WAYZGOOSE

Wayzgoose is a one-year ESRC funded project, which uses oral and ephemeral material to investigate and document the Wayzgoose as a social and work-related phenomenon.

'Wayzgoose' is a term formerly used in the UK to describe the annual social outings organised by unions and management in the publishing and printing trades. These form a long tradition dating back to the earliest days of printing and the forms of work and social organisation that characterised it. They were a major fixture in the working calendar of Scottish publishing and printing firms. However, before the wayzgoose project here existed little record of the nature and role of such social gatherings in the working lives of the participants.

This one year ESRC funded project documented the forms that the Wayzgoose took in Scotland in the twentieth century. It investigated the form that this phenomena took, different methods of funding the wayzgoose, how the wayzgoose was advertised within firms and the importance impact this annual event had on the lives of the people that participated in the annual trip or wayzgoose

The project considered how the nature of the wayzgoose differed between different kinds of company of different sizes. It also considered the differences in patterns of events and traditions between the printing and papermaking industries to find out how these communities celebrated the wayzgoose. It was found that papermaking communities generally celebrated this event on a different day of the week from printer’ because of differing shift patterns and the frequent absence of a Saturday half day holiday within this industry. Research was undertaken to examine the role of works outings in other industries and to consider the distinct nature of the printers’ wayzgoose with its chartering of ‘special’ trains and the frequent accompaniment of a silver band or orchestra with the trip participants for the whole day. The origins of the term ‘wayzgoose’ were also investigated and the reason for a ‘printers’ feast’ to mark the start of winter working was examined. The evolution of this feast to the annual outing or trip were considered.

The research resulted in an exhibition Wayzgoose: excursions, sports and socials in the printing industry launched in January at Napier University and currently touring round libraries and museums throughout Scotland. For more information about the exhibition and a full list of exhibition venues please click here

If you would like further information about this project please contact Sarah Bromage at s.bromage@napier.ac.uk