Regular readers of this feature will know that these pages normally contain amusing, but true tales of my experiences working as a steward for British Rail Train catering. A little bit different this time around, as two events were about to change my whole career, indeed my whole life!
Shortly after starting work with Train catering, I had also got married. Now the early years of marriage are normally quite good, with both partners working at their individual jobs and contributing to the every day household expenses. For me this was ideal, The wages paid to Stewards/Chief Stewards in the winter season was barely sufficient for one person to live on, never mind a married couple ( Slightly different in the height of the Summer season with all the tourist trade, but as I say it is a short Summer and a very long Winter).
Returning home from a trip to Aberdeen, my wife had some exciting news for me. She had been at the Doctors, YES ...She was pregnant.
Now this was very GOOD news, the imminent birth of my first child, I was going to be a father .... however it did not take long before reality set in ... and I realised that the wages from my employment would certainly not cover our expenses, when my wife gave up her job ...and with an extra mouth to feed .. well the situation seemed impossible.
In normal circumstances this would not really have been a problem. I was, after all a skilled tradesman, having served a full apprenticeship as a fitter Welder, Inverness was at the height of the Oil boom and work for Welders was not only plentiful, but also very well paid.
My problem was ...I had found a job that I really loved, There was a sense of freedom, but also of Family in working with British Rail, never before had I felt so happy or fulfilled as I had while working with Train catering.
It is very difficult to explain in words to anyone not involved with the Railway, but it does seem to envelope you into a tight knit group, even of holidays or time off, your life revolves around the nearest Train station and or the staff therein.
This might sound to you like an obsession, and I suppose in some ways it is, but don't mistake it for hobbiests like Train Spotters or the rail enthusiasts, Very few people working for British Rail are spotters or enthusiasts, but almost all seem to develop this Railway family feeling.
Anyway the thought that due to circumstances, I would probably have to give up my career with the Railway, and return to my original trade, was, for me soul destroying, but I could see no other alternative.
One day while standing Spare at Inverness station, Bill Pollock (Area Manager for Travellers Fare) stuck his head out of his office door and gave me a shout.
"Ian ...Grab two coffee's and come into my office"
Nothing unusual in that, Mr. Pollock was famed for being a coffee drinker and sitting for an hour at a time, telling tales of the olden days and staff involved with train or station catering.
Most people rejected Bill Pollock as an old story teller, and a bit of a laugh, but I knew that Mr. Pollock was a very tricky customer, sharp and astute, with a very uncanny knack of getting to the truth of a matter, without the other person being even aware he/she was being questioned.
So having sat down and drank a couple of cups of coffee with Mr. Pollock ...Chatted about old times etc. He suddenly tuned around and said.
"You have been a bit down lately ... What's the Problem?"
NOTE:- a statement and a Question.
This was typical of Bill Pollock, he would get you relaxes with stories and tales, and just at the right moment hit you right between the eyes with the real reason he wanted to talk to you.
This took me quite by surprise even although I had expected it, I suppose it would have been easy enough to say nothing was wrong, but the look on Mr. Pollock's face, Told me that he had already a good idea for what my answer was going to be.
After explaining my financial concerns and the unhappiness that I may have to leave my beloved job, Bill just nodded and then said he had to get back to work ...Virtually throwing me out of his office.
I really don't know what I expected, but after leaving his office, I felt even more depressed than ever.
More that a month had passed and no further mention was made about my conversation with Mr. Pollock, I had even started to apply for various jobs, even though I tried to make light of it, I was deeply disturbed about leaving the Railway.
One morning I was again assigned to "Spare" duty, and upon my arrival at Inverness station (05.30am) I was soon warned that several "Catering Management officials" were on the sleeping cars from Glasgow.
As the morning progressed Mr. Graham (Circuit Group Manager - Train Catering) visited several catering vehicles, and did inspections prior to their departure.
Apart from a few curt words with Mr. Graham, I kept my distance from the Station Cafeteria (out of sight - Out of mind).
However just before my shift was due to finish, I was sitting in the Cafeteria having a Coffee, when one of the Workers approached me, Saying Bill Pollock wanted to see me in his office.
I wandered along and gave a curtious knock on the Office door and heard Bill bellow, "Enter"
On opening the door and stepping inside the office, my heart fell to my boots ... Sitting there was
Bill Pollock (Area Manager Station catering - Inverness/Aberdeen)
Mr. W Graham (Circuit Group Manager - Train Catering)
Mr. J Thomsom (Personal manager Train/Station Catering)
Mr. W Langham (Group Catering manager - Scotland)
Now to a simple Chief Steward, to be called to see one on these gentlemen would almost ensure a Bollocking for some reason or another.
To be called to see 2 of them would almost ensure a sacking offence.
To be called in to see 4 of them ... Christ! it must be a public execution .. Or worse!
Bill Pollock told me to take a seat ...So there I was sat facing the 4 most important men in Scottish Train Catering ...Was I nervous? ...You bet.
My state of mind worsened as Mr. Langham picked a file up from the desk and started to flick through it ...It was clearly marked
Ian C Fyvie - Chief Steward Relief -DOB 30-06-51
Sitting in the chair, I suddenly became quite calm, After all I was intending leaving anyway, So what difference would being sacked make.
Suddenly Mr. Langham spoke - "I believe Congratulations are in Order, Your expecting your first child - Mr. Fyvie."
"Yes!"... I stammered ..."Thank you ...But I somehow doubt that you three gentlemen travelled all the way from Glasgow just to offer your congratulations to me" (May as well force the issue ..I Thought)
Mr. Langham smiled and replied NO ...We want to talk to you about something else.
Cutting a long uncomfortable story short.
They had been refurbishing the Catering store in Inverness Station and it had been decided through internal politics that the person in charge of the Store would be paid 60% by Train Catering and 40% by Station Catering.
Bill Pollock had put my name forward for the Position
The next hour passed by in a flurry ...Talk of wages/Hours etc.
At the end of all this conversations I asked for some time to talk things over with my wife. I Promised to give my answer the next day to Bill Pollock.
Having left the office ..I headed for the Station Bar ..In definite need of liquid sustenance .. After my second drink, Bill Pollock suddenly appeared behind the Counter, Asking me to join him in his office.
This time it was just Him and I and he started going through the various details.
My main concern was the the Stores job paid LESS than the hourly rate I was getting as a Chief Steward, however Bill got around this by offering me two nights working in the Station Bar.
I certainly had a lot to think about. On leaving Bills office I bumped into one of Inverness's longest serving Chief Stewards.
Tommy and I went for a quick drink and I told him about the Stores Job offer.
When I told him I was unsure if I would accept it or not, He just looked at me and said "Your a Damned fool if you don't"
"You know the score with Storemen delivering stuff to the Trains" he said ...."Its a 50p tip from every one ..With 20 trains a day leaving Inverness your going to make at least £10 Tax free every day ...£50 a week on top of your wages".
Blimey ... I hadn't even though of that, This really made a big difference ....Regular Hours of work ..Part time work in the Station Bar and loads of Tips.
That night it didn't take me long to convince my wife that this offer would solve your problems.
The next day, I reported to Bill Pollock that I would accept the offer ... My whole career was about to change.
