Salesman
Podcast: Download (Duration: 17:38 — 20.2MB)
Douglas was born in 1935, in Old Street, East London. He left school at 16 with 4 O levels and had meanwhile moved to Leyton because his mother had a business there. This was subsequently sold at a later date and the family moved to North London.
Douglas enjoyed school but had aspirations of becoming a professional footballer. He was offered a trial at several London football clubs, Fulham, Leyton Orient, and West Ham among others. He obtained a scholarship and played for Leytonstone Boys. His father thought it was rather a risky career and that there ought to be a back-up. Thus the school sent Douglas to Hackney to be a trainee librarian. Douglas refused as it meant working on a Saturday and that would interfere with his football.
His first job was at Odams Press — an interview having been obtained through a family contact. He started as a messenger with 9 others and spent his time delivering material to West End agencies and picking up artwork, in which he was very interested. After a while he decided to approach the M.D. to see if there was a chance of promotion. As a result he was put onto various magazines, Melody Maker, Hairdressers Journal, Woman’s Realm amongst others. The job entailed traveling around London selling products and advertising space. There followed promotion when Douglas was given entire responsibility for “Hairdressers Journal”.
This entailed organising layouts, artwork and doing some artwork himself. Although Douglas enjoyed this work he found it frustrating — hard work for small reward and little backing.
A chance conversation in a pub resulted in him answering an advertisement in the Daily Telegraph for a job in the Brewing Industry. It was for Bass Beer and he was accepted as a salesman. — He was issued with a bowler hat, which he never wore. There followed training in Birmingham where he was taught all aspects of brewery and pub work. Although it was an excellent training and Douglas was happy in the job he decided to return to London. The person doing national accounts was due to retire and Douglas was offered his job. This was very interesting as it entailed selling beer at places like Wembley and Ascot where he met many interesting people.
The job changed when Charringtons took over Bass Beer and Douglas was offered a job as manager in East Anglia. He refused to move so was demoted to a beer salesman. After a year he was made a sales manager, and did very well.
But because of a national embargo on salaries the company refused his request for a salary increase until the embargo was lifted, but wouldn’t give it in writing. Douglas decided to leave and following an interview was offered a job working for Eldridge Pope in Dorset, he was hesitant about accepting, but after an ultimatum he moved to Dorset for this job, his final before retiring.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 17:38 — 20.2MB)
