| Description | Tape 1 Side A: JOHN JAMES (JACK) BURNETT (JB) born 15 October 1978 Dundee. JOSEPH (JOE) MACLELLAN (JM) born 6 May 1942 Ellon, Buchan. (JB) Paternal grandfather from Forfar area worked in jute trade, Dundee. Father worked in lemonade firm, mother in jute. Details re names. Recalls grandparents. Father one of eleven. Grandfather in Royal Horse Artillery in Boer War. Mentions being called up in Army 1957, education, leaving school at 15, early jobs with whisky firm, British Rail. Maternal family, Hughes: mother a spinner in jute mill. Details re names. Is only child. Details re parents. Compares travel industry now with earlier times. Recalls family parties, music. Went to St Patrick's School. Religion in family. Details re childhood home, neighbourhood. Happy upbringing. Wanted to be professional footballer. Describes Dundee in childhood days. Reference to NCR (National Cash Register), Timex. Reasons for oil industry not going to Dundee. Situation there now. Parents not involved in union or politics. Mentions Northside Academy, career opportunities, British Rail. (JM) Father one of ten, from Newfoundland, in Navy. Mother one of eight. Paternal grandfather ship's captain, carpenter. Details re names, timing of children's birth. Maternal family, Morrisons, from Ellon, grandfather had haulage/garage business in Newburgh, ran taxi. Raised in Newburgh. Details re parents, names. Mother worked in hotel. Is oldest of four. Details re siblings, childhood home, parents. Father joined local builder, council. Little travel, money in childhood. Went to Newburgh School. Left at 15. Recalls Aberdeen in school days. (JB) Recalls going to Aberdeen for football, Union Street, Munro's Travel. Dundee was bigger than Aberdeen. (JM) Details re work with British Rail.
Tape 1 Side B: (JM) Further details re work with British Rail. Mentions [Beeching] rail cuts. Reason for leaving 1969, joining Munro's Tourist Agency. (JB) Background to leaving travel office in Dundee, joining Munro's in Aberdeen. Mentions young family. Details re Munro family's link with firm, company history. Own knowledge of business travel. Married 1963. Details re family. (JM) Married 1972. Details. (JB) Recalls reputation of Munro's. Details re offices, size of business. Oldest agency in Scotland. Details re history. Mentions emigration work. (JM) Describes company in late 1960s, young team, new office etc. Started on railway work, branched out. Compares Munro's with British Rail. (JB) First recollections of Munro's. Started as Manager, Union Street office, became Partner 1971. (JM) Politics not discussed in own family. Family conservative. Explains popularity of local MP. (JB) Parents supported Labour. Details. Mentions Churchill's period in Dundee. First indication of oil/gas industry 1971 was American customer from Odeco. Recalls calling on Vance Green, being told of industry prospects, potential for Munro's, early relationship with Odeco, gaining other American companies as clients. Example of industry's unique travel requirements. Growth of business. Competitors initially oblivious to opportunity. (JM) Recalls advent of gas industry in England. Special Munro's business unit opened 1973. Recalls first oil client Malcolm Williams, Comex Diving, his requirements. Handshakes on deals. Many clients paid by credit card - advantages. (BOTH) Payment procedure in travel industry. Munro's reputation. Colleagues, partners in company, premises. Recalls American clients, e.g. Sedco, Transocean, Global Marine, individuals who worked, played hard. Mentions spittoon skills. Dealt with Hamilton Brothers. Benefit of Petroleum Club. Development of competition in travel industry.
Tape 2 Side A: Word done by Edwin Reid linking incoming oil industry companies with Aberdeen businesses. Many thought industry would soon go away. 1973 specialist unit opened by Munro's. Details re air services to London in early days, now. Rapid airport developments. Explains evolution of critical mass of oil and associated companies in Aberdeen. Housing, travel considerations. Munro's had to change to accommodate industry. Ratio of business/holiday work. Changes to Aberdeen, new nationalities, schools etc. Reaction of Aberdonians. Many incomers didn't stay initially. Decline of traditional industries, impact of mechanisation. Oil just in time for Aberdeen. Involvement of Aberdeen Journals involving Aberdeen companies in oil. First Aberdeen involvement in Offshore Technology Conference 1973. First journeys to Houston, people there. Munro's got franchise for UK exhibitor travel. 2003 award from Houston, nomination of special day for Munro's, Press & Journal. Reference to Tony Blair. Details re Houston, Texas. Reference Scottish development of Texan beef herd. Details re numbers of people going to Houston, routines followed. American underwater expertise, industry reaction in Scotland. Evolution of Offshore Europe exhibitions in Stavanger, Aberdeen. Growth of business travel, 24-hour operation. Example of arrangements for Americans, their families. Problems with companies closing up and leaving. Operated on handshake. Had to take some risks. Team of c20 people. Comparison of tourist/business travel work. Importance of relations with secretaries in businesses. Links with local businesses. Most work has involved sending people out of Aberdeen. Scottish Oilfield Secretaries' Club, their importance in networking. Reference to Rita McDonald. Importance of establishing powerbases in companies. By mid-late 1970s, c40 travel agents in Aberdeen. Impact on Munro's, strategy followed.
Tape 2 Side B: Focus on business travel 1984 to stem loss of business to competitors. Still today about 30 travel companies. Impact of Press & Journal on business. Name change from Munro's Tourist Agency to Munro's Travel Group. Importance of journalists Ted Strachan, Dick Mutch, Ian Forsyth, Derek Tucker, Jeremy Cresswell. Reference to oil shows round world. Role of Aberdeen Council. Reference to work in Brazil, West Africa etc. 1986 recession did not affect Munro's. Details. Reference to Wood Group, Comex Diving accounts. Details re Ian Wood. Munro's not dependent only on business travel - value when oil industry dipped. Three divisions: Group & Conference, Business Travel, Leisure. Details re first involvement with Offshore Europe. Relationships with other businesses, eg car hire, hotels. Things more stable when oil in production. Pattern of travel by Aberdonians. Many Americans married Aberdonians, resulting in travel requirements. Possibility of Dundee getting oil. Attitude in Aberdeen. Work routines in Munro's, planning etc. Advantage of having no head office, benefits of today's technology. Took people on trust, caught once or twice. Possible benefit of opening in London. Advantage of membership of Guild of Business Travel Agents. Reasons for concentrating in Aberdeen. Munro's not gamblers, but solid, reliable, cautious. Financial strategies, no bank overdraft. Business travel turnover. Cautious nature of Aberdonians, comparison with Dundee people. Current staff numbers. Impact of work on families. Witnessed conduct of industry people when away. Details re children. Pressures of oil industry work, travel requirements, impact on relationships. Reference to alcohol. Attitude of Munro's to care of staff families, question of Saturday work. Growth of company, stress, shortage of trained staff.
Tape 3 Side A: Munro's had to train staff but had to let them go. Staff poaching in travel industry. Essential skills, qualities for travel work. Comparison of business, leisure travel work. High stress level because of responsibility to client. Details re type of personality necessary. Changes possible through new technology. Language difficulties. Details re work with Occidental after Piper Alpha disaster, procedures followed for victims' relatives. Munro's had implants (staff) with Occidental. Impressions of Occidental. Reference to Elf. Later lost Occidental account. Impact of Piper disaster on Munro's. Importance of relationship with Occidental personnel manager, Munro's being based in Aberdeen. 1990s good years for business travel. Details re changes in travel patterns. Fewer people coming from abroad. Reason for emphasis on business links with small companies. Number of oil-related accounts, proportion of smaller businesses. Details re expansion in 21st century through technology, new worldwide links. Fewer decisions being made in London, Houston, more in Aberdeen. Impact of oil exhibitions, increase in worldwide business. Details re 1990s boom, gain in skills of local people. Current business travel patterns. Munro's now global player. Details re worldwide itineraries. Team approach to work. Example of Wood Group travel. Need for all staff to be experts. Reasons for using different airlines. Arrangements for West Africa, need for historical awareness. Munro's no longer dependent on British Airways. Details re KLM, Air France, air hubs. Approach to less accessible destinations. Proportion of business now linked to oil industry. Details re dependency on oil industry, need for diversification. Details re Munro's website, online facilities. Situation re Shetland flights. Offshore flights managed by oil companies.
Tape 3 Side B: 1980-1 business travel side became more profitable than retail side. Changing pattern of American people in Aberdeen. Reference to foreign schools. Effect of 1986 slump. British people started to take over. Relationships with Americans. They are good spenders. Details re evolution of business-leisure travel. Attractions of Scotland to Americans. Reference to golf, education. Development, benefits to Aberdeen business of OTC (Offshore Technology Conference). Details re Double Tree Hotel, Houston, accommodation arrangements, business done there. Press & Journal sends reporters there. Details re availability of paper in Houston. Details re impact of Bill Gordon, Rosemary Ryan, Mary Metz, Houston-Grampian Association. Benefits of attendance at OTC, personalising relationships. Details re Munro's premises, moves, horizontal integration in travel industry. Likely situation in Aberdeen if oil had not come. Changes to Union Street in recent years. Prospects for North Sea oil industry, likely impact of new technology, overseas business. Alternative energy prospects. Arrival of new companies in Aberdeen. Prospects for Munro's, financial planning, business attitude. (JM) Now retired. (JB) Took over business from previous partners three years ago. Now a family business. Had to prove long-term intentions to staff. Details re developments. Still no bank overdrafts. Future prospects as independent force in travel industry. One-stop shop, local people. Business built on people. Reference to son's involvement. Details re current premises, change of company name. Reference to centenary. Earlier business emphasis in company. Company development in retrospect, importance of accountant. |