Introductions - Withy Grove

[Dave Hughes]

Reply to this topic, giving a brief description of your career.

Here's mine:

My name's Dave Hughes and I was an apprentice at the Evening Press in York from 1976-1980. In 1980, as an NGA member, I was able to transfer to the London Region for a job at the South London Press bi-weekly.

At that time there was a rule that banned regional transfers if there were any unemployed members of your trade group (Lino operator) in the region you were moving to. Shortly after I moved, the Evening News closed, removing that opportunity forever.

I was active in the NGA, and (this is as close as this story will get to the North West) I was arrested outside Eddie Shah's Winwick Quay plant on November 29, 1983. Thanks to the union's excellent solicitors I was found not guilty of an ironic charge of "assaulting the police."

More on that here : Winwick Quay, November 29, 1983