A 'Plumber' Calls
by Richard Mann
In about 1960, when I was working at Kingstanding branch, the Manager (Mr W A Camwell)
had arranged for a plumber to visit the branch to attend to a problem with the central heating boiler. Prior to the branch opening
for the day, there was a knock on the window - which was the normal way that visitors indicated that they had arrived, as there was
no bell installed. As I was nearest to the door, I went to let the visitor into the branch. In those more innocent days there was
no chain on the door, nor did we routinely ask for proof of identity. So I fully opened the door to see a short man with broken teeth,
dressed in an old raincoat, and with a cigarette in his mouth. This character, who also had a very bad cough, asked for Mr Camwell.
Acting
upon Mr Camwell's instructions, I conducted our visitor straight to the boiler room. Being shown into the boiler room caused the visitor
to look amazed, and he spluttered "What's this!?"
In fact, an Inspector had called: Mr W K Robottom!