Tales from the BUFFET
Tales from the BUFFET
My life working in the catering store in Inverness had settled in nicely. I was happy at work and my wife had just given birth to our second son. As is the way, When things are content and settled, Life has a nasty habit of kicking you in the teeth.
I had been in the stores for some two years now, It was evident that something was happening in the background. Several high ranking officials had been visiting Mr. Pollock, and he had gone quiet and moody.
The rumours flowed, Mostly that Bill Pollock was under pressure to retire early. Personally I didn't agree, Bill Pollock ran a tight ship and was far to good at his job for that, Mind you he didn't mince his words and had made a few enemies through the years.
The Fateful day
The day started pretty much as all the others. It had been quite a few weeks since i had a good chat with Mr. Pollock, but this day I got his famous Phone call
"Ian ... Grab two coffees and come into the office"
Carrying the two hot cups I knocked and entered the office, Bill Pollock sat alone doing some paperwork.
After several minutes Bill looked up and asked how things were with me. Assuming he meant the Stores I proceeded to give him the last audit report.
"NO ...How are things with YOU " he asked.I spent the next few minutes telling him of my personal life.
Bill leaned over and opened a drawer in his desk. He produced a document, looked at it for several seconds then passed it over to me.
I picked up the document and glanced at it.
Catering Internal Vacancies
Every month the catering division of British rail posted this list of available positions on the notice board. Interested applicants applied for which ever job they liked.
Having glanced at the sheets in my hand, I looked back at Bill Pollock .. Obviously I was missing something.
Bill looked straight into my eyes and said "Second page ...third down"
I turned to the second page and read the third vacancy advertised.
"To take charge of all High Speed Restaurant cars and Scottish internal catering services in and out of Aberdeen station."
Still not quite understanding I looked again to bill Pollock.
His hand delved into the desk drawer once again, and he produced a second sheet ... An application form which had been completed apart from the signature, He passed this to me and said.
"Apply for it"
I must have looked a bit foolish, I just sat there, I couldn't talk and my heart was racing.
"Sign it!" said Bill Pollock.
I shook my head slowly, "But I know nothing about High speed trains!"
"No matter ... Do you need time to think about it?" asked Mr. PollockI nodded.
"Take it home then, talk it over with your wife, But bring the forms back in tomorrow."
Mr. Pollock said nothing more, but returned to his paperwork, Making it all to obvious that the session was over.
The rest of the day seemed to pass very slowly, My mind was racing trying to figure out why he wanted me to apply for this position in Aberdeen.
In those days, in the Railway, Staff that were unsuitable for their positions were often taken in and TOLD to apply for another vacancy ... Side stepping and moving problem staff around was fairly common.
I racked my brains trying to think of any reason that I had perhaps offended someone .. But could think of none. The Auditors who visited the stores each month had always given me a glowing report .. Suddenly it dawned on me that what was being offered was promotion, I wasn't being punished or sidestepped.
Again in those day in the Railway, If you were not seen to be applying for various positions, It was considered that you were unambitious, or content where you were, often meaning that you got passed over for future promotions.
That evening I had a long chat with my wife concerning this application. It was pretty obvious to me that I wouldn't get the position, But had to show the "Big Bosses" that I had certain ambitions. Actually my wife seemed quite happy for me to apply for the position, So I signed the form. The following morning i returned them both to Bill Pollock.
He briefly looked at the application form, Nodded his head, and returned to his work.
I returned to the store, unsure if I was sad or angry, I certainly had expected some sort of reaction from Bill Pollock, but had received none.
I kept a low profile for the next couple of weeks, But eventually I was again summoned to Mr. Pollock's office.
Little was said, Bill just handed me an envelope containing 2 train passes and sleeper reservations.
"You leave tomorrow night" he said "Good luck with the Interview"
This strange attitude from Mr. Pollock remained unexplained for some 5 years. It was at his retiral party that Bill eventually told me the full story of events.
After joining the stores at Inverness, Bill said that he spotted a certain potential in me. It was his dearest hope that after a suitable time in the Stores that he would persuade me to join as Manager in the catering unit in Inverness, to be groomed to take over his position as Area Manager when he retired.
However internal politics at this time had decided that Train and Station catering would be a separate concern. Station catering to continue under the Banner of "Travellers Fare" and train catering to become a new company called "ICOBS" (Inter City onboard Services). It had been decided that I would come under the banner of ICOBS.
In reality this made little difference to me, However there was an agreement that persons in one catering service could not apply for "The other side" while still in employment. Thus the trading of staff between train catering and station catering would have to cease.
As I was virtually responsible for running not only the stores but most day to day things for train catering in Inverness, Bill recognised that I was too indispensable to earn promotion and would be kept in the stores job for life, when I came under the ICOBS banner.
Bill Pollock knew that if i was to progress any further in my career in the Railway Catering services, i had to be persuaded to leave the Stores job in Inverness.
