[HPFGU-OTChatter] Brit-Speak: Vernon Dursley is a /Director/.

Sam Edwards hermionesmum at yahoo.com
Thu Aug 19 21:20:31 UTC 2004


Steve <b_boymn at yahoo.com> wrote:
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but my memory on the details
fails me at the moment.

Vernon Dursley is a director of Grunnings Drill Company.

First, I must wonder if he is /A/ Director, or if he is /THE/ Director.

Next, I have to wonder what the term /Director/ means in Britich
culture and context.

Does it simply mean that Vernon is one of many middle managers? 

In the US, middle managers are any salaried 'necktie' types who have
staff working under them. Although, they may be far from the top of
the Corporate hierarchy. Examples, he could be the manager of
accounting, or sales, or production.

In Vernon's case, he seems to be involved is sales. So, given that he
is a/the Director, would you speculate that he is a department
director, or the overal manager for that branch of the company?

The term 'director' is used in the USA, most commonly in 'Board of
Directors', but you rarely hear of a person directly referred to as a
director in this context.

I'm just trying to get some idea of where Uncle Vernon fits into the
world. It's difficult for me to tell based on clues. Like his house
for example, by American/USA standards, he lives in a slightly above
average middle class home. At the same time, I am aware that real
estate prices in England are exceptionally high. Give that, Vernon
might be living in a million dollar house. He also seems to earn a
substantial salary, but whether that is £50,000 or £500,000 I can't tell. 

Just seeking some perspective on the Uncle we all love to hate.

Steve/b_boymn


Hello Steve,

            First my appologies to you (and Steve Van Der Aark), for crediting you with creating the Lexicon in an earlier post. I tried posting an appology earlier but it seems to have gone astray.

Whether or not Vernon is a or THE sales director will really depend on how big a company Grunnings is. The term could be used for both. 

Based on the home he owns and his likely salary:

Surrey is one of the expensive counties in the UK, parts of it being an easy, (1hr), commute from London while being fairly leafy, suburban and a "nice" place to raise a family. 

British house prices are a really sore subject with me. Hubby and are renting a two bedroomed house in Oxfordshire (similarly popular and overcrowded), without much hope of buying our own home until I get back to work at least. Hubby works in the public sector. I would too if my salary could cover childcare and travelling. I'm ranting, I appologise.

Anyway. A four bedroomed, detached house in Surrey, similar to Privet Drive used in the movies would be priced at roughly  £285, 000.

I had a little snoop at Surrey prices, I've picked a set of details to give you a link to if you are very curious.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/rm/template/publicsite%2Cbuying%2CPropertyDetails.vm/svr/1043?p_id=2966210&pa_n=15&tr_t=buy

If Vernon and Petunia were to be buying this house now he would probably need a salary of £60,000 or so. Sounds middle managementish to me. Or at least he was when Harry came to live with the Dursleys.

Hope this helps and sorry for ranting

Sam






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