike worked for Wills in the 1986; a little rules book for the in touch. salaries office in Bristol from 1954 Pension Fund issued to the until 1987, when he retired as male members of staff dated 1st Ruth Bwye salaries controller. He now lives November 1963; a programme [email protected] in a care home in Chippenham, from The London Philharmonic % 0117 942 2205 July 2020 | the Gazette 3 Former Imperial display reps Identical twins Jeff and Phil Black came across an article Jeff, right, and Phil still share published in ITL News magazine over 30 years ago, which an interest in cars prompted them to share their memories of working with the company. THEY’RE STILL TWO OF A KIND... 4 the Gazette | July 2020 orn in 1952 Crucible in Sheffield, World Outside of work, Jeff and “The station runs a just 20 minutes Bowls at Preston Guild Hall and Phil were keen gym-goers programme about celebrating apart, former Regal Rugby League. and regulars at their local 10 memories of working in West B Imperial display “We always remember going pin bowling alley – one of the Yorkshire,” said Phil, who now representatives to the Horizon factory and common American interests works in the internet industry. Jeff and Phil grew up in Leeds picking up our new company they still share as well as “People were calling in about and, like their matching cars, which were always Vauxhall American football, music and, of Lewis’s and Schofield’s, two appearances, their lives have Astra estates,” added Phil, who course, cars.