RADIO TAY'S JOBCENTRE - 1980

When Radio Tay started up in 1980, The Jobcentre teamed up with them and set up, what was known as, the Job Shop, at the stations premises. The idea behind it was to expand the Jobcentre's facilities in Dundee to help spread the word about work in the local area. Radio Tay would then broadcast vacancy updates 3 times a day, to remind the unemployed what jobs were available and they could make enquiries about the jobs either at Radio Tay or the main Jobcentre.
Below is a short, silent clip of the interior of the Job Shop in 1980.

TSB BOOK - MEADOWSIDE - 1986

This is my TSB bank book I used at Meadowside.

As you can see, my final withdrawal before departing Dundee was made on 27th November 1986, leaving me with 13p to my name!

I never actually officially closed this account as I just opened up a new one with a different bank when I arrived down south, so I suppose, technically, I'm still entitled to my TSB money!
Let's see, what with all the interest that must have accumulated over the years, I could be sitting on a 17p fortune here..!!

D.R.C.U. CRECHE

The DRCU creche got a mention in yesterdays comments, and so here is a reminder of how it looked.
The photo, taken around the late 80's, features the magnificent 6ft painting by Laura Walker, who later went on to decorate the whole place.
Thanks to MK

D.R.C.U. - HILLTOWN - 1980s

Whilst on the subject of the dole, here is my DRCU concession card from 1986.

This entitled me to discounts from selected shops, clubs & services in town. For example, I remember using it in places like Willie Low's, Manifesto, Fats Sam's, and on buses too I think.

The top image is the back of the card which reads - Dundee Resources Centre for the Unemployed. 2 Hilltown. Dundee - and the office hours.

On the flip side it had a mugshot and name & address. You had to visit the DRCU each month for them to stamp and validate it for the following month's usage, as shown in the 2nd image.

This was my final year in Dundee as I headed South in January '87.

It's good to recall I was still going to Fat Sams to catch live bands, right to the end!

DRCU also put gigs on too.

I missed out on this example here, a weekend programme of visuals and audio called Vaudio.

Bands, video, film, performance art and suchlike, all put together by tENTATIVELY a cONVENIENCe, A Conspiracy Of Feelings, Pete Horobin & co.

This was in July 1988.

CUT IT OUT!

During the mid 80's period, when I was on the dole, I used to make Kurt Schwitters style collages. Not being able to afford art materials, I used things like cornflakes boxes, sweet wrappers, carrier bags and so on, the kind of consumer packaging you would normally chuck in the bin. I would cut them up and assemble them into wee pieces of abstract art. This wasn't a career move by the way, it was just for my own creative amusement.
I was living in a city centre flat and used to pay my electricity bills at the Hydro Electric Board showroom in Whitehall Street.
On one occasion when funds were low, I was struggling to pay my bill. Having ignored the reminders and final demand, I received a letter from them that had a large red warning stamped on it that read - SUPPLY DUE FOR DISCONNECTION. CONTACT OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
The above item is my collage piece depicting this moment, dated 1985.
The top blue square represents my electric fire, with the orange strip showing that only one bar was working at the time!
Below it, is the actual warning that I cut out of the letter.

I ended up arranging to pay the bill in installments.

It's quite funny looking back at those days, with my mind not having any thoughts of domestic comfort. And even when totally skint, was still able to view the situation with a touch of humour!