Almost Dickensian

A Craigie regular writes that he joined the DC Thomson company of Courier newspaper fame in its Counting House when he left school.

“I was interviewed for the position by Mr Gracie, general manager of the Counting House at Meadowside, Dundee and, ultimately, was working for Mr William King in the Costing Department together with Mr John Gellatly and Miss Moir.

“I had responsibility for the checking of incoming accounts both for HQ and for the numerous branch offices throughout Scotland.

“Staff sat on high stools at high Victorian, almost Dickensian, sloping lidded style desks and I was in bad trouble once over an account which had slipped down the back of my desk.

“Its prompt payment secured 6d discount and, because the unpaid account only surfaced after the discount date, there was something of a row. I had to answer to a serious charge of negligence to Mr King. It was a fair place to work, though, with good training.

“As employees everyone had fun with such things as a Saturday night bus trip to Glasgow to see Kenneth Mckellar perform in The White Horse Inn.

“The youngsters on the staff were expected to man the teleprinter on a Saturday afternoon for a 10 bob payment and to feed the incoming material to the reporters and editing staff.

“Use was made also of the junior staff members on Saturday afternoons to attend and report on Junior football in Dundee – all part of the company ethos.”

Our correspondent left the company in September 1955 when he became a local government officer, retiring finally in March 1996.