Bristow Photos
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Heart of England
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I would also like to thank Dave Ed for all his hard work in putting these photos online. I have been dipping in every now and then and been delighted with the content and the running commentaries. I had occasion to visit the old base in Redhill a couple of weeks ago and was saddened to see how our once shiny new building looks a bit tatty and crumbling at the edges. A bit like me I suppose. Cierva Rotorcraft taken over by BIH!! Hangar six filled by EBG. No Tiger club, No Heliclub.Wouldn't have happened in my day etc..I had the honour to be working in Redhill from 1973 to 1978 or thereabouts so I remember helping to build the S58ETs and the Ghana Wessae. I was also on the crew that rebuilt the burnt out 212 that fell off it's trolley in the North sea. PRAKLA, changing the hoses on Douglas Baders aircraft, I have so many wonderful memories and worked, drank and learned from so many truly great men and women. I salute you all. We were really something, weren't we?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Merriott, Somerset, UK
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I agree completely about Redhill not being the place it was, there is an old saying, you should never go back to a place that you have once enjoyed.
The Tiger Club and Bristows made Redhill what it was.
Tony
The Tiger Club and Bristows made Redhill what it was.
Tony
Tacho Genny; I have been putting them up on my own page on Facebook. I tried putting some here on PPRuNe, but couldn't get the links to work. I have a lot of pictures... 
I will try the Facebook links and see if they come up. Also do have pictures of a few other Fixed Wing machines at Bristow - I flew in from Gatwick with Harry Spriggs in the Islander when it returned from Zaire or wherever it came from.
Also at Redhill the same time as you, Helilife - worked on may of those same projects as well.
I will try the Facebook links and see if they come up. Also do have pictures of a few other Fixed Wing machines at Bristow - I flew in from Gatwick with Harry Spriggs in the Islander when it returned from Zaire or wherever it came from.
Also at Redhill the same time as you, Helilife - worked on may of those same projects as well.
Last edited by Phil Kemp; 8th May 2014 at 14:52.
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I was there too, yes, we were something then, weren't we?
I remember the 7 S58s being converted in Hangar 5 and AZDC and the trenches (earlier in the thread). I remember the tea room in H5, old George Tippit's green Skoda and Sid who used to empty the rubbish. Then in the new main hangar, there was old Maurice Reed in the stores, his expletives out did most. He was an ex boxer and groundsman for the Orient Football Club. You were in trouble if you didn't have a Part Number! Those old guys were characters.
I remember the 7 S58s being converted in Hangar 5 and AZDC and the trenches (earlier in the thread). I remember the tea room in H5, old George Tippit's green Skoda and Sid who used to empty the rubbish. Then in the new main hangar, there was old Maurice Reed in the stores, his expletives out did most. He was an ex boxer and groundsman for the Orient Football Club. You were in trouble if you didn't have a Part Number! Those old guys were characters.
Last edited by terminus mos; 6th May 2014 at 11:37.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sussex UK
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Yup, I remember those days when the H34's flew in for the conversion program, spent a long while working on the 58 Program.The trench digging for the S61's so they could get out of the hangar. Sid Coomber was the labourers name - he was always full of expletives! Ernie Patrick was the hangar foreman and Phil Charman took over from him ... or was it the other way round?I also spent time on the Whilwind Tail Booms with Deafy Ward and a few others.
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Some sad news - Dave Ware the Sprayer died yesterday morning of Pneumonia following contracting COPD. I worked with Dave for many years and have fond memories of those times.If anyone wants further details on his funeral arrangements etc please call Shaun Ware on 07846294946
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Warwick, Warwickshire
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Pictures of G-APWN
The images of 'PWN have been of particular interest, having been responsible for acquiring the aircraft from Cranfield for the Midland Air Museum. However, pictures of it in Nigerian markings as 5N-AGI and Bermudan marks as VR-BER have proved much harder to come by.
Any offers would be very gratefully received and help to compliment what we already know of the aircraft's history from 1959 to 1981.
John Berkeley OBE
Chairman, Midland Air Museum 1972-93
Any offers would be very gratefully received and help to compliment what we already know of the aircraft's history from 1959 to 1981.
John Berkeley OBE
Chairman, Midland Air Museum 1972-93
Join Date: May 2007
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I worked with Dave Ware in the packing department at Bristows, circa 1961, during my school holidays.
Great guy, we had a few laughs delivering boxes for export in the old blue WWII Bedford truck.
Rest in Peace my old friend.
Tony
Great guy, we had a few laughs delivering boxes for export in the old blue WWII Bedford truck.
Rest in Peace my old friend.
Tony
Sorry to hear about Dave. The paint shop in Redhill churned out an amazing number of aircraft, always under extremely short timelines and working around the other maintenance activities that were being accomplished at the same time. Good bunch of guys that worked in there.
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Redhill was always a joy to visit....a cheap lunch in the Chow Hall...and Pints with the Lads and Lassie's at the Club! The best thing was seeing folks from all over the World who were passing through, on courses, or who lived in the area.
Condolences to Shaun and his family over the loss of Dave. As you can tell.....Dave was a very respected fellow.
Condolences to Shaun and his family over the loss of Dave. As you can tell.....Dave was a very respected fellow.
Join Date: Feb 2013
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RIP Dave
I was very sad to read that Dave has passed on, so many of the blokes I worked with at Redhill and indeed around the world are no longer with us, a reminder of our own mortality I suppose.
My condolences to his family and friends.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Dave Ware
Yes. too many have passed on but we can't do much about it but have happy memories of those long ago days before we moved into the 'new building'!
Was it Dave Ware who painted aircraft names on S58Ts and others? I remember Castor and Pollux but I think it may have been Dave who didn't know how to spell Pollux - with the obvious result !! "Well how was I to know……?!"
Was it Dave Ware who painted aircraft names on S58Ts and others? I remember Castor and Pollux but I think it may have been Dave who didn't know how to spell Pollux - with the obvious result !! "Well how was I to know……?!"
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Ernie Perrin
One of the photos of the group in the boardroom shows Ernie Perrin on the right. Sadly Ernie died in a gliding accident on 19th June 2014 at North Field in Devon where he was a popular instructor. Happy memories of an always smiling Ernie in Iran in the '70's!
Yes, it is Joe Balint, also on the right. This was probably a meeting called by AEB of all Area Managers and important overseas people about 1977. It was such a good meeting that there was going to be a repeat every year for ever - but in fact it was the last one!!
Yes, it is Joe Balint, also on the right. This was probably a meeting called by AEB of all Area Managers and important overseas people about 1977. It was such a good meeting that there was going to be a repeat every year for ever - but in fact it was the last one!!