40 years man and Boy - Live Aid revisited

So, as we approach the 40th Anniversary of Live Aid, I reflect upon a time in my life when, as a 16-year-old, my only concern was which new 7" single I was buying from Woolworths (or Syd Booths if you lived in Mansfield). That was until, out of the blue, my uncle, who happened to be a Senior Executive Officer at the time asked me what I was doing for a job over the Summer.

In truth, absolutely nothing, as I had a job lined up starting in September at HSBC bank in Sheffield, and my only intention was to spend the summer lazing around, going fishing, and playing cricket.

Unfortunately, my dad and my uncle had other ideas after a family holiday in Tenby. We listened to the Live Aid broadcast on the way home in Dad’s Vauxhall Cavalier I soon found myself the following Monday morning reporting for duty at the local Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) where I was given the grand title of Contributions Stamp Exchange Clerk.

Wearing a collar and tie was mandatory, and I addressed everyone above me as Mr or Mrs and the office manager as Sir.

I spent that summer seeing everyone from joiners, bricklayers, driving Instructors and pretty much anyone who was self-employed and 'stamped their card'. Essentially, anyone who was self-employed had a card where they stuck a National Insurance stamp each week for the year. They then exchanged this full card for a blank one and the process started again.

Once the lure of the weekly trip to Finance to pick up my little brown envelope with my wages and payslip had gripped me, there was no turning back. I said goodbye to a career in banking and HSBC.

I recall spending my first week’s wages, £54.00 odd, on a stereo from Rumbelows with more flashing lights than Blackpool illuminations along with a clock for my parents which still sits ticking on their fireplace.

I soon progressed and moved onto the Pensions, Sickness Benefits, Industrial Injuries Benefit and Child Benefit sections and was promoted to Administrative Officer.

A few more moves saw me in Finance, Social Fund, Fraud, and eventually Visiting where I remained for several years progressing to Executive Officer. This was a real eye opener, and I soon became accustomed to the variety of smells a Visting Officer had to endure during a day out on the road.

My proudest achievement, however, was receiving a National Customer Service award for supporting an old man who had not cashed his pension for nearly 3 years due to ill health. I visited him many times and eventually got his house repaired with help from the Local Authority and he was able to access a hot bath and meal at a local care home.

I then moved on to working for Job Centre Plus and was promoted to Higher Executive Officer, managing several sites across the area. Again, a challenging time especially during 2020 with the customers we proudly supported through COVID, many who had never had any involvement with us. A challenge we rose to.

So I look back at 40 years’ service  in the blink of an eye and think about all the good times, office parties, office pantos, pub trips, sports days some fantastic colleagues - sadly some who are no longer with us along with the many customers supported over those years whilst working in the DHSS, Department of Social Security, Benefits Agency, Job Centre Plus - you've not been so bad.

In memory of my Uncle Phillip. 

Author: Adam