Sunday, June 28, 2020

More Attlee

IT is easy to forget just how quickly technology moved forward last century.
In the late 1940s the telex machine, which could be used to keep up to date with reports from news agencies, was relatively modern.
Clement Attlee's chief press officer, Francis Williams, persuaded the prime minister to have a telex in Downing Street after pointing out the reports would include up-to-date cricket scores.
Attlee's biographer, Francis Beckett, takes up the story in The Oldie: "After it was installed, Attlee looked into his press officer's room. 'My cricket machine - it's giving out the decisions made in cabinet this morning. How can it do that?' Williams explained that he routinely briefed the lobby. 'All right - leave the show to you. Good work'."

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