Vickers Against the Odds, 1956-1977

Notes:

The author, Sir Harold Evans, was adviser on pubic relations to Vickers, 1966-76, having previously been public affairs adviser to Tory prime ministers. Written as a continuation of J D Scott's official history of Vickers dealing with the firm's post war and post nationalisation experience in a 25 year period. Focuses especially on the firm's transformation from a traditional armaments supplier to also include a broad range of civil industrial interests such as: Roneo Ltd and Roneo Vickers Ltd; English Steel Corp Ltd; Crabtree Vickers and R W Crabtree & Sons Ltd as well as shipbuilding and aircraft production via British Aircraft Corp Ltd. Includes a chapter 'In the hands of Whitehall?' [pp119-30] detailing effects of government intervention and policy. An appendix provides annual figures re sales, profits, assets employed, etc. Structured in four parts: 1] 1956' - 'A thriving and well-knit organisation'; 2] '1956-62' - 'Change and venture' / 'Birth of BAC' / 'The nuclear submarines'; 3] '1962-70' - 'Hard going, 1962-70' / 'Enter McKinsey, 1964'; 'Pastures new, 1966-70' / 'In the hands of Whitehall?' / 'Exit steel, 1965-68' / 'Prone to accident, 1965-70' / 'Pruning season, 1965-70' / 'City intervention, 1969-70; 4] '1970-77' - 'New broom, 1970-71' / 'Resurgence, 1971-77' / 'The Engineers'; 'More than desks' / 'Down to the sea bed' / 'Vickers overseas' / 'Exit shipbuilding and BAC' / 'Epilogue'. Appendices include: 'Vickers Group - financial summary 1956-76', Ships launched, 1956-77', List of directors