| Description | Tape 1 Side A: JOHN HARVEY BEATON born Lochee, Dundee 23 August 1937. Background to names. Paternal family: grandfather office manager in jute industry. Extended family lived in same street. Grandmother Harvey was family matriarch. Details re her. Mentions uncle who was chemist. Recalls wartime bombing when father away in Royal Artillery. Middle of three boys. Theory re tenacity of middle children, own situation. Maternal family Birrell: mother orphaned young. Close family. Details re family names, connections with France, Norman invasion. Recalls war years, food shortages, hand-me-down clothes. Mentions father's army pay. He was away c6 years. Reaction when he returned. Describes small tenement home, toilet facilities, sleeping arrangements, heating, gas lighting, washing facilities. Uncle, ex Japanese prisoner-of-war, lived with family. Recalls confectionery from US. Uncle was PT instructor at Police College, talked little re war experiences. He won bursary, was school champion, became boy soldier. Reference to jute-rich Dundee families. Dundee was class-divided place, wealthy. Reference to Baltic, Russia, shipping business. Mother a 'duchess'. Father worked in William Low's grocery business. Details re his work. Describes Dundee during jute era, difficulty with travel. Details re mother. She became matriarch of family, had hard life. Describes her personality, routines. Brother, self qualified for bursary to Harris Academy. Details. Reference to jute barons. Details re academies. Earlier, went to Ancrum Road Primary School. Details re bursary, qualification exams ('qualis'), uniform, school costs. Mother encouraged children. Details. Attitude to university. Excelled in technical subjects. Details re courses available at Academy. Did French and technical subjects. Goal - to achieve Scottish Junior Certificate in Education by age about 16, to get apprenticeship, semi-professional job.
Tape 1 Side B: Further details re mother, childhood home in Dundee, network of mothers, grandmothers. Power of Granny Hardie, community matriarch. Describes father, Member of Institute of Certified Grocers. Recalls his travel by ship to London to sit exams. Reference to DP& L (Dundee, Perth & London shipping line). Father a good salesman, driver; later sold furniture, clothing from van. Details re his sales travels, routines. Explains qualities of good salesman, father's skills, hire purchase arrangements. Is like father. Mentions holiday work berry-picking. Attitudes to money. Talked with father all the time. Parents' relationship. Reference to Boys' Brigade. Mentions brother 'super-Scot' in Australia. Many Scots achieve by leaving Scotland. Recalls engineering teacher at school, his sayings. Several of his former pupils now millionaires. Encouraged to read at home. Details re Boys' Brigade, Life Boys. Importance of organisation, discipline, skills etc. Was drummer. Mentions Bible Class. Lochee area was poor. Mentions workers for jute mills, Irish immigrants. Area became strong Catholic. Lives dominated by mills. Mentions jam industry, journalism in Dundee, Courier daily paper, Dandy, Beano comics etc. Some Dundee journalists rose to top in Fleet Street. Explains becoming union official. Details re work in shipyards. Impact of Communists on Dundee. Family were Labour. Describes Tories, money class. Left school at 15, started pre-apprenticeship. Planned to be design draughtsman. Explains. Brother worked in loom-building company. Mentions loom exports. Childhood in retrospect. Recalls doing daring things, sport, invented games. Recalls words, terms used. Many families bereaved when local Black Watch soldiers killed around world. Became Scottish (and other) junior cycle racing champion. Rode for Scotland. Reasons for Dundee's wartime bombing.
Tape 2 Side A: Childhood (cont'd). Was always competitive. Set up small business when nine. Recalls making 'pilers' (carts), selling them in neighbourhood. Details. Reference to Dundee shuttle, bobbin factory for jute, flax industries. Mentions stealing apples. Details re trenches dug in park during war to stop German gliders landing. Recalls being part of boyhood gangs, fighting gangs in other streets, carrying sticks etc. Took defensive role. Gangs related to territory, religion. Left school at 15. Discovered cycling skill. Details re tenting holidays near Dundee when 14. Was always team player in cycling, became captain. Attitude to authority. Started 5-year apprenticeship as mechanical fitter with Bonar Long, Dundee, 1953, became design draughtsman while still an apprentice. Explains. Had feel for design skill. Explains. Mentions kicking away scaffolding. Able to think around corner. Details re cycling skills, time trials, track racing, importance of positive thinking, plotting, strategy. Link to selling skills. Explains successful sales technique, importance of quoting past successes. Always a team player. Explains. Mentions successful colleagues. Likes to be captain. Background to joining Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers for National Service, link with cycling. Sent to Devon - seemed light years away. Found Army easy. Explains. Describes attitude to pain, ability to deal with it. Importance of Army experience in own life. Attitude to authority, moral fibre, being in Army for two years. Volunteered for Parachute Brigade. Recalls Army ways, uniform, equipment, methods. Earned money darning socks, used it to get off guard duties. Details. Never smoked. Quotes sayings re attitude to life.
Tape 2 Side B: Went to Germany with Army. Captain of British Army on the Rhine cycle team. Mentions mixing with RAF people, better food. Details re other cycling activities in Europe, earnings, paying people to do guard duty. Mentions soldier's pay, details re guard duties, clothing. Encouraged to learn to scavenge. Went to East German/Russian border in combat unit. Sold cigarettes to Germans. Came out of army with enough money to buy car. Details. Mentions enjoyment of beer. Went to pub at 15. No drink during cycling season. Father only drank Sweetheart Stout, mother sherry. Mother's strict attitude to drink. Loved dancing, successful with girls. Situation in Germany, attitude of Germans. Learned German through social activities. Details. Mentions security work. Attitude of other men to self, presentation of self. No sex education at school. Details. Mentions return to work in Dundee. Explains regular involvement in fights, reputation. Application of reputation to business situations. Mentions business cheats, business conflicts. Comments on changes to business relationships through emails etc. Loved music, charming girls, dancing, won jive competitions. Recalls own developing arrogance, change after meeting wife. Earned money doing twist demonstrations etc. Details re wife, her names. Describes her. Married 40 years, never separated. Details re arrangement to meet at Duffer's Corner if ever fell out. Details re sharing responsibility for children. Explains attitude to travel. Recalls need to sober up, get into domestic life. Attitude of wife to self. Explains own attitude to people, employees. Married 1963. Mentions brief part-time selling job. Feelings about registering at Labour Exchange. Background to rejoining Bonar Long. Mentions design work done for industry etc.
Tape 3 Side A: Became involved in trade union, DATA (Draughtsmen & Allied Technicians' Association). Explains. Attitude to strikes. Comments on Bonar Long, his attitude to grievances, union. Took union on strike, won case. Details. Reference to fighting fund. Details re arrangements during strike, leisure activities. Became arbitrator for years, involved at national level. Details. Mentions communists, left-wing socialists. Possibility of becoming MP. Attitude to left-wing politics, training in dialogue technique. Mentions selling jobs, e.g. property. Details re children. Drove taxi, worked in pub. Details re taxi work. Saw little of family. Background to job with David Elder, Consulting Engineers. Details of conflict there. Details re earnings. Next job with Firestone Tyre Company in sales. Details re units of work there, geographical coverage, success. Explains reason for leaving, joining GKN/Mills as Sales Engineer late 1960s. Recalls interview, appointment. Mentions problems in Scotland because of major construction companies failing, second-hand equipment available. Became sole vendor to 19 different companies on smelter at Invergordon etc. Details re other contracts. Reference to Commonwealth Games. No consciousness then of gas/oil industry. Became competent in formwork, support-work engineering. Explains. Details re shapes on bridges etc, node points determined by way support-work done - own signature on construction. Became formwork engineer. Joined GKN as Technical Rep, within 11 months was Scottish Regional Manager; 5 promotions. Mentions training in psychology of salesmanship etc. Mentions link with golf people. Reference to Lee Trevino. Mentions depression in Scotland. Explains weekly travel routine. Put in charge of northwest as British leader for suspended access formwork. Comments on training courses. Explains move to Bovis Group as Scottish Regional Plant Manager 1972.
Tape 3 Side B: Bovis Group, Scottish Regional Plant Manager 1972 (cont'd). Reference to big jobs done. Influence of boss Bob Overidge, his attitude to people. Explains importance of relationship with receptionists. Further details re GKN work, using hired equipment, creation of contours in e.g. bridge moulding, falsework. Explains difficulties bringing surfaces together, creation of node-point, final look of structure. As formwork engineer had to be innovative. Brought in new clients, increased turnover. Wrote Site-Users' Guide to Safe Use of Power in Construction Sites. Mentions idea of starting own company. Helped evolve recoverable cables etc. Stayed 11 months with Bovis. Background to starting Kolfor Plant Ltd 1973 hiring equipment. Saw benefit of temporary power on building sites. Waste of e.g. full wiring for temporary use. Explains own approach using safe low voltage. Reference to Tay Freight. Initial investment Ð250. Explains name Kolfor. Details re equipment at start of company. Wife's attitude to venture. Hardly saw family. Compares with experience of father. Driven by success. Never counted the beans. Attitude to rewards. Attitude of Bovis to departure. Got Bovis redundant stock. Stayed loyal to Bovis. Worked alone first six months. Describes first premises, arrangements re initial stock for rent, sale. Comments on Dundee not becoming home of oil industry, left-wing socialist councillors. Details re Dundee, industry failures, Victorian port. Dundee bar not a problem. Reference to Conoco. Reason for BP going to Aberdeen. Details re Peterhead, Aberdeen. Reasons for Aberdeen getting oil industry. Details re effective use of transportation in Dundee, Aberdeen. Explains industrial situation in Dundee. Mentions paper industry transportation. Recalls arrival of Texan cowboys etc. Compares Dundee, Aberdeen.
Tape 4 Side A: Kolfor 1973 (cont'd). Company leased out, sold equipment e.g. construction power tools. Stayed loyal to suppliers. Competition from public companies. Details re scaffold division. Explains tax concessions. Kolfor could only afford small plant. Initial stock from Bovis Plant Company. Explains decision on colour for plant. Mentions status in Masonry, contribution to organisation, involvement. Background to Masonry secrets. Details re marking of name Kolfor on equipment. Recalls use of slide rule, improvement on calculators. Further details re competition. Temporary power for construction sites was own fort*. Had education job to do, spoke to Health & Safety re lower voltage power distribution. Technical details re electricity on construction sites. Reaction of people to change. Explains own approach to wiring. Possible to leap-frog kit. High percentage of kit recoverable. System now normal. Father helped paint scaffold frames for opening. Recalls opening ceremony, queue of customers, media coverage. Explains own targets measured in quality of personal cars. Example of plant use, economics, break-even. Kept daily accounts. Details re first account book. Significance of utilisation of equipment. Advantage of being known already, access to equipment from other companies. Initially did mechanical servicing, later employed mechanics, paid 'on the grip'. Nine year-old son paid to help. Explains training him. Father did deliveries. First employee after six months. Details. Good early business from Ministry of Public Building Works, Ancient Monuments Division. Explains. Details re portable water pumps etc, financial arrangements. Explains positive impact of power crisis, three-day week. Details re clients. Target Ð70,000 turnover first year, actual result Ð500,000. No overdraft in first year. Details re use of money. Attitude to borrowing.
Tape 4 Side B: Kolfor 1973 (cont'd). Father's attitude to borrowing. Didn't borrow to set up Kolfor. Reason for lack of competition. Explains own skill in enterprise - using experience of others. Parochial attitude of Glasgow people. Progress in 1974 building up supplies, business. Neglected core business because of power crisis. After power crisis, glut of second-hand generators. Background to involvement in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates sale of generators. Travelled there 27 times in five years. Started manufacturing company. Explains air conditioning situation there, problems with power supply. Evolution of business, growth of premises producing generators. Had 60+ employees. Didn't see a lot of family. Explains travel routine. Example of big orders. Technical details re equipment. Own central role in company. First link with North Sea oil industry - sale of generators to BP for Forties. Got involved in Chamber of Commerce activities. Details. Led trade missions to Iran when Shah still in power. Details. Feelings about 'jolly' trade missions. Explains own approach, successful missions. Mentions time away from family. Attitude to wives being on trade missions, paying own way etc. Attitude to payment of tax, honesty in business. Started business in Turkey. Mentions involvement in other countries, e.g. generators, water pumps in Ethiopia. Details re company back home - split into Kolfor Plant, hirers, Kolfor Power, manufacturers. Assistance from Scottish Development Agency. Recalls first big oil business for Drillmaster (later Buchan Alpha) conversion late 1970s. Reference to Lewis Offshore. Explains oil situation then, surprise at headline re oil industry, McDermott's coming to Ardersier, first visit, clearance of trees, sight of beach, first signs of industry, own first registration of interest.
Tape 5 Side A: First visit through 'jungle', 'Gobi desert' to Ardersier 1977, McDermotts' offices. Sudden realisation of potential of oil industry. Also involved with Brown & Root Wimpey at Nigg base. Already working with smelter at Invergordon. Supplied to Ardersier, Highland Fabricators. Supplied all sorts of equipment because of haste to get oil out. Provided other non-mechanical supplies, rope, soap and dope. Given shopping lists. A people industry, need for trust. Clients wanted one-stop-shopping to supply their platform construction programme. Money no object provided needs fulfilled. Some abuse of situation by others. Big demands on company, bigger sums of money, technically more sophisticated items, emphasis on safety, demands on time-performance. Details. Important to get to know project manager. Explains. Recalls one with degree in Latin. Recalls 'Tex-Mex' Americans. Details re own staff recruitment process, attitude of staff. Example of one who went offshore, 'SuperMick', recently retired after 29 years. Details re other staff, own attitude to recruitment. Explains approval of nepotism. Recalls supplying Murchison hook-up. Details. Mentions Gordon Mercer, Tigh Slattery. Recalls invitation to be involved in Murchison hook-up. Supplied major percentage for AOC (Aker Offshore) platforms. Had to go into new equipment, e.g. diesel compressors. Explains. Main work was in rental equipment which sometimes had to be rebuilt, modified. Costs up to £30,000. Explains relationship with clients. Large amount of equipment on hire. Attitude of Press Offshore to Kolfor. Background to getting work with Shell Fulmar, North Cormorant, Total MCP01 etc. Biggest competition was Aggreko. Details. Aggreko attempted to buy Kolfor. Problems with this. Explains Kolfor's reputation in industry. Complications re pricing services. Importance of personalities.
Tape 5 Side B: Recalls requirement for Kolfor to supply engineers for day/night shifts. Question re survival in Dundee when focus mainly on Aberdeen. Reason for own stable workforce. Occasional problems with workers drinking. Transport arrangements between Dundee/Aberdeen, use of company car. Kolfor staff paid offshore rates which were substantial. Explains use of staff time ashore. Describes assistance for wives of people offshore, helping in times of crisis. No physical casualties of company personnel. Before and since establishing Kolfor, always had focus on safety. Start of company boosted by 3-day-week. Mentions Margaret Thatcher. Comments on Dundee as potential home for oil industry, approach from Americans. Compares with Aberdeen. Attitude of Dundee Council, communists, left-wing socialists. Own feelings re failings of communism. Opinion of socialism. Mentions own background. Comments on situation in Nigeria. Feelings about Thatcher. Mentions relationship with wife. Disenchantment with politics. Always girls in Kolfor. Computerisation has reduced role in administrative side of work for women. Because it's a macho industry, no women in engineering etc side. Mentions office manager, her long time with company, long average service of staff. Complications with running rental business, purchasing plant, capital gambles, maintenance costs, depreciation, resale issues. Ratio of sales to rental. Occasional hiccups. Recalls powering Magnus. Big gamble. Describes BP's mistake, loss of piles when putting Magnus in place. Impact on Kolfor rental contract. Details re Northwest Hutton situation, module that didn't fit, problem with modular support frame, cost implications. Potential consequences of mistakes for small companies like Kolfor. At time of Magnus, Ð1M a day for Kolfor. Details. Kolfor always vulnerable to middle-management in operating companies. Explains.
Tape 6 Side A: Situation in Dundee when oil came. Details re industries there, e.g. NCR (National Cash Register), Timex watches. Reference to jute, shipyards. When oil came Dundee needed it. Further details re how city fathers made mess of things, attitude to Americans. Dundee didn't have suitable airfield. Americans told they would have to pay for heliport. More engineers available in Dundee than in Aberdeen. Mentions deals going on involving councillors. Reaction of Americans. People bypassed Dundee. Compares Aberdeen, Dundee populations prior to oil. Local Dundee press didn't pick up on oil. Mentions Aberdeen Press & Journal monthly energy magazine. Details re journalism in Dundee. Mentions television in Aberdeen. Belonged to Dundee Project to rejuvenate city. Details. Created, chaired 18 years, Dundee Angus Oil Venture Group (DAOVG) 1984. Details re Manager, Drummond Cairnie. Reaction of Port, ship handling company, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce - establishment - was lethargic. Reference to Scottish Development Agency, Davy GVA, Ali Baba drilling rig, Nynas (formerly William Briggs) oil refinery. Dundee could have been oil capital. Impact of BP establishment in Dundee. Other companies went to Aberdeen, Peterhead. Details. In early days, DAOVG strong. Recalls Americans in Dundee. Mentions forthcoming 24th OTC (Offshore Technology Conference), Houston. Impact of oil on housing in Aberdeen, downturn 1986 - keys of houses, cars turned in to bank. Attitude in Scotland to people taking risks in business, succeeding and failing. Compares with US. Explains possibilities that existed in Dundee, advantages over Aberdeen. Problems with house prices. Describes Kolfor progress. No external shareholders. Details re establishment of reserves, lack of debt. Explains equipment write-down approach, taxation position. Changed attitude to risk.
Tape 6 Side B: Kolfor would borrow money where necessary. Explains. Has not had to borrow recently. Mentions parents' attitude to hire purchase. No problems for company with borrowings. Explains. Relationship now with bank. Father never owned car. Piper Alpha disaster: only had machine, no personnel, on board. Was on Ninian at time. Reaction of Dundee people. Son on Piper one week beforehand. No experience of alarming situations offshore. Comments on Occidental, compares its standards with those of BP, Shell. Impact of disaster on Kolfor. Summarises growth of company accommodation. Attitude to staff safety. Details re travel routine to Middle East etc, long periods without breaks, not seeing family. Recalls RD Farquhar, builder of portacabins, supplier of materials for St Fergus etc, regular visitor. Mentions interrupted family holidays. Explains belief in 'favour bank'. Involvement in Chamber of Commerce, trade missions. Own reputation in Dundee. Involvement in Dundee Project 1983-92. Feelings about Rotary. Mentions talks given. Explains involvement in Dundee/Orleans Trust 1990-8. Details re involvement in Dundee Industrial Heritage Foundation 1989-91 recovery of ship Discovery. Link with NASA crew in space, Johnston Space Centre, student trips to Houston, visits of astronauts to Dundee etc. Explains own motivation for activities. Details re friendship with Jimmy Saville through cycle racing. Reference to Mensa. Mentions own visits to Balmoral. Details re members of royal family. Further details re growth of Dundee Oil Venture Group, worldwide membership. Reference to Manager Ed Smith. Recalls being Chair EEC Project for LEDA (Leading Economic Development Areas) 1988-9. Details. Explains Phoenix cities. Chair Dundee/Tayside Skill Shortages Project. Explains problems with unrealistic tertiary courses.
Tape 7 Side A: Explains interest in education. Feelings about formal education, own activities with students etc, links with NASA. Need for leaders, stars, and grazers. Principles of success. Company always main focus. Explains own network among, eg industry leaders. Involved in oil industry seminars. Reference Dundee 800th anniversary; Sir Robin Duthie, Chairman Britoil/BP; Colin Moynihan, Energy Secretary. Recalls being Depute Chairman OCA (Offshore Contractors' Association). Mentions other industry organisations. Explains need for platform for SMEs (Small-Medium Enterprises). Reference to Scottish Enterprise, Hamish Dingwall. Mentions shift in liabilities from operators to contractors. Explains evergreen contracts, greater stability in industry. Explains own role in OCA, problems with attitude there to SMEs. Reference to CRINE (Cost Reduction in the New Era). Involved with Supply Chain Steering Group 1998-2001. Details. Example of resolution of supply chain problem. Mentions Progressive Partnership, dealing with supply chain. Details re liabilities offshore, question re operators' attitude. Increase in paperwork re tendering from earlier times. Reference to ITT (Invitation to Tender), its length, involvement of lawyers etc. Supply chain order is operators, contractors, suppliers. Mentions companies operating in vacuum. Details re situation with Halliburton etc, settlement. Didn't let Kolfor get too big, selective in business taken on. In 1990s expectation of industry contraction, need for diversification. Started land-based work using offshore kit. Details re growth of this area in England. Discovery that company defrauded twice, cheating managers. Never had cheating managers in Scottish operations. Current situation with base in Dundee, equipment in different parts of world.
Tape 7 Side B: Further details re bad experience of expansion in England. Worst time for company in Middle East 1979, caught in Yemen. Details re son of Sheik, being cheated. Recalls own distress at situation, personal financial circumstances, near collapse of company, trading in insolvency for three months, recovery. Recalls earlier problem being caught in Turkey when offered payment in olive oil, tomato puree. Details of own resolution of situation inspired by bookmaker approach. Reference to ECGD (Export Credit Guarantee). Problems in 1986 with companies going down. Also had competitors going out of business. Mentions introduction of water jet equipment, use on Council rubbish chutes etc. 1987 best trading year ever. Some difficult times since. Recalls time unable to pay wages in Kolfor Power. Effect of difficult times on family life. Reaction of others to stormy periods. Explains feelings when things are bad, attitude of others. Recalls memorable moment when things at very worst. Nobody can really help you. Effect of childhood, youthful experiences on own approach to situations. Always successful, not the best. Explains. Always wanted success. Attitude to deals. Not possible to teach motivation. Comments on politicians. Importance of having street experience. Compares situation of people in big, small companies when things are difficult. Future of Kolfor, own situation as part-time Chairman, Managing Director. Details re other directors. Current role less enjoyable. Explains. Sons involved in company. Family financial situation, possibilities for future. Often approached to sell company. Effect of English experience etc on company record. Likely value of company compared with four years ago. Sons' situation being sons of John Beaton. Mentions their earlier work.
Tape 8 Side A: Details re daughter, her work for Kolfor. Mentions closeness of family, company. Details re grandchildren, relationship with them. Families live nearby. Comments on future of North Sea industry. Prospects for Kolfor in other parts of world, e.g. Nigeria - security there. Reference to terrorism. Own situation. Has slowed down. Details re part-time hours. Explains frustrations. Feelings about getting MBE 1994. Comments on awards. Reaction of friends. Details re wife, marriage. She is matriarch. Awarded Alick Buchanan-Smith Award for Achievements to the Oil Industry 2000. Details re event, nominators. Given Civic Reception from the City of Dundee 2001. Awarded Dundee 'City of Discovery' Rosebowl Individual Award for National and International endeavours for City of Dundee 1990. Explains. Details re involvement in Masonry, place in hierarchy. Mentions links with NASA. Involvement in oil industry in retrospect. Involvement in golf. Reference to Ian Wood. Kolfor's place in oil industry.
Tape 8 Side B: Blank
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