Page 6 - Swindon Line Monitoring

Remembering ISTEL - Memories of Swindon Line Monitoring - Rogan Meadows

We had quickly become a close Line Monitoring team. To underline this “we are all in it together”
attitude our senior manager, Mike Grant, “the Guv” came and worked on a night shift for a time
despite his work not requiring it. Now, it turned out Mike was a bit spooked by this darkened, empty
office block with us the only occupants and lit up office. Along the corridor, at the end of the building
were the toilets with troughs and individual sit down “toilets” each with a lockable door with an 18-inch
gap or so at the bottom of the door. One night Mike announced he was off to the “traps” Adrian and
I gave him a couple of minutes start then followed him, the plan being to switch out the lights. We
peeked in and could see the one door shut. We also spied the cleaner’ bucket and mop. I crept in
quietly and got the mop, stood outside the door of the “trap” and, when Adrian switched out the lights,
I swept the mop under the door and upwards. What a shriek!

Weekend working also became necessary to maintain software development progress. However,
one Friday we hit upon a technical hitch which only our technical expert, Snooky (John Snook) could
solve. Trouble was he was accompanying his wife leading a scout camp somewhere outside Reading.
It was decided that The Gov, myself and Adrian would set off in our team car on Friday evening to
find the camp and get Snooky to come in Saturday morning and sort us out so we could progress.

Somehow we managed to locate the camp and drive onto the site. Mrs Snook was not impressed
to see us! We explained the situation to John and said we would retire to the local whilst he discussed
things with his wife. Once discussions were concluded they could join us with the outcome. Meantime
we were chatting up a very well endowed landlady and explaining how we had come to visit the scout
camp. She admitted that she went camping and liked big tents. Our most senior member misheard
and agreed that he liked big t*ts too!

Typical press line. Flat metal in one end, finished panel out the other.

Page: 6 Remembering ISTEL