Page 65 - Be Reasonable – Do It My Way , Peter E. Daly AM, My Story

CHAPTER 6 - MY FIRST TRIP TO THE UK – (ENGLISH VERSION OF DISCRIMINATION)
Chapter 6 - My First Trip to the UK – (English version of discrimination)
In 1974 L&G decided to send me to the UK for a year which was quite interesting and I certainly enjoyed my time there. The secondment lasted about eight months but was not continuous as I came back and forwards to Johannesburg. Daphne and the children didn’t join me as we had schooling and other everyday living issues to manage.
In hindsight, this probably paved my way for the future. I was transferred to the Property Department. This was shortly after the numerous IRA bombing attacks in London and Birmingham and everybody was extremely cautious. One of the Birmingham bombings had hit L&G’s own offices.
When I arrived at Head Office, I went through a screening process and I was asked to wait for a person to pick me up. By this time I had been appointed Assistant General Manager and because I had that title I was taken to a special lift. I recall on either side there were two lifts but I was taken around the corner to one of those wire lifts which was manned by a person. Above it, it said Manager’s Lift and I was taken to the third floor where I was met by the General Manager, Harold Robson, who was looking after me during my secondment. He was a huge man, he was 6 ft. 7 ins. and had strong features. The staff treated him as if he was God.
One of his staff members showed me around the office and there were just rows and rows of people sitting at high desks with their heads down looking as if there was no tomorrow. I was also shown the toilets and I was quite amused because they had gents, ladies and managers and because I was a manager I was given a towel with my name on it: very impressive.
Another L&G status symbol was the carpet. One day I saw a carpet being ripped up in one of the offices, so I enquired why this was.
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