File 89 - Geoffrey Taylor

1 audio tape, 1 cd, 1 file, 1 AIFF file (780 MB). 50 minutes.

Interview with Geoffrey Taylor, journalist for the Guardian. Conducted by Leslie Plommer on 13 March 1998. 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
00.02 Introduction
00.21 Applied to the Guardian for a job as a reporter, but started as a foreign sub,1947
00:49 Went on to become chief foreign sub and left in 1956 for Nigeria
00.55 3 years in Nigeria working for the Mirror Group
01:38 Returned in 1959 and offered a job as overseas news editor
01.38 Sent to Africa a number of times
02.45 Became Northern Editor in 1968
03.00 Transferred to London in 1972 and became assistant editor
05.00 Scott Trust
08.42 Laurence Scott

10.20 Removing Manchester from the title and printing the paper in London
11.00 The Guardian in London
13.18 The Guardian 'almost handed over to The Times'
14.40 Relationship between Richard Scott, Alastair Hetherington and Laurence Scott
17.25 Discusses other overseas correspondents

23.40 Stringers, not very well paid
24.00 Foreign themes in the 1960s; Cold War, Cuban crisis and decolonisation
26.50 When it comes to Britain, 'the Guardian was never wholly committed to the Labour party'

30.00 1970s left wing factionalism among Guardian staff
31.22 Manchester-London rivalry
34.00 First technological development: facsimile printing
38.00 The paper during the second world war, incl. paper rations

41.00 Left the Guardian in 1988.
41.00 Differences between the paper then and now i.e. how it went from 8 pages to approx. 40
41.00 How the 'editorial freedom, spirit and friendly office' remained the same over the years
44.05 Great individuals incl. Max Freedman, Victor Zorza and Hella Pick

At this point there is a pause while the cassette was turned over. The end of the interview follows after the break

48.45 Changes after the London printing began and the editor moved from Manchester, with mention of Mary Stott

There is a period of recorded silence while the second side of the tape ran out.

Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository

Copyright: Guardian News & Media Ltd and Geoffrey Taylor