There is one thing that I learned from Mr. Latham, how to write a decent business letter. I’d had plenty of experience in writing letters, since becoming a claims man, first at the ‘Royal, and then at the ‘Hartford’, but nothing on the scale that was expected, and required, of me at Harvey Trinders.
At those two tariff companies, the mode of writing, was usually in what Mr. Latham referred to as the passive; I/We would be obliged….; I/we should be pleased….; that type of thing.
He wanted ‘shall and will’; I shall be pleased if/to ….; we will appreciate an immediate…. you get the idea. I must admit I liked that; and as the bulk of my correspondence was to the London office, or Hedderwicks: that was Hedderwick Fookes & Alston, Lloyds solicitors of choice in Melbourne. I thought this gave my letters the impression that I knew exactly what I was doing. Especially when writing to Hedderwicks giving instructions.
Well I did; didn’t I?
Every Friday night after shutting up shop, I’d load up a rather large attaché case with 30 or 40 claim files; well I told you it was rather a large one, close and pack up my dictation machine, making sure I had plenty of disc’s, and loaded up make my way home for a weekends work. That was every week end.
In the comments of the previous post, I was asked, very politely of course, by that very gentlemanly young chappie, Derrick, known to us all; to describe my dictation machine. I’ve excelled myself.
Thanks to the combined marvels of the Internet and Google, here’s an American ad from the 50’s or 60’s, advertising the very machine, plus a photo of the disc’s used. They were 7 inch and really floppy disc’s! 
If you click the pics and enlarge them you can read how marvellous these are! Well at the time they were; at the ‘Royal’, I had one of those old time cylindrical machines, when the typist had finished typing, then had to erase what was on them, on a special shaving machine. Couldn’t find pictures of these unfortunately.
The young of today, have no idea of the joys of living in the 50’s, I’m dinkum, wouldn’t change places with anyone for love nor money.
On the last post I said I’d write a bit more about Kjell, my new offsider, a bit of a come down for him.
A jet fighter pilot in the The RNoAF (Luftforsvaret), that’s the Royal Norwegian Air Force for all you Republicans ; and democrats out there, so here’s a little to keep you going. I did meet up with Kjell in my next life/reincarnation, whatever we might decide to call it, when I finish up with the ‘Rechabite’; that’s of course if I continue blathering away to the annoyance of the War Office.
Anyway here’s Kjell;
Kjell was an ex Norwegian Air force fighter pilot, and unique. How? Why?
In the 1950’s, the Royal Norwegian Air Force was one of NATO’s two air forces in Europe. They were equipped with F86 Sabre jets, and didn’t have much luck. It wasn’t the air-crafts fault, it was the pilots.
There were several fatalities. Seems that the Sabre had a tendency to flare out immediately after take off; the pilots were taught, and told, that in this event, they were to attempt a forced landing; never attempt to turn, and try to recover the runway.
Obviously these instructions fell on deaf ears. I can’t recall the exact number now, it was 6 or 7 pilots tried to turn, crashed and were killed.
Kjell had a flare out, and made a forced landing on deep snow; the aircraft was a write off,. He managed to get out, walk away, then collapsed with a broken back. He was the only Norwegian Air force pilot to survive a Sabre flare out, which I reckon kind of makes him unique
I knew this to be true, he had all the photo’s of his aircraft, or what was left of it, where it had torn through the snow, like giant skid marks, and his being bundled onto a stretcher. He was a good bloke and he was just filling in time joining Trinders. I suppose I should tell you why.
He enjoyed a beer too, wonder the recabite gave him a job.
LordBeariOfBow 
WOW! Are you still in touch with Kjell?
Quite a story.
Ira
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No Ira, I shall probably write about the last time we met if I move on to my next life
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I thought Sabrejets were so cool when I was a girl. Didn’t know they had such a nasty disposition. Glad Kjell survived his crash. That’s one tough pilot!
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He was only a small bloke about my height 5’9” may have been a wee bit taller but not by much. It wasn’t the plane so much, the environment cold /ice and snow way up there in Norway probably didn’t help much. The RNoAF roll was to keep the Soviets in check for NATO and Turkey had the same mission down in warmer climes.
He was a very good pilot, might have to write more about him
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My brother flew bombers for Strategic Air Command for the same reason. He wanted to fly fighters but because he’s 6’4″ they put him in a B-47.
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I’d love to have flown one of those. The big [planes always appealed to me, though I’d have been quite happy to fly small ones off the flight deck of a carrier.
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Another good one Brian and I’m looking forward to part five already 🙂
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WOWZA! Such an interesting story of Kjell! I’m so so so glad he survived that crash! Scary stuff! 😮 ( I married into Norwegians! 😀 )
In reading your life memories, I love seeing how you learned from people and how you taught people, Lord 🐻 iOfBow!!!! One of the wonderful things about life! 🙂 Great memories! Keep bringin’ on and we’ll keep reading! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
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I like Norwegians, can’t stand the Swedes, but the Norwegians are a great race, with one exception.:P 😀
There’s plenty more but I’m feeling that I’m over doing it, still I’ll keep plugging away ’til someone calls time! 🐻 i 🙂 😛 😀
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My Norwegian relatives are nice, and a little mischievous. 😉 😀 I like that! 😛 😈
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They are very honourable very brave people. It was a small group of Norwegians who blew up the plant that was producing heavy water to be used in making the atom bomb for Hitler. Much as Hollywood likes to think it was some Yankees who was the Heroes of Telemark
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I couldn’t enlarge the pics, but no matter. On the subject of height, at 6’3″ in those days I was usually the tallest person around, but when I started at Lloyds two of my colleagues were 6’5″/6″. it felt really weird.
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I’ve enlarged the pic Derrick it’s a wee bit easier, I tried to find the original but no luck, checked the history but it’s gone.
6’3″ ? I’d have to stand on a box to look you in the eye.
I suppose those colleagues they called you Shorty?
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Not to my face 🙂
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You? a bellicose chappie like me? That;s hard to believe
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Only if you cross me 🙂
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