| Individual or organisational biography | Arthur Henry Walsh (2 Apr 1904-1982) was a compositor. As one of 8 children, Walsh left school aged 13 after winning the Thomas Newcomer Prize for engineering. Walsh could not continue learning engineering as he had to find a job to support his family. On 29 Jul 1918 Walsh joined Herbert Jordans in Chichester Rents off Chancery Lane as an apprentice for 7 years as a Compositor. Walsh earned 7s 6d a week for the first year rising in small increases to £1 a week in his seventh year plus an extra 1 shilling for good conduct. Walsh worked 6 days a week in his apprenticeship. Walsh attended evening printing classes at Camberwell School of Art three times a week and two times a week as his studies progressed. A fellow apprentice at Jordan's was Ellis Thirkettle who was later Principal of the London School of Printing. Thirkettle, Walsh and another apprentice were known at their apprenticeship at Jordan's as ‘the big three’. In 1926 Walsh’s employer Mr Jordan decided Walsh had been an industrious apprentice and made Walsh a Freeman of the Stationers Company and a Freeman of the City of London.
In 1925 after completing his apprenticeship, Walsh continued on at Jordan’s as a Journeyman before leaving in 1928. In 1928, Walsh left and worked in London before returning to Jordan’s upon their request. Walsh remained at Jordan’s until they were taken over by Hazell, Watson and Viney Ltd. Walsh continued working for Hazell, Watson and Viney Ltd. In Jan 1930 Walsh was transferred to their London premises at 52 Long Acre. Walsh was soon promoted to Clicker and handled the production of The Gas Times, Night & Day, Nursing Illustrated and other weekly and monthly magazines which were produced at Long Acre during the 1930s. During the 1930s Walsh often worked at night on the parliamentary papers and other publications.
From 1939 to 1942 Walsh worked on the Newnes and Skinners work, including the Stock Exchange Official Year Book, Directory of Directors, Newes Home Library, upon the request of his employer Oscar Viney.
In 1942 Walsh was called up for war service. Walsh served as a Gunner, Royal Artillery, and was later promoted to Sergeant. Walsh took part in the Baedeker Raids and engaging flying bombs on the East Coast. Later responsible for the educational side of the battery. Walsh attended courses at Southampton University and took the British Way and Purpose Lectures and handled vocational training before being demobilised in 1946 returning to Hazell, Watson and Viney Ltd.
In 1957 Walsh was appointed Assistant Sales Manager and was responsible for the Long Acre jobbing side, among other responsibilities. In Apr 1955, Walsh was appointed Manager of Long Acre and was had to deal with many issues including the railway strike, trade stoppage and more, ending with the closure of Long Acre. In 1958 Walsh was appointed Joint Sales Manager and moved to the new company building at Great Queen Street.
In 1960 Walsh’s wife had died. Walsh retired from Hazell, Watson and Viney Ltd in 1966 aged 62 after working at the company for more than 36 years. Walsh spent his years in retirement in Epsom, Surrey and later in Bexhill-on-sea. |
| Custodial History | Arthur Henry Walsh to his daughter Eileen R Benham. Benham to the London College of Communications Library in August 2003. Transferred from the Library to the Archives and Special Collections Centre. |