The Jobbing System of the London Stock Exchange: An Oral History

Ref.No.: 13	Playback No.:

Interviewee's surname: Green	   Title: Mr
Interviewee's forenames: Geoffrey David
Date of birth:   17 March 1946;             Sex: Male
Date(s) of recording: 27 February 1990 
Location of  interview: Home 
Name of interviewer: Bernard Attard 
Type of recorder: Marantz CP 430    4
Total no. of tapes: 2	Speed:
Type of tape: TDK AR 60	Noise reduction: DBX
Mono or stereo:stereo	Original or copy: Copy
Additional material:  Copyright/Clearance: CMH; no restrictions

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS

Tape 1, Side 1

Personal and family background; how obtains a job with Bisgood Bishop in August 1963; influence of parents; attitude to money in the family; first jobs with Bisgood Bishop; description of Bisgood Bishop; contrast between back office and House staff; becomes a checking clerk; blue button; impressions of the Stock Exchange; the commercial vehicle and aircraft books; memories of 1964 general election; description of some of the partners; broker bookies; comparison of Bisgood Bishop with other jobbing firms; difference between jobbers and brokers.

Tape 1, side 2

Feelings about working in the Stock Exchange; becomes authorised in 1967 and joins miscellaneous industrial/engineering book; organisation of the book; dealing etiquette and early experience of someone ignoring etiquette; expansion of the firm; evolution into a second-line dealer; jobbers as a source of information; shop brokers; insider information; marriage; becomes a Member; change from the old House to the new; the admission of women; dealing style; characteristics of second-line stocks; relationship with brokers; joint books.

Tape 2, side 1

Joint books; price agreements; put throughs; underwriting; approach to running a pitch and capital required; becomes a special director and a director; advantages of partnership over company structure; Poseidon boom; collapse of Rolls Royce; takeovers; boom in London & Liverpool; running a bear position; 1974 recession; privatisations; capitalisation of jobbers.

Tape 2, side 2

Demand for lower commissions; attitude to Big Bang; changes in Bisgood Bishop and the Stock Exchange during his career; decline of standards and etiquette; strengths and weaknesses of the jobbing system; eg. of decline in standards; qualities of a successful jobber; feelings about his career; last days of dealing in the Stock Exchange.