FOLLOWING the BEN's First Day at work feature, here are all the details of my first day at work which now reads like ancient history!

In 1938, I left the Bolton Commercial Institute, now Lord's College, and, in those days, it was not easy for juniors to find work.

However, the employment agencies were then in their infancy and, like most of my contemporaries, I registered with a Manchester agency.

This was on a Wednesday and I was immediately sent to a company in Portland Street. The interview was searching by the joint MD who promised to write to me. When I told my father, who was waiting for me, he said -- "Well, that's experience of an interview."

My father was with me, as neither mother nor I were familiar with the lay-out of Manchester. I learned very quickly as, on the following Friday, I received a letter offering me an appointment as an office junior to start at 9.30am that day at a salary of 15 shillings (75p) per week.

Once more, my father had to accompany me to Manchester. I arrived at 10am and was forgiven the 30 minutes when I explained the letter did not arrive until around 8.30am and, consequently, I had caught the first train possible.

Mrs Dorothy B Waters

Winifred Road

Farnworth