AUTOBIOGRAPHY

WILSON SILWANIS HANNA ABDEL NOUR

TRIBUNAL MIXTE, MANSOURAH
The Tribunal Mixte, Mansourah, consisted of two adjoining buildings: The Court and the Archives, where my uncle Elias was the sole Archivist. I used to go there from time to time. I quite remember how neat, spacious, quiet, were those premises.

My uncle's meticulous handwriting and calligraphy skills were clearly found on the files, documents and box files. Book binder's Panayotti (Greek) main job was to keep all the documents in a professional care. From my uncle, I came to learn a great deal about systems, organisation and tidiness.

But the year 1942 also witnessed the havoc and destruction of WORLD WAR II. The suez canal area was subjected to devastating air attacks launched by the Germans and their allies. Yet, amid such turmoil, I was lucky enough to come across an advertisement for a vacant position at Barclays Bank, Ismailia. On hearing about my intention to apply for that vacant position, my superior made every effort to discourage me from leaving. But in view of my persistance, he relented and gave me permission to give it a try.

After the interview I had the impression that I would be offered the job, but I was very dissapointed to learn that I was unsuccessful. This led me to face a new reality when I found out that my boss appointed an "Elder" to replace me, sooner or later. Nevertheless, I was carrying out all responsibilities as if I were staying there forever. The boss was, unnecessarily paying two salaries to us. To overcome this awkward state of affairs, I had to look for another job (how I don't know). I was in a quandary now.

After some attempts looking for a job, I received an offer from Ottoman Bank, Cairo. The salary was supposed to be 4 Egyptian pounds per month. The manager who interviewed me was puzzled how I would be able to cope with life's pressures, specially coming from Mansourah to live in Cairo. The decision was made instantly. I had to accept.

Consequently, I went back to Mansourah and submitted my resignation to have peace of mind. In brief it was a risky decision to leave Mansourah and move on to an uncertain future. On the 25th day of May 1942, I regretfully and tearfully said good-bye to Mansourah, to childhood, adulthood, and fond memories.

21st MAY 1942
OTTOMAN BANK 57 ABDEL KHALEK SARWAT ST, CAIRO
Very impressive building in the heart of the city.

Head Office	Turkey
Manager	British
Assistant Manager	French (The official language was French)

I was assigned at the Cash Office, the hub of all bank transactions, headed by an English man and assisted by three cashiers, one Greek and two Egyptians entrusted of collecting and paying funds to normal clients, including British Army Personnel.

Three other Egyptians were helping in counting moneys, either local or foreign. Business hours started from 8:00 a.m. up to 11:00 p.m. I do recall that when El Alamain battle in the desert between the Allied and Axis Forces took place, panicking crowds converged on the bank seeking to collect their savings. I was overwhelmed with mixed feelings one of fear because of the customers' panicky state, the other of admiration of the bank offices efficiency in handling visibly chaotic and hard to control situations. Reflecting on some of the tasks I attended to, I recall how I used to enter all the cashiers' transactions, about 800 per day in separate sheets. Under the weight of such heavy volume of work som eerrors were unavoidable, bu tbecause of the spirit of cooperation that prevailed, the slightest one warranted the cooperation of all staff to find and rectify it.

From time to time, a new clerk was appointed to relieve me in order to be transferred to other bank divisions. Unfortunately, nobody was capable to carry out my job. At last I was transferred to other divisions: Shares, Foreign exchange, customer service. I gained a lot of experience. I befriended colleagues (Armenians, Egyptians). I always looked up to the heads of departments (mostly Maltese and Jews). Life was going on smoothly. Salary was raised to 5.50 Egyptian Pounds per month. I did not regret the step taken to "migrate" from Mansourah.

Teta and I were living at No, 2 Ahmed Nafeh St, Faggala, Cairo suburb. I don't remember how we shared the tenant's flat (Reda Fanous), but it was convenient in many respects. Journeys from home to the bank and vice versa were on foot. I was healthy and young without any future plans. Gradually, some staff resigned . WHY? To join B.O.A.C., The British Airways was offering better salaries than the bank's. This encouraged me to follow suit. On 5th November 1943, I resigned from Ottoman Bank to join that reputable airline. I was over the moon! The prospect of a new job and rather than walk to work now I had the luxury of enjoying a ride on the tramway!

On 11th August 1942, Teta and I moved to 15 Kholafa St. Shoubra (Cairo suburb) to live with maternal cousins Alphonse and George Farid. This brings to my mind the occasion of leasing the new premises. I do remember how poorly dressed the landlord was at the time. (A shabby and colourless galabia and tarboush), and how while signing the contract I made a remark in French to my cousin Alphonse about the landlord. I was completely taken aback when the man responded back in French!

On 1st March 1943 we moved again to 54 Rod El Farag St. Rod El Farag (Cairo suburb) to live with the family of my maternal aunt (they had been transferred from Upper Egypt to Cairo)

WW II
CAIRO
I started working with BOAC (BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION) on 8th November 1943. The office was situated at Ibrahim Pacha Street next to the famous Shepherd's Hotel, favoured by most tourists. Two other airlines were adjoining BOAC: Misr Air and TWA (Trans World Airlines - American). Because of the war, the company came to be under the authority of the army. In other words, travelling was restricted to the military.

As to the nature of my work, I was assigned clerical and assistant cashier's jobs; my starting salary was 8 Egyptian Pounds per month. You might find it hard to believe how one could live on two pounds per week or less, but we managed to live a comfortable life nonetheless. By 31st January 1957, I had occupied the position of Chief Cashier in Cairo Booking Centre and my monthly salary soared to 52 Egyptian Pounds! In addition we enjoyed one of the company's perks: a free uniform.

My duties and responsibilities comprised the following:

• Fare calculations and manual issuing of tickets (computers were unheard of);
• Compiling daily and weekly returns
• Attending to all cash transactions

The following incident happened when I was working in th cash office: Col. M.T. (i.e. Meticulous Task) Butt was the 'rank' and nick-name of a BOAC senior officer.

I used to decode M.T. in Arabic "mafeesh tanzeem" (no order, or disorganised). I recall on one occasion after he had come back following many years of absence, he approached me about a cash transaction of some sort; When I greeted him by "Col Butt?" He was surprised and said "You have a good memory". Again, to impress him, I said "Col M.T. Butt".

"You have a very good memory" He said again. M.T. = Meticulous Task.

During WWII all civilian aircrafts, including BOAC fleet, were taken over for military purposes and all traffic was restricted to military personnel. Civilians wanting to travel on BOAC planes had to obtain a special permit from the British Air Ministry, located at Semiramis Hotel overlooking the Nile in Cairo.

In those days people of different ethnic backgrounds worked together quite harmoniously. The intermediate person was Mr. Lapine, a Jew whose Arabisco office was located opposite the famous Shepherd's Hotel.

I recall an Arab intending to travel overseas had contacted Lapine in order to get him authority to travel to West Africa, at that time by flying boats.

I was standing in the cashier's office, with the door open and Lapine standing behind me; the passenger was standing outside my room. He seemed unsure of himself and his enquiries indicated he knew very little about air travel. The free baggage allowance was different in those days:

• First 10 Kg. Luggage - free.
• Next 10 Kg. half rate
• Any additional or extra weight: full rate

1946
On the 3rd of January 1946 I was engaged to Marie, (my aunt's daughter).
On 12th October we got married. The three of us were living in El Maqsi St. (Shoubrah).
On the 15th January 1949 we moved to 15 Zaki Pacha St, Helwan, a famous health resort, about 25 km from Cairo CBD. We lived there till April 1949. Then we moved back to 6 Wekalet El Kharnoub, Boulak, another Cairo suburb.
On 31st May 1949, I obtained Book Keeping certificate in Arabic from "The French Accounting Institute Alexandria, Egypt.

19th September 1949
God blessed us with our first baby daughter, EUGENIE. (Awel Farhetna - our first joy!) She was named after my mother.

Six years later, I was still working with BOAC and still wearing my uniform with pride. Eugenie had a mind of her own and somehow she made it clear to me that anytime she saw me in uniform, I had to carry her and go out for a walk. Sometimes, whenever I felt exhausted after work, I used to cheat a little; I would tip toe and take off my uniform, then I would call out to let her know I had come back! Most of the time, it worked.

When my daughter was about two years old she started carrying the same bag I used to carry in 1932.

At the age of four, she was enrolled at the American college for Girls. I remember her happiest day when she boarded the school bus for the first time, wearing the school uniform. Teta, Marie and I were standing in the balcony waving her goodbye. But I was aware that life was not easy for the little one, as she used to leave home at six a.m. and return at six p.m. It was indeed very demanding and physically exhausting for her at such a young age. She seemed to be the only one to put up with such pressures: To be the first to arrive and the last to leave, whereas most students lived near the school. We started to worry about her and after Marie and I discussed the matter, we decided that the best and most practical solution was to move and live near the school; and eventually we did.

On 30th June 1950, I obtained "Accountant Diploma in Arabic from French Accounting Institute, Alexandria.

19th September 1951
God blessed us again with our second daughter, MAGDA. She was born exactly the same date like her sister Eugenie. We thank God for His blessings. (Tany Farhetna - our Second Joy!)

4th September 1952
I am an Egyptian citizen by birth. I had to prove my Egyptian nationality to apply for a job at the Suez Canal Company; Consequently, I had to compile documentary about my father and grand father. Therefore a certificate confirming my Egyptian nationality was obtained.

1955
Luckily an apartment at 317 Ramsis Street, near the American College became available and we had no hesitation in leasing it. The new rent was 13 Pounds compared with the old rent of four pounds. I often wonder how on earth did we manage! Naturally we had to adjust to our new location, but the good thing was that the two girls managed to walk to school.

A vivid picture stands out in my mind: That of a police officer standing in front of the school to direct the traffic. My younger daughter Magda, used to great him by saying "Policeman big and strong". That was one of the things she had learned at school!

Twelve photographs of Magda, when she was one year old, were taken by a photographer. Years later we found them still displayed in his shop window. Call that consistency or appreciation of beauty, leave it to your imagination.