"Our Willie Built That!"
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He likes to tell a story which he describes as "accurate enough." During the launching of a ship there comes a brief moment of silence, a tense moment when eyes watch anxiously and few voices are heard. Once his mother accompanied him to the launching of a ship to which his 'prentice hand had put some touches. In the silence her voice could be heard proclaiming, "Our Willie built that! " That, as he sees it, is the sort of pride in achievement without which no brilliant success is ever won.
When I suggested that Britain lags in research in many spheres—including the motor industry—Sir William became emphatic. This country is right up in front, he is utterly confident, and British industry provides enormous scope, certainly no less than that of the United States, for the researcher. He is immensly proud of his chairmanship of the N.R.D.C..
"1 like being chairman of people who are more intellectual than I am," is the modest way he puts it. He spoke to me of that body's achievements, particularly of the new Hovercraft, and said that here was proof positive of Britain's pre-eminence in the research field.
As to management in general, he pooh-poohs the idea that top men spend long evenings reading complicated documents word for word. "Look at this stuff," he said, indicating a pile of papers on his desk. "This one alone would mean an hour's close reading. Life is too short for that: I take a quick look, mark the salient points and return to them when the time seems appropriate. Or maybe I pass them to somebody else to deal with."
I can see that the people surrounding Sir William Black must be pretty competent. Is he a "hirer and firer," however? I think not. Here in his own words is his idea of personnel management: "Back 'em or sack 'em." A good man, I would say, to have at your back. H.C.