Newspaper staff still meeting up after six decades
THE world of producing newspapers using hot metal is a thing of the past.
New technology means newspapers are produced in a much quicker way using computers.
A team of workers who were involved in hot metal production of the South Wales Echo decades ago are still getting together today.
Doug Fisher, 81, from Rumney, started working as an apprentice compositor on the Echo at Havelock Street, Cardiff in 1953.
He worked as a lino-type operator until 1980 when computer technology was introduced.
Doug said: “The molten hot metal was poured into a row of brass moulds which thumped down to form each individual character in a line of type at the touch of a key and of up to six lines a minute.
“When the typesetting was complete the lines of type were sent to the stone area where compositors, under the direction of sub-editors, assembled them together with hot metal adverts and photographs to form individual pages.
“The Echo for us had a sense of pride, it was a family atmosphere”
There were 120 compositors working back then and Doug had the task of re-training them in 1980 when new technology was introduced.
By 1986, many of the compositors were made redundant and were replaced by new staff who performed the typesetting tasks.
Doug said: “I really enjoyed working there and then training the new staff. I spent a month in Bristol learning the new equipment and employed and trained 35 staff.
“The job was completely different to what it is now.
“Everyone knew each other really well and the majority of people who worked there had been there for around 20 to 30 years.”
Doug was made redundant in 1993 after 40 years of service but says he looks back at his career with delight.
Remarkably, he and other staff still meet up and, until recently, they would get together once a month.
However, due to several bereavements, the numbers of staff have reduced.
Doug added: “We would meet up every month but sadly a lot of people have passed away.
“Regardless of that we still meet up once every few months with our wives and have a chat about the days at the Echo.”