Bristow: The Typing Pool

Chester-Perry, like most large British companies in the sixties, employs a group of typists to provide communal services to the middle and junior management. (Senior management has individual secretaries). The typing pool is staffed almost exclusively by young, single, frustrated women who share a single ambition - to marry for money and escape the drudgery of work. Bristow expresses the typically sexist attitudes of men in the 1960s in strip 1032

Strip 1032 was published in the Evening Standard in May 1964

and in this early reference to the pool- strip 29

Strip 29 was published in the Evening Standard in April 1962

Bristow lets out an unimpressed "Holy Mackerel" after he is introduced. Jones asks him "How come the typing bureau only send us plain, unattractive girls?" Bristow "Standing order".

The worst thing that can happen to a typist is to do a whole page of typing with the carbon back to front. Other bad things include having Bristow singing his dictation, Bristow coming in at 4:55pm with an urgent letter to type and Bristow hanging round the typing pool gossiping.

Strip 5484 was published in the Evening Standard in September 1979 and in The Penguin Bristow

What happens when you ask a typist to do something at 4:55pm

The best thing that can happen to a typist is to win the heart of young Robin Chester-Perry, the ne’er do well son of the firm’s founder and heir to the C-P fortune. The rumour of his presence in the building is enough to bring all work in the typing pool to a halt as makeup is hastily applied and hair retouched.

The pool is run by Miss Glockling, a fearsome lady whose management technique seems depressingly familiar.

Discipline is certainly harsh in the Pool. When Miss Sharman is caught sneaking off work at 3pm with the part-timers (Bristow: "We've all tried it at some time") she is give loss of privileges (i.e. no tea and cakes) and 40 days hard labour (i.e non-stop typing with no carbon paper allowed). Bristow and his colleagues are appalled and naturally do what they can to help strip 4008

Strip 4008 was published in the Evening Standard in January 1974 and in Bristow Extra. This scan is from the Melbourne Age February 1974

The typists are a naturally bitchy lot, eager to score points off each other. When Miss Sharman wins a beauty contest in a minor seaside town, Bristow can't wait to race to the pool, inform her colleagues and relish the resulting "Miaow"

Strip 4461 was published in the Evening Standard in September 1975. This scan is from the Melbourne Age September 1975

An enthusiastic welcome from the girls in the pool

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The Chester-Perry Co
The Typing Pool
	Chester-Perry, like most large British companies in the sixties, employs a group of typists to provide communal services to the middle and junior management. (Senior management has individual secretaries). The typing pool is staffed almost exclusively by young, single, frustrated women who share a single ambition - to marry for money and escape the drudgery of work. Bristow expresses the typically sexist attitudes of men in the 1960s in strip 1032 Strip 1032 was published in the Evening Standard in May 1964 and in this early reference to the pool- strip 29 Strip 29 was published in the Evening Standard in April 1962 . Not long afterwards Miss Rouge, the future wife of Atkins of Accounts joins the pool. Strip 1033 was published in the Evening Standard in May 1964, and redrawn, in Bristow (1966) Bristow lets out an unimpressed "Holy Mackerel" after he is introduced. Jones asks him "How come the typing bureau only send us plain, unattractive girls?" Bristow "Standing order". The worst thing that can happen to a typist is to do a whole page of typing with the carbon back to front. Other bad things include having Bristow singing his dictation, Bristow coming in at 4:55pm with an urgent letter to type and Bristow hanging round the typing pool gossiping. Strip 5484 was published in the Evening Standard in September 1979 and in The Penguin Bristow What happens when you ask a typist to do something at 4:55pm The best thing that can happen to a typist is to win the heart of young Robin Chester-Perry, the ne’er do well son of the firm’s founder and heir to the C-P fortune. The rumour of his presence in the building is enough to bring all work in the typing pool to a halt as makeup is hastily applied and hair retouched. The pool is run by Miss Glockling, a fearsome lady whose management technique seems depressingly familiar. Discipline is certainly harsh in the Pool. When Miss Sharman is caught sneaking off work at 3pm with the part-timers (Bristow: "We've all tried it at some time") she is give loss of privileges (i.e. no tea and cakes) and 40 days hard labour (i.e non-stop typing with no carbon paper allowed). Bristow and his colleagues are appalled and naturally do what they can to help strip 4008 Strip 4008 was published in the Evening Standard in January 1974 and in Bristow Extra. This scan is from the Melbourne Age February 1974 . The typists are a naturally bitchy lot, eager to score points off each other. When Miss Sharman wins a beauty contest in a minor seaside town, Bristow can't wait to race to the pool, inform her colleagues and relish the resulting "Miaow" Strip 4461 was published in the Evening Standard in September 1975. This scan is from the Melbourne Age September 1975 An enthusiastic welcome from the girls in the pool Top