Citation
Maher, P. (2005), "Memories of Maurice Line: 3", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 33 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2005.12233baf.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Memories of Maurice Line: 3
When the vacancy came up for the post of Senior Personal Secretary to the Director General at Boston Spa, I decided that was for me, in spite of the warnings given to me by the retiring secretary, a quiet efficient lady who had worked for Dr Urquhart for years. When Maurice filled the post, her days of tranquillity ceased. She just wanted to retire! Of course I didn’t listen to her. I applied for and got the job.
At first everything was great. I was a “breath of fresh air”, Maurice’s words, not mine. I was as noisy as Miss G was quiet, and everything went along smoothly. Maurice had an insatiable appetite for work, and I soon found that, in spite of all the help I got from the typing centre, it was almost impossible to keep up with him. Those were the days when computers were only for the very privileged, and we poor secretaries had to type and retype over and over again until the papers were into their final stage. And Maurice spent hour after hour composing them for the many lectures he gave. When I prepared the draft minutes of the senior staff meeting he would mutilate my efforts, much to my disgust, but I learned from it all and it helped me to become more efficient.
Maurice travelled the world over promoting the British Library, and in so doing, he also promoted himself. He was a fun loving man, always ready enjoy himself. On the dance floor he was a sight to behold. He just let himself go with the music, much to the horror of some of his partners! His many escapades were an open book to those who knew him, and as his secretary I listened, somewhat reluctantly, as he poured out his many tales of woe.
He was also a “Mickey Mouse” man, that is to say, he was born in 1928, the same year as the famous mouse. He was at one time keen to start a Mickey Mouse Club for all 1928 babies like himself. What a thought.
Lastly, although Maurice and I fought from time to time, or was it most of the time, as I struggled to survive in this environment, I always found him to be a gentleman. He was a generous man, who never hesitated to reward endeavour from others. It would be dishonest of me to say that I missed him when he retired – I was so relieved to see him go. When I think of him on the odd occasion however, my memories of him always make me smile, and that cannot be bad. He was OK.
Pam Maher