The West Winford Incident (6 page)

Dave was keen to review the key features of the turbine failure. If he was going to represent the department he didn't want to appear ignorant, especially in front of people from outside of the SSA. He had chatted to Mike and read some of the papers produced. He made notes of the main points he had learned during his visit to Winford, together with his examination of the failed LP turbine disc in the lab. The telephone interrupted his musings. It was a meetings secretary from the SSA London Headquarters. She had been asked to check his availability to attend the first meeting of the West Winford Corrosion Sub-Committee. The first week in January had been suggested. Dave said that would be fine with him – he was keen and as far as he was concerned, this was his top priority. Was he being childish? He could hardly wait for the New Year.

*

“You're in my way Dad,” was Katy's greeting as he tried to get along the brightly lit hallway.

“Well let me get into the house. What are you two doing anyway?” Katy's school friend, Rosy, was with her.

“It's for the Christmas bazaar at school on Friday. You are coming aren't you?”

“I wouldn't miss it for the world. Are you both performing?”

“Of course we are.”

“I shall be on the edge of my seat,” enthused her father, managing to squeeze past the coloured banner. He found Sue in the kitchen.

“Hiya, my lovely. I've had an interesting day. I'll tell you about it over tea.”

“Hello love. Not until you've heard of my adventures, you won't.”

“Oh! I'd forgotten. How did it go with your funny lady friend?”

“Wait until tea, and anyway she's not funny, she's remarkable.”

*

Friday, the twelfth of December, saw Sue helping her daughters with their final preparations for the bazaar, which was primarily intended to be a sale of Christmas related goodies to bolster school funds, together with a short carol concert for friends and family. This also served to give the pupils much needed practice before they toured the local hospital and old folks' homes the following week.

Dave arrived in time to help load the car with a collection of colourful parcels and the long ‘Welcome to Our School' banner which Katy and Rosy had put together. They found the school hall busy with parents, teachers, and pupils, milling around setting up stalls and decorations. With the help of Jo, Katy and several of their school friends, it didn't take long to transform the room into a festive scene. Dave, Sue and Rosie's parents prepared their stall.

The head mistress was making her rounds and she stopped off at the Harrison table.

“Hello! Mrs Harrison, I'm very pleased to see you, and this must be Mr Harrison, hello! Welcome. I must say that you are making a wonderful display here. I'm glad that your daughters have settled so well. I am having to hurry around everyone as I am expecting Lady Marden from Highwood House any moment. She's kindly agreed to open our little enterprise. Ah! Excuse me here she is now.” She moved over to the open doorway to greet her guest of honour. Sue had just returned her attention to unpacking the last of the boxes when she was surprised to hear a familiar voice. Such a characteristic combination of authority and enthusiasm, it just had to be Pam. She looked up and saw it was indeed her new friend. More surprisingly, she was responding to the head mistress's greeting. Pam? Lady Marden? Pam waved as she was being escorted to the stage and mouthed that she would be over later.

The evening went splendidly, the music and singing was well performed. As promised, her duty done, Pam came over to chat to Sue. She laughed loudly at Sue's expression of awe and her exaggerated curtsy. Pam was introduced to Dave and the girls and it was difficult to tell who was the more self-conscious at meeting a Lady. Pam told Sue that she would be in London over the festive season but she would call her in early January. She suggested that they have another day out, if David didn't mind. Dave, who was a little captivated by Pam, assured her that he would not object. In truth he wanted to encourage this friendship between the two women, as clearly the first trip had benefited Sue enormously.

Back home they settled down with coffee.

“Well you
are
mixing in high society,” Dave teased.

Sue smiled.

“Did you like her? What a surprise, Lady Marden and she lives over at Highwood House. I can't believe it.”

“I did like her. I just knew that the whole village couldn't be all fuddy-duddy.”

Christmas Day was upon them. They spent the day at home and travelled up to Birmingham to mingle amongst the Turner clan on Boxing Day. Though the holiday was enjoyable, both Sue and Dave were, for different reasons, eagerly awaiting the New Year.

*

The Materials Section was busy. Many of the research officers were taking the opportunity to make progress on their research projects. Dave had more immediate concerns. The first meeting of the Corrosion Sub-Committee had been set for the eighth of January.

*

Sue viewed 1970 with optimism. She felt more energised and knew that it was largely due to Pam and, to some extent, to Peter, who had encouraged her to renew her reading. She had loved Middlemarch, such a feast of activity, rather than just a single storyline. She had made a conscious effort to study the leading women in the novel in response to Peter's remarks. She empathised with Dorothea Brook; bright, intelligent, but married to that dry old stick. Despite Dorothea's potential and her frustration with the situation, her sense of duty compelled her to support, in a very servile way, her husband's fruitless labours. Not, Sue hurriedly checked herself, that her Dave was anything like Casaubon. Any similarity between herself and Dorothea was confined to feeling frustrated and unfulfilled, but not for the same reason.

Sue, contemplating her next novel, wondered what Peter might recommend. This thought triggered a spark of guilt. She had told Dave about meeting two men friends of Pam's in Bath but not given any details. She wondered when Pam would call.

*

“Hi! It's Pam. Happy New Year to you. Sorry not to have been in touch earlier. I got back from London a few days ago but had to pay the piper and do a bit more slogging away here. Anyway, when I got up this morning I thought sod it, I'll just tidy up a few ends and then get out of here. So, fancy an afternoon out?”

“Happy New Year to you too. What a good idea, Pam, I'd love to.”

“I thought perhaps Marlborough. A short wander around the town and tea.” After lunch Pam arrived at ‘Beechside'. The fifteen miles to Marlborough sped by, as seemed to be the case wherever Pam was driving. Nevertheless, even at speed Sue enjoyed the views as they travelled eastwards along the A4. The White Horse at Cherhill, the open fields and Silbury Hill. She made a mental note that nearby Avebury would be a good idea for a family visit.

And so to Marlborough with its red-brick college buildings and wide High Street. Pam braked sharply and steered aggressively into a parking space barely allowing time for the departing car to escape.

“You've got to be quick on your feet around here,” she explained. “Sod it!” she added, as she bumped her hand on the steering wheel. She shook it and when she removed her glove Sue was surprised when she saw the damage. Pam's knuckles were grazed and bloodied.

“Pam! What on earth have you done? You hardly touched it.”

“No. It was earlier, hit it with a bloody lump-hammer knocking down a wall. I'll pick up some Elastoplast at the chemists.”

Sue smiled in spite of her surprise. Pam was just – well, so full of surprises. Pam, Lady Marden, Lady Lump-hammer! They had a great time checking out shops in the High Street and in the odd alleyways. Antiques a plenty here. They finally settled themselves in a spacious tea room where Pam ordered cream tea.

“Oh! I've a message for you from Peter Fenner. You remember him?” Sue gave a start. “Yes, but goodness knows why he should send a message to me.”

“Whilst I was in London Charles called. He asked me to let you know that if you wished to have a better look around Bath sometime, Peter had offered to escort you. Obviously you made a good impression on him.”

Sue coloured slightly, and this annoyed her. “Well, I am surprised, but I don't have any plans at present. Do you know anything about him? Doesn't he have a job?”

Pam smiled at Sue's discomfort. “As you know, I only met him when you did but, as I thought that you would be interested, I asked Charles what he knew.”

“What do you mean, interested?”

“Well, I was even if you weren't,” replied Pam. “Apparently he lives in Corsham and he is not short of money. Family I suppose. He's an academic and has many interests. At present it seems that genealogy is taking up most of his time. If you did want to take up his offer you could come along with me as before. I shall be going over there, on and off, for two or three months yet.” Sue thought that it would be unlikely, but agreed to think about it. Their order arrived, they settled back and chatted amicably about Sue's children whilst Pam gave more details of her work at Highwood; a daunting programme of DIY by the sound of it. Delicious but filling was Sue's verdict on the tea as they settled the bill.

Arriving home Sue was surprised to find Dave already there. Even more surprising was to find him making token preparations towards tea. He had decided to get off early, which was unusual as his work load had not diminished as he had predicted. Although he had relinquished his temporary job of overseeing the section's work, this had now been replaced by his new responsibility on the Winford inquiry. He felt under pressure to learn as much as possible about power plant generally and West Winford in particular. So much stuff! His meeting was coming up but he thought that he needed a break in order to absorb some of the information. Just piling it in was causing confusion. Though he welcomed Sue's improved social life, he was slightly put out that she wasn't home when he had made his decision to be early. He did his best to overcome this irritation and asked about her day. Sue gave a brief resume, adding that she certainly would not want any tea herself as she was very full.

*

An early start. The train was crowded. Dave was surprised to find that a first class ticket did not guarantee a seat. Luckily he was well placed to get a seat at Swindon where a few passengers got off. He dug out the paperwork relating to the meeting, which was being held at Walton House, the London Headquarters of the Strategic Supplies Authority. He read that the group was to be chaired by Prof Henry Fletcher, Technical Director at British Steel Products. Dave had not met him but was aware of his standing as a metallurgist specialising in the field of corrosion. The representative for the turbine manufacturer was Joe Griffiths, and two (!) members, Dave noted, from his own organisation, representing the Central Research Laboratories. He had met neither Drs McCann nor Collingwood, although he knew Dorinda McCann was an expert in stress corrosion cracking. Having both Prof Fletcher and Dr McCann attending, the committee had impeccable credentials for their task.

Paddington already. Dave was unsure of himself and somewhat in awe at the prospect of meeting his fellow committee members, so he certainly did not want to be late. He hurried to Lancaster Gate underground station. This was on the Central Line, as was St. Paul's, his Walton House stop.

He was greeted at reception by a Miss Pauline Sage and learned that Joe Griffiths had already arrived. The young lady escorted him up to the fifteenth floor, by express lift, and into one of the conference rooms. After making the introductions she returned to the reception area. Dave estimated that Joe was probably in his early forties. He was short and stocky. They shook hands and shared their respective experiences on the rail network, whilst taking in the marvellous view over St. Paul's, Tower Bridge and far beyond. Joe had travelled down from Nuneaton. The next to arrive was the Chairman. He greeted both of them warmly with, what Dave thought was, a slight Scottish accent. He was a tall man with grey hair and appeared to be in his mid-fifties. Dave, although not himself an expert on environmental cracking, was familiar with some of Professor Fletcher's work on alloy steels going way back to when Dave was still at college. He had an international reputation. It soon became clear that Henry, as he asked to be called, was modest, friendly, and did not stand on ceremony. Shortly afterwards the final two members arrived. Dorinda McCann and Henry, who had met at various conferences, chatted easily together. Dr McCann was a similar age to Henry whilst her colleague, James Collingwood, was clearly the youngest of the group, being in his mid-twenties. Dorinda McCann was generously built though not fat, she had a cheerful, ruddy complexion, grey wiry hair and had not completely lost her Irish brogue, even after thirty years away pursuing her professional career in both the USA and England. Her junior colleague, Collingwood, fresh faced, bespectacled, had only recently joined the Central Laboratories.

Henry Fletcher poured coffee and they settled around the table. Almost immediately, they were joined by Miss Pauline Sage who, it transpired, had been appointed sub-committee secretary. She declined Henry's offer of coffee as she efficiently settled, notebook at the ready.

After formally opening the meeting, Henry introduced himself and asked the others to do so for the record. He continued by saying that, although he wanted this and subsequent meetings to be as informal as possible, they would have to observe certain formalities, particularly with regard to paperwork and reporting. Fortunately, he announced, Miss Sage, despite her youth, had a wealth of experience in committee matters and he felt sure that she would keep them in order. Indeed, this looked like being the case as she had already put into place a document recording system, which she outlined.

Henry explained, possibly with some modesty, that he was unfamiliar with the details of the power plant and the circumstances leading up to the turbine failure. He wondered if Mr Griffiths would be the best person to give a brief outline of these. Dave was impressed by Joe's response. He gave an excellent review from which it was clear that he was knowledgeable in matters of steam turbine design and operation, in addition to his metallurgical expertise.