My WIP book about Red Robbo, and Longbridge stuff.

[kadams1970]

I am looking into the AROnline email isssue.

Still very much running AROnline - best way to contact me is [email protected]. Encouraged by all of this – if you're at Gaydon this weekend, happy to catch-up. Introduce yourself, I don't bite.

[motorpunk]

11 minutes ago, kadams1970 said:

I am looking into the AROnline email isssue.

Still very much running AROnline - best way to contact me is [email protected]. Encouraged by all of this – if you're at Gaydon this weekend, happy to catch-up. Introduce yourself, I don't bite.

Oh that’s kind, thanks Keith. Email incoming…

[High Jetter]

5 hours ago, Snipes said:

How many pages?

Looky bottom left? 🤣

[robt100]

On 15/07/2025 at 19:16, Matty said:

Any chance of throwing about 50 blank ones in as well? Makes the book thicker and makes me look brighter in front of the wife

Just label them in the book as "unfinished due to strike action" just to keep the BL theme running 🙈

[Sigmund Fraud]

7 minutes ago, robt100 said:

Just label them in the book as "unfinished due to strike action" just to keep the BL theme running 🙈

Alternatively, he can transpose page 47 and page 74 as a homage to BL quality* control.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, robt100 said:

Just label them in the book as "unfinished due to strike action" just to keep the BL theme running 🙈

Yup, or pages with obvious defects, oil or rust.

[motorpunk]

Love this pic. This book is about the people. 

[New POD]

On 14/07/2025 at 20:27, motorpunk said:

The address I have for him shows a C6 outside 👊🏾

He went to the same 6th form college as my wife. (Southport Tech) 

[motorpunk]

On 16/07/2025 at 21:22, Sigmund Fraud said:

Alternatively, he can transpose page 47 and page 74 as a homage to BL quality* control.

Tempting….

[motorpunk]

50000 words. Every time I think I’m finished someone else gets in touch and I have to rejig it all to fit. I write with a reversed timeline, starting with what we know (communist, Edwardes, etc) and then working backward to his birth, with the idea we’ll uncover along the way what made Robbo so, well, red. I love this style, it’s difficult to write and rewarding to read, but, bugger me with a Maxi, when someone drops a few late facts in I have to upend my whole timeline and double check I’ve not already introduced things already somewhere. Was writing about how difficult it was making Minis and then I find this picture of a bloke actually smiling at Longbridge and have to tweak the narrative to suit. I love writing. I wish I could make a living from this.
 

[Matty]

He's only smiling cos he's working his notice 😁

[Matty]

@kadams1970 just seen this. Brilliant picture. Looks a lot like where I work (minus the quality league table).

[motorpunk]

3 hours ago, Matty said:

@kadams1970 just seen this. Brilliant picture. Looks a lot like where I work (minus the quality league table).

In the book already 👊🏾

[motorpunk]

I love the faces in the pickets lines. 

[motorpunk]

Another bloody rabbit hole. 51000 words, thought I was ready for the proof reader but waiting on a few last email replies…

[motorpunk]

When I published my last book, Looking for The Real Weasel (link for shameless plug), I was worried that I'd been possibly a little too lenient on someone who was, amongst other things, a burglar. I published the book and, very soon afterwards, we were burgled at home. I would not be so sympathetic if I were to write that book again. 

Now, weeks away from publishing a book about a trade unionist, I was worried that I'd been possibly a little too lenient on employers who, amongst other things, take the piss. I'm about to publish the book and, great timing, I was given notice of redundancy from my day job. I will not be so sympathetic on employers now...

(In happier news, I had a whopping interview with another ex-BL bigwig, and someone who knew Robbo personally, which will delay publication as I type it all up. At least I'll have some time on my hands now....)

[High Jetter]

Good news about the new source, commiserations on the redundancy though

[Matty]

DO NOT write a book about murderers next. For your own personal safety.

Bad news pal. Good luck.

[motorpunk]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

Good news about the new source, commiserations on the redundancy though

Ah thanks man. Worse things happen at sea. I’d love to pack in being an “International Business Wanker*” and write for a living. 
 

*Not my job title but definitely my job description.

[Dobloseven]

Sorry to hear about the redundancy.Did you see it coming,or out of the blue.Number three son got made redundant last Autumn,expecting it,but got three months "gardening leave" on the understanding he'd do some work if asked.He's in a very specialised industry,not many jobs,but not many people who can do them.Forty minutes after being told, he's contacted someone he's worked for in the past and got a job starting in the New Year after his gardening leave ends,at the same money.Jammy beggar!Was a bit miffed when the old company did ask him to do some work though.Honestly think no one can take anything for granted,work wise and you need a Plan B for when it goes belly up.You could always get a tent and take the good lady for a walk round Cornwall!Got to be a story there.

[N Dentressangle]

3 hours ago, motorpunk said:

When I published my last book, Looking for The Real Weasel (link for shameless plug), I was worried that I'd been possibly a little too lenient on someone who was, amongst other things, a burglar. I published the book and, very soon afterwards, we were burgled at home. I would not be so sympathetic if I were to write that book again. 

Now, weeks away from publishing a book about a trade unionist, I was worried that I'd been possibly a little too lenient on employers who, amongst other things, take the piss. I'm about to publish the book and, great timing, I was given notice of redundancy from my day job. I will not be so sympathetic on employers now...

(In happier news, I had a whopping interview with another ex-BL bigwig, and someone who knew Robbo personally, which will delay publication as I type it all up. At least I'll have some time on my hands now....)

I wouldn't be soft on them at all. The unions and quality control were some of the least of BL's problems. The piss poor management, rubbish product planning and idiotic strategic decision making would have crashed any car company.

I work for a big public sector employer, in middle management. I'm a 'subject expert', so have a degree of protection. The senior management are clueless, but pay themselves a fortune and recruit people like them on fat salaries too. Their decisions are ill-informed - they pretend to be collaborative and consult, then do what they always wanted to do anyway. I have given up saying what I think, because it's pointless. Their longer term strategy reads like word salad to me.

Luckily I retire in 2-3 years. I've been able to change many individual lives for the better through what I've done, but I'll be glad to be out of it. The more junior you are, the harder you work and the more you're managed. The higher up you get the reverse applies...

[motorpunk]

27 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

I work for a big public sector employer. I'm a 'subject expert',

Same here. Well. For now 🙃

[N Dentressangle]

20 minutes ago, motorpunk said:

Same here. Well. For now 🙃

Had a chat with the union? Mine have always been excellent.

[motorpunk]

2 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

Had a chat with the union? Mine have always been excellent.

Nah. Not in one. Probably a bit late for that now.

[N Dentressangle]

I bought your QA book for a Midlands-based engineer friend of mine. His response:

Rang very true to me too 🤣

[Uncle Jimmy]

On 25/01/2025 at 07:58, warch said:

It’s worth bearing in mind that Communism was quite popular in the UK during much of the 20th century, especially with working class people. 

My Grandmother was as far as I can tell a lifelong member of the UK Communist Party. 

I'd hazard to suggest that it wasn't, perhaps there were patches in some industrial areas. One of my great uncles was a red just after the war, perhaps understandably, after the mess that they'd endured. There were middle class folks who were keen in the 1930s, such as George Bernard Shaw but they'd been fooled by propaganda coming out of the Soviet Union. Greece, Italy and France were far more inclined towards Communism, Greece especially so. 

[motorpunk]

^ It’s an avenue I’m keen to explore: Communism in car factories. Fiat had a huge amount of communists, when I was writing about their plants, as I recall 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, motorpunk said:

^ It’s an avenue I’m keen to explore: Communism in car factories. Fiat had a huge amount of communists, when I was writing about their plants, as I recall 

IIRC there was a bit of a stigma about buying a Fiat in the 70s, which led them to advertise massively

[artdjones]

On 22/07/2025 at 21:58, Uncle Jimmy said:

I'd hazard to suggest that it wasn't, perhaps there were patches in some industrial areas. One of my great uncles was a red just after the war, perhaps understandably, after the mess that they'd endured. There were middle class folks who were keen in the 1930s, such as George Bernard Shaw but they'd been fooled by propaganda coming out of the Soviet Union. Greece, Italy and France were far more inclined towards Communism, Greece especially so. 

There were many on "Red Clydeside", also quite a lot of union activists, as opposed to the rank and file, were CPGB throughout the UK. But there have only ever been five official Communist MPs, and the last two were defeated as long ago as 1950.

1 hour ago, motorpunk said:

^ It’s an avenue I’m keen to explore: Communism in car factories. Fiat had a huge amount of communists, when I was writing about their plants, as I recall 

The Italian party was the biggest and most popular West of the Iron Curtain.

[Uncle Jimmy]

21 hours ago, motorpunk said:

^ It’s an avenue I’m keen to explore: Communism in car factories. Fiat had a huge amount of communists, when I was writing about their plants, as I recall 

...Communists or the Mafia down south,  not a great choice!