They shall not pass
Page 75
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Stopping the wheels from turning is more exhausting than productive work. Public Service, the Nalgo newspaper, published the harrowing diary of a day in the life of Tony Bowyer, a 'striking social worker and official picket organiser.
His task was to prevent vehicles entering or leaving the central garage of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Twice a week he was at it from 4.45am until he fell into bed at At 4.45pm the poor chap "tumbles out of bed, washes, puts on a track suit, snatches a cup of coffee, cuts and packs sandwiches, and leaves his house in Forest Gate, E7, quietly so as not to disturb his sleeping wife."
This consideration for the little woman is touching. On the other hand, she might have preferred him to get up later and bring home some money at the end of the week.
He gallantly turned away a couple of postmen and had a brush with an angry lorry driver, and assiduously log ged events. His sandwiches were doubtless curling a little by 3.30pm when he at last found time to eat them. After a belated dinner at 10pm he made five telephone calls about the picket rota.
And so to bed. This is the kind of dedication that made Britain great.