UK - Bailbrook House
Xmod; I was present at Glasgow one day when a certain person in his Ford Capri crossed the taxiway without seeing the taxying Chipmunk. I also remember your fridge full of tins of 'heavy'.
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I did the Procedural Aerodrome/Appch course at Bailbrook during the Spring of 1983, resided in the Shaftsbury hotel during the time. Was taught by Larry Lawrence (?), and Jack Sowertsby (sp) who always regaled us with his exploits with his "..flat chested, near sighted widow girlfriend." I believe both had served during the war, Larry as a pilot and Jack as a nav. The rest of the staff was a tall chap who taught Met and Tels named Richard, and the course director Alan (cant recall their surnames). Anyone know what might have become of these gents?
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Chevvron - re your post #16, I remember it well; t'was my course (21) and Mgt were not impressed with those large-scale resignations. Most of the guys involved claimed it was because they could not afford to live near LATCC. Many ended up in the Mid-East but several later came back to UK.
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I loved Bailbrook (jailbrook as we knew it)...food was good sometimes....then other times it looked like grilled sparrow!!!
I popped by on a recent visit to Bath to see it in all its glory as a hotel/conference centre!
Funny how we can't remember much about the radar theory lectures but sure remember the Norwegians sunbathing topless on the grass! Good excuse for study!!! And what about their washing days when they congregated in the corridor playing poker whilst ALL their clothes were being washed!!!!
I popped by on a recent visit to Bath to see it in all its glory as a hotel/conference centre!
Funny how we can't remember much about the radar theory lectures but sure remember the Norwegians sunbathing topless on the grass! Good excuse for study!!! And what about their washing days when they congregated in the corridor playing poker whilst ALL their clothes were being washed!!!!
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IAL and 21 course
Twas my course too...
Never regretted leaving, travelled the globe with IAL and others, including time at Bailbrook.
Can remember drinking in an Irish pub in Southall while at the IAL school there.
Never regretted leaving, travelled the globe with IAL and others, including time at Bailbrook.
Can remember drinking in an Irish pub in Southall while at the IAL school there.
did my ab initio course back in 1994 
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Ahhh, Chris Rundle. The Southampton Radar ATCO during the famous BAC 1-11 incident.
British Airways Flight 5390
British Airways Flight 5390
Tea Time at CATC
Those of us who are old enough can remember the "school" (pre-collage!) superintendent the Venerable R.F. Bulstrode, giving us the first ATC rule we were taught, "The Yellow Cups have no sugar"!
Mr Bulstrode never told my course that. A pity because it's an an excellent idea. I did learn later about standard NATO coffee. It appears from a Russian colleague that standard Warsaw Pact coffee was much the same!
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IAL
Hi, It is interesting seeing all the comments about IAL/Bailbrook as I have heard so much over the years from my dad, ex IAL, and his friends. Not sure if some of you were talking about Graham Duffin, ex IAL, who was based in Bahrein for some time as well? Married to Lynne? Sadly, if it is the same Graham, he passed away some years ago but Lynne is alive and well in the UK. Bob Allison, last I heard, is in South Africa. We have a website for expats and have hundreds of ex IAL staffers as members and hundreds of photos that a lot of you ex staffers may recognise. And maybe you can put some names to faces for us on some of the photos! We also have a large database of ex IAL and where they are now if anyone is interested. Message me or email me direct at [email protected]
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Bailbrook College
I was the first Genera Manager-Principal of Bailbrook College.
Bailbrook House was purchased by International Aeradio Ltd (IAL)
a subsidiary of British Airways in 1976/7and opened as a trainng facility
(The college was formally opened by Norman (now Lord) Tebbit when Minister for Civil Aviation)
for IAL and BA staff and overseas organisations.. Initially it provided training in radio engineering and meteorology. ATC training was moved in from Kidlington Airport, Oxford.Bailbrook College was the only private school
authourised by CAA to award ATC licences in the UK
English language training for foreign students was added later.
2,000,000 GBP was spent on refurbishment and a 120-bed dormitory and
recreation block was added.
The house was bult in 1790 by a surgeon employed in HM Overseas Colonial Service in Jamaica with an illegal appropriation of funds The building started life as a psychiatric nursing home with rich patients placed by their families
living upstairs with paupers chained in the cellars.
The college made a profit of 150,000 GBP in the third year of operation.
I left in 1981.
Squadron Leader Roy Handley RAF Ret'd
MBA, C.Eng, FIEE.
Bailbrook House was purchased by International Aeradio Ltd (IAL)
a subsidiary of British Airways in 1976/7and opened as a trainng facility
(The college was formally opened by Norman (now Lord) Tebbit when Minister for Civil Aviation)
for IAL and BA staff and overseas organisations.. Initially it provided training in radio engineering and meteorology. ATC training was moved in from Kidlington Airport, Oxford.Bailbrook College was the only private school
authourised by CAA to award ATC licences in the UK
English language training for foreign students was added later.
2,000,000 GBP was spent on refurbishment and a 120-bed dormitory and
recreation block was added.
The house was bult in 1790 by a surgeon employed in HM Overseas Colonial Service in Jamaica with an illegal appropriation of funds The building started life as a psychiatric nursing home with rich patients placed by their families
living upstairs with paupers chained in the cellars.
The college made a profit of 150,000 GBP in the third year of operation.
I left in 1981.
Squadron Leader Roy Handley RAF Ret'd
MBA, C.Eng, FIEE.
Last edited by benarth; 5th Jul 2016 at 12:11.
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"paupers chained in the cellars"
As an Instructor I remember the cellars, some simulators were down there. I seem to remember I was a pauper too.
I think there were chains but time distorts the memories.....
As an Instructor I remember the cellars, some simulators were down there. I seem to remember I was a pauper too.
I think there were chains but time distorts the memories.....
I did a few boards @ Bailbrook as a field member, around 1990 iirc, but then a new IAL bean counter decided that he wasn't going to pay my expenses & the CAA for an IAL ATCO to examine IAL staff on IAL premises so that was the end of that
:-(
Instructors I recall:
Mike Perry, who'd been my Chief Officer at Glasgow in the late 70's
Eric Wood, who'd been head Inspector @ Edinburgh & who had done my validation on Ninian Central in 1980
Martin Thomas, who'd been my 2nd SATCO on the Ninian
Dave Graves, the atc book author, who'd been what is now called an OJTI on my watch when I was an ATCA @ EGLL 1970-72
Dave Schofield, ex Manchester, who I knew from my time @ Liverpool ( can't remember when he started @ Bailbrook though)
It turned out to be quite a reunion for me - happy days :-)
:-(
Instructors I recall:
Mike Perry, who'd been my Chief Officer at Glasgow in the late 70's
Eric Wood, who'd been head Inspector @ Edinburgh & who had done my validation on Ninian Central in 1980
Martin Thomas, who'd been my 2nd SATCO on the Ninian
Dave Graves, the atc book author, who'd been what is now called an OJTI on my watch when I was an ATCA @ EGLL 1970-72
Dave Schofield, ex Manchester, who I knew from my time @ Liverpool ( can't remember when he started @ Bailbrook though)
It turned out to be quite a reunion for me - happy days :-)
Last edited by Eric T Cartman; 5th Jul 2016 at 08:26.
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I was the first General Manager-Principal of Bailbrook College - appointed in 1977.
Bailbrook House was purchased by International Aeradio Ltd (IAL) in1976/7
and after 2,000,000 GBP refurbishment commenced training with the provision of courses for IAL & BA staff and overseas organisations in avionics, meteorology and ATC ,with the movement of IAL ATC training from Kidlington Airport, Oxford. The college was formally opened by Norman (now Lord) Tebbitt - then Minister for Civil Aviation.
The college was the only private sector establishment authorised by CAA to issue ATC licenses.
English Language training was also introduced later. A 120-bed dormitory and
recreation area (bar!) was added. The college moved into a 150,000 GBP profit in 1980.
Bailbrook House was built in 1790 by a surgeon employed in HM Overseas Colonial Service with an illegal appropriation of funds. It started life as a psychiatric nursing home. Rich patients, placed by families, lived upstairs with paupers chained in its cellars.
I left in 1981.
Squadron Leader Roy Handley RAF Ret'd
MBA C.Eng FIEE
(Ex-55th Cranwell)
Bailbrook House was purchased by International Aeradio Ltd (IAL) in1976/7
and after 2,000,000 GBP refurbishment commenced training with the provision of courses for IAL & BA staff and overseas organisations in avionics, meteorology and ATC ,with the movement of IAL ATC training from Kidlington Airport, Oxford. The college was formally opened by Norman (now Lord) Tebbitt - then Minister for Civil Aviation.
The college was the only private sector establishment authorised by CAA to issue ATC licenses.
English Language training was also introduced later. A 120-bed dormitory and
recreation area (bar!) was added. The college moved into a 150,000 GBP profit in 1980.
Bailbrook House was built in 1790 by a surgeon employed in HM Overseas Colonial Service with an illegal appropriation of funds. It started life as a psychiatric nursing home. Rich patients, placed by families, lived upstairs with paupers chained in its cellars.
I left in 1981.
Squadron Leader Roy Handley RAF Ret'd
MBA C.Eng FIEE
(Ex-55th Cranwell)