In Before I forget W A Wolley describes his experiences in accountancy between 1894 and 1954. The author joined Wm. Arthur Smith & Co on 1 August 1894 after his father ‘heard that an office boy was wanted in the office of a Chartered Accountant’.
In his book W A Wolley describes the look and feel of the first practice he worked for:
Each room was lighted with incandescent gas burners. We in our room had high desks and stools, but the other room had a table and several chairs. There was no telephone. Many offices did not boast one, but we had a bell push which would summon a boy messenger who, for a few pence, would carry a letter for about a mile or so.
The course of W A Wolley's book goes on to describe his nightmare early audits, the fears of a Zeppelin raid on his firm's offices during the great war, actual doodlebug raids in the Second World War and his later career in the profession.
During the Second World War I was working for them [Billingsgate Market] in another building on the fourth floor. I heard a Doodle Bug getting nearer and nearer, and realised it was dropping fast! I just had time to get at the back of a steel filing cabinet when most of the glass in the window flew across the room. I was unharmed. That Doodle wrecked Fresh Wharf about 50 yards away
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Accountancy Ancestors
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