Table of Contents
my First placement
The college course was then called a ‘sandwich course’ – in that periods of study were sandwiched between placements in a business environment for up to four months.
This would be paid at a basic rate, but it did supplement the subsistence grant a little.
My first placement – Four months, May to August 1969 – with the Inland Revenue, in the Liver Buildings – on the Pier Head, in Liverpool.
No idea how the college found it but I was very happy. I moved back into my parent’s place in Birkenhead for the duration and commuting so was not only relatively easy but often pleasant in what was was a pretty nice summer. I was bussing it to the ferry terminal at Woodside in ten minutes,
Ferry across to Pier Head – perambulating around the top open deck for exercise with all the suited bankers and tax inspectors. Always, everybody going in the same, anti- clockwise direction.
I once considered going the other way around – but thought it likely that they would just throw me overboard.
The lovely Liver Buildings – numerous businesses, who could all afford the rental – predominantly finance based – banking, insurance, ship broking and of course the inland revenue, on the 6th floor.
A significant majority of young woman – (I was 19, too, young to be sexist) and a large lawned area outside for lunch and sunbathing. – pity you couldn’t take a dip in the Mersey, but I didn’t fancy the stomach pump.
The Job
Learnt that the job was focused on the removal of all paper personal tax files stored in the tax office in liver Buildings to be processed on to Micro fiche in the new tax office in Bootle.
Three of us – another lad, early twenties from Liverpool Uni – who changed later to a younger lad who I think was doing community service – bit unkind but he was not the sharpest pencil in the box and a very smart mature lady who, I eventually found out. Was the wife of one of the Inspectors.
I didn’t get much else for quite a while, as she basically completely ignored me.
Appears bloody boring really –but we had to read the files, which was sometimes interesting – to distinguish between records to be retained and incidental letters, comments and observations – many of which were irrelevant or out of date – which could be destroyed.
We were the first check – more senior members of staff checked again but the first separation saved time later – some of the stuff was obviously out of date or just rubbish.
One file had a large note, in red ink, stuck to the inside cover.
ON NO ACCOUNT INTERVIEW THIS PERSON ALONE. HE HAS VERBALLY ABUSED STAFF REGULARLY AND THREATENED PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. AT HIS LAST CONSULTATION, HE GROUGHT HIS 8-YEAR-OLD SON IN, WHO CRAWLED UNDER THE DESK AND BIT THE INSPECTOR ON THE LEG.
though it did eventually get a bit boring. However, after about four weeks, I was asked if I could cover the drop-in public help desk over lunch and breaks -I did point out that I didn’t know much about tax – except that I paid too much.
Senior Tax Inspector – said – you don’t have to answer, unless it’s obvious to you or they’re in the wrong place and complaining about their rates/Council Tax – bit of a joker – so just consult the nearest inspector who will deal with it or tell you who will.
The Help Desk
OK – gave it a go – and it was marginally more interesting than the files. Just stood around waiting a lot of the time trying to look like an inspector, – with long hair.
Referred a few to inspectors – – two of them just gave me a form – ‘tell him to fill it in and bring it back to me, and/ or they can post it in.’
Some, I dealt with myself either because it was obvious – one chap comes in, relatively polite and sober. Says he has been talking to his neighbour who was paying less tax than he was – so his was wrong. I asked if he knew how much his neighbour earned. His reply – ‘no idea’.
I pointed out that people who earned more, paid more tax than those who earned less. Seemed to be a revelation to him.
turned out his neighbour was a casual labourer on building sites -and he was an HGV driver. He left satisfied at least.
others were so inarticulate, particularly if they smelt of boose. Sometimes, I had no idea what the question was, so I just said ‘your mate is wrong ‘– they mostly accepted it.
I learnt that if you say something with enough confidence, lots of people, who really don’t know what they’re talking about, will just assume you do because you are stood where you are, and will accept it.
Works in every walk of life and is based on ‘apparent authority.’
What is apparent authority?
Much later, as a college lecturer and trainer and a Cert. Ed. on my CV, I grew to understand the nature of authority:
two types
- De Facto that is by fact
So, if I walk into a lecture or training room as the appointed lecturer/trainer or was stood behind the Help Desk of the Revenue – it is assumed that I had the right to be there – even with long hair.
I think it was also the fact that I was a Birkenhead lad and not a suited tax inspector and addressed them on a different level – I can’t remember any problems at all.
there is an assumption that I have the authority and competence to be there. as long as I don’t appear obviously incompetent, pretty quickly.
I used to try to help new lecturer’s nerves by telling them, that, the fact that they walked in and at least, looked the part, had them already in front with a big benefit of the doubt. All they had to do was prepare well and work hard to maintain that opinion.
Then there is:
- De jure that is by right
This has to be earned by doing your job well over time – so is more difficult to attain but more permanent when you do.
An Experiment
An interesting piece of psychological research – a group of late teens on a college course were told that they would participate in what were in effect, auditions for a new part time lecturer.
Two candidates, each choosing their own subject for 30 minutes and being assessed by all participants – one of which was an experienced Senior Lecturer, with the same assessment scoring sheet.
Before each of their sessions – the candidates, in their absence, were introduced to the group. One was described as an experienced schoolteacher now moving into FE, the other as new to education but had a lot of subject knowledge.
They were actually both experienced part-time FE lecturers already contracted.
Following the presentations, the assessments were collated and analysed to a numerical score which was the average over the six assessment criteria
Now, I know you know what’s coming, but the research team were shocked by the disparity.
The scoring of the experienced SL was used as the benchmark score and were similar for both candidates, that is an average 0f 59% -with a 7% spread.
The test audience;
the score for the one ‘new to education’ was 32%
the score for the ex-teacher 53%
the study went on to follow up why the difference was so marked – and then gets technical in identifying influencers other than the introductions – but they were still the major influencers by a wide margin.
The Help Desk
Did about two weeks on the desk – without being attacked – authority and confidence!
I did actually learn a bit about tax. Some Inspectors actually sent me back with an answer.
Then back to the files – I assumed I had just covered someone on holiday.
Young lad and mature woman still there -both seemed glad to see me, even her – maybe not been an ideal couple. He was harmless but thick and I assumed she had not made much of an effort. – they did seem to be sitting further apart, than when I left them
‘Had I missed anything? – It seemed not! Told them of my adventures with the public on the help desk – exaggerated a bit – they needed a bit of entertainment.
Settled down to the old routine but a bit more chatty, including her.
Turned out, he was not on Community Service – didn’t ask him direct, of course, -but he was just filling in while he waited to start his apprenticeship in September as an electrician – she stopped looking down on him a little and even smiled at me. – I think she was just grateful to have somebody to talk to, with an IQ in three figures.
So, a slightly more convivial atmosphere.
So, I asked her, why she was there, and she answered. She says that she was doing this, not for pin money (she is married to a tax inspector – (I found out later- to a senior inspector)– she was just bored and, it got her out of the house and to have regular lunches with her husband – who seemed to work a lot of hours.
I suggested that she got a job as a lunch time barmaid at local pub near home. I guarantee that, a few weeks earlier, that comment would have got a dirty look – this time she actually laughed and said, ‘you never know’ – even then said we should call her Hilary.
So, the days rolled on quite pleasantly – Hilary brought cakes in one day on her birthday- so I did on mine a couple of weeks later.
One day – other lad not in – she actually asked why I was there – so I give her the short version, but she had questions as well and occasionally looked slightly surprised – just for seconds.
She even said she knew the flats I was brought up in – she didn’t say how – and `I didn’t pursue it – no pride in coming out of there – unless you do it with a scholarship or marry well !
Got the impression that she knew how unusual that was – and that maybe Her background wasn’t what I assumed.
There was a story there which I could only imagine – I actually started to write a draft – and then Willy Russell published ‘Educating Rita ‘and I
Decided not to bother.
Transpires that the project is falling behind schedule – now late June and the deadline for completion is first week September – and my deadline for getting back to college,
They offered overtime – working through to 7 pm – two hours work for three hours pay. I took it up, the money would be handy, and I had nothing better to do.
Other two not interested. Hilary travelled home with her husband of course.
So just me -except, on the second evening – two of the young girl secretaries turned up, out of the blue, for overtime – seemed it was now opened to staff as well. Suited me, of course..
Happy to show them the ropes. I remember that one was a butcher’s daughter from Kirkby called Anne – can’t remember the other one.
They even brought sandwiches in and shared
Better than ploughing through files by myself.
The summer of ‘69
It was a nice summer – sometimes met the girls on the lawn outside for lunch – my sandwiches – and discovered wraps – trend setter -me.
Nice moments sat on the benches right at the front edge of Pier Head overlooking the river. Still one of my favourite spots- anywhere, on a nice day.
Very pleasant – but I was going back to Preston and didn’t want to complicate things or take company – even if I could.
Eventually the summer starts fading – September around the corner and the project coming to a close – finish first week September.
Last Day
Project not completely finished-so any files left are going over to the Bootle office to be finished. All current temporary staff offered a temp job there.
Mylittle gang have had enough and i am due back in Preston on Monday.
Bit sad really – and I would never have believed that – when it started.
Gets to about four. Hilary says – ‘Come with me – I’ve got something for you’ – oy oy!. just follow her into the main office – around the corner and down a side corridor (I am now a bit worried that it might get embarrassing – what could I do – and not in the tax office, surely!) eventually get to a large door – she hands me a key – no choice – key unlocks the door and I step into – the Inland Revenue stationary store!
Like walking into W H Smiths. She says – ‘you’ve got half an hour to grab what you can carry’ – and gives me a big hessian bag out of the corner. I can see that this has been planned.
I knew where this came from – at some point I had told her that the college suppled lecture notes but not textbooks or stationery – we had to find our own and with what was left of the grant it was difficult.
Aladdin’s cave
Just as I found the writing pads – the door opens, and a man in a suit comes in – I recognise him – he’s the one who put me on the help desk – Hilary says – ‘it’s OK, Jim this is my husband’ – and he says –
‘hello jim, take whatever you can carry, but no supermarket trollies – and you’ve got fifteen minutes.’
Bit of a comic obviously. Then he is off – no time for me to say thank you.
I am like a whirling dervish – note pads A4 and A5 – ring binders – plastic wallets – even got a hole punch – handfuls of pens –and revolving pencils – printing paper, few rulers and by now I am considering the weight and putting a few heavy things back – I can do without the A3 pad and boxes of sticky labels. Arranging the bag so it can drag on the floor. If I can survive the hernia – I’ll get it home.
Back out into the main office – Hilary Locks up and pockets the key for return. Trying to look inconspicuous, out into the concourse and wait at the lifts.
Get my breath – say to her – ‘thank you, I really do appreciate the thought – and your husband’s a bit of a comic, isn’t he? Resigned sigh, ‘yes he is’.
I then say – ‘So, the next time you meet a young man with long hair – you might be a bit more open minded?’
Her – no argument or excuse or explanation –- she knew exactly what I meant.
She just smiled and said – ‘I promise, I will.” and gave me a peck on the cheek.
Get to the ground floor – Drag the bag on a marble floor to the main door. Out on the outside patio – she says ‘there he is’, and her husband is parked outside –obviously priority parking space on site.
He helps to get the bag in the car, and we are off to the Ferry. – at least I get the chance to thank him.
Helped onto the ferry – stay where I am stood. Even got waved off by them both – like going to war.
Drag the bag up the ramp at the other end – and have enough cash for a taxi home.
Got home and everything safely in – come Monday I will be on the early train to Preston – and I have a plan, depending where the other two Birkenhead lads, who enrolled with me in Preston, are over the weekend.
First call – Dud is in Birkenhead and knows Les is also. When we were in the B&B and home every weekend – we often had a kick about on Sunday morning in the park – and there’s washing to do etc. so no problem. Dud will sort Les and see when it suits them to get over to mine.
I gave him a brief background and agreed that we will share the treasure out to make it manageable to get back to Preston – and they can keep what they can carry.
very much in their interests, of course.
Very magnanimous of me’ I thought – and I really didn’t want to try to get it all back to Preston by myself.
So, Les and Dud come over Saturday afternoon and we allocate the loot as fairly as possible.
They come bearing news – their hated house mate has found somewhere better – so they have a room going spare.
No brainer – third of the rent is less than I am paying now for my noisy little bed sit – it’s closer to the college, has a decent kitchen and just three sharing a decent bathroom, luxury!
They are happy to fill the gap so quickly and ‘better the devil you know.’
We did survive as a trio, just about intact, until the course finished.
Eventually got to talk to my landlord, who, of course was unreasonable. Not enough notice given so I don’t get my deposit back. No surprise really – and it was still a good deal for me in the long term.
Everything fits into place. He had asked me to move all my stuff out before I started my months in Liverpool – or carry on paying the rent! I guarantee he had someone else in, the week I left, of course
I got all my stuff back home to Birkenhead over three or four trips and was then commuting to Pier Head in the sun.
That landlord would have become a very rich man – because, over the course of the next three or four years, the college, actually then known as Harris College, transformed itself into the University of Central Lancashire with a much bigger number of students to be ripped off.
I just had to get my stuff back to a terraced house in Preston – luckily, I didn’t have a lot.
I think I had learnt a lot from the placement – more about human nature than about the `inland Revenue – but I did pick up stuff on personal tax and a clear idea that Tax Inspector – was not a career for me.
Didn’t get my hair cut, though.