Background

I will get photos of the new site for the press and the printing of this year's card on here soon, but meanwhile, for photos of previous year's card printing and a bit of background on the former Whitley Wood Press please see www.arjam.net/press.

A new start

On 26 October, Whitley Wood Press in Reading, Berkshire closed. With assistance from Richard Lawrence and Keith Phillips, I moved the equipment to a new home in Appleton, Oxfordshire. The move required a Luton van to hold the press and three racks of type, plus a little extra assistance from a Transit van to carry all the bits an bobs that wouldn’t quite fit.

The day started with collection of the hired Luton van from East Oxford at 7am and ended with the return to Reading at about 11.30pm. But by that time, everything had been shifted and safely stored.

I didn’t think that the Press could keep its original name, since that was tied to its old home in another county. After mulling the question for some time, Ruth and I came up with the new name – Parsnip Press. Its new name celebrates a pre-eminent root vegetable we all like to eat (especially roasted); in particular Ruth and Jamie’s son Timmy is an enthusiast.

I’m very pleased that the press has a new location that gives more space to work and store the significant amount of equipment that is needed. It’s an exciting new start.