Arthur Chadwick

Arthur Chadwick was an accounts clerk at Amalgamated Steel who had worked for the company for over forty years. He was nearing his sixtieth birthday which meant enforced retirement at the end of the month unless the company, at their discretion, allowed him to stay for longer and then leave with a higher pension. Asked by personnel manager Mr. Wentworth to interview Mr Chadwick and find out his intentions, newly-joined idealistic assistant manager Ken Barlow voiced his opinion that the policy was one-sided in favour of the firm but was firmly told not to question matters.

Ken summoned the nervous man and broke the bad news to him that his employment was ending. Chadwick told Ken that he was both short of money and that he had a semi-invalid daughter who he had to support. Without making any promises, Ken asked Mr Wentworth to reconsider but his boss already knew the position and said that Chadwick was expendable, getting a good bonus and able to take on alternative employment once her left. Ken later had to break the news to the sad little man who thanked him for the kindness he had shown him, making Ken feel terrible.