please empty your brain below
That’s the first time I have come across the word ‘muniments’.

I think it’s probably the last time I’ll come across it.

Jim | 27.10.22 - 7:14 a.m. | #

Tram enthusiast Geoffrey...

Some things don't change

mumble | 27.10.22 - 8:43 a.m. | #

I'm guessing that TfL doesn't have a 'Gardening Superintendant' these days..

Adrian | 27.10.22 - 8:45 a.m. | #

adrian - it has that role just a different job title

David | 27.10.22 - 9:00 a.m. | #

TFL do indeed still produce an in-house monthly magazine called "On The Move." I was surprised when searching to find a "Pensioners' edition" available online, but only every three months.

Tim | 27.10.22 - 9:08 a.m. | #

I'm sure you’ll be delighted to see that the September edition of the pensioner version of On The Move has an item on "10 YEARS OF THE LONDON CABLE CAR".

Andrew | 27.10.22 - 9:47 a.m. | #

I met Sam Springer a few times: he was active in many areas of public life both as a councillor and (if I recall correctly) a JP.

He later became the first black Mayor of Hackney.

There's a picture of him in the LT Museum collection here.

Charles | Homepage | 27.10.22 - 9:49 a.m. | #

I'm with Jim on muniments. And the size range on the dress is curious.

Gunnersaurus | 27.10.22 - 10:06 a.m. | #

The tone and sexist content is hardly surprising for the early 1970s. It reminded me of the time when organisations encouraged specific interest clubs for employees, as was very much still the case when I started (non-transport industry) work in the dying months of the '70s. I imagine that such things are largely unknown to anyone who's entered employment since the end of the 80s.

Frank F | 27.10.22 - 10:11 a.m. | #

The curio with that AnIta Harris photo is that it's promoting an all over sponsored bus, by the music publishers Chappell. Why would music publishers need that sort of visible publicity, how many people will see a sponsored bus and think "I'll take that song I've just written to Chappell rather than EMI!"

Mikey C | 27.10.22 - 10:22 a.m. | #

Today’s TfL newsletter for active staff is online only and an absolute woke-fest and so, in the same way, is also completely of its time. Pa la change.

Kim | 27.10.22 - 10:31 a.m. | #

Chappell also sold records and pianos in their Bond Street shop. I found a colour picture of the Red Arrow on another blog It seems to emphasise the record shop side of the business.

ap | 27.10.22 - 10:33 a.m. | #

I had to read the Gardening Trip piece in case it mentioned other people, namely my Grandad, who won awards for planting up and maintaining the approach to the station near Truro where he was Ticketmaster in the 1960s!

Boo, hiss to the Old Miseryguts from one who is now the proud owner of a 60+ oyster and intends to make the most of it while still in possession of all my faculties!

Now women's mags are:
P.5 "You're beautiful just the way you are"
p.11 "Must know beauty tips"
p. 18 "The diet everyone is talking about"
p. 25 "Best of Bake-Off cake recipes"

Cornish Cockney | 27.10.22 - 10:39 a.m. | #

I wonder if Miseryguts was a bus or a train employee, because he highlights the evening rush as being the problem.

When we know it's the morning rush when our free travel is curtailed - on the trains.

Dave | 27.10.22 - 11:04 a.m. | #

Chappell in the 1970s was the go-to place for musical instruments, accessories and sheet music for both classical and popular musicians, of whom there were (and are) lots in London. It was bought by Yamaha and moved to large premises in Wardour Street, and in 2015 they dropped the Chappell name.

Peter | 27.10.22 - 11:36 a.m. | #

When I worked at LT the Muniments Room had its own keeper and internal telephone number.

David | 27.10.22 - 12:28 p.m. | #

The pensioners edition is still printed, as the final box offers an emailed version instead of the postal copy.

TomH | 27.10.22 - 12:48 p.m. | #

I joined the chief signal engineer's department technical society when I started work a few years after this magazine was published. It's still going strong, with a name change to widen its audience slightly. It was a good thing to join if you wanted to get your name known to help promotion prospects, or for behind the scenes visits to railway facilities.

...and Muniments still exists, though I never had any dealings with them in my entire working life.

Andrew S | 27.10.22 - 12:59 p.m. | #

Top baker Sylvan Agard went to live in Canada and died in 2017.

felix | 27.10.22 - 6:03 p.m. | #

“Miseryguts” was Sidney Sheldrick, a bus conductor and TGWU rep at Hackney Garage (and later at Ash Grove). He was a prolific correspondent to LT Magazine and later LT News. He lived in Lodge Avenue, Becontree. You have to understand the absolute outrage when the then GLC “concessionary” bus pass was introduced for pensioners. Prior to that, it was an entitlement for retired LT staff, but only if they had served 25 years or more. All of a sudden, every 60-yo woman and 65-yo man in Greater London was eligible, hence the ill-feeling.

Kim | 27.10.22 - 8:46 p.m. | #

you'all will probably see "muniments" four times in the coming week.

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

The Earl spent the rest of the morning in the muniment room, docilely permitting his cousin to explain the management of his estates to him, and to point out to him the various provisions of his father’s will.

Mike D | 28.10.22 - 12:23 a.m. | #

Thanks for the historical background to concessionary passes Kim.

Cornish Cockney | 28.10.22 - 10:33 a.m. | #











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