Goodbye Heathrow Tower
Funny when we moved out of the old (1946) tower at Farnborough (which was it's fourth tower in MK2 form of c1957) I didn't feel any sadness even having worked there from March 1974 to Nov 2002. Mind you the tower obviously knew it was on its last legs; the heating had failed and numerous leaks had started in the weeks before the move.
I took many photos of it in the following months, unfortunately lost.
The 'demolishers' lopped off the VCR within 2 weeks to give the ILS the correct clearances then left it until spring before completing the job, taking down its predecessor of 1943 (N2 Building) at the same time.
I took many photos of it in the following months, unfortunately lost.
The 'demolishers' lopped off the VCR within 2 weeks to give the ILS the correct clearances then left it until spring before completing the job, taking down its predecessor of 1943 (N2 Building) at the same time.
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Doubtless the same sentiments were being expressed on PPRuNe in the 1950s, by those who used to work here:
Blimey, I remember that! I worked with Peter Berry at Scottish. Is he still around taking ATC photos? Is his collection available for viewing?
I've got some copies of his Farnborough stuff intended for his autobiography, but all early '50s until he was posted to Bedford.
Wasn't the Heathrow northside tower used by the police in latter years, or was it the Met Office?
Wasn't the Heathrow northside tower used by the police in latter years, or was it the Met Office?
Last edited by chevvron; 10th Jan 2013 at 11:13.
A sad picture indeed. I've never been up there (and now I never will) but commiserations to all who feel they have lost an old friend. I hope I never see the EGNM tower suffer this fate. It is nudging fifty years old however so maybe progress will to catch up with it...
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I had the privilege and pleasure to work with some great people and total nutters in that building for quite a few years. No matter what they put in it's place will ever come close.
If you don't recognise the past you ain't got any soul!
If you don't recognise the past you ain't got any soul!
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Mooncrest - when ah wer' a lad (I'm a Yorkshireman, but if you tell anyone I will not be appy, appen) I used to live in a caravan about 100 yards away from the tower towards the old (Avro?) factory. Dad was an instructor at YFS and later joined BKS. We got all posh then and moved into a real building, wiv a roof, an' running water, and everything.
Window job
Hear, Hear!
A privilege to have worked there; couldn't have believed when my brother and I went on his spotting trips to Heathrow (used to spend the morning doing my thing- bus and train spotting!!)in the late 50s that I would one day work there and even being allowed to run my own train set ie be supervisor.
Soaringhigh650
OK, come clean! The reason you are so anti-UK ATC must be because you got chopped from a cadet course or did you fail selection. Do let us know.
A privilege to have worked there; couldn't have believed when my brother and I went on his spotting trips to Heathrow (used to spend the morning doing my thing- bus and train spotting!!)in the late 50s that I would one day work there and even being allowed to run my own train set ie be supervisor.
Soaringhigh650
OK, come clean! The reason you are so anti-UK ATC must be because you got chopped from a cadet course or did you fail selection. Do let us know.
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The Airport Police Photographer was a customer of mine around 1970 as I was selling photgraphic materials at the time. I remember that he showed me some pics he took of a crash that ended up at the base of the Tower. At first he thought many people had died due to the carnage, but it turned out to be some racehorses that were being transported in (I think) an Elizabethan. Do I recall correctly?
Do I recall correctly?
Oh, and six people did in fact die, with many others on the ground injured.
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Originally Posted by Wycombe
the newer one is a distinct improvement
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I have registered today to shed a tear with those of us that worked there.
I understand those that say it was an eye sore - but it was OUR EYESORE.
This building gave me my first job after leaving school and I worked on the 5th, 3rd and 1st floors whilst I was there.
And most significantly - I met my husband over the table tennis table there some 30 years ago now.
Yes, its all about sentiment but a very very important part of my life.
Farewell Heathrow tower - sad to see you go!
I understand those that say it was an eye sore - but it was OUR EYESORE.
This building gave me my first job after leaving school and I worked on the 5th, 3rd and 1st floors whilst I was there.
And most significantly - I met my husband over the table tennis table there some 30 years ago now.
Yes, its all about sentiment but a very very important part of my life.
Farewell Heathrow tower - sad to see you go!
I think that the 'new' tower is absolutely vile - it looks like it was designed in a pub on the back of a beer mat without any thought at all. The cable supports look like an afterthought to stop it falling down and it looks very top heavy. And its location at the end of one of the T3 piers looks plain odd. They could have done a much better job of replacing the fine old building.. 