What happened to the flushers?

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

39 minutes ago, glasto-worker said:

 

well back in 1986 - the very first year the WBC was at Glastonbury I knew nothing about the WBC which is not surprising because they had only worked at a few events with the GLC in Battersea Park - in fact at that time they were not even called the WBC - it was run by BWTUC { Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council } but I had a connection because I lived in Wandsworth but had no method where I could contact them { this is before the WWW was invented } had no idea what a TUC was - all I spotted was ' Wandsworth ' - I asked someone who was working behind the bar and he said something like ' We only accept Volunteers from the TUC ' the photo below is the ones who worked in 1986 { apart from me who is on the far right } - I was called up because I have the longest service as a Volunteer. anyway it took me 3 years to get into the WBC. if they had been a commercial company I would not have been interested but I liked the idea about Teams raising money - sure lots were connected to the TUC and Labour party but there was lots of charities involved.

 

sure it can be hard work but there is many funny times and these are all friends - even if you don't know anyone you can walk into the staff bar and end up talking to people from all over the UK - all walks of life - in my Team I have a Senior Probation Officer - a Icelandic Chief of Police - lots of University Teachers and a few Social workers - all recruited direct by me but they were vouched for by one of my Team - the system works well - The Buck stops with me - if any Manager has a problem with one of my Team then they will come to me although its very rare - some have been with me 20+ years .The good part is Managers just leave me to run my own Team so I sort out all the shifts taking into consideration what their plans are -

the longer I do it the easier it gets - in fact Glastonbury is not difficult - its the day events where Promoters will pack people in and you cant even see the bar for the thousands wanting drink - now that is ' Frantic ' - I have seen bar counters collapse over the pressure of the crowd - customers will swear at the serving staff so I make bloody sure ' they don't get served ' - i was at Reading festival one year where there was a mix up over Security and the VIP/guest area ended up with no Security - I had been out watching the last band so on coming back I spotted they had gone ' but lots of none VIP/guest's had spotted it as well - I ran back to the Tent Manager to warn her there was hundreds pouring in - the VIP/guest area at Reading is not all that large - the WBC has its own Security so they were sent to the entrance to stop none VIP/guest's but there is no way they could clear the area - that was a very dodgy night

----------

re the photo where Tim appears to be grabbing Ben's balls - the bar was quiet so we were just messing about with the camera - all three in that photo are University Teachers - they are really hard workers and are Ultra dependable. if the bar was busy ' then that photo would not have been taken ' part of the Team { there was 8 of us } was standing at the Counter waiting for Customers - that bar can get though two giant tankers in a day so its rare we have time to stand about waiting.Everyone on my team likes to drink but they wont drink on duty ' unless we are told by the Chairman - have a drink '

 

yes for sure once our shift is over we get stuck in and we will all sit together. Everyone knows - they can do what they want but they have to show up for their shifts so ' they have to pace themselves '

Thanks for the detailed response glasto-worker. You have obviously ....

 

Only joking. Do you get paid, or is it a case of free entry to the event albeit restricted through having to work shifts?

 

[semmtexx]

45 minutes ago, glasto-worker said:

 

well back in 1986 - the very first year the WBC was at Glastonbury I knew nothing about the WBC which is not surprising because they had only worked at a few events with the GLC in Battersea Park - in fact at that time they were not even called the WBC - it was run by BWTUC { Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council } but I had a connection because I lived in Wandsworth but had no method where I could contact them { this is before the WWW was invented } had no idea what a TUC was - all I spotted was ' Wandsworth ' - I asked someone who was working behind the bar and he said something like ' We only accept Volunteers from the TUC ' the photo below is the ones who worked in 1986 { apart from me who is on the far right } - I was called up because I have the longest service as a Volunteer. anyway it took me 3 years to get into the WBC. if they had been a commercial company I would not have been interested but I liked the idea about Teams raising money - sure lots were connected to the TUC and Labour party but there was lots of charities involved.

 

sure it can be hard work but there is many funny times and these are all friends - even if you don't know anyone you can walk into the staff bar and end up talking to people from all over the UK - all walks of life - in my Team I have a Senior Probation Officer - a Icelandic Chief of Police - lots of University Teachers and a few Social workers - all recruited direct by me but they were vouched for by one of my Team - the system works well - The Buck stops with me - if any Manager has a problem with one of my Team then they will come to me although its very rare - some have been with me 20+ years .The good part is Managers just leave me to run my own Team so I sort out all the shifts taking into consideration what their plans are -

the longer I do it the easier it gets - in fact Glastonbury is not difficult - its the day events where Promoters will pack people in and you cant even see the bar for the thousands wanting drink - now that is ' Frantic ' - I have seen bar counters collapse over the pressure of the crowd - customers will swear at the serving staff so I make bloody sure ' they don't get served ' - i was at Reading festival one year where there was a mix up over Security and the VIP/guest area ended up with no Security - I had been out watching the last band so on coming back I spotted they had gone ' but lots of none VIP/guest's had spotted it as well - I ran back to the Tent Manager to warn her there was hundreds pouring in - the VIP/guest area at Reading is not all that large - the WBC has its own Security so they were sent to the entrance to stop none VIP/guest's but there is no way they could clear the area - that was a very dodgy night

----------

re the photo where Tim appears to be grabbing Ben's balls - the bar was quiet so we were just messing about with the camera - all three in that photo are University Teachers - they are really hard workers and are Ultra dependable. if the bar was busy ' then that photo would not have been taken ' part of the Team { there was 8 of us } was standing at the Counter waiting for Customers - that bar can get though two giant tankers in a day so its rare we have time to stand about waiting.Everyone on my team likes to drink but they wont drink on duty ' unless we are told by the Chairman - have a drink '

 

yes for sure once our shift is over we get stuck in and we will all sit together. Everyone knows - they can do what they want but they have to show up for their shifts so ' they have to pace themselves '

Loving the details! Thanks for taking the time to write up. You do make it sound interesting. All those years a glasto volunteer - speaks volumes about what its like.

I face/work with the public and other people all day long and yes, it brings some challenges, but it sure (for me) beats working behind a screen.

Cheers!

[glasto-worker]

On 19/10/2016 at 10:17 AM, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Thanks for the detailed response glasto-worker. You have obviously ....

 

Only joking. Do you get paid, or is it a case of free entry to the event albeit restricted through having to work shifts?

 

 

On 19/10/2016 at 10:23 AM, semmtexx said:

Loving the details! Thanks for taking the time to write up. You do make it sound interesting. All those years a glasto volunteer - speaks volumes about what its like.

I face/work with the public and other people all day long and yes, it brings some challenges, but it sure (for me) beats working behind a screen.

Cheers!

there is two groups of people that work for the WBC 

{1} a Volunteer - their pay goes to the group they represent - its about £7 or £8 per hour - does not sound much but some Teams may have 20 or so volunteers but at single day events they may even have more than that  ' so it soon adds up '

years ago in the 90's My team allocation for Glastonbury was 25

There is many other Groups now so that allocation would now be impossible

(2} a Manager - they do get paid { and taxed } - they tend to be Supervisor although some of the older ones can be seen serving.

If you forget about pay ' there is one big difference '

A Volunteer will work between 6 and 8 hours per day

A Manager will work double the hours which at first glance sounds a crazy idea but ' the more hours they work the more hours they get paid ' 

I was asked to be a Manager but I turned it down as I don't need the money { I am  a retired University Lecturer }

although on paper they work so many hours ' in practice ' they don't 

this varies between each Bar but in general ' they will sort out between  themselves who does what shift and most will have a night off '

-----

I am in the curious situation because of my work experience that I do get asked to stand in for a Tent manager { the boss within that bar ] or a Deputy Tent  Manager so when people see me ' they are never sure why I am there ' - so I may  drop in for a quick drink and be chatting to the Tent Manager when another manager will approach and rather than asking ' the real Tent Manager ' - they ask me !!!  

Anyway ' what the public see is only a fraction of the people who work there '

there is a large team of workers who work for production - moving stock about there is a  large team of people who work for ' staffing ' and all sorts of  various duties.

there is a team of ' MDU specialists ' who float about and will be round the back
adjusting things - the MDU equipment works best in a cool environment - but many times its not a cool environment so the coolers have to be adjusted - that is why when you go to a bar ' they may say we are out of beer ' - in actual fact they are not out - they have tons of beer - its just all the controls have to be adjusted so it will flow correctly.

In 2006 we were working at Hyde Park for two weeks - I was running two MDU's when it started acting funny - in fact I know how to adjust them - I went into the back and there was this guy ' who I knew was not part of the MDU Team ' standing beside # my cooler # so I asked him ' did you  adjust the cooler ? ' - he said something like ' Oh its that what they are called ' - I was playing about with the controls ' - I explained that was a live feed and his little adjustment has screwed up two MDU's - I told him that he was not authorised to touch them and he should not be in this area.

later that day the guy next to me had his MDU go funny - walked in the back ' and there was this bloody idiot playing about ' - I told him straight to his face ' if he did it again he would be out of the WBC '

this guy was a server - so really had no business being out there - the next bloody day I caught him again so he was kicked out of the WBC - I cant explain why  he wanted to touch them but each time he did ' it cost the WBC a lot of money - if  the flow drops below a certain level it creates air bubbles so the whole system  has to be drained { all that takes time and the beer is tossed out until its  flowing correctly } - I did explain this to this Mastermind but he just could not  stop himself so he had to go.

Even if he was new - the very first words a Tent manager will say to new people is ' do not adjust any of the equipment - do not enter the area where the equipment is - stay away '

so he would have had plenty of warnings but he decided to ignore them - there is heavy duty pumps as well - so someone playing about with the controls could lead to all sorts of dangers and why all servers are warned not to walk in that area
------------

here is a few shots of the fork lifts that are used - only people who are in Production get to see that ' as they cant have people wandering about when they are moving stuff - see the one with the Gordon'S Gin - you wont believe the next part - that is a female driving but that is not the unusual part - she comes over from New Zealand - works with the WBC and then flys back to New Zealand - she does it every year - here she is - in black on the left. I have no clue how she found the WBC all I know is she lives in  New Zealand - the only time we 
had to talk is when she is off duty and by the time I run into her she tends to be drunk - very drunk so have never been able to find out her story.

I suspect she stays with WBC friends in between working. The guy in red is head of production and lives in Wales - the older female is my Boss but as we have knowing each other 25+ years we are good friends.Amazingly she used to run a Pub.

Even now - its amazing to see it all link together - so many people all with so many skills. 

-----

As I have experienced Glastonbury from both sides - I prefer being a volunteer mainly because of the people I work with - its like one big family.

My team would work just as hard even if I was not there .

even after a heart attack some years ago - the WBC offered me a Guest pass at Glastonbury so I did not need to work but I decided to work it - so I must be Mad.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

5 hours ago, glasto-worker said:

 

there is two groups of people that work for the WBC 

{1} a Volunteer - their pay goes to the group they represent - its about £7 or £8 per hour - does not sound much but some Teams may have 20 or so volunteers but at single day events they may even have more than that  ' so it soon adds up '

years ago in the 90's My team allocation for Glastonbury was 25

There is many other Groups now so that allocation would now be impossible

(2} a Manager - they do get paid { and taxed } - they tend to be Supervisor although some of the older ones can be seen serving.

If you forget about pay ' there is one big difference '

A Volunteer will work between 6 and 8 hours per day

A Manager will work double the hours which at first glance sounds a crazy idea but ' the more hours they work the more hours they get paid ' 

I was asked to be a Manager but I turned it down as I don't need the money { I am  a retired University Lecturer }

although on paper they work so many hours ' in practice ' they don't 

this varies between each Bar but in general ' they will sort out between  themselves who does what shift and most will have a night off '

-----

I am in the curious situation because of my work experience that I do get asked to stand in for a Tent manager { the boss within that bar ] or a Deputy Tent  Manager so when people see me ' they are never sure why I am there ' - so I may  drop in for a quick drink and be chatting to the Tent Manager when another manager will approach and rather than asking ' the real Tent Manager ' - they ask me !!!  

Anyway ' what the public see is only a fraction of the people who work there '

there is a large team of workers who work for production - moving stock about there is a  large team of people who work for ' staffing ' and all sorts of  various duties.

there is a team of ' MDU specialists ' who float about and will be round the back
adjusting things - the MDU equipment works best in a cool environment - but many times its not a cool environment so the coolers have to be adjusted - that is why when you go to a bar ' they may say we are out of beer ' - in actual fact they are not out - they have tons of beer - its just all the controls have to be adjusted so it will flow correctly.

In 2006 we were working at Hyde Park for two weeks - I was running two MDU's when it started acting funny - in fact I know how to adjust them - I went into the back and there was this guy ' who I knew was not part of the MDU Team ' standing beside # my cooler # so I asked him ' did you  adjust the cooler ? ' - he said something like ' Oh its that what they are called ' - I was playing about with the controls ' - I explained that was a live feed and his little adjustment has screwed up two MDU's - I told him that he was not authorised to touch them and he should not be in this area.

later that day the guy next to me had his MDU go funny - walked in the back ' and there was this bloody idiot playing about ' - I told him straight to his face ' if he did it again he would be out of the WBC '

this guy was a server - so really had no business being out there - the next bloody day I caught him again so he was kicked out of the WBC - I cant explain why  he wanted to touch them but each time he did ' it cost the WBC a lot of money - if  the flow drops below a certain level it creates air bubbles so the whole system  has to be drained { all that takes time and the beer is tossed out until its  flowing correctly } - I did explain this to this Mastermind but he just could not  stop himself so he had to go.

Even if he was new - the very first words a Tent manager will say to new people is ' do not adjust any of the equipment - do not enter the area where the equipment is - stay away '

so he would have had plenty of warnings but he decided to ignore them - there is heavy duty pumps as well - so someone playing about with the controls could lead to all sorts of dangers and why all servers are warned not to walk in that area
------------

here is a few shots of the fork lifts that are used - only people who are in Production get to see that ' as they cant have people wandering about when they are moving stuff - see the one with the Gordon'S Gin - you wont believe the next part - that is a female driving but that is not the unusual part - she comes over from New Zealand - works with the WBC and then flys back to New Zealand - she does it every year - here she is - in black on the left. I have no clue how she found the WBC all I know is she lives in  New Zealand - the only time we 
had to talk is when she is off duty and by the time I run into her she tends to be drunk - very drunk so have never been able to find out her story.

I suspect she stays with WBC friends in between working. The guy in red is head of production and lives in Wales - the older female is my Boss but as we have knowing each other 25+ years we are good friends.Amazingly she used to run a Pub.

Even now - its amazing to see it all link together - so many people all with so many skills. 

-----

As I have experienced Glastonbury from both sides - I prefer being a volunteer mainly because of the people I work with - its like one big family.

My team would work just as hard even if I was not there .

even after a heart attack some years ago - the WBC offered me a Guest pass at Glastonbury so I did not need to work but I decided to work it - so I must be Mad.

 

I'm not sure why, but I really do like reading about your work and the set up. I know it takes time and effort to make a post like the one above, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that likes to read them.

PS - I'd love to know what was going through the mind of that plonker who contunually adjusted the MDU equipment controls. Apart from deliberate sabotage I can't think of a single reason why anybody would walk up to some 'live' controls they know nothing about and start twiddling with them.

[glasto-worker]

1 hour ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

I'm not sure why, but I really do like reading about your work and the set up. I know it takes time and effort to make a post like the one above, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that likes to read them.

PS - I'd love to know what was going through the mind of that plonker who contunually adjusted the MDU equipment controls. Apart from deliberate sabotage I can't think of a single reason why anybody would walk up to some 'live' controls they know nothing about and start twiddling with them.

I cant say although I am sure it was not deliberate sabotage as if I thought that I would have kicked him out straight away - I don't mind him looking but there is no way could I allow him to keep on adjusting things -  

as you can see the units are complex and they are tricky to set up and why most staff are warned not to get close to them.

these shots are not from that event but its like that at every event.When they first started using them these units were custom built and were very expensive.

its more complex than pumps used in pubs due to weights and measures regulation.

even the gas mixture is different - now that set up uses large tankers but in smaller bars there will be kegs - they don't last long at a busy event.

I miss the old style taps { that you still get in pubs } as it was possible to talk while pouring - sure at festivals completely unsuitable.

we still use them but in the staff bar - its where I prefer to work as I don't have to walk miles to a bar - well I am now over 60 so leave it to the younger ones but just because its the staff bar I still don't allow people to jump the queue - some of the younger managers will try ' who don't know me ' - they will flash their Managers badge as if that is going to impress me -they have no chance - its rare but it still happens.

one tip for next year - how to get served dead quick - get a hold of a few of the New polymer Fiver's walk to the bar and wave one and I bet you get served straight away - try it and see.   

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

6 minutes ago, glasto-worker said:

I cant say although I am sure it was not deliberate sabotage as if I thought that I would have kicked him out straight away - I don't mind him looking but there is no way could I allow him to keep on adjusting things -  

as you can see the units are complex and they are tricky to set up and why most staff are warned not to get close to them.

these shots are not from that event but its like that at every event.When they first started using them these units were custom built and were very expensive.

its more complex than pumps used in pubs due to weights and measures regulation.

even the gas mixture is different - now that set up uses large tankers but in smaller bars there will be kegs - they don't last long at a busy event.

I miss the old style taps { that you still get in pubs } as it was possible to talk while pouring - sure at festivals completely unsuitable.

we still use them but in the staff bar - its where I prefer to work as I don't have to walk miles to a bar - well I am now over 60 so leave it to the younger ones but just because its the staff bar I still don't allow people to jump the queue - some of the younger managers will try ' who don't know me ' - they will flash their Managers badge as if that is going to impress me -they have no chance - its rare but it still happens.

one tip for next year - how to get served dead quick - get a hold of a few of the New polymer Fiver's walk to the bar and wave one and I bet you get served straight away - try it and see.   

Wow, that's seriously impressive looking kit. I had no idea that such technology was involved.

It looks like I'll not be going to Glastonbury next year, so will be unable to test your waving a polymer fiver trick. You have my mind racing though with what it could possibly be. I went in to my local Poundland last week and they'd replaced the majority of staffed tills with self service tills. Guess what - they'll not accept the new polymer fivers. I can only assume that now they are going to have to pay the supplier of the tills to come back out and make adjustments (if it's possible) so that these new tills will accept the new fivers. I suspect that somebody in Poundland has been given a major bollocking over the purchase of these new tills not being able to take the new fivers. The devil's in the detail when specifying what you want from the outset. I learnt that very early on in my surveying career (if one could call it a career).

[SloopJohnB]

Anyway.....the flushers....

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

19 minutes ago, SloopJohnB said:

Anyway.....the flushers....

Oh yes, sorry - I'd forgotten all about them.

[semmtexx]

Yes the flushers but @glasto-worker why the polymer fivers? Rarity value? 

Cracking write up again!! Whilst I love fiddling with stuff I do get the idea fiddling when you have not a scooby does risk lost fingers or expensive times! 

[glasto-worker]

On ‎21‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 4:16 PM, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Wow, that's seriously impressive looking kit. I had no idea that such technology was involved.

It looks like I'll not be going to Glastonbury next year, so will be unable to test your waving a polymer fiver trick.

sorry to read that - is it your choice not to go ?

I am sure they don't hold a patent on it but I know the WBC believe they were the very first to build and use mobile MDU's although when I first saw them I did not think they were that mobile - the back end has not changed but the front end there has been various models of dispensers to try and reduce accidents as the oldest version could chop of a few fingers if the operator was distracted hence why servers are warned not to approach the front end MDU - MDU Operators are working with their back to the serving table and there should be no one walking behind them - once the tray is full ' they have to swing the tray to the table behind them ' so that area has to be clear

 

3 hours ago, semmtexx said:

Yes the flushers but @glasto-worker why the polymer fivers? Rarity value? 

Cracking write up again!! Whilst I love fiddling with stuff I do get the idea fiddling when you have not a scooby does risk lost fingers or expensive times! 

well if I was working in a public bar I would be looking out for a few new ones which I would divert to ' the cash Manager and then swap them for a few old ones ' until they are seen everywhere ' servers will be falling over themselves for the new note 

 

there is other ways to speed up service - sure they don't always work but they are worth a try - in a very busy bar ' wear a daft hat ' !!! all you have to do is stand out when a person is serving ' all they see is a sea of faces ' and by the time a server goes to pick up the order by the time they get back the customer is dead difficult to spot

 

I teach new servers to pick a distinctive customer as that is the main fear of a new server that they will return and they cant find their customer. its not the first time I have spotted a server walking up to the counter and calling out ' who handed me a £20/£50 note ? ' - now of course do that at a festival and they will all claim they handed over the money.

 

Edited October 22, 2016 by glasto-worker

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

13 hours ago, glasto-worker said:

 

well if I was working in a public bar I would be looking out for a few new ones which I would divert to ' the cash Manager and then swap them for a few old ones ' until they are seen everywhere ' servers will be falling over themselves for the new note

 

Apologies if I'm slow (I've had an indulgent couple of days) but I still don't understand the advantage of having a polymer fiver. Why would servers be falling over themselves to get one simply to divert it to the Cash Manager for them to change to an old fiver. A fiver is a fiver whatever the construction material of the note.

Oh, by the way - at first my wife didn't want to go to Glastonbury next year for a variety of reasons. On top of that I thought it was just too big a place now for me to get around. However, once she found out that Radiohead (her favourite band since first hearing them when she was in a psychiatric unit and had lost all hope for life) were playing next year then she's changed her mind. So, if we have the funds it looks like we will be trying in the resales in April. If we do get tickets I'll come seek you out and buy you that pint I owe you.

Edited October 23, 2016 by Yoghurt on a Stick

[glasto-worker]

18 hours ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Apologies if I'm slow (I've had an indulgent couple of days) but I still don't understand the advantage of having a polymer fiver. Why would servers be falling over themselves to get one simply to divert it to the Cash Manager for them to change to an old fiver. A fiver is a fiver whatever the construction material of the note.

Oh, by the way - at first my wife didn't want to go to Glastonbury next year for a variety of reasons. On top of that I thought it was just too big a place now for me to get around. However, once she found out that Radiohead (her favourite band since first hearing them when she was in a psychiatric unit and had lost all hope for life) were playing next year then she's changed her mind. So, if we have the funds it looks like we will be trying in the resales in April. If we do get tickets I'll come seek you out and buy you that pint I owe you.

A server would have to ask the cash manager to hold it - they would then hand over a £5 note and they could keep the new polymer fiver - its the only way to do it as there is CCTV within the bars so if someone is swapping money ' they need to do it in plain sight ' - I have never seen one so I know if I spotted one ' I would be straight in ' The £10 polymer note will be issued in summer 2017 - trust me if you have a new note ' just wave it and you will get served straight away '

 

I know what you mean about it being too big - I have peripheral arterial disease so cant walk far but after 4 years they have offered a operation - will know more after a CT scan next month but not sure if this will be before or after Glastonbury.

 

Hope you have good luck over your ticket search.

 

I don't work in the public bars any longer at Festivals - I am tucked away in the Crew Bar so unlikely you would find me - leave it with me - will have to see how the operation goes and if fit will arrange a time/date for a drink up.

[incident]

To be honest I'm also failing to understand the new fiver thing - it's worth mentioning that the old £5 note will (or at least should) have been completely withdrawn from circulation by the time next years festival season rolls around, so I wouldn't expect there to be any swapping out of notes, especially not taking out new and putting in old (if I've even read the above posts right). Officially speaking, WBC shouldn't be taking in old fivers or issuing them as change.

Of course it could just be that it's monday morning and my brains not kicked in yet.

[p.pete]

On 10/21/2016 at 8:45 PM, SloopJohnB said:

Anyway.....the flushers....

I dipped into a worthy view forum and someone mentioned there being a queue for 'flushing toilets' - I immediately wondered if it was a reference to the Big Ground's usual ones.  

Not sure if it'd have been due to mud (suggested on previous page) as I don't see why something infrastructural like that wouldn't have been in place long before the weather ruined the place.  Maybe they were being used as a Guinness truck...

[glasto-worker]

5 hours ago, incident said:

To be honest I'm also failing to understand the new fiver thing - it's worth mentioning that the old £5 note will (or at least should) have been completely withdrawn from circulation by the time next years festival season rolls around, so I wouldn't expect there to be any swapping out of notes, especially not taking out new and putting in old (if I've even read the above posts right). Officially speaking, WBC shouldn't be taking in old fivers or issuing them as change.

Of course it could just be that it's monday morning and my brains not kicked in yet.

well wave a new £10 note as they are due to be issued then - seeing the old fiver end date is  5 May 2017 I would be amazed if no one showed up with a old fiver.

 

I was not even aware that they had set a withdrawal date.

 

I am sure by next year they will have big notices up advising people about the old note - its happened before - most recently over the £20 note and there was lots of them kicking about - for every old £20 note that ended up being transported the Security company that banks the cash would fine the WBC £40 so they had to do a special double check - the notes can still be exchanged at the Bank of England.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

6 hours ago, glasto-worker said:

for every old £20 note that ended up being transported the Security company that banks the cash would fine the WBC £40 so they had to do a special double check

Ah, I see now. This is the bit of information that we were missing in order to understand why WBC staff would eagerly want the new notes.