on bbc girls

the girls who fought their way out, and became programme secretaries, could have the time of their lives as a very important ingredient in the production team, together with the girls with the delicate touch of junior programme engineer. not for them the prospect of departure at 5.30p.m. daily, a lunch-break of one hour, and a neat filing-system for a boss who was always punctual, usually sober, and sometimes willing to answer letters. theirs was a dedicated job, which might entail loss of freedom, lack of food, loss of sleep, even loss of honour (though this was usually by mutual arrangement.)

from these vintage years of radio.


doesn't that remind you of the opening paragraph of penelope fitzgerald's human voices?