d r o w t s a l e Th Ho! Ho! Ho! That’s not exactly the chortle you’d expect from a forklift truck wandering round a lead oxide plant in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (aka North Pole aka the north of England). But that was the Sound of a Secret Santa — aka Steve B and his Hammond Pals — busy the night before Christmas getting ready to deliver hampers to local food banks in the town.
Going, going, gong
Yet another scandal about to rock the UK monarchy. Yes, congratulations to Anthony Price on a well deserved OBE for his work on energy storage. Because of Covid, his gong will be coming in the post…
Given the city’s location in the Arctic wastes — known locally in the Eskimo language as ‘whoop nairth’ (with a silent wh) — the Hammond Team could be seen chasing away the polar bears as their sleighs rushed through the bitter night. …but disgust at BI HQ when it became clear that the Royal Mail had lost five key letters addressed to Certain Key Workers. “I wouldn’t have accepted it anyway,” said one publishing giant. “I couldn’t take anything less than a baroness.”
Mince pies, Christmas puddings, fruit cocktails, sweets and also the bare essentials or Christmas were donated by Hammond — they’d spent six weeks beforehand collecting food and presents — to give to food banks and those impoverished in the local community.
DES RES LOCATION SOUGHT Wanted. Large hotel car parking space for annual convention opening ceremony. Must have scenic views of
Hammond’s Little Helper
www.batteriesinternational.com
exit doors and signage to other levels. Location: San Diego. Date: September 22. Dress code: Black tie, driving gloves.
Batteries International • Winter 2020/21 • 95
