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A Family of Printers

Ian, Ignite's owner and creative director, comes from a generation of printers and signwriters. If you've ever visited the Ignite office you will have seen the below image hanging proudly on the wall.
 

The photo features, from left to right, his great-grandfather Harry Gay Snr, his father Colin, his great-uncle Bernard and his grandfather Harry Gay Jnr. The unique photo was taken by the local newspaper when Ian's great-grandfather was retiring and his father, Colin, was starting his apprenticeship. Below is the full article from the Bridgwater Mercury, 1953. Scroll down to read >

A family of printers from 1953
A Family Of Printers Story

A FAMILY OF PRINTERS

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From The Bridgwater Mercury, 1953.

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In the year 1897 when Queen Victoria was at the zenith of her popularity and the country was enjoying a rich spell of prosperity free from the threat of war, a 12 year old schoolboy left his home at Hawkers Cottages on the Bristol Road and walked into Bridgwater in search of work. On reaching Fore Street, he paused, looked around, then plucking up courage went into the printing office of Page & Son, where he was engaged at an apprentice printer.

He was Harry Garry who now lives at 95 Bath Road where he himself attends to all his wants, his wife having died 25 years ago. Mr. Gay took to printing as a duck takes to water, and for 38 years he remained in the employ of the firm in the days when all type-setting was done by hand, until the time when it was taken over my Messrs. Whitby, Light & Lane.

As the new type-setting processes came into being – such as the Monotype and Linotype machines – Mr. Gay was not confounded but took to these methods with a confidence born of great love in his work. He is 68 years old and still works for Messrs. Whitby, Light & Lane. Mr. Gay has two sons, and in 1924 one of them, Harry Gay (jnr.) became an apprentice at his father’s place of employment. In 1934 the other son, Bernard followed in the same steps and in 1953, Colin, the only son of Harry Gay (jnr.) began his apprenticeship with the same firm.

Between them these three generations of printers have put in 105 years in the trade and it must be a record that is perhaps unequalled in the country. The four of them still work at Messrs. Whitby, Light & Lane Ltd.

Mr. Gay (snr.) told a Mercury reporter last week, “From the moment they were old enough to understand my two boys and grandson wanted to follow me in my work, and they are happy and settled in their work.”

This is not only a great tribute to the printing trade, but to the employer who has provided such satisfactory conditions throughout the years.

The only break Mr. Gay had away from his work was in the first World War when he served in the Oxfordshire & Bucks Light Infantry, and by the time he returned from the war his fingers were simply itching to pick up type once again.

When Mr. Gay started work 56 years ago he was one of six in the employ of Messrs. Page & Son. Mr. Gay is keeping in good health and takes a close interest in all aspects of the printing industry.

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GRAPHIC DESIGN

LOGOS & BRANDING

PACKAGING

PUBLISHING

WEBSITES

PRINTING

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All works © Ian Gay trading as Ignite Design Creative 2024. All works designed by Ian Gay in either a freelance capacity or whilst employed either full-time or as a sub-contractor at Shac Communications, Pluvo (formerly Brandhaus), Design Blue, R&B Creative Communication, Crowther Blayne & Associates. Please do not reproduce without the expressed written consent of Ian Gay at Ignite Design Creative.

In the spirit of reconciliation Ian Gay and Ignite Design Creative acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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