tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7054126605724460225.post2561296554036675752..comments2024-03-20T21:17:14.523+00:00Comments on Justin's Amazing World At Fenner Paper: Rowley Atterbury - PrinterJustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976966015377117780noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7054126605724460225.post-86337755507449888962011-04-08T16:31:02.993+01:002011-04-08T16:31:02.993+01:00My late father, David 'Conlyn' Davies join...My late father, David 'Conlyn' Davies joined Rowley in the early '60's whilst the press was at Biggin Hill as a sales rep. Over the next 15 years or so he was instrumental to the growth of Westerham Press once they moved into their new premises by bringing in accounts such as British Gas, British Steel, British Coal and Rio Tinto Zinc. I visited the factory with him when I was a girl and well remember the huge litho printing machines.<br />I too am planning to attend the funeral because a representative of Westerham Press attended my father's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7054126605724460225.post-18674574985727337772011-04-08T09:08:12.242+01:002011-04-08T09:08:12.242+01:00From John Deeks 6th April 2011
Dear Justin
I am n...From John Deeks 6th April 2011<br /><br />Dear Justin<br />I am not sure that we have ever met, but I have just read your tribute to Rowley Atterbury.<br />I worked at the Press from 1965-75, so have many memories of him in probably his prime years.<br />When I joined, Rowley would have been in his mid-forties, but was still known by everybody as "The Old Man" - no reflection on his age of course, just a recognition that he was the one in charge.<br />I guess his managemet style was to keep everyone on their toes by changing everything around within the company on an irregular basis. He certainly attracted the best talent around at the time and we all learnt so much from him. I have long retired from work now, but still can't help talking about him!<br />I intend going to the funeral, hope the church is big enough!<br />Best regards John Deeks (ex Westerham Press and ex a few other bosses who never quite matched up)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7054126605724460225.post-85323347423469983732011-04-01T14:50:53.699+01:002011-04-01T14:50:53.699+01:00Oh, by the way, you are right on most things. Howe...Oh, by the way, you are right on most things. However, he set up ROCAPPI UK with Colin (who went on to write dtp programmes for IBM) and I believe it was Lord Forte who declared that there was no future in computers in printing and pulled the financial plug. Also, WP was sold in 1984 and the new factory was designed for offset litho because Biggin Hill (yes, Sargeant's meess) was running prototype multi-colour press and they bought the first four-colour press (a Kolibri) in Europe direct from the Paris show in, I think, 1963. Incidentally, he gave the press to the London School of Printing and asking later, RSA was very irritated that it had been scrapped rather then kept as a piece of history. Actually, that was typical; he was always asking you to return things that you though had been a gift! FFrancis Atterburyhttp://www.hurtwoodpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7054126605724460225.post-80782305360473417832011-04-01T14:41:31.860+01:002011-04-01T14:41:31.860+01:00Justin, this is lovely to read. It really made my ...Justin, this is lovely to read. It really made my week in what has otherwise been less than great. As I read and printed Rowley's book I became more absorbed in the history and we talked a lot about the industry. I could see how he and his ilk managed the transition from the industry of Caslon to the one in which we live and work today. With the brief exception of lithography in the late 18th century, there was no real change between 1460 to 1960. Then between 1960 and 1980 there was real and lasting change. Rowley was in the vanguard of that change and reading your article made me feel very proud. Thanks.Francis Atterburyhttp://www.hurtwoodpress.comnoreply@blogger.com