SIR - I was interested to read the T&A article (December 26) on the world-famous Bradford printers, correctly-styled Percy Lund, Humphries & Co Ltd and known universally as Lund Humphries. My father, Ernest Bird, worked as a compositor there for many years until his retirement in 1973.
Originally from London, Dad first worked in Bradford at Watmough's Ltd in Idle. Lund Humphries' Composing Room had been a weaving shed, with a stone-flagged floor and 'standing boards', which would fly up in the face of the unwary. The management decided to put down a composition floor and selected my father's first.
The Father of the Chapel (shop steward) approached Ernest saying: "Tell them it's hard on your feet". As this was the first time anyone had spoken to him, Dad (a former amateur boxer) replied: "I shall tell them it's the best thing they ever did!"
The whole room was done; Ernest gaining both respect and friendship.
Dad later worked on exotic typefaces, including Chinese, Russian and Arabic, taking charge of that department on the retirement of Bert Hainsworth.
One correction - the business was in Priestman Street, Manningham, not Priestley Road, as stated.
Derek J Bird, Sandals Road, Baildon
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