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Hi, Don,
I met Sir John on many occasions, though only as a child. When Dad left Stan=
dard (temporarily in 1945 on health grounds - he had seven duodenal ulcers) B=
lack was a regular visitor at our home, usually on his way home. He arrived i=
n late 1944 just after my birth and said =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ve come to see t=
he son and heir. I hope I=E2=80=99m not too late?=E2=80=9D to which my mothe=
r replied, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m sorry Sir John, but you=E2=80=99re too late.=
He was put to bed an hour ago and cannot be disturbed=E2=80=9D.
As Ma said on several occasions in later years, =E2=80=9Cthat was the only t=
ime I ever refused him and he was as meek and apologetic as a lamb.=E2=80=9D=
But he came on many other occasions as I grew older and I remember him as ki=
nd, generous and very interested in my progress at school - about which the l=
ess said the better.
John Black has not enjoyed a favourable press, mainly from Graham Robson, wh=
o never knew him AFAIK, and who has most unjustly portrayed Black as an ogre=
and =E2=80=9Ca man with a Stalinist management style=E2=80=9D. When I worke=
d at Standard Triumph in the 60s, many of my colleagues at all levels were l=
ongstanding supporters and advocates of their former boss and wouldn=E2=80=99=
t hear anything to his discredit. Yes, he had mood swings, yes he could be a=
n absolute s**t if the mood took him and he certainly didn=E2=80=99t suffer f=
ools. But he was fair, kind and took a detailed interest in every employee, m=
ost of whom he knew by name and he also knew a great deal about them. This i=
s largely because he made a point of going anywhere in the plant on a daily b=
asis quite alone and talked to everyone he met. Additionally, on Mondays he m=
ade a point of welcoming new intake at their workstation. On Fridays, he vis=
ited every employee who was leaving, wished them good luck and if they had p=
erformed their jobs well, he assured them another job at Standard would be f=
ound if their new job didn=E2=80=99t work out.
It was those little things - and so many more about the man - that endeared h=
im to so many on aspects of an amazing man who Graham Robson has grossly and=
unjustly misrepresented on many times in print.
I well remember Blacks memorial service in Coventry Cathedral in Jan 1965. M=
ore than sixty years later, that service is still a landmark event in the bu=
ilding history because the number of attendees vastly exceeded those who wer=
e there when members of our Royal Family were present. They crammed more tha=
n 5000 Standard Triumph employees and retirees in the building and there wer=
e another 2000 odd outside sheltering from a blizzard. People don=E2=80=99t t=
urn out in those numbers in bad weather and the cold because they=E2=80=99ve=
nothing better to do. They were there because a certain man had helped them=
enjoy a better life or had done something for them as individuals that they=
never forgot. That=E2=80=99s some epitaph!
As an aside, I do a range of talks in the UK on a number of different automo=
tive subjects and automotive people for clubs and societies and on the peopl=
e side, it=E2=80=99s about 50/50 in the popularity stakes between William Mo=
rris (Lord Nuffield, another amazing man and philanthropist) and Sir John Bl=
ack. I look forward to the day when the scales tip 60/40 in favour of Sir Jo=
hn.
Cheers, Jonmac
Sent from a piece of electronic papyrus I found in King Tut=E2=80=99s tomb
> On 11 Feb 2023, at 12:23, Don Hiscock <don.hiscock@gmail.com> wrote:
>=20
> Jonmac, did you ever have a chance to be in a room or at some event with S=
ir John? Seems like with your and especially your father's long association=
with S-T that might have happened at some time. There can't be many in thi=
s group who could say that...
>=20
>> On Sat, Feb 11, 2023 at 4:31 AM John Macartney <johnbmacartney@gmx.com> w=
rote:
>> February 10th is the day. I no longer have a Standard or Triumph car to d=
rive, but I still celebrated the event. I drove my large convertible of Swed=
ish origin to his former home near where I live which for many years has bee=
n a *very* expensive hotel and restaurant. Mindful of our stringent UK laws r=
elating to DUI, I resisted the temptation for a pint of my favourite brew bu=
t enjoyed an excellent cup of freshly brewed coffee. Then I paid the check. =
Frightening! Nonetheless it was worth the trip. You can find out more about t=
he venue at www.mallory.co.uk
>>=20
>> Jonmac
>>=20
>> Sent from a piece of electronic papyrus I found in King Tut=E2=80=99s tom=
b
>>=20
>> > On 10 Feb 2023, at 19:00, triumphs-request@autox.team.net wrote:
>> >=20
>> > Send Triumphs mailing list submissions to
>> > triumphs@autox.team.net
>> >=20
>> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> > http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/triumphs
>> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> > triumphs-request@autox.team.net
>> >=20
>> > You can reach the person managing the list at
>> > triumphs-owner@autox.team.net
>> >=20
>> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> > than "Re: Contents of Triumphs digest..."
>> > Today's Topics:
>> >=20
>> > 1. Isn''t today JB's birthday (JOSEPH MATO)
>> > 2. Re: Isn''t today JB's birthday (Rye Livingston)
>> > <mime-attachment>
>> > <mime-attachment>
>> > _______________________________________________
>> >=20
>> > Triumphs mailing list
>> > Triumphs@autox.team.net
>> > http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/triumphs
>>=20
>> ** triumphs@autox.team.net **
>>=20
>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
>> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs http://www.team.net/arch=
ive
>>=20
>> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/don.hi=
scock@gmail.com
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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D=
utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto">Hi, Don,<div><br></div><div>I met Sir John o=
n many occasions, though only as a child. When Dad left Standard (temporaril=
y in 1945 on health grounds - he had seven duodenal ulcers) Black was a regu=
lar visitor at our home, usually on his way home. He arrived in late 1944 ju=
st after my birth and said =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ve come to see the son and hei=
r. I hope I=E2=80=99m not too late?=E2=80=9D to which my mother replied, =E2=
=80=9CI=E2=80=99m sorry Sir John, but you=E2=80=99re too late. He was put to=
bed an hour ago and cannot be disturbed=E2=80=9D.</div><div>As Ma said on s=
everal occasions in later years, =E2=80=9Cthat was the only time I ever refu=
sed him and he was as meek and apologetic as a lamb.=E2=80=9D</div><div>But h=
e came on many other occasions as I grew older and I remember him as kind, g=
enerous and very interested in my progress at school - about which the less s=
aid the better.</div><div>John Black has not enjoyed a favourable press, mai=
nly from Graham Robson, who never knew him AFAIK, and who has most unjustly p=
ortrayed Black as an ogre and =E2=80=9Ca man with a Stalinist management sty=
le=E2=80=9D. When I worked at Standard Triumph in the 60s, many of my collea=
gues at all levels were longstanding supporters and advocates of their forme=
r boss and wouldn=E2=80=99t hear anything to his discredit. Yes, he had mood=
swings, yes he could be an absolute s**t if the mood took him and he certai=
nly didn=E2=80=99t suffer fools. But he was fair, kind and took a detailed i=
nterest in every employee, most of whom he knew by name and he also knew a g=
reat deal about them. This is largely because he made a point of going anywh=
ere in the plant on a daily basis quite alone and talked to everyone he met.=
Additionally, on Mondays he made a point of welcoming new intake at their w=
orkstation. On Fridays, he visited every employee who was leaving, wished th=
em good luck and if they had performed their jobs well, he assured them anot=
her job at Standard would be found if their new job didn=E2=80=99t work out.=
</div><div>It was those little things - and so many more about the man - tha=
t endeared him to so many on aspects of an amazing man who Graham Robson has=
grossly and unjustly misrepresented on many times in print.</div><div>I wel=
l remember Blacks memorial service in Coventry Cathedral in Jan 1965. More t=
han sixty years later, that service is still a landmark event in the buildin=
g history because the number of attendees vastly exceeded those who were the=
re when members of our Royal Family were present. They crammed more than 500=
0 Standard Triumph employees and retirees in the building and there were ano=
ther 2000 odd outside sheltering from a blizzard. People don=E2=80=99t turn o=
ut in those numbers in bad weather and the cold because they=E2=80=99ve noth=
ing better to do. They were there because a certain man had helped them enjo=
y a better life or had done something for them as individuals that they neve=
r forgot. That=E2=80=99s some epitaph!<br>As an aside, I do a range of talks=
in the UK on a number of different automotive subjects and automotive peopl=
e for clubs and societies and on the people side, it=E2=80=99s about 50/50 i=
n the popularity stakes between William Morris (Lord Nuffield, another amazi=
ng man and philanthropist) and Sir John Black. I look forward to the day whe=
n the scales tip 60/40 in favour of Sir John.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheer=
s, Jonmac<br><br><br><br><div id=3D"AppleMailSignature" dir=3D"ltr">Sent fro=
m a piece of electronic papyrus I found in King Tut=E2=80=99s tomb</div><div=
dir=3D"ltr"><br>On 11 Feb 2023, at 12:23, Don Hiscock <<a href=3D"mailto=
:don.hiscock@gmail.com">don.hiscock@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><b=
lockquote type=3D"cite"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmai=
l_default" style=3D"font-size:small">Jonmac, did you ever have a chance to b=
e in a room or at some event with Sir John? Seems like with your and e=
specially your father's long association with S-T that might have happened a=
t some time. There can't be many in this group who could say that...</=
div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_att=
r">On Sat, Feb 11, 2023 at 4:31 AM John Macartney <<a href=3D"mailto:john=
bmacartney@gmx.com">johnbmacartney@gmx.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquo=
te class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px s=
olid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">February 10th is the day. I no longe=
r have a Standard or Triumph car to drive, but I still celebrated the event.=
I drove my large convertible of Swedish origin to his former home near wher=
e I live which for many years has been a *very* expensive hotel and restaura=
nt. Mindful of our stringent UK laws relating to DUI, I resisted the temptat=
ion for a pint of my favourite brew but enjoyed an excellent cup of freshly b=
rewed coffee. Then I paid the check. Frightening! Nonetheless it was worth t=
he trip. You can find out more about the venue at <a href=3D"http://www.mall=
ory.co.uk" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">www.mallory.co.uk</a><br>
<br>
Jonmac<br>
<br>
Sent from a piece of electronic papyrus I found in King Tut=E2=80=99s tomb<b=
r>
<br>
> On 10 Feb 2023, at 19:00, <a href=3D"mailto:triumphs-request@autox.team=
.net" target=3D"_blank">triumphs-request@autox.team.net</a> wrote:<br>
> <br>
> Send Triumphs mailing list submissions to<br>
> <a href=3D"mailto:triumphs@autox.team.net"; target=3D"_blan=
k">triumphs@autox.team.net</a><br>
> <br>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<br>
> <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/triumphs=
" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinf=
o/triumphs</a><br>
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<br>
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> <br>
> You can reach the person managing the list at<br>
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"_blank">triumphs-owner@autox.team.net</a><br>
> <br>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<br>=
> than "Re: Contents of Triumphs digest..."<br>
> Today's Topics:<br>
> <br>
> 1. Isn''t today JB's birthday (JOSEPH MATO)<br>
> 2. Re: Isn''t today JB's birthday (Rye Livingston)<br>
> <mime-attachment><br>
> <mime-attachment><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> <br>
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t=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs"; rel=3D"noreferre=
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</blockquote></div>
</div></blockquote></div></body></html>=
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