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Interview with Jessica Scott, secretary for and later wife of Laurence Scott, chairman and joint managing director of the Guardian. Conducted by Angelique Chrisafis on 2 November 2001. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.

Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):

Disc 1:
Track 1
00.05 Introduction

Track 2
00.10 Worked at the Guardian from March 1966 as secretary to Laurence Scott, chairman and managing director
00.34 Worked at the Guardian for four years

Track 3
00.04 Interviewer asked about her memories of the Cross Street building

Track 4
00.05 The Guardian as a family firm
00.40 Scott family employed during this period
01.38 Legacy of C P Scott

Track 5
00.08 Turbulent period for the Guardian
00.15 Had been a Guardian reader for years
00.25 Problems encountered by newspaper printers during this period
00.48 Discussion of merger with the Times
01.04 The Guardian's financial problems
01.16 Laurence Scott's involvement with Guardian move to London
01.30 Laurence Scott's aims for the newspaper

Track 6
00.04 Response to removal of 'Manchester' from Guardian title
00.19 Costs of London printing
00.38 Negative atmosphere at Cross Street

Track 7
00.03 Negotiations to merge with the Times

Track 8
00.10 The Guardian's unpopular stand on the Suez crisis
01.05 Proud of the Guardian’s values

Track 9
00.05 'Palace revolution' at the Guardian
00.20 Decision to remove Laurence Scott from executive duties
00.55 Laurence Scott remained chairman
01.18 Laurence Scott's first wife's illness. Scott took an extended period of leave.
02.15 Fears of losing job

Track 10
00.05 Laurence Scott's return to the Guardian
00.10 *

Track 11
00.05 Laurence Scott felt it was his duty to protect the future of the Guardian
00.45 Response of Alistair Hetherington to proposed merger with the Times

Track 12
00.05 Discussion of Laurence Scott’s early life
01.08 Jessica joins the Scott family
01.20 Moves with Laurence Scott to Siddington, near Macclesfield
01.28 Discusses family life
01.40 Laurence Scott's early career
02.00 Laurence Scott's friendship with Joe Hodgkinson of Toynbee Hall
02.30 Laurence Scott's wartime service
02.42 Laurence Scott's early release from wartime service to return to the Guardian

Interview with Margaret Smith, secretary for the Guardian. Conducted by Angelique Chrisafis on 30 October 2001. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.

Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):

Disc 1:
Track 1
Test

Track 2
00.00 Introduction
00.10 Joined the Guardian in June 1951 as Junior Secretary
00.25 Interview with John Anderson
01.10 Meeting with Editor AP Wadsworth before being appointed
02.25 Editor's room which had been previously occupied by CP Scott
03.25 Working for Patrick Monkhouse, discussion about role of Assistant Editors
04.00 Corridor in Cross Street
04.40 Discussion about Reporter's Room
05.00 Atmosphere at Cross Street
05.30 Male dominated environment
06.10 Equipment used by reporters
07.30 Guardian tradition - strong memory of CP Scott
08.05 Neville Cardus' view that the Reporter's Room was an 'academy'
08.25 View that the Guardian was special unlike other newspapers
08.50 Age of those employed at the Guardian
09.25 Working for AP Wadsworth
09.50 Taking dictation from John Anderson

10.50 Working for Patrick Monkhouse
11.20 Duties of Leader Writers incl. John Anderson and Patrick Monkhouse
12.20 Leaders written by John Anderson
12.50 Coverage of northern issues in the paper and conflict with London
14.05 Family atmosphere in Editorial department
14.20 Demolition of Cross Street
15.05 Legacy of CP Scott and how future editors responded to this
15.50 Demoralisation of Manchester staff
16.20 Reaction to proposed move to London
17.40 Move from Cross Street to Deansgate
18.10 Description of Cross Street
19.00 Working hours
19.55 Editorship of Alastair Hetherington

21.20 Transition difficult for Patrick Monkhouse
23.30 Atmosphere during Suez Crisis
24.00 Excitement during election nights

Track 3
00.10 Role of Mary Crozier
01.30 Correspondence page - reaction from readers

Track 4
00.00 Complaints from readers and dealing with correspondence
03.25 Corresponding with reporters based abroad and receiving articles from them
05.10 Paper rationing and size of paper
06.30 Anonymity of reporting - no by-lines used

Track 5
00.00 Fall in advertising revenue and increasing costs
01.00 Proposed amalgamation with The Times
01.25 Staff unaware of the exact financial difficulties faced by the paper
02.15 Conferences

Track 6
00.00 Role of Mary Stott, Women's Page Editor
00.35 Publication of recipes by Ambrose Heath
02.45 Mary Stott as a personality in Cross Street

Track 7
00.00 Pride in working for The Guardian which had a special place in Manchester