A sad development

12:20pm Friday 18th July 2008

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I FEEL so sad seeing the front page today of the BFP Property Press (Planning sought for the former Harrison's site).

The reason is that I was employed at Harrison and Sons Ltd from 1959 until 1979. My father worked their too. I worked in many departments and was Father of the Chapel of the men's Sogat chapel for several years, then I was elected as the Imperial FOC and really enjoyed that post.

I was responsible for six chapels and had 599 members listed in my office of all the shop floor members, men and women. Many of my responsibilities were negotiations with management, Mr George Yorke (Yorkie) and Mr Stan Grey and Mr Howlett.

Also I had to arrange all retirements of the personnel and present cheques to the person leaving. I still have photographs of some of these. Then I had to attend the funerals of any employees that passed away whilst employed there.

For many years I was the security guard on Mel Williams' stamp van. We took millions of pounds worth of stamps each day to the Post Office Supplies Depot at Hemel Hempstead.

Harrison and Sons Ltd was known as the best company in High Wycombe to work for. The wages were very high, and the agreements unbelievable.

I left the company in 1979 to become an assistant branch secretary for the South Bucks branch of Sogat.

I have marvellous memories of the company. There must have been many former Harrisons employees who were as sad as myself, to see your headline in last week's Property Press.

JIM TANNER
Terryfield Road
High Wycombe