This week’s Sepia Saturday theme is Work. Whatever interpretation of work you wish to write about. Here’s mine…
I previously posted some photos of Douglas and Elsie glammed-up (I still haven’t got over the black lace Madonna-style evening gloves) for various nights out, and I think I have identified what one of the occasions may have been. I found this photo of Douglas (front row, 4th from left) and a group of similarly professional-looking gentlemen
and typed on the back is “BMC Conference 21/23 Feb 1967”. Ah! Light bulb moment – BMC stands for British Motor Corporation, and Douglas was managing a car dealership at the time. BMC produced a wide range of cars including Austin, Morris, MG and Austin-Healey, which explains why I have this in my possession
and I can just imagine Elsie powdering her nose with Douglas’s freebie promotional products provided by MG. Although, I’d rather I had this
AND she used the entire powder compact and didn’t replaced it with a refill. Perhaps another new one came along?
Douglas, on the other hand, was also the recipient of some corporate gifts
I only found one of these in Elsie’s sewing box, and I’m sure Douglas was originally presented with two cufflinks, but given the battered and abused state of her sewing box, I’m not surprised that only one could be found and was saved in case the other one turned up. Here’s a picture of a Riley Elf – Elsie had one, and so did her sister, Jan.
Due to the blurring in this picture, I suspect Jan was driving. She used to meet up with her “ladies” for lunch in Dairsie several times a week, and a few sherries were consumed before heading for home. Jan never paid extra for the option of a radio in her car, as she enjoyed singing loudly while driving, and would happily sing while “…overtaking the pantechnicons…” It’s a wonder that she lived as long as she did 🙂
Now, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s off to Work we go – check out what the other Sepia Saturday posters came up with on the subject 🙂
Jo
Jo Graham
Images Past 
Gotta love a great corporate gift! A compact is so much more refined than a beer koozie.
Nice blog post Jo. I wouldn’t mind the MG but you can keep the Riley 😉
I never heard of the Riley before. It looks like a cute car.
Maybe she had a compact that she like better, and that compact was never filled with powder.
Good gracious, that brought back some memories. MG’s and Rileys and the days when you could count the number of British car manufacturers on the fingers and toes of several arms and legs. A pleasurable drive in the country of a blog-post
Corporate gifts from car companies – I have a whole series of hats related to FI racing and a Toyota memory stick. My first car was a split screen Morris Minor.
They probably decided not to actually use them but keep them as souvenirs. I can’t imagine that Elsie would draw too many admiring glances in the ‘Ladies’ when using an MG powder compact. if someone gifted a car of course I’m sure that one would swallow one’s pride 🙂
Never heard of the Riley, but I do know the MG. Nice post.
I love the idea of singing instead of the radio. Oh to have an old MG. I was at BMC for four years too, but it was a different BMC (Bryn Mawr College.)
You are so lucky to have your cute little car and a picture of your Auntie’s. She sounds like a fun lady. I had a high school boyfriend that had a MG Midget and I really liked that car.
Kathy M.
The car’s not mine, Kathy, but I wish it was! 🙂
Yeah, I would also gladly trade the compact for the car.
Nice to still have these mementos though.
Nice spin on the theme.
🙂
HUGZ