Life as a Scientologist
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My Life As A Scientologist

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Agnes Hadley

First published 1994, Second Edition 1998

Copyright: Agnes Hadley, 1994

The material contained herein represents the personal exerience and opinion of the author and does not represent that of any other person.

Contents

• Agnes Hadley
• Introduction
• Arriving At Saint Hill Manor
• What was St. Hill?
• The Daily Activity of Scheduling Students.
• The Tuesday Lectures
• Expansion at St. Hill
• The Weekly Graduation Day
• My First Experience in a Very Important Job
• An Approach Made to Me about Auditing
• The Reality of Being a Staff Member
• Moving Towards the Sea Org
• The Early Days of Sea Org Life.
• Sea Org Training - Trying to Cope.
• Approaching Land - A Mission
• My Second Mission - Set Up An Advanced Organisation
• Advanced Organisation - Denmark
• Being a Representative in the Office of LRH
• Advanced Org Move - A New Job, Uniforms and Expansion.
• A Non LRH book Applied On the Job!
• Decision to Transfer and, Learning it the Hard Way
• Questions and Changes
• The Approaching Reality of No More LRH Letters.
• Sad, Cope, Find a Buddy
• The Final Decision

Introduction

These are my experiences within the Church of Scientology where I served from 1960 through to 1982.

The start of the experience was at the Church’s headquarters at Saint Hill Manor, at East Grinstead, in West Sussex, England. They were rather large quarters where the founder, L Ron Hubbard (known to Scientologists as LRH), and his wife Mary Sue, lived in the early days. They had four beautiful children, all with red hair. Quentin Hubbard was the oldest, then Diana, then Suzette and lastly their youngest boy, Arthur. They also had a dog named Vickie. The children grew up around St.Hill and they had private tutors who came to give them their schooling.

Hubbard's goal was to have a SAFE and QUIET place with maximum comfort for all the purposes he was heading out to achieve. This included a home for himself and his family, a business operations unit, and a place where public could go to train. Those were people who were eligible for getting trained as professional listeners (known in the Scientology world as Auditors). This training required time, courage and many, many months of long days of study. From that time, the goals set out for this operation were about to become a reality!

Even before going to the famous St.Hill Manor, Ron had trained people on many different courses. He first trained students, and then supervisors to take over from him in supervising the students. He kept a very close eye each day on the supervisors he trained, and also on the students they trained.

The two major courses for training to be a Professional Auditor were what are known today as the Academy Levels 0-IV and the famous ST.HILL SPECIAL BRIEFING COURSE.

Apart from training there was another organisation for Professional Auditing. St.Hill provided a service so that Auditors who were already trained were available to deliver processing, at that time, and possibly still are today. Pre-step and Major-step for any study course in Scientology then the Academy Levels 0 -IV were some of the steps you had to take to get anywhere near to getting on the St Hill Special Briefing Course.

Promotion was a big activity at that time It was very well arranged and planned, and very professional. Booklets about the famous St.Hill went out with each promotional package, sent to a full mailing list each month. The promotion seemed to work. Students arrived weekly, by the bucket load. Mondays were the days of new arrivals. Tuesdays were the days of the famous LRH lectures and the announcing of new students on courses. Fridays were the special days for graduations.

Staff had to be hired as fast as possible to help handle administrative lines and keep up with the numbers of new people arriving for courses and Professional Auditing. St.Hill had about as much traffic running through it per day as the local East Grinstead main street. There were cars, motorbikes, delivery vans, and taxis, with people leaving for - wherever. There were people going to find rooms for staying in the local town. You just never saw a dull moment. It was action all the time.

People who showed an interest in courses, or who wrote and asked questions, were written to, telling them what steps one had to take or do to be able to come to St.Hill. This was the case for Professional Auditing as well.

People who wanted to do the St Hill Special Briefing Course usually wrote in months before and kept a good letter line before making any final arrangements. They had many questions to ask an Advance Registrar and these were carefully answered, to make it easier for the person to come. The Briefing Course took at least one year and one had to be well prepared. This also applied to processing. Some people stayed for weeks to do a lot of intensive auditing. Some stayed even longer.

One might perhaps ask, how did all these students and professional preclears arrive? And how was St.Hill so well promoted to get so many, many people there?

LRH had already promoted Scientology throughout the world where Scientology centres were operating. He sold off his earlier lectures and books to people previously attending his lectures.

In the earlier days of St.Hill, being there with Ron and Mary Sue - whether on staff, as a student or as a professional Preclear - was FUN! It was LOTS OF FUN seeing all the activity and being part of it. Once having had the experiences of those GOOD OLD DAYS, it's something one does not forget easily. Perhaps this is just words for someone curious enough to read these short stories. If you read on, you will arrive at some sort of conclusion but it’s your choice whether you read on or not Perhaps you will read these stories for the purpose of finding out how the writer experienced the Church of Scientology. Perhaps you may want to find out if the writer went through a similar experience to your own. These stories might even catch a person still in the Church, though it is more likely that the reader will already have left that organisation. One hopes that, by reading about the experiences of other people in the Church of Scientology, it might help some readers to get answers for themselves on how it all went so very wrong.

Staff and Franchise Holders who were around from the early 1950's up to 1980 and beyond, became a danger to the new leaders of the Church of Scientology. This included those who knew LRH and Mary Sue, or who had worked for either of them. Having worked with both was great, if you got a chance. Having rules and games set out, and rewards written in Policy by LRH to use along with a justice system that worked, was great as well..

Old Timers knew a lot. They were there, growing and expanding together with LRH. They knew what was written by him policywise, and techwise. They also knew later what was not written by him, and what executive orders being put in were not approved by him.

Those people unwilling or refusing to conform to the changes which started to take place in the beginning of the 1980s, were easily removed from post, assigned to the ethics department for doing Mest work, or - if considered serious enough threats - were sent to the infamous Rehabilitation Force. Some were later removed from staff altogether and were just thrown out of the Church of Scientology EXPELLED or EXCOMMUNICATED. From the new regime’s viewpoint, those people had to go!

Why?

It's called removing TRACEABLE EVIDENCE. That evidence might possibly get those who misused the true writing's of LRH's Policy on the Justice System within the Church of Scientology, to face up and be removed themselves. One can find over the years, how very much the Church has changed, either by its structure, its personnel, and most of all, its Green Volumes and Red Volumes. Nowadays the headings are under the name of the Church of the Religious Technology Centre, or are headed, ‘For the Board of Directors of the Church of Scientology’.

Any Old Timer, having worked in the Church of Scientology, can fall back on Green and Red Volumes and look and see how Policy or Technical issues were written. Some staff or public from back then will perhaps have single issues of their own. When you were a staff member or had been in the Church taking services in those times, you could compare the policies then to now. In the days of LRH at St.Hill, and even until the beginning 1980's, it was a normal operation. Staff got any and all Policy issues by LRH that came out when headed, "For Broad Public Issue."

Having old issues of Policy and Tech, and updates coming out later on, or having done courses in the Church of Scientology before 1980, one can witness the CHANGES! One does not need to have the Church of Scientology, or the Religious Technology Centre try to prove otherwise. These are some of the differences that went on, there are more but that requires you to read on.

The following stories are told from personal experience gained from over twelve years I served. They include some areas other than St.Hill and the Flag Land Base and Ron Hubbard's ships. They then move on to Ron’s first European Advanced Organisation, travelling world-wide then back to his Flag Land Base before I finally left to go into the OUTSIDE WORLD.

I would like to say a thank you to those who were involved either in bringing me towards knowing Scientology, or in encouraging me to become a staff member so I could work with a famous man who gave an incredible Tech. Those are principally - LRH, Mary Sue Hubbard, Capt.W B Robertson, A. Porter, P.Scafari, M.Long, my buddy, C.Broadbent, P.Williams, J.V.Staden, M. Warick, M.Q., P.Q., and to a girl only known as Nula.

I am sure there are others.

Most of all, a special thank you goes to my daughter for persisting with me so that I was able to stay within the Church up to the last moment. Also for baring with me and my horrible ending before I finally had to tell myself that it was time to go! She stayed at my side and protected me and listened to me in some horrible times towards the end. I thank her for baring with me while she was so very young when she had to give up the friends she grew up with and loved in order to be with me. And I thank her too for baring with me when I took her away from what was her home. Having been born in the Church of Scientology, she suffered this loss for many, many years. Realising where the suppression came from, we both came to terms with it eventually, even though it took years for both of us to understand each other about it.

I believe I am forgiven!

Now, I wish you an interesting time reading what comes next.

Arriving At Saint Hill Manor

I joined Scientology at St. Hill Manor in early 1960. It was a pretty big place with lots of grounds. Small huts around the grounds intended for growing indoor vegetables became Auditing huts in a very short time as the Org expanded. There was a swimming pool and fish pond, and beautiful, green lawns, all very well kept.

The first day I spent a short time in East Grinstead was very strange indeed. I had decided to have a coffee at the London Coffee House near the approach road to St. Hill. As I sat there, I thought ‘Something good is going to happen’. Strangely enough, that was about to come true.

I had lost my job of being a nurse looking after babies. It was a very busy and tiring job, indeed. Now I had to think about a new way. Where would I go and what would I do?

Into the coffee shop came a red-headed girl. Asking me if I was ok, she sat down at my table as if it was supposed to happen like this. She had obviously noticed that I had been crying. Wiping the tears from my face, I told her that I had lost my job and didn’t quite know what to do. She seemed concerned and wanting to help. Then she said that she knew where I might perhaps get a job. When I brightened up she said, "If you’re interested, I’ll show you. You can look around, see if you think you might like the place, and perhaps ask for a job". I said OK. I had nothing else in mind, so off I went with her.

We were soon at St. Hill Manor. In the 60s you could get good transport there. Before that moment I had not known it existed. It’s not in East Grinstead but outside of town, set in beautiful surroundings. Being off the central lines, hardly anyone new it was there until it became well known to the East Grinstead community, much later on.

However, I was taken by Nula - the girl I’d met in the coffee shop - to Reception. Nula introduced her to me to a lady called Monica who asked if I would like a tour. I quickly said OK.

The tour was very interesting indeed even though it was a little bit strange. I was told to be quiet as I moved around the course rooms because students were studying. But I never was told what are they studying.

Monica was head of the Hubbard Communications Office, and in charge of hiring staff. She asked me if I would be interested in having a job. When I said I didn't know what would I do, she said there was so much to get done they certainly could find something for me. When she asked if I could file papers into folders, I quickly told her I could. Then she told me to take a few minutes to think about whether I really would like a job there, and hurried off to put papers in a lot of baskets named IN, PENDING, and OUT, with the names of Divisions and Departments Heads on them. I later found out that this was known as the Comm System used in the Scientology Organisation.

I browsed around looking here and there, having my mind more on what I could see than thinking if I really wanted a job or what I could do. It was so interesting. Then all of a sudden a voice sparked out. "Well, deary, have you made up your mind?" I glanced quickly in Monica’s direction and looked very interested and excited. With all the new surroundings it was hard to place thoughts where they should be. Then as soon as I said I would like a job, she asked, "When can you start"?

I said, "In the morning", not even realising it had been a Sunday. But I just didn't care.

Monica asked if I could be there at 9am then said, "Have a nice day, and see you tomorrow. Bye Bye".

I went slowly out, feeling excited, not even bothering to ask the hours, or how much pay would I earn. Well, at least I had a job.

Monday arrived and off I went to St. Hill. In those days buses ran regularly, just five to ten minutes from downtown East Grinstead. I got off at St. Hill Green which is known for its beautiful green lawns in the middle of the road. Beautiful trees flowed past, forming an archway approach as I walked towards the entrance to the Manor.

There were two entrances. At the front was the gateway to the Manor House itself. At the back was the car park, with a driveway down to the pavilion and chapel rooms. You could walk down past offices and out through that first entrance again. In those days one was allowed to enter through the front gate if one was working in the Manor building. Cars and students had to use the back way.

I found Monica’s office and she got me started within minutes, taking me down to the basement of the Manor. The first part was full of filing cabinets. The second part was sectioned off with typewriters going full blast. She showed me a lot of paper and told me to get them into A - Z order then left me to it. Now I started what was known as Central Files. I still didn't even bother to ask what the hours were, or what pay I would get or when would I get a break for lunch. I was just excited to have a job.

The sectioned-off area was where all LRH's Policy and Bulletin issues got typed up. I learned that these typists got the original issues from LRH on foolscap paper in his own handwriting. The typists were fast and were considered excellent workers by LRH’s standards. Some Bulletins were 15- 20 pages long and you certainly had to be able to read LRH's handwriting. Anyone possessing a hand-written Policy Letter or Bulletin wouldn't wish to part with it.

The Bulletins and Policy Letters would be typed on a stencil. Then they went back up to get verified and then sent back down (always hand-routed). Clipped to the stencil was a note saying, ‘OK to mimeo’, and signed L Ron. If it was not correct, LRH would personally rewrite the section so that it was exactly duplicated. Then it was sent back up again for final OK, and sent back down with his approval for Mimeo. It was very rare that any one of them was wrong. Molly, his main typist, would insist that all Bulletins were proof read before going up to LRH. Only when she was happy with it would she pass it to LRH's Communicator with a note which said it had been proof read, and with an attest, ‘Please OK for Mimeo, signed L Molly’.

Molly and her assistants also worked in the Mimeo section - old machines with drums and stencils and ink. These worked all day long except for lunch breaks and evening breaks, or to change the drum or stencils. They stopped sometimes to allow the operators to get some sleep.

Central Files was the place where any and all records of anyone ever writing into St. Hill were stored. Any letters asking about what St. Hill delivered, or what one could expect to get, see and do there, were filed. People were able to write in and ask questions of any kind to the Director of Training, or Director of Processing. Believe it or not, you got answers in those days. The replies were all written by the Letter Registrar’s operating in Division Two - Dissemination.

Division Two had its own colour letter paper, used for public letters - white with the St. Hill Letterhead. Its Divisional dispatch paper was light purple. . All other Divisions had their own colour of paper for easy identification so that one knew which Division or which post the letter had come from.

I had to learn an awful lot in my first two weeks on staff, getting to feel my way around in what still seemed a very strange but interesting place indeed. Then there were certainly more interesting days to come.

What was St. Hill?

Saint Hill was a place you went to be educated and trained as a Hubbard Professional Auditor, also known as a listener.

Staff had to be employed to help with the volume of traffic arriving. It was important to help new arrivals with their housing, with Supervising and Auditing procedures, Course Administrative matters, and the handling of materials, etc. They had to be able to study and be provided with all the material to assist them in reaching their goals of becoming professional Auditors.

One had first to have the practical experience of auditing another student, Then, when good enough, you could audit a staff person or sometimes a completely new person. The initial processes, called the Grades, are still done today, even though there are added steps such as Life Repair and the Drug Rundown. You did many, many auditing hours before being allowed to pass the practical and classify on a particular level. Each Course level had a theory and practical Exam. After that one could also do a professional Internship on the levels. This was usually done after Class IV. Then you would be be ‘Official Interned’ on all levels and qualified to deliver any of the levels 0- IV. Before the St. Hill Special Briefing Course was available, the highest level of training at St Hill was Class IV.

Having done your training through to Class IV, you did the Special Briefing Course. When that was completed you were classified as a Hubbard Professional Auditor Class VI. Many students who could afford the time and money, carried on through to Class VII training which was the famous Power Processing level.

With all this training going on to deliver these famous levels, LRH had to establish a Technical Unit.

The Unit for Professional Auditing was named the Hubbard Guidance Centre, shortened to HGC. A Director of Processing and a Technical Secretary and Course Administrator with administrative personal were then appointed to handle the demand.

To handle Training and Qualifications and Certification, a Department of Training was established fast, with jobs and functions operated by professional people trained by LRH. Then the Technical Division on the Scientology Organisation Org Board came into being, to be known as DIV 4 It certainly played a big roll in passing each student through his or her courses.

On each level of training you had to do some Examinations. These were always written. The standard of training was high, thanks to the supervising which kept a high tone attitude among all students. The Exams got marked either Well Done, Very Well Done, or Flunk. The Examiners were stiff and stern. Two Examiners had to do this because of so much traffic. They accepted no less than 100% If you didn't pass your written Exam, you got sent to a place known as Cramming - a correction pool unit. Some students spent days re-doing drills, or having to re-read parts of the material. It could be tough when one had to re-do entire sections.

All students going through for an Exam had the jitters, thinking, Do I know it all? Will I pass or not? Going to Exams was more the worry than sitting down doing the Exam itself. No one liked to flunk and have to go to Cramming. It always made one feel bad, and a failure. It reminded one of school days of not passing tests. It could also cost a fair bit of money as Cramming was charged extra and not included in your package of training. Cramming was charged at an hourly or daily rate, depending on what the situation was and how long one was in there. The Cashier had the job to deal with each one coming out from there.

If you observed students in Cramming, you might wonder how on earth they could afford to stay in there for days on end. But somehow they always got through and, with clearance from Treasury, they went back to Course -

Certificates and Awards was a nice department. That was where the award of certificates was done, either for a level on a course, for processing or staff administration. Exams or attestations were always done by professional Examiners, and always on the Scientology E-Meter with the Preclear holding the cans. Included in the attest procedure was the matter of any reservations or doubts the PC might have. If there were signs of such doubt, the Examiner went to the Qualifications Secretary. Sometimes there was a Review of the case done as a result of that.

In the early days, the walls of Qualifications Division were hung with certificates of L. Ron Hubbard. They showed what levels of Processing he had completed - all signed with his name on them and certified by the Qualifications Secretary.

Getting a certificate wasn't easy. One had to work hard for it. They made sure that one really had completed a course fully before one got the reward.

All Processing certificates were approved by the Qualifications Secretary. He or she inspected the client’s Preclear folder. (The term PreClear is used in Scientology for someone who is not yet clear or an Operating Thetan - OT. The full definition can be found in the Scientology Technical Dictionary) Preclears waited until the Qual Sec had checked the folder. Then they were allowed to attest.

The Scientology Organisation was divided into separate Divisions. These were further divided into Departments. Each Division or Dept had personnel to handle whatever came up. This is similar to any big company with Management positions, with a head over a section or a department. One would be trained and directed to handle that exact job. It was a well-organised structure.

The Hubbard Communications Office (HCO), was Division One. It had a section known as Dept I - Routing. Each new arrival, whether a student, staff or preclear, went through this section where he was given a routing form, starting at reception. This was a form with the names of the departments you had to visit in the right order. The receptionist was usually a young and perky girl. She would usually say, "Hi! Welcome to St Hill", and would chat away with you while logging you in. When she had asked what service you were there for, and any thing else of importance, she would pass you on to Dept 3 where you got your clearance, securitywise, and then guide you to the next office.

There was a section which handled justice, dealing with disputes that came up. This might have been for the protection of staff members on their jobs or for overall security of the place, or for personal situations. It handled justice hearings and the statistics of each post.

Job evaluations were done weekly to see how each person was doing in his or her post. Products were assessed, and graphs were kept for each post by the Statistic In-Charge (Person in charge of that post). It might have been separately ‘posted’, with a person performing the function of Graphing Clerk. The whole Dept was known as Inspections and Reports.

The Ethics Officer saw you if you were late on post in the morning, or for Roll Call as a student or even preclear. He or she checked how you were doing product wise. If you checked out OK you were sent back to study, or back to staff post, or session. The first time you got a warning. The second time you got a reprimand. The third time you had to stay behind after hours and stuff envelopes with things like Auditors Mailing, a magazine that went out every three months. It didn't matter who you were. The same rules applied to all, even Executives.

In those days, the Ethics Officer was a Canadian woman. No one dared to tread on her toes. She stood no nonsense whatsoever. Well respected by LRH, she was liked by others and very skilled at her job. She showed certainty and trust amongst the public and staff. It wasn't a bad thing to visit her. You knew she would handle the problem and you would leave fully satisfied. It was a sort of pleasure to visit her.

She got whistled at by students daily, particularly the men. But she took it all in a days strive, just laughing and waving them by as she went to her office. One could say students thought that flirting with the Ethics Officer would convince her to be softer with them..

When routing in, you visited Mary, the Registrar Back then the Registrar certainty was a friend you could rely on to get you on your course and would answer pretty much anything you wanted to know. Mary was rather elderly but extremely able. She had been in her own business as a consultant before going to St. Hill. She had a way about her which made you feel at home. She was also very good at getting you to pay for your next service! She was able always to give good advice You felt like you got somewhere when you visited her. Her office was extremely presentable. There were always flowers around, and you got a coffee or a tea, and sometimes some excellent cookies. When you were finished with her she would say, "See Ya! And remember - any troubles come and visit me. Ok?" Then she would send you off to the next person on your Routing Form - the Cashier.

Mike was the friendly cashier and always had a smile. He knew exactly how much you had on your credit account. He took time to talk to you, to answer questions and clear you for taking your course. As he debited your account, he would say, "Have a great stay, and don't hesitate to visit me if you have any questions".

All courses were done in the pavilion or the chapel. Auditing was conducted in the huts until the Castle was complete. You worked hard daily, from 9am to 12 noon, and then from 1pm through to 6pm. In the evenings, Foundation went from 7-30pm up to 10pm. One never had time to ease off, or to look around or be lazy! You were kept on your toes all the time because people needed your attention.

The Daily Activity of Scheduling Students.

Students arrived in droves. There was the buzz of the cars, motorbikes or whatever form of transport they could use to get to St. Hill to be on post or on course in time.

Course schedule started at 9-30. Students stood around smoking, or drinking coffee before roll call. We didn’t dare to be late. There were breaks of fifteen minutes in morning and afternoon, and an hour for lunch. The schedule ended at 6-30pm.

The student’s canteen was stuffy and smoky, and there were so many there you were lucky if you got a place. Each one brought his own food - sandwiches or hot soup in a flask. We gathered in groups, shared laughs and either discussed the experiences we had had on course in the morning, or just good old general gossip if we were on staff!

Auditors began their day at 9am, perhaps by studying their Preclear’s folders depending on how many he or she had been assigned that day. If cramming was needed, your Preclears were re-scheduled and told to wait until you were through. Of course they were given some sort of explanation from the personnel in charge of ensuring that Preclears got their Auditing daily. Some would go off to read, others even chose to help stuffing Auditors Magazines. It was friendly and it was fun to help, and you just did it.

You kept quiet around the Auditing rooms and didn’t talk loud Each room had an IN SESSION sign on it which was to be strictly respected .

Students were on courses doing drills - sometimes loud ones. Certain places for practicals had to be set up especially for Upper Indoc TRs. These were special training drills which required quite a lot of shouting. They were done in the grounds around the pavilion and Chapel course rooms.

There was a constant stream of deliveries for the private quarters of LRH and Mary Sue Hubbard as well as paper, pens and various office supplies for the organisation. In all, it was busy and active all the time.

The lower Course Supervisor was a South African known as Peter K. An Australian called Malcolm C, the Class VI Unit Supervisor, was in charge of the Top Unit of the St. Hill Special Briefing Course. Both Supervisors were well known for their firm, precise manner, demanding, exactness to the letter, in the theory and the practical drilling. Each student was carefully supervised to see that the standard was kept up and practised at the highest level.

If you had passed a drill or had drilled a session procedure but didn't apply it correctly, you were given what was (and perhaps still is), known as a PINK SHEET. That was an immediate correction, written on pink paper. No one liked getting a pink sheet, but it was the only way to keep the standard in. You were expected to apply what you had learnt. Pink Sheets were then handled before carrying on with your course. This applied both to theory and practical studies.

All students worked very hard on courses and never spent any time wasting around. After all, they were there for studying and not much else. So any spare time was precious, and it was spent well and calculated carefully. St. Hill was always open up to 10pm, even at weekends. Some people worked late and at weekends to progress their studies. They might spend time drilling with another student, doing training drills which were on each level of the Academy levels and the higher courses. They might listen to Ron on tape - something which each student had to do. It took a lot of the time to get through the three hundred or more tapes that were on the St. Hill Special Briefing Course. That was an awful lot!

Supervisors gave students daily and weekly targets, but these were to be given realistically without too steep a gradient, or just brushing past stuff quickly so as to reach one’s targets. The Supervisor had to have this in mind and guard against it.

Clapping successful students was a daily activity. This was done to validate those who passed a theory or practical level, or finished a section of a checksheet. One knew that completions or products were happening. Towards the end of the day, a staff member also knew when supper was getting close, by hearing the clapping from the direction of the course rooms.

Supervisors helped students falling short of their daily targets by interviewing them. If they were bugged, it sometimes required some correction. In that case the student was sent to Qualifications to get sorted out. Then he was sent back on course as soon as possible. There were many things to be observed by a Supervisor. He or she had his hands full and there was never a dull moment.

The days passed by at a high speed. No sooner were you arriving than the day was ending. Then it was time for some well-earned sleep in order to be bright and shiny and ready for another hard days work.

The Tuesday Lectures

The most exciting day in the week was Tuesday. Everybody looked forward to it and took part. St. Hill came to a standstill when everyone went to listen to LRH’s lecture given especially for students. Each lecture was added to the list of tapes on checksheets. Mary Sue and staff attended also. No one dared to miss this time, scheduled weekly from 4pm until 6pm.

Who would have missed that day!

LRH gave each lecture in the chapel. The surroundings made the Tuesday lectures special because the chapel was on the east side of the Manor, surrounded with beautifully-kept lawns and a swimming pool and fish pond, though these were considered to be the private part of the family home.

Everyone was usually seated a good ten minutes before he arrived. It was so quiet you would hear a pin drop. Staff attended lectures in one of the large staff working areas where a TV Screen was hooked up so they could watch him.

LRH nearly always appeared on time. Then the silence was broken with screams of joy and laughter from everyone, and most of all by himself. Oh, those students were so happy to see him and hear another Tuesday lecture. They seemed to want him to really enjoy their gratefulness that he was there to give them so much data to work with. Often he had to break the clapping because time was scarce. He always took the greatest of care so as not to upset them while they praised him. He handled it in a great way by saying, "Great. You’re here again! Great. Thank you. Thank you VERY MUCH!. OK - Ready to start?"

"Oh Yes", they cried out.

He normally started off with something like, "What day is it? Today is April the 10th, so-and-so year", - getting their full attention.

The students always acknowledged the date, sometimes giving it for him.

LRH usually had a list of new students. He was always kept informed about new arrivals, and usually knew the person in those days. All new students were asked to stand up and take a bow. After the bows were done, LRH would announce that days lecture.

All students had note pads and kept their notes through their training, and even when they left St. Hill. You could hear the turning of note pad pages, and the sound of pencils writing, it was so quite between LRH’s words.

The lectures sometimes went on longer than 6pm, though no one cared. Seeing LRH and listening to him was the most important thing.

When the lectures ended, LRH usually said something like, "Well - I hope this gives some new light on the studies you’re involved with at this time. Let’s see what the reports turn out to be on your daily and weekly studies. Have a great evening, or a good supper, or a good week. OK See Ja! Bye".

He was heartily thanked by the students with a very well earned applause. He often walked out leaving you to clap your heart away. Everyone was happy. It kept the spirits up all around, especially the students. This was vital data. They had to adjust to it, to learn from it, and apply it to their studies and Auditing.

The lectures that were given back in those days of the 1960s and 1970s, became part of the Scientology courses delivered anywhere today. Those lectures were the most valuable moments of the expansion of St. Hill and the Academy levels 0-IV and the St. Hill Special Briefing Course. Anyone having had that opportunity, would know how important they were and might remark that they would have never have missed those days.

They were very lucky.

Expansion at St. Hill

New Arrivals began their Routing Forms with an Orientation checklist. This told them where everything was. Each student had to do this so that he or she could know where he was at any time and not get lost. New staff did it also. The number of checklists used weekly kept the Mimeo office very busy.

All schedules for staff and public and students were strictly kept at all times. St. Hill didn't yet have its own eating places. Practical matters such as these were very well organised indeed. Executives who ran St Hill arranged a service daily for staff to go and eat at the local lunching places around downtown East Grinstead. In those days one had some money. One didn't wonder whether one would or would not get paid. Believe it or not, you were paid; and not badly either - even if it was the 1960s .

Students had their own room,known as a Canteen room, though nothing was there. It was only a place to be used to eat the lunches you brought with you daily. Sometimes you could get in there but it was really only for students. Staff were forbidden to lunch with students.

The local taxi service would come up daily at 12 noon Monday through Friday and pick up those eagerly waiting for going to town. One had to be sharp to get to the taxis. There were two or three taxis at the most, able to hold 5 people each. It was a service paid for by St. Hill for staff use only.

Due to the expansion of St. Hill canteen room got too small. Then some thought it was a good idea to find a place to set up a proper canteen. The idea started off when someone saw flasks of coffee standing on the trunk of someone's car, using a plank of wood as a table top for place plastic cups and four or five flasks of coffee. This service was operated by one student who was also on the course. He managed to do it between his breaks and being on course.

Later came the agreement that a bigger place could be provided. There was a hut that was only used for old filing cabinets etc. Permission was asked to the Executive Directors and it was approved immediately because the demand was so high. So the student, known only as Charlie, who started off with coffee and tea on the trunk of his car, landed up being in business each day on a full day’s schedule. He changed his training schedule to evenings and used the days to provide this most needed and wanted service, making it into a business, covering the costs and making a little bit extra on the side. Whatever that might have been, that went into his training steps so that he could continue his traffic .

Everybody loved the St. Hill Snack Bar Canteen. They were able to sneak out during work time, and grab a coffee or tea! When you were crushed for something to drink or to take away the afternoon hunger, just knowing it was available was a help. One could pretty much get anything one wanted as it grew And it did indeed grow. It was packed daily, especially during breaks. No more taxis for taking the staff down at lunch time to get fed.

One could land up buying fish and chips - a favourite of English people. It also landed up being a favourite for the many Americans that were there. It provided sandwiches of many kinds, and of course the good old American hamburger, English sausages, beans on toast, egg and chips, Cornish pasties, and all sorts of fruit. It even had a menu for breakfast, lunch - and supper as its known in England. The canteen was open six days a week from 9am to 10pm.

Now that the Eating Dept was solved for many, and costs of the taxi service were taken away, there was room for still more expansion as LRH wished.

With the ideas of new stuff coming into shape at the time, the top of the Hill was being shaped into castles. One was ready at about that time. Another one was nearing completion. So, of course, changes for bettering the service to public and general business were obviously the next thing - and they did improve!

The plan for moving the training out of the pavilion and the chapel up to the castle was put into action. This allowed the chapel to remain as only a chapel for services. At the back of the castle 30 Auditing rooms were built for public and Hubbard Guidance Centre Auditors to use.

During the mid 1960s, St. Hill services were still only up to the level of Power Processing and the St. Hill Special Briefing Course. But expansion carried on and one could hardly keep up with the changes. The first Clear was announced after LRH returned from Rhodesia.

The older part of the Manor ground floor, and the basement used for offices, became the more closed Advanced Courses Operation. The existing administrative services such as part of Mimeo, the Hubbard Communications Office, and the Address and Letter Registrar, moved over to the areas where courses and public had been.

LRH remained at the Manor for some time into the 1970s Then he started to move away from St Hill for further expansion.

Maintenance of the buildings and gardens, the lawn cutting, and the beautiful rose gardens was continued. The swimming pool and the fish ponds were still seen to, and the cats and the dog the Hubbard family were looked after. One still took great care to respect the grounds, and certainly no litter was allowed.

Rumours started spreading about what and who would be moving into the castle. And there were other rumours about some Advanced Organisation setting up in the Manor. Daily discussions went on regarding where those working in the Manor would move.

Then one day a very special staff meeting was called.

Back then they were held in some office large enough to hold around two-hundred staff. Organisational matters were discussed, such as how to improve matters amongst Divisions. Usually on Friday everyone was looking forward to a good weekend. But - this particular Friday had something special thing about it. Most of the staff seemed to get it into their heads that perhaps something was going to happen about those empty new rooms in the Castle. While waiting for the meeting, some of us even said, It's maybe this weekend we’re going to move. But who?

The Friday meetings were run by a Senior Executive - usually someone from LRH's staff. This time he started off by saying, "This is good news. St Hill expands! But what is not such good news is that LRH would like to ask you to work through the weekend. There’s going to be a turnaround of St. Hill administrative offices and it involves moving the student's quarters as well. So we need strong men and fit women. The men will do the heavy moving, the women the papers and light desks. He said we would be paid for the hours we worked, and asked if everyone could come. Of course everyone agreed! Who would say no to LRH? The In Charge of the meeting thanked us for our willingness to help, ending the discussion by saying that LRH would like the whole move completed by 6pm Sunday. So it was agreed that everyone would be at St Hill at 9am Saturday the next morning.

It was a major operation and heavy work involving filing cabinets by the dozen, and hundreds of desks and chairs. But one hadn’t much time to think about it. You only thought about getting a good nights sleep to have enough strength to pull your part of the weight the next day!

Arriving the next day we found many, many people. Even some students took time off to help out. It was a tremendous operation. All staff were sectioned off to do particular areas.. Maps were already laid out, indicating what to move and where to move it. There were supervisors to ensure areas were moved strictly according to the plans in order to avoid confusion.

All seemed to pull together. Everyone was ready for one-and-a-half days hard, physical work. But that didn't matter. It just had to get done and that was it.

Dragging loads of files up and down hills was not easy, and the weather wasn't good either. Telephone lines and telex machines had to get moved, so the experts for that were called in.. All you saw during these one-and-a-half days were people moving anything they could. People were out off breath because the track was bad enough in itself without having to carry heavy things. Added to that, it was was one of those lovely English rainy weekends. We were constantly trying to keep things covered up, which didn't help.

Believe it or not, tired as everybody was, it all was done, except for minor matters. So the next day started off with all staff in new areas and students studying in new locations. New Orientation Checklists had to get drawn up pretty fast. We needed a new stable datum in on where one was, and what was where.

The Weekly Graduation Day

Friday - the most famous day of the week - was chosen for graduation day because nothing could be better to end off the week. One could have some nice memories over the weekend and be ready for another hard week on the following Monday.

Graduation took place in the chapel at a time to fit in with LRH’s schedule. We got informed a few hours before.

There was great joy at these graduations, and no one ever missed them. There was laughter and hard clapping that could be heard all over the Manor. You couldn't help but say: "OH, this must be Friday. I gotta get over there and watch it". Those staff that could get away always did.

The graduation afternoon was for the students so they got the seats first. If you couldn't stick your head over the others trying to catch a glimpse of the graduation, you just stood on the ledges of the big side windows where you had a pretty good view.

Students gathered together with Supervisors for each level.

The graduations were started off by announcing new arrivals. Then we were told who had started or had finished a new level. Each finishing student was asked to stand up and take a bow, and was allowed to mention something of the what he or she had learned on the level. As the courses grew longer, the time took longer too; so it had either to start earlier or end late. Who cared!

Hearing of the first Clear being announced on one particular Friday, was a graduation that stood out by itself.

When the Advanced courses were set up, those got added to the graduation ceremony on each Friday. The same was done for the new arrivals to the Clearing Course, then to the OT steps as well. Clears started to bet announced and then completions on the OT levels. First it started off with Clear, then a few weeks later with OT I Soon came OT Il Then it carried forward on up to OT III. One could write another book on all the technical developments, although some of that already has been written by others. A particularly special week was the announcement of the first Power Process.

When a completion from the St. Hill Special Briefing Course was to be announced this was very, very special. They didn't get made easily, or quickly. So - when the rumour of such a completion was about to get announced, that was not one to miss. We wanted to hear what he or she would have to say about the course, and what he or she was planning to do next.

Each student completing the St. Hill Special Briefing Course went through a special routing form, passing several sections of the Technical and Qualifications side of the Scientology Organisations Board. Once he or she had passed the course completion exam at 100%, the routing form went to LRH. He passed the student with one of two remarks. Either, "Passed - VWD. L Ron", or "VVWD. Passed with Honours".

Getting LRH's signature on your routing form first was really something. But getting, "With Honours", was something else! If you got that it meant that, by the evidence of your results as a Auditor, knowing and being able to apply what you had learnt, LRH knew that was what that student could do.

The next thing was getting your reward with a certificate having "With Honours" written on it. Back then, and in most cases, it was signed by LRH himself. Later on it was signed by the Qualifications Secretary.

So - Friday afternoons were special for the students. There was clicking of cameras and chatter amongst the crowd. At times the doors were unable to be closed, busting at the seams with the number of people wanting to cram in there to watch, particularly when LRH was there. Of course, rumours went around like wild fire. This week LRH is attending. Got to be there. Cant miss him. No way! The glow in the air was great. There was fun and bright-looking faces and St. Hill came to a halt once again.

Mary Sue came in along with her favourite little dog named Vickie and always sat in the front row. There was silence. Then there was great clapping as everyone made sure that they appreciated LRH’s presence once again. Then after a few minutes he would put the signal sign up. STOP! Then he would say, Thank you very much!"

All replied, "Very well Sir".

Then he would say, "Ok. Let’s begin. We have only a few completions this week. I have been asked to attend and give some out. So we will start off with those, and get them out of the way. Then I will pass over the rest of the graduation to the Supervisors and will leave you to carry on. OK with you"?

"Yes Sir"!

"First Completion is from the Power Processing and I am proud to announce the completion of Power to a name that’s pretty familiar to all of you and that is L RON Hubbard".

Everybody was delighted and clapped with joy. Wha - that was great. They were happy and full of laughter.

LRH was laughing himself, and said, "OK Laugh! Nice surprise Ha! OK Let’s go on. Another very special announcement, and that Is the first Clear - John Mc Master"! (John, who died in 1993, was a South African living in England for many years).

Laughs and clapping. Applause. Applause.

There was lots of talk by John Mc Master about the great results that came from this. He made a great acknowledgement to Ron for his breakthroughs in these areas. Then another graduation took place.. The first St. Hill Special Briefing Course. completion, known only to students as Pete I. He spoke of the main gains in being able to practice his skills in Auditing, and about the privilege of having LRH around to correct and give the various technical writings and always there to iron out technical and training bugs on training, It was great to hear. It was also great to hear how students were able to help LRH research the line for a well-mapped out way to train a person to become a professional Auditor.

A big hand went to LRH accompanied by the clicking of the cameras. What an ending to the week. And how well worth being there. That evening, spirits were high. Students organised a party and we all visited the local pub in down town East Grinstead to celebrate the victory.

LRH wished us a great week ahead, and no one lost the good moments of those first announcements.

My First Experience in a Very Important Job

Now I begin another experience - that of a new job.

My first days had been spent working in Central Files in the same room as the Mimeo operation from which all L Ron Hubbard's issues - such as his Policy Letters and Technical Bulletins - went out. This had been my first experience within St. Hill - a job I only did for two weeks. Then the lady who had placed me in that area, visited me again. She said, "We need someone in another section of the organisation. Perhaps you can help out. We’ll get someone to take over here".

I thought, OK.

She told me, "This job was very important. We are beginning this section of the organisation and it needs people to run it". I had no clue where and what I was really going to do. But since I learned fast, that didn't bother me. All I was told was that it was a very Important job and I took that very seriously.

The job was being LRH’s first Technical Page. This was for taking the Auditing folders to him twice a day after the auditors had done their sessions and to collect them when called for. I had no idea what he did with them. In those days I was a professional Wog just doing a job, not having even done any Scientology course or had any auditing.

That new division was Technical Division Number 4 on the Scientology Organisation Org Board. As I was shown around a large room, I saw a big board with lots of names in different columns. It was quickly explained that it was the Hubbard Guidance Centre Board for Auditing done by professional Auditors. The names of the Auditors were there in three different columns, with the schedule times for Auditors and Preclears

The preference of Auditors were listed downwards. The Top Auditors were first in line. Then horizontal were the preclear names and their blocks of times. Auditors names were in one colour, Preclears names in another. I got the hang of it pretty quick. Apart from my main duty to take folders to and from LRH, I had also to route people with their Preclear folder to another section of the organisation. Preclears were not allowed to carry their own folders and that was why the page system was introduced.

In this section in Technical Division there was also a section named Technical Services. Another person was put on to the job of helping to provide students with material, tape machines and other items they needed. That function was named Student Admin. Another part of Technical services helped provide accommodation for the students and Preclears. East Grinstead was used to provide places whether with people of the community using their spare rooms in private houses, or renting places. Somehow, places were always found. One had to have knowledge of the availability of housing around the area. In those early days it seemed that anyone was willing to provide a place for students to stay.

Some lines had already been established where accommodation was available for students and professional public Preclears, but it had to be worked at. New places had to be found all the time.

I could see that I was in for some busy days.

My job grew. It turned into taking care of the scheduling board as well as taking the folders to and from LRH or other sections of the organisation. Wherever the Preclear was routed, the page took the person and the file along.

Then I got my first job, assigned by LRH.

On the very first day, I had to take the folders to LRH’s office. Even though I had no idea who this man was, l was scared just to meet him in person. But, nervous as I was, I did it. I was drilled on what to do, and to tell him where l had left the folders. I was told to wait a minute or so in case he wanted to give me anything to take back to the Technical Division.

A list always accompanied the folders together with a list of the Auditors names.

On my very first visit, after passing his Communicator, known only as Ken, I knocked on the door. After hearing ‘OK, come in‘, loud and clear, in I walked.

LRH says, "Oh, hi. You must be the Page".

I said, ‘Yes ‘.

"OK place the folders here".

There was a heavy, long table. One side was marked IN, and the other side OUT.

LRH said, "Don't worry. You will learn all the steps. Do you have any questions"?

Of course I replied, "No", shaking the word out. And I thought to myself, What questions would I have? I didn’t even know what I was really doing except to bring the folders at that and that time, and to wait to see if I had to take anything back. That was what I was told to do, and that was what I had got in my head. So - I sort of laughed a bit and said nervously, "That's all"?

He replied, "Yes, Thank you and goodbye"!

I left politely, thinking to myself, Gosh, thank God that first trip was over but how were the rest going to be? But I was quick at learning and built my courage up to take the next trip to him with a bit more strength.

That next trip came soon. I went there and, without any reservation this time, placed the folders in the IN area. As I put the folders down he said, "Thanks. My gosh - seems like you want me to work". He laughed as he said it, and then asked me how was the day? Then how was I?

I replied, "I'm OK, Ron, OK". I was a bit shaky still, though holding up

Noticing me shaking, he said, "You don't have to shake. What's so scary in here? Is it me? Or is it the room"?

I laughed. Then he did too and we both landed up roaring with laughter.

He said, "I ain’t going to bite ya. So go along. And thanks for the folders. I’ll call for you when I’m ready".

That was a relief for me. I suddenly felt a little better, but not knowing why. I did know one thing for sure, though. If I was asked if I’d spoken personally to Ron Hubbard, I could say, OH Yes. Somehow he made me chuckle over that brief exchange of words. I would say I was starting to know LRH as I did that very important job.

An Approach Made to Me about Auditing

I had by now learnt the ropes around my job as Tech Page and I liked it. I had also learnt much about the practical handling of Auditors, and the moving Preclear folders around, even though I had never had Auditing. A friend of mine doing the Briefing Course, and whom I got to know at the breaks, had spoken to me about it a bit. But I had no idea what it was really about. I was never actually pushed into anything. I was simply working and getting paid for it, and that was what I thought it would always be like.

Each day I took Preclear folders to LRH and received them back again when I was called. LRH seemed to be very precise on looking into the folders. I could never figure out how he could handle so many, or actually what he did with them. I was aware that he was writing advice to the Auditor for the next session. I learnt that when he gave me some sheets of paper in form of lists of actions. The colour was light green, and they were in his handwriting. .

Directed to the Auditor, those lists contained the Auditor’s and Preclear’s names and detailed the next actions for that case. Another list contained the names of who did Well Done and Very Well Done sessions. Another list was of comments to Auditors in the The Hubbard Guidance Centre (HGC). Those lists had remarks on technical points, and data on the when the next Auditors’ meeting with LRH and Qualifications personnel would be.

So - after the visit to LRH, I would take all the lists and distribute them to File or to the Auditors’ Bulletin Board or to Qualifications personal. I had to learn the Divisions and the Hat (Job Title), each one wore. I had to be very sure not to deliver the wrong paper to the wrong place or I would really have heard about it. But I never did.

Each Auditor had his or her folders on time for the day’s sessions. Some Auditors knew from the list of comments, whether or not he or she had hit Cramming, or had got a Very Well Done, or only a Well Done, or sometimes a Re-assigned placed against that Preclear. Re-assigned was the last thing any Auditor would want to get on his folders or noted on Write-ups coming down from L R H. It meant that it would be better for that Preclear to have another Auditor. It could be that he or she just didn't fit with that Auditor. Or, when there was a Complete Re-assigned, it would mean that that Auditor had goofed badly - messing up the technical session or perhaps a few sessions. Often the word "Flunk" was written. That meant that the Auditor had made some errors somewhere and he or she was to hurry to Qualifications to the Cramming Officer to get corrected.

A Re-assign could also have meant that Preclear's Auditor was not qualified to audit the next action on that Preclear. That Preclear would then be re-assigned to an Auditor able to do the next action. The Preclears of that Auditor often had to wait for a new Auditor. Meanwhile they helped out by doing something like stuffing Auditors magazines, or packing things, or whatever.

It was all well run and well supervised in order to keep things moving, especially for the public who had come a long way to St Hill to receive the most powerful processes available in Scientology.

Auditors did their Admin whenever possible, although the day was mainly spent in session. ‘In Session’ and ‘Please Be Quiet’ was what you saw on Auditor’s doors most of the time.

Students from the St. Hill Special Briefing Course took staff as Preclears and I wondered if one day I would ever be approached.

One day, when I made my usual run with the folders to LRH, I had an odd idea in my mind and feeling in my gut which bothered me. I was not sure why but something made me think, Will he ask me If I have had any Auditing. But why was I scared to get approached, for heavens sake? I had no idea what it was like - bad or good. Obviously it was full of unknowns. If asked, I would not have known how to reply. I would have wondered what I might be getting myself. into if I said Yes to something I had no idea. about. I might have asked myself,. What is so special about that, anyway?

That day when I felt uneasy in my bones, I was in for a major surprise. I made my usual visit to LRH's office passing his communicator first as always, knocking on the door and getting the OK to go in. That day he had finished meeting with Mary Sue in Conference.

When she saw me, she said, "Hi - come on in. LRH is waiting for the folders. I hope you're fine today".

I replied, "Fine. Lots of work".

Susie just grinned and said, "You’re a strong girl. Work is good for you". We laughed as she left, saying, "See Ya"!

LRH said, "Hello. Thanks for the folders". Then in the next sentence, without me being able to make any move, he said, "Sit down, young one. I have to talk to you".

I thought, OH Gosh - now I’m in for it. What on earth have I done wrong? But because his intention was so strong, it struck me rather quickly. I sat down as fast as I could as he asked, "Now - how has your day been today? Everything all right"?

I said, "Pretty good. Can't complain. Busy and so much to do".

He just laughed and said, "You will manage. Don't worry. Well now - you have been here a while and you are getting to know what its all about. Right"?

As he waited for a reply, I just sat there dumbly, nearly loosing my wits again, Why I don't know.

Then he said, "Perhaps you’d like to have some Auditing. Have you been spoken to about that yet"?

I said, "No, Ron", and closed myself within myself.

He replied, "OK Well how about it"?

I said, "Well - I haven't got any idea how it works, or what I am supposed to do.

He said, "That's easy. We’ll get someone to explain all that".

I looked at him and laughed.

He looked at me and said, "Don't worry. We’re not going kill Ja. You can try it to see if you like it and tell me. OK? You’ll soon find out what it is".

There was a rumbling feeling moving in my tummy and around me. I thought he was able to read my mind, somehow. I said, "I will tell you how it goes". Then I asked him, "Is that all, Ron"?

He smiled and said, "Off with you, and don't worry".

I walked out of that office this time with the thoughts and words we had spoken all about me. I thought over the matter of being approached about Auditing and how I had dared to say Yes!

I was quickly back at my place. It was late morning. Then by late afternoon I was approached by Margarite, a fine lady friend of LRH from America. She was on the Briefing Course and asked if I would like to have a chat with her. We quickly arranged a time. I took my lunch break to talk with her, grabbing a sandwich I had packed that morning. Being asked by Ron had made me wanna know what the devil this auditing was really all about.

Margarite took me into her Auditing room very smoothly and quietly, closed the door and checked that the In Session sign was on the outside, just like other Auditors did before entering. I watched everything she did, thinking that I must observe everything. I was damned-well going to find out all about this auditing.

As we chatted a bit about myself, she asked where l had worked before St. Hill, and when had I discovered the place, and what did l think of it. She said LRH had suggested that she ask me if I had any interest in auditing, and to explain a bit about it, and what it did.. Of course, as soon as I agreed to have auditing we were arranging a date. for my first session.

I loved it.

When I took the folders to LRH next, I thanked him for suggesting it to me. I even started on a course soon after my first sessions.

I was becoming a Scientologist.

The Reality of Being a Staff Member

In most cases it was hard work and long hours for any staff member working in a Scientology Organisation. This was so, whether it be St. Hill, in an Advanced Org, a Class IV Org, at the Flag Land Base, or on any of the ships.

In the earlier days at St. Hill, I remember that it was fun to work. One could even say I loved it and truly did. It was also a pleasure being at St. Hill with Ron and his family. It was exciting being there when Policy and Tech was being written and issued in bucket loads, hardly giving you enough time to read the earlier ones from the days before! But you read them though all right. No one wouldn't.

It was standard procedure that you checked out on the Policy when it arrived in your In-basket. Auditors receiving technical issues checked out on those as well. There were no exceptions. Every staff member, Auditor or Admin person had to check out on Policy as it arrived. Molly S and her staff in the famous Mimeo Department turned them out daily for Ron Hubbard. Never a day went by without something new arriving in each staff members In-basket.

The Central Hubbard Communications Office (HCO) had always so much traffic running through it because that's where staff picked up Issues from their In-basket each morning before going to their jobs .

The traffic didn't only contain newly-issued Policy letters or Bulletins There were also written orders, or requests for data to do with the job one was doing. One had also to follow up on information needed by you on your job, or follow an order to get something done for a senior of one’s Division. Those communications were known in Policy to be headed as Comm. They were routed to your post title and function and not to you in the way of a personal letter. For example, communications would read something like this:

To The Director of Examinations Oct. 30th 1962.

From Director of Technical Services.

Dear Jane

What exams have you passed since Oct. 1st of 1962? Please list who you have passed, and on what level. I need a record of certificates to be requested to Certificates and Awards in Qual. I need this by 15th Oct. 1962.

Love, Joe.

These communications had a defined term to them called "dispatches" That's known as "comms" as well and some examples can be found in the Administrative Dictionary.

Many new staff had to be hired, and as that was done, Policy for the administrative side of the Scientology Organisational Org Board was being written. It was expected that you would read the Policy coming out in order to be educated and to know where to refer if any questions were asked.

Scientologists - whether working in Scientology Organisations now or then, when the subject was being formed and written - used a famous saying: "What Isn’t Written Isn't True". Many stuck to that as a basic principle and. guide. It worked in many cases. It was amazing to have this and Technical Issues coming out at the same time. Many times, one wondered how on earth a man could produce so much volume and at such a speed. He certainly had some devoted people to help him.

Now Auditors were getting trained up, higher and higher.

Levels were getting completed on the higher part of the Scientology Grade Chart. No sooner had you done one than new ones were released. You wondered if any more were coming from Ron Hubbard. But there were lots more to come! .

Communications Office handled the incoming mail. There was always a lot and usually it took a good two hours to sort it all out. One had to stamp all incoming letters with a date and time received as one opened them.

Student letters were treated as priority and were never opened. They were only placed in the student’s mail box for them to collect. Students liked to get mail from their mums and dads, other family members or just friends. The students got as much mail as the internal management, and that was always a lot each day.

A member of Treasury was always present for witnessing a cheque or money order received. The mail clerk signed cheques and such money orders over to Treasury who took care of them from then onwards.

Everyone was busy. Registrars were on the telephones, calling people up while the letter registrars were typing letters. Reception was busy logging in new arrivals, or taking calls. Auditors were getting people into session. Delivery vans were bringing some good items for the canteen shop, and delivering other goods.

It was a hopping and bobbing place for a good twelve to fourteen hours per day - and happy too.

Some areas expanded so fast that extra staff had to be put in to handle the flow. Qualifications was invoicing in as much traffic for daily exams as one would check in items at a super market store cashiers desk nowadays. It just never stopped!

Letter registrars were pretty fast. Their typists had to turn out at least forty letters per day. To make their job easier, they didn't have to place the letters in envelopes and do the folding work. The office responsible for hiring personnel brought in additional people to do advance-information packages with details about St Hill. They pulled the public’s letter files out and filed papers for the typist, so that the typists only had to type as they sat at their Dictaphone machines. There was an extra pool of personnel who dictated into those machines.

Staff meetings were held once a week at first, then later to once. every two weeks. Personnel in charge of each area or the In Charge of the Division would be responsible for planning improvements to be done. There was always a complete cooperation between all staff and public. Live communication helped sort out anything that was slowing progress, like gossip or dissatisfaction amongst personnel. Such things never were left to carry on but were taken up at once and cleared completely to avoid breakdowns, or personnel leaving. Some personnel left because they just couldn't keep up the pace but not much was said about them leaving.

The whole thing ran on high morale and production and drive. Some staff were particularly dedicated to LRH and his goals.

New arrangements known as, getting to be ‘An OK Staff Member’ fell into place from 1960 onwards. Staff were classified in sections I, II, and Ill. These consisted of hatting you on your responsibilities, and making you familiar, on a gradient, with the role of being a staff member.

Back then, one had to classify as being a Scientologist. That would mean that one had at least done some Auditing and some introductory courses in Scientology. Each member was given time to study these knew Policies regarding staff. In your In-basket came a blank yellow folder. Then came certain staff issues and general Policy which you placed in the folder. The volume that came out after those early issues is now known as Volume 0 of the Green Volumes.

If you ever changed your job, you were expected to write up what you did on that job, and placed the related Policy with it. That was known as your Hat Write-up. The Hat Write-up was for everyone and applied to high and low positions equally - whether it be the Dustbin In Charge, the File Clerk, or the head of a Division.

There was a saying that LRH couldn't wear all Hats and needed help. That certainly was so, and he got the help. You were proud to be a Staff Member back in those days, and it showed.

Moving Towards the Sea Org

The days of the Sea Org began around the years 1967-69. While working at St. Hill, you might often wonder where so-and-so had gone. You actually would start to realise that some faces weren't being seen daily. Rumours went around that they were practising ship rope tying. It was going around that this was being done in one of the sheds between the Manor and the road up to the castles. One was not supposed to know what went on in those sheds, but peeping in the key holes where the drills were being done, led to the idea that something else was going on somewhere!

What was actually going on was exactly what had been rumoured, and that was drilling on rope knotting. It seemed strange. Then people wouldn't show up for work anymore. They just never came back to their jobs and someone else took that job over. It soon got around the place that they went off to Ron on a ship but it was not official that Ron had bought any such ship. Then it slipped out that Ron was away and that he had taken some people to help him on some research! One tried to figure out what the research was.

We staff that remained, carried on the show, but we wondered whether we would really get to know the story. Finally that mystery was over. It was announced at a staff meeting that Ron had bought a ship and had started to establish an OT Operation aboard it. St. Hill would now have a Operations Liaison Office to be open for communications to and from the ship and later for applications to join the ship.

St. Hill carried on delivering auditing and training. Ron had left enough people to train and supervise others. He also left behind a certain number of well trained executives to continue St. Hill. Students and Preclears flooded into St. Hill even more, regardless of whether Ron was there or not.

Before Ron left St. Hill to start the Sea Org, he had already established the communication line for any and all people wanting to write to him. In the earlier days there was a famous saying above the letter box to Ron in every Org:

"I am always willing to be communicated to. Any and all communications once received by me will be answered by me directly".

One can find that in the Green Volumes. People who were at St. Hill in the early days will certainly remember that well.

Writing a letter to Ron and getting a reply was quite common. But later, before he died, a number of his letters were replied to headed L. Ron Hubbard, and with a rubber stamp saying, "Love Ron" at the bottom. This was put in quite soon after he left for the Sea Org as he was unable to sign letters personally.

Public were very important to Ron, and so were the students.

Why?

Simply because he worked with the letters students wrote to him about the courses, the Auditing and the weekly reports. This was a vital source line for information.

One day, back before LRH moved off St. Hill, a rather elderly lady from the public, wrote to Ron asking for a way to go Clear faster because she didn't know how long she would live. She couldn't risk spending too long studying and perhaps not being able to finish. She got her wish in a letter written by Ron himself. It mentioned something like:

"Your letter was extremely important to me, and I have found a way that perhaps could help someone who wants to get on the Clearing Course faster. There will soon be a course for that, so I hope that helps you out."

As a result of that there came the Solo Course and steps to get people on to the Clearing Course. That lady did go on the first Solo Course, and she went all the way to up the OT Steps. She even managed to do the Briefing Course. Whether or not she is alive today is another question.

The Sea Org was apparently growing, though St. Hill didn't get to know too much about what was going on there. Then one Monday morning bright and early there was a surprise. A man and a woman in navy-officer uniforms showed up. One wondered who they were. One of them had been on staff a while back, now here she was in uniform.

A staff meeting was called rather quickly. Then in came these two people. Their announcement was brief as they told their names and their mission. They said that Ron was now on a ship and had sent them to St Hill to ask who would like to join with him.

Those who were interested raised there hands. Those wishing to know more about it were asked to stay. Those who said no were told to go back to their jobs. There wasn’t any pressure to make you join. If you weren't interested you just left the room, and that was it.

An interview with one of the officers then took place with each person Briefly you were told LRH needed help on the ship, and you would get to know all details about when you arrived. But you were not told where you would go or how you would get there. You were simply told that, if you wished to join, you must be at St. Hill by Friday at the end of that week with packed bags. Then you would get the next information. A passport was necessary. You had to get one if you did not have one already. Your post would somehow be taken care of - just how I don't recall, but that was no longer your concern.

We had no idea where we would go, or what was expected of any of us. We arrived on that Friday, leaving your home and bags in the attic or in the care of someone. You told your landlady you were going on a trip, but how long for, you didn't know. One was sure the landladies thought one crazy, not knowing where one was going or for how long!

That Friday morning at St. Hill was mad. There were so many people; bags, screaming kids, mums and dads. The two officers from the Sea Org managed to get together around eighty people and convinced us to take off with them to a unknown destination. It was pretty incredible, but it did happen.

Soon a bus arrived and all of us hopped into it, with our two Missionair officers, waving goodbye to those seeing us off. Then it headed for Heathrow Airport, London. It seemed a short ride as we were all chatting so excitedly about the trip.

We arrived at Heathrow Airport and gathered around in a group, with our two In Charge officers known as A. and B. We were asked to line up got a ticket and moved away. Then you looked at where you were going. It was strange. I hadn't even heard of the place.

We soon boarded the plane chartered for us all and took off. Around four hours later we arrived, but the ship was not there. Then we awaited instructions were to fly to next Arriving at a small airport near Tunis, we were asked to sit and wait in the heat for buses to arrive along sandy roads. We piled into the buses which were not air conditioned in those days in that area. Our bus was hot and sticky and sweaty but we didn’t even bother to question how long the drive would be.

It was a long, tiring,dusty and sweaty journey along desert roads and took more than one day too. Unlike modern coaches, the seats were upright, and hard. You just couldn't lie back and sleep, even a little. Children and babies were tired. Fancy travelling with babies, and hardly anything to feed them with.

As we went through small villages we saw that they were obviously pretty poor. Then we stopped after two hours for toilet breaks and washing, and catching a drink at a water fountain. We didn’t know if it was drinkable or not. You didn't really care. Your mouth was dry and you wanted water, so you drank!

One didn't know when one would get any food. We weren't given any money to lash out at fancy eating places. We didn’t know if we were to be provided places for a rest. The Missionairs instructions were to arrive at the airport and hire buses, then to drive until arriving where the ship was - somewhere in North Africa.

Complaining of being tired, and hungry, we noticed there were markets in some villages. The buses stopped and asked if there is some way to get some food. But we were not allowed to get out of the bus. We ate oranges, lots of oranges as the food budget was low. One had to make do with what one had been given. It seemed that the officers weren’t prepared for the long journey, and had not allocated money for resting places. That was screwed up. One never knew or found out why.

The climate was very different to what we were used to and no one seemed to get adjusted to it easily. The children were affected most They were unhappy and cried a lot. Even the older people didn't like the heat. Coming from England to that place was too extreme. But the hours went by and you just fell asleep in your seat between all the bumps and the rolling from side to side on the awful roads, wondering when we would arrive.

By that time we had been travelling ten hours, if not more. It was so long, one just couldn't think too well. Suddenly the word passed around that we were coming to the ship, we are coming to the ship.

"Look, don't you see it"?

"Where"?

"Over there! Over there", people were shouting.

"Look, there’s a town. And there’s the dock".

"Are we going to the ship? Lets hope Ron is there".

We asked the Missionairs if we were finally coming to the place and they replied that we were.

The weather was very hot as we passed along the little streets of a village towards the dock. We had arrived! Everyone said, Thank God. Tired, hungry, dirty and sweaty, it was a great relief.

We got off the bus and headed towards a large ship, not really having any idea what it was or who was there. We hoped for a glimpse of LRH, adjusting to the new reality that we would have to face. Then as I approached the steps to go up the gang plank, a voice shouted down saying, "Hi. Welcome aboard".

It was LRH.

I saluted saying, "Glad to be with you, Sir"!

My move away from St. Hill to the Sea Org had begun.

The Early Days of Sea Org Life.

It was certainly great to rest up after that long and tiring journey. We all got some much-needed sleep. Sleeping in a bunk was so new. One had only a tiny space where only one bag was allowed and there was hardly room to move around. We had to get used to that, fast.

Some of us were eager to get to know what everything was, where everything was, and to know most of all what we would be doing.

I approached the Hubbard Communications Office which was situated in the ‘tween Decks below the main deck. Then I saw someone I knew from St. Hill. I had found her again. She headed a Division on the ship, and saw that you were informed of schedules, both for port and at sea.

We were in port for about two weeks. One had to read the rules of the ship, and do an orientation Checklist similar to what we did already at St. Hill. When you had done that and returned it to HCO, you were asked to take a seat. Then I was given a paper and asked to read it. It was a contract headed: A Billion Year Contract. I had not expected such a paper. I read it, and re-read it because it required, more or less, that I would agree to work for the Church of Scientology Sea Organisation for the rest of my life. My first thought was, I shan't live for a billion years. It was so strange to me. Never in my entire life had I been asked to read something like that.

I read it several times more. Then suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder, and that's all it took. I signed. That hand on my shoulder happened to belong to LRH.

I spoke a few minutes with him, and the Sect of HCO. She brought me to where I could help out for the time being until I was informed of my regular duties attending ship functions at sea. Having little or no reality on all this, I was pretty much overwhelmed. But I coped like very many others were having to do as they went through the same thing.

The section I was put under was Ethics. I began first to file Ethics Reports, updating staff and various other Ethics files. Lunch break soon came and I attended my first real meal on a ship. Dressed in blue overall's, I was extremely hot. A chance to go up on deck and sit down with a cool breeze blowing was what was needed.

Some people who joined me on the ship really didn't expect that they had to stay there and sign a contract. They didn’t expect to have to work very hard. It just didn't fit with what they thought in their own little world. Perhaps they had thought it might be a luxury liner and they were going to lie back, swim and have fun. That was not to be the case. So they had to make up their minds - stay and fit in, or go back home. Those who didn't fit were soon escorted off the ship. Some had to be given the air fare as they didn't have money to get back home. I imagined that LRH was not pleased about having them brought there only to have to get them home again at the Sea Organisation’s expense.

I had heard that the ship would soon leave port and we had to chose to stick it out - to make it or break it! I chose to stay.

One week passed and one got to know one’s job.. I learnt the duties and prepared the ship for sea. The adventure of going to sea was approaching and I was scared but there was nothing one could do about it. I was there. So I thought, Pull your socks up and confront it.

It was really a tight group you worked with, and especially for LRH. Everything was to be learned fast and thoroughly. We had no time to louse around and pretend to work when we weren't. So many things had to be done. You just did all that was needed, and helped out anywhere. We had to work tight and close because a ship does not wait for you. When at sea it needs control and attention at all times.

At sea you did lookout watches, forward and aft. You drilled when you weren't on watch. You practised on the helm, and various other sailing duties. As you improved at other duties, you learned navigation. Drilling it and doing it was the name of the game and you did it daily.

The ship and its crew were now operational, and new recruits were learning the ropes. Being at sea on the first trip was at once an interesting and frightening experience. But when you had no idea how to do anything, you just did what you could. I hoped no one would ever find out I was scared to be at sea or that it was not something I liked.

Soon we came to enter port. I was looking forward to this so very much. It happened so fast, I was less scared. In port one took turns in watching the ship. This was called Quarter Master Watches. You took care of the gangway, and noted all on-coming and off-going people. You looked around and up and down to ensure that all was 0K, and that nothing was out of place.

LRH‘s schedule was different to the main crew. He was usually on his deck late afternoons.

While in port, auditing and organisational training carried on. I did duties such as Yeoman Assistant in Administration for the Ethics Officer.

The Ethics officer in those days was known as B.B. He was not liked at all by most people. In the end he was not liked by LRH and especially by Mary Sue He turned out to be most unsuitable and LRH fired him. After it was disclosed that he was in possession of drugs, he got ordered off the ship within a few hours and was never seen again.

Each day LRH and his aides toured the ship to inspect it and check that all was in order. It took a lot to handle the ship and to know what had to be done daily. On the tours of inspection, they also found out from each Division how things were going on LRH’s projects.

My goodness, how different it was to being on land!

Sea Org Training - Trying to Cope.

When in port, the ship ran two operations: An organisation, and a sea vessel, with basic repairs and general maintenance to be done. These were done daily, and one was assigned to different duties at different days of tile week. You also had a duty on the ship in the Organisational part, where your training to be a sailor was improved. Sea Org books with drills were available at study time and you were expected to do it. After all, we were training to be able to run a ship, take it to sea, bring it to port and operate it as professional sailors.

Some days emergency drills, like Man Overboard, or Fire ‘Tween Decks, would be called. You never were warned about those. There might also have been drills like fire in the Galley, or another vessel approaching too near. The Captain just called them. You took off your organisational hat and were then on your job as a seaman. All kinds of things had to be learned so that we were ready and able to handle anything at once and not wait for something to ram into us. No such thing would be allowed to happen. We had to keep remembering that was a ship. It was not a hotel or anything else but a ship!

When going to sea, we were told one or two days beforehand. That meant that readiness for sea had to be done. This included tying down desks to fixed bolts around the floors, removing any papers that were around and placing them in fixed positions not to be moved while the ship was moving. Filing cabinets had to be roped around and fixed to bolt fixtures. We even had drills for this in port. The Chief Officer and Captain would inspect your area and see if all was ok. They would flunk you on what was not ok and up to the standard required by the Captain.

Then a real readiness for sea arrived. All was done, and we set sail. Each one was assigned to a watch. Some did a day watch. Some did night watches as well.

That time we were travelling around the Morocco coast. It was rough at night, and you had to learn how to control yourself as the sea waves and currents got at you. For beginner's like myself, getting sick was part of it. But you got over it fast and were back to the job facing the enturbulations around you. Sometimes there were force seven-to-eight winds, and waves beating with force against the ship’s sides.

Having an upset stomach was not what one wanted or liked but once I had to excuse myself from the watch. Someone stood in for me and off I went down to the deck below. After leaving the bridge, I had to pass very near to Ron Hubbard's office. The door was open and he was in there talking to someone. He glimpsed me and came out, laughed and said, "So - you’re experiencing sea sickness, ha".

Then he gave me some sort of seasickness pills, and said, "Go, take these, and drink some good water. Then take yourself up again. Go aft and confront your ship, and what is around you. Then look ahead not down. Sway with the ship when it moves".

He gave me a sort of quick demo of swaying, saying, "Like this. You will be ok in an hour or so. Let me know. Alright?"

I was amazed at the directness, and immediate solution handling and confrontation and not allowing me to be the effect. I said, "Ok, Sir. Thank you".

My stomach upset and dizziness was turning off faster than I could think about having been sick. I called up to the bridge and said,, "I’m fine now and ready for watch". No sooner was I back in action than I met LRH back up on the Bridge. He paused and said, "Guess you are operational and ready for the job again".

I said, "Yes Sir", and gave him a salute.

There were others who had seasickness. They were assisted by seasickness pills as well, and learned similar handlings to mine!

Mary Sue was many times on the bridge as a helmsman. She was very good indeed. Her captain was LRH who wore the Commodore’s hat. Then she was trained to relieve him of being captain. When not doing the bridge work, she helped drill us on different functions and was very, very patient. With great support and confidence she drummed in the handling of the ship and what we had to do. We were all becoming familiar with being sailors and were past the sea sickness stage.

Approaching Land - A Mission

We are now getting into 1968 or there about. Dates and years seemed to go by so fast. The first Sea Org Mission was to fly to Scotland and give a set of mission orders to the Executive Director of the 1st Advanced Organisation outside St. Hill Manor.

The briefing orders were first to be done in clay and to be checked by the Missions Operator. Then he could see that one knew what mission one was supposed to do, and all the steps to it. The title of the mission was Courier - UK Transfer. Advanced Organisation, Los Angeles.

The name of the Executive Director of the Advanced Organisation in Scotland was withheld from me for security reasons. It was explained that the name would be in the orders to be opened on arrival in the Transfer Operation Mission. What I understood was that some UK Scotland staff at that Advanced Org were going to move out to Los Angeles. It was clear that the In-Charge at Scotland would get relieved by another staff member there. Then that one would be the In-Charge of the new Advanced Organisation, United States. He was to take with him some staff already assigned to posts in the new Los Angeles Advanced Organisation.

It was not to be a slow task. The orders were to make it smooth but fast - a smooth changeover.

In those days, each Mission was run directly from the ship under direct supervision and control from LRH. Having been trained personally by him was an advantage. His then Mission Operations Chief was a strong and tough lad, known as Bill. He was a very intelligent person, well educated in Engineering and Electronics. He briefed me on this mission. I was somewhat familiar with the standards he operated on, as I was his Assistant in the Control Information Centre on the ship known as the Royal Scotsman.

Your general instructions for firing or preparing a Mission went something like this, with rather a long checklist.

1. Without being previously prepared, you were called to Control Information Centre (CIC)..
2. You were told you were about to go on a Mission.
3. It was arranged when to go into Briefing. If you had other duties you ended them off quickly, and returned to briefing. Your job would get covered by another staff member while you were under Missions and Operation.
4. Return to Mission Ops
5. Study your mission orders.
6. Clay demo them. You were expected to be fast, possibly stay up all night because that mission was to go out early the next day.
7. Operations checked that the clay demo was ok. Any questions were asked and explained by the Operations Chief.
8. Sleep if you could, or be ready to fire at the departure time. Clearance for set off was added such like checking for items as follows.
9. Passports were given and security steps taken. You were never allowed to mention where you came from to anyone while on Mission.
10. Operation instructions were laid out and you were given your relay lines instructions on how to feed back to the Ship's Operations Chief that your mission targets were completed.
11. Missions expenses were given.
12. Verifications of all actions done. That was usually signed as ‘Ready’
    Then you left.

No sooner were you briefed on the Mission, than you were taken to the airport by Transport Operations. The plane was via Greece to Scotland where I took a taxi. I was so happy to be back on solid land again, and seeing Scotland. I must say, that was what I preferred.

I entered the building where the Advanced Organisation, Scotland. had already been operating for quite some time - how long I don't recall.

They had rented a large, run-down hotel pretty cheaply. It had been fixed it up quite well even though the outside wasn't that good.

Many people - public and staff - were around, overloading the hallways. They were pouring in people from all over the place, world wide. Rooms were packed and staff were running around, trying to keep up with all the traffic.

The Advanced Organisation, Scotland, was receiving all the public ready and able to enrol on the Advanced Courses. They came from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and anywhere else in the world. People were coming from St Hill Manor to Scotland.

No sooner had I stepped into the place than the receptionist passed me quickly over to the Communicator for the Executive Director saying, "You must be from wherever the ship is. Correct?"

I said, "Yes. I’m here to see your Executive Director".

She asked me to take a seat for a moment and I took the time to open my instructions. Just as I read the name among the papers, out came a tall, stern, young man dressed in naval uniform - black suit with gold braids on the right arm, and a white and gold cap. He gave me an impression of strength and power. There were a lot of good feelings in the air with him. I stood stunned at first. Then I said, "I know you from St. Hill. So this is where you landed up. My Gosh!".

We laughed together really loud. It was such a shock and a great surprise all in one.

He said, "Great to see you again. Are you on the ship now? I just got a telex to tell me you were arriving". Rushing me into his office, he mentioned some nice moments we had shared at St. Hill. Then he took the pack and read it all.

After he had read it, I said, "Well - you’re off again pretty quick, ha". "

He smiled and said, Yes. But we’ll catch up again one day".

It was a pleasant moment even if it was only brief. As I saluted him to a successful mission, he was off before I could hardly turn around. But now I knew where Bill Robertson had disappeared to from St. Hill. He was going to be the new In-Charge of the move to United States, Los Angeles.

The orders were to split the staff at the Advanced Org, Scotland down the middle. One half would go to Los Angeles, and the other half stay in Scotland. The Los Angeles half was to go pack their belongings and many trunks of material and books and E-Meters. Supplies had to go with the personnel too. It all was fast and smooth and out within twenty-four hours. The new Advanced Organisation was about to be opened up in the United States.

The moving of the Advanced Org from St. Hill to Scotland had been well promoted and campaigns had been done all around the world. The Clearing Course and the OT Levels were now available in Scotland and the traffic was tremendous, with people arriving all the time. Many more also wrote, wanting to come. Their letters arrived from all over the world. The doors were bursting with people and there was so much demand that LRH was telephoned at the ship saying, "Please open an Advanced Org in the United States.

A survey was done by a mission which went ahead of this one firing, to see the local orgs around the US. The job was to observe what demand there was to trigger off an Advanced Org. The mission was fired in its targeted time and it turned out to be another very successful thing LRH did for the public.

My first Mission was complete. When I asked what my next step was to be, I was told to remain in Scotland and help out at the Advanced Org there. I did that for a while. Then after two months I was homesick, mainly because I missed being around LRH. In those days I had the nerve to telex and ask to go home and my request was granted.

I returned to the ship at the Island of Corfu. It was only for a week but it was really beautiful. Then I was told that I was to go on another mission.

My Second Mission - Set Up An Advanced Organisation

It was now around about 1969. I had done my basic sea training and had got quite some experience at sea and in port.

While I was on watches at sea, LRH always appeared to oversee the navigation and helmsmanship. Many times he stood up there and ran the commands to the person on the helm. He always oversaw the Vogue and the safety of both crew and ship.

LRH had trained some people to take command, keeping the ship on course. They were obviously beginning to be useful to him and could do things for themselves. Some were already trained seamen and that took some of the burden off the Old Man. But even then they didn't do the things the way he wanted them done. Sometimes you would hear some yelling going on, and other times you only heard laughs and fun, and expressions like, "Ha - Man. Great job". So there were always two sides to it all. A great job done was always validated. When that was from LRH it was extra special.

We were off the island of Corfu with most of the flotilla. The Enchanter was there, later renamed the Diana, after LRH’s daughter. Then there were the Athena and the Royal Scotsman. LRH was usually on the Royal Scotsman, later called the Apollo. It was rare to have all the flotilla in one port altogether.

While at Corfu, LRH looked around to see if it would be possible to put an Advanced Org into that area. He visited some officials and the idea soon became a reality. He came back with the news, and the next thing we read in the Orders of the Day was, Good news, Advanced Organisation, Greece is about to get under way.

Everyone thought, Wha! what now?. Did it mean that the ship would stay in port for some time or what? The rumours started about who might be on that new Advanced Organisation. Briefing soon took place for personnel for the "AO - GREECE". Staff (or crew as they were known in ships terms), were given a survey to fill in about what posts they’d held in a Scientology Org before. We had to turn it in as soon as possible. Then out came the list of crew and the posts to which they had been assigned. It was all pretty quick for AO GREECE.

I was on that list.

Instructions soon came for those crew. They were ordered to meet in B Deck Lounge at 2pm one afternoon. We were very curious to know what we were going to be doing. Questions were asked. Where was AO Greece? Had a building had been bought? But these details weren't openly available despite rumours going around. Most of us didn't really take much notice until the real news appeared in the Orders of the Day.

So we met at 2pm and were told that a building had been purchased. We were handed out blue overalls and had to go with the Estate's personnel to start fixing it up. It certainly was quite a broken down sort of building, never having been finished by whoever had had it before. We worked approximately one week and then all of a sudden it stopped. We were back at the ship and doing the routine work again. Those assigned to the AO Greece Project were asked to meet in the B deck lounge. Then orders were announced, something like this:

Those words sounded stern but there was no time to hang around and gossip about the problems of this very sudden change. The Readiness for Sea actions were put into effect at once. On the entire flotilla you saw ropes being got out, bolts being placed to fixtures, desks getting tied down. Food was brought on board, and so many more things had to get done. It was Go Go GO. The entire flotilla was to be out of that port in twenty-four hours.

At such short notice it was not easy to get everything ready. Supply lines had to be completed, and shore contacts ended. We had been in port a good part of the summer, heading towards winter and more or less had settled down to daily routine work. Public Relations appeared to have been building up and our local shore relations were good. But a rattle snake seemed to have been put somewhere up in the government, for it all to be turned around. We had to act fast and get out!

The reason that was given was that government had been getting false reports about the Royal Scotsman. Someone had fed in data about the ship having dealings with drugs. It was a threat to the ship off shore. Officials suspected the ship without any facts to back that up. Some talks took place but the situation didn't get resolved that quickly. It then became a risk for us to remain there. So as to avoid further hassles and shore flaps which would have cost time and money, LRH’s solution was to move the ships and crew out while leaving some Missionairs there to sort things out.

The entire flotilla was out within the time given, leaving a very tired the crew indeed. Later the parties responsible for spreading false data against the ship were investigated. This led back to ‘plants’. Government spies, operated from some level of the state of that area, had been placed as crew on the ship and the dock. They operated on the dock as ordinary merchants, selling goods to the ship as their cover. They had been filtering information back to the Authorities about any move that was made on the ship.

The next question was, What would happen to the AO Greece?

Some of the crew assigned to that operation were to report to the Athena which was able to take the bulk of the equipment, and some would go directly to a new, unknown location.

The Commanding Officer of the Athena, known as Jill, was ordered to LRH's office to tell him where she was going to put the Advanced Organisation. Something had to happen and LRH wanted it done fast.

Jill was LRH's Right Hander at that time. She had disappeared from St. Hill after having done the Briefing Course, and the Class 7 Course. A well-educated lady both in business, and Scientology, she had been called to Las Palmas where LRH had been at the time and worked as some sort of do-it-all communicator for him. She was soon able to sail the Royal Scotsman with LRH supervising and had also learned to drive a car without ever knowing how. She had bought houses for LRH and did practically anything, even though she was not at all experienced in some things. But she landed up doing it all, she was so capable.

LRH liked Jill a lot. He put great trust in her, and respected her highly. She knew how he operated and took the load, even if it was tough. She was someone who could give and get orders, read them, and get them done. She was also able to talk realistically with him if she did not think something was right in all respects. Jill had a way with LRH and anyone else that dealt with her. She was a tough, no-nonsense women, and got things done. And she was a friend of mine.

One time she asked me to walk with her up to LRH's Office. I agreed and said I would wait for her but she told me to go to bed. She looked nervous as she was about to go in so I avoided her order and, comforted her towards his office and waited. She was going to propose to LRH where she would place the AO in Europe. I thought she might be nervous because she didn't know exactly how he was going to react. But he had already told her to bring some solutions along, so he obviously trusted her enough to give her that responsibility. She seemed not to want too many people to know her ideas before she told him, so she had kept the secret to herself. Now she knew she had to have a solution when she went in there.

Waiting outside I waved her good luck.

I was about 3am when she went in there. It seemed so long until she came out. Around 4-30am out she came, with smiles on her face saying, "Huh! Made it! Let’s get the crew and go".

I said, "Jill - do you know it's near 5 am in the morning? Don't you want to sleep?

She said, "To hell with sleep. We can sleep in the plane".

I started, saying, "What plane? Where?"

Jill turned around and said, "Hush! I can't answer all these silly questions now. But trust me. You’ll find out. Come on. Let’s get something to drink".

We walked, not really observing where we were going, tripping on the stairs, making loud noises and hushing at each other to be quiet We held back some chuckles, forgetting it was the early hours of the morning as we headed toward the good old galley as we chatted.

Jill said, "I was nervous that he would be mad at my proposal. But, when you talk to the Old Man, one thing you have to have in your head is solutions. That's what it's all about and that saved my neck. Now I feel I can relax, even if its only for five minutes".

It felt like a new adventure was approaching for me. I didn’t even know where I was heading, yet, but I was happy. She was happy and wanted to enjoy the fun, whispering in my ear, "I wonder if we can chat up Liza for a coffee.

I said, "Leave Liza to me".

Having had night duty in the Control Information Centre which ran 24 hours a day, I had been a secret visitor to the galley. so I knew Good Old Liza the chief night cook, pretty well. So in we went. The smell of doughnuts being cooked was irresistible and went to our noses at once. HUM. That sort of made it easier for me to convince Liza now not only to let us have two coffees but two doughnuts as well.

Liza was a girl from Las Vegas and really into doughnut making. She was well in with LRH and Mary Sue who both loved doughnuts. Every Tuesday night was Doughnut-Making-Time. And this night when the location for the next Advanced Organisation was about to be announced, was Tuesday night. So it was certainly time for celebration.

Liza was in a bright and cheerful mood.

I said in a charming way, "Liza - that smell is not to be wasted without a taste to prove you’re the greatest cook".

We got our coffee's and two doughnuts and it was 5am as we slipped up to the top deck to enjoying our feast! Later when I went to thank Liza for the treat, she told me that LRH had already slipped in the back way and got his share before us. She had a big smile on her face. Liza was always happy when LRH had showed up to taste and to pass her doughnut cooking. She said that she gave him at least four each Tuesday night and did it when he thought no one was around.

When Jill and I had finished our coffee and doughnuts, we headed down below deck to start the business of packing up all the items which we had thought would be used for AO Greece.

I didn’t try to get Jill to tell me where are we going to put the new AO. She seemed to have that all well under control. Anyway, being part of the crew, I was going to get to know it in the end, so why worry.

Tired as we were, 8am soon came. Staff started to move around the ship. Those staying were about to move out of port. The rest attended the meeting about flying away to some new location where the AO was to be set up. Our bags were packed from the previous day, and all the stuff that could go with us was getting packed up. The rest went with the remaining AO crew who sailed with the Athena.

Just before leaving the ship LRH appeared, saying, "Have a safe and good trip to Denmark".

Now we knew then where we were going, sad as it was to leave LRH. But it was another important mission.

Advanced Organisation - Denmark

Jill and her husband and fifteen of us landed in bitter-cold Copenhagen. It was so very different to Greece! We took taxis to the centre of the city, and as we didn't have any place rented, we went to an hotel near the famous Tivoli Gardens.

In Copenhagen there already existed a Class IV Org, and around Denmark were some small groups where Scientology reading and courses took place in private homes. One such place was Hovesgade, Number 6, where a lady called Joan and her husband were running the Class IV centre. Joan was a South African. She and her husband knew Jill from the time when they had all been in South Africa, beginning Scientology in Johannesburg. Perhaps that was one reason why Copenhagen was chosen. Who knows?

We were allowed to rest for the day. With packing and assisting the rest of the ship to prepare for sea, we had had very little sleep. Even having a bath was a luxury.

Then we got the next instructions by evening, to be carried out the following day. Meanwhile Jill made telephone calls She went to see Joan and her husband to ask whether there was any spare space to operate from at their centre until a building was found for the AO. They easily arranged a fairly large room for an instant operation, not far from our hotel. A few other matters were discussed and then Jill returned. I hadn’t seen her since she had put us in the hotel.

We had a good night’s sleep then headed down for breakfast. For us that was a real luxury. It such a nice hotel, and one we considered to be for rich people. Then we walked to the Class IV Org It was a two-kilometres away and we couldn't afford taxi's then.

Jill and her husband were there already and introduced us to Joan. She showed us around, then took us quickly into our room where there were chairs and a large round table big enough for ten people or more.

Now Jill explained that we would write letters to a list of names and addresses that the Class IV Org had provided. People wanted information on the Advanced Services and we would tell them when they could start. She made it clear that the letters had to be interesting and to write in our best handwriting. There was no such thing as a typewriter, or Dictaphone there. We were now on our own and had to start from scratch using the little that we had. Each of us had a quota of thirty letters per day. None of us thought or worried about where we lived. We were starting somewhere. Our first step was to let people know the Advanced Org was there. We all got on pretty well with the leader of the Class IV Org, though she was not our chief. We didn’t have anything else but her room and, while we were writing letters, Jill and her husband were out, scouting for a building.

Getting a place to operate and somewhere of our own to sleep was the first priority. It had to be cheaper than living in a hotel, especially as our budget was very limited. It was costly to feed the crew and pay the hotel when nothing was coming in. There was only an emergency float which had been arranged via the local Class IV Org for the mission's urgent needs. Now the overall objective was to get a place, and get operational.

This daily procedure went on for approximately two weeks. Then we were told that we would be leaving in the morning by train and taxi for a place outside of Copenhagen known as Horbeak.

Having a location forty kilometres outside of City centre, and right off bus routes and not in easy access to public transport was going to have its problems. The commanding officer could see that too, but she took what she could get despite the barriers we were going to find ahead. We knew we would have to have a ongoing transport service set up daily.

The location was called Abbelund. Situated on a farm with various houses that were for family holidays, it had not been rented for quite some time. But with a number of little houses on it, there was plenty of room for expansion. The family that owned it lived on the same grounds but away from the the staff sleeping and working quarters of our org. The family’s name was Silvester. They spoke not a word of English and Danish was not easy.for us. But the Commanding Officer got on very well with them, and they took a liking to her. When we moved in they insisted that she was to eat with the whole family once a week and she kept the promise..

The area was really picturesque. The grounds were full of flowers and fish ponds, and beautifully kept lawns. There were plenty of places for walks, and for getting away from the daily work. The family even had their own horses. Whether of not these new surroundings would prove to be the ideal home for the Advanced Organisation - Denmark - we would find out later.

We soon settled in The sleeping quarters had four pretty big rooms. We could easily fit eight bunks in each. That soon solved the sleeping requirements of the staff.

The main sleeping house was furnished already and had two bathrooms and three toilets. Then there were three other houses with some beds and furniture in place. Those didn't need to be used in the beginning but were needed within three months. All we had to pay for was new bunks.

The main house had around about twelve quite large, furnished rooms suitable as work spaces. A large dining room and a fully-equipped kitchen was available too, with all the necessary tableware and kitchen utensils. That kept the starting costs right down.

This Advanced Organisation was run just like any other organisation. Schedules were put in. Study and Auditing and Training for the public was to get going as quickly as possible.

The Commanding Officer asked approval of treasury to get the org a car. Without one, we would have been pretty stuck. It was approved. Then a full-time driver was put on the job of bringing public to and from the train station and the airport.

Now the letter writing started to pay off. We began to see arrivals who wished to receive what we had promoted in the letters. The word got around quickly. Tours went out to make it known that we were there. Staff started to get recruited and slowly more and more people showed up. Then we had to provide transport for people to get to their accommodation with the one car we had for everything. It was quite a problem to work out. Somehow we coped, with different people helping out.

The place was great for retirement, but not for the purposes of an AO. But the important thing was that the Advanced Org was there and the students could go further with their auditing and training.

The AO didn’t make a lot of money in the first weeks. After three or four months, completions were made and courses had students on them - so traffic was in and out, even if it was slow.

The Org had a good number of Auditors and C/Ss. Weekly reports had to be sent to Flag. That meant they went to where LRH was; somewhere in the USA. Around that time LRH ordered the ships to be sold, so a base was set up for controlling Orgs, AO's and Missions but it was not important that we know exactly where that was.

In the early days, LRH saw all statistics, and gave his advice weekly on the running of the orgs and the missions. This was in form of telexes of course. It was learnt over some time that LRH had not been fully informed of the exact location of the Advanced Organisation in Denmark. He certainly knew it was there, but in temporary places. Its exact location off public transport lines was a major concern. This appeared to come about when he had observed the statistics of the AO - Denmark after it had been running for a good half year. Overall it was not doing as well as he wished or expected it to do. So he started to ask why.

An investigation had to take place as LRH had also received some letters from public, and letters from staff saying how they felt and how the AO was and where it was. So one could see that he got his data

Reviewing all aspects, including the statistics, he could see that something was wrong. Why didn’t it do better than it should have done? After all, the Advanced Organisation - Los Angeles, was now set up, and was doing great. They had had over 100 people on lines in less than three months, and the delivery and completions of services were doing well. There had been a weekly average of five to ten Clears over three months from start up. The income was around 30,000 Dollars a week, which was very satisfying.

Advanced Org - Denmark had only half that amount of public on lines within six months of start up. The income was very low for months, and completions weren't very many - around five within three months, average. Those were poor stats. What was the next step to take? What was certain was that something had to change.

Questions had been asked and chances of improvement had been given to get more people on services. A much better income was needed.

There was no telex machine locally and only one telephone. Telexes were received at the Class IV Org in the centre of Copenhagen. Transport In-Charge collected and sent them each day, going into town 40 Kilometres.

Then some very unpleasant information reached LRH. He heard that staff had not gotten paid for months because such little money had come in. But an expense had been passed for a trampoline to provide some recreation for the staff as paying them had not been possible.

All these matters needed attention and as fast. The Advanced Org had to improve. The staff had to get paid. The statistics had to go up. LRH was dissatisfied and it showed, so he ordered a mission there to find the bugs.

The first step of the mission was to remove the current Commanding Officer. In those times, when one had had enough chances and no result one didn't ask questions. You either removed yourself or got removed. Then you returned to the ship and got investigated where you could speak up in your defence.

Jill got removed pretty much at once. She saw to it she was not seen or heard of and got herself away as fast as possible. She had disappeared before I could see her even though she knew she was going. Knowing LRH pretty well, and his Right Hand for many months, Jill took it rather personally and apparently had quite some upset with him over that. Whether he pardoned her is not known. She later asked for leave from the Sea Org for having a baby, and wanted to return to South Africa. Then she proposed to LRH that she travel Europe at her own expense to get Scientology going within a German area. That request was granted. She and her husband were most successful. They travelled around, set up a Franchise, and put someone in charge. It boomed and later turned into one of the most successful Class IV Orgs in Europe - th