Heathrow Director Retires

[Roger Dodge]

Just a quick line to say that on 21st November 2002 HEATHROW DIRECTOR will hang his headset up for the final time. This is just to wish you all the best Bren for the future and don't stop pruning :D:) :) :) :D

[ex-EGLL]

So the day has finally come! First AC, now HD how will TC continue to survive? All the best, hope Ruth learns to adapt to you 24Hr presence.

Next time Lyn and I get over there we'll give you call. Don't get too bored, there's always the AFISO (or whatever they call it now) route :-)

ex-EGLL

[spekesoftly]

Best wishes to HD for an enjoyable 'last day', and no doubt a well deserved and happy retirement. Hope you continue to visit PPRuNe, I've always found your posts both enjoyable and informative.


speke :)

[pulse1]

Hope he's not retiring from Pprune:(

I never wanted to fly from LHR again anyway.:p

[Mr_Grubby]

B.
This retirement lark is a hoot.
Enjoy.
Don't stay away from PPRuNe though.

Best wishes,
CG
AKA Mr Grubby
:) :) :)

[Nogbad the Bad]

WOWWW B

Just think of all the money to be made now that you're retiring :)

And remember.........you will ALWAYS be welcome back - and welcome, for that matter, wherever you happen to be.

For those that don't know, HD(B) is one of the nicest people ever to grace a radar screen.......Happy Retirement you old b*gger :) :) :) :) :)

[ATCO Two]

Best of luck Bren. Have a long and happy one with NO night duties and unlimited early goes!! It's a privilege to know you mate.

[pilotwolf]

GOOD LUCK and BEST WISHES!

Not that I am jealous with only another 32 years before I can join you!:)

[vintage ATCO]

Lucky Sod! ;)

Congratulations on the home run!! :D :cool: :D :cool:

[BEXIL160]

Bye, bye HD.

Enjoy EVERY minute of your retirement.... lucky man:D :D

Very best wishes

BEX

P.S. Hope you'll be sticking around here though, I can't wait for the first time I see the line "when I was at TC" :D :D

[Scottie Dog]

HD - Even though we have never met I join many others in wishing you every happiness in your retirement. Enjoy the time, but please - as has been said - do not retire from posting here on Pprune.

Your words have always - as previously said by others - been informative and said without annoying anyone (well that I know of!).

Take care.

Scottie Dog

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Thank you everyone for your very kind wishes, which are most appreciated.

So, the day is over.. Today was both the best and worst of my whole career. Best? Because of the presents and kind words from my colleagues and the comments from the many pilots who were "briefed" on my retirement.... and, oh yes, I won't have to get up early any more.... Worst? Because I have had to say goodbye to some stupendously nice people who I shall miss very, very much. I know of no other group of people who approach those in ATC. We have a very special rapport, possibly because we work as teams and rely on each other so much. Also ATC humour is unique!

I came into "State" ATC via a back door, working abroad to gain experience, doing my own UK ATC Licence exams whilst on leave and finally getting past the Civil Service Commission. I always wanted to work at Heathrow and never a day has passed without me being grateful for my luck and I viewed working at Heathrow as an enormous privilege and honour. I shall miss the work very much, but one can't go on for ever.

I'll keep an eye on Pprune and maybe make the odd comment. However, I think it should primarily be for current operational staff.

To anyone on Y Watch TC, or any pilots reading this who were involved in this morning's fun.... thank you all VERY much. I'll never forget.....

Brendan McCartney
(ex-HD!)

[Stan Sted]

HD

why not celebrate your retirement at the Gatbash? It would be good to see you there.

I would be delighted to buy you a pint or three!

regards SS

[brockenspectre]

CONGRATULATIONS HD!!! and a big thankyou for indulging me with Concorde's flight path! I often browse past the ATC forums and if I see you have contributed I make a point of stopping and reading cos I know you were LHR and as I am under the Biggin stack I feel that LHR is "my" airport somehow!! (Despite the fact that I mostly fly, for convenience, out of LGW).

Well done for making it to retirement - now you have no excuse for not making it to the GatBash(es)!!

:D

[flower]

HEATHROW DIRECTOR,
have truly great retirement. We worked very briefly together at EGLL TC when I was under training ,and I always enjoyed our chats together.

With all best Wishes Flower

[Vlad the Impaler]

It was a lovely moment at about 1300 when HD doffed his headset for the last time as a round of applause and cheers echoed around the ops room. Bren was one of the few people at TC that absolutely everybody liked. Sickeningly, nobody has a bad word to say about him and that's because he's an approachable, friendly and thoroughly decent chap like wot they don't make no more.
Congratulations and here's wishing you a long and happy retirement from the approach office.
V:)

[Mr_Grubby]

So then Bren.

Did the Manager TC Training, Manpower & Resources @ LTCC
say goodbye or even come for a drink ?

Or did he think it would be 'inappropriate' like when I retired ?

Did anyone from 'Management' shake your hand ?

They are just not worth it.

Enjoy your retirement.

You are well out of it.

G.

[Numpo-Nigit]

73 Bren - enjoy yourself

[Scott Voigt]

HD;

Happy retirement to you... I'm envious and only a few years behind you <G>.... Hope to see you here still posting.

regards

[Dytter]

Bren....

Have a wonderful retirement. You were one of the guys on A watch EGLL who were so encouraging as I struggled to get on a cadetship. Going to miss the sound of laughter from across the room when I'm on morning spins.

You are a true gentleman and it's been a pleasure to have worked with you.

[Select Zone Five]

All the best HD. Like brockenspectre Thanks for vectoring Concorde over my house. :p

You are the 'ATC Issues' pool of knowledge, I hope that continues.

Take care

SZF

[A I]

Been on leave so missed THE day. Must add my 73's and all that you deserve, Brendan, for a very long and happy retirement.

AI :) :) :)

[niknak]

When I started in ATC in 1979, I was often told that ATC at Heathrow was a "Young Mans Game", as I progressed and political correctness surpassed common sense, it became a "Young Persons Game".
Now, 23 years later, I'm told it's a game for the "Young and brave, with nerves of steel".

So, what exactly does a "Young man/steely eyed person" "fond of games", do when they retire?:) :p :)

Good luck mate.

[Rudolph Hucker]

All the best, Bren - you made the job fun, something which sadly is disappearing fast these days.

E-mail me at [email protected] anytime

Rudy

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Thanks again folks for all the very kind remarks, which I truly appreciated. A serious frustration is that I know the identity of only one or two of you. Anyone who wants to own up - in total confidence - can email me direct at:
[email protected]

I'm amazed to see that this thread got almost as many postings as the one on the Theaker Memorial Phone. I'm truly humbled!

[Hippy]

Well, you can make that 3 now :D. You remember, the guy in blue from next door. Anyway, sorry I missed your last vector, but have a very happy & relaxing retirement.

Best Wishes,
Hippy.

[Wee Jock]

I used to work diagonally opposite you in TC, Bren, and on our very first morning in TC there was a go-around complete with warbling alarm.

'What's that racket on the Stansted suite?' said God (Ace).
'It'll be to warn them their plane's arrived..' said The Other God (Bren).

Pretty much set the tone for the next few years !

Best wishes to you and Ruth, Bren, you're a gent.

:cool: :cool: :cool:

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Very many thanks to A Watch, Heathrow Tower and V Watch, TC, for the quite amazing send-off for Ruth and me yesterday. That was an afternoon we shall never ever forget..

Somebody mentioned "Management" - apart from my Watch Manager, not a peep. Bizarre really.