Where Are They Now?Please feel free to post contact information here if you are looking for long lost friends or trying to find out what has happened to colleagues. Obituaries and condolences can be posted here too.
Deano , He now runs a small retail business in the US. He is aware of this thread as I mentioned it to him recently. Does anyone know what happened to the Navajo fleet? I can't remember all the names but Keith Battery rings a bell - what about the rest. TD will recall taxying the things from hanger 1 to the GAT from where they used to depart for BHX . EM
Does anyone of my advanced seniority (i.e. OLD) remember a lovely BCal lass by the name of Gilda Svelis (Not 100% sure of spelling - but I never slept with her, so I'm entitled to small errors!) Anyone in touch with her? Thanks Jonesy
Does anyone know the contact details of an even lovelier BCAL lass named Pat Piper...after BCAL Pat Piper worked for Avis. Pat Piper was also a DC3 stewardess in Bahamas Airways where this F/o fell for her.
hi iwas wondering did you know a pilot called john mcgurk who worked for bcal. i have been trying to find him. he came from ireland.i met him while flying for british midland a long time ago then went to live in the middle east and lost touch. cheers joanne ex cabin crew.
exelcior bar really was quite extrodinary for a hotel,but do i remember the same shirl' some of the bar staff had been there( and may still be);for years 2 irenes.and a fay probably nothing to do with it just to much nostalgia?
John spent a little time on 1-11s, didn't get a command, then went to the DC10, and spent a little time there. He soon left the employ of BCAL and went to Air Wales ? I believe. Lost track since then.
..........Yup.....I remember Gilda....statuesque, beautiful, glittering, and noisy. Gilda was Rio (GIG) based and well connected. At the time I knew her, it was probably early 1970's when the 707 had replaced (or supplemented?) the VC10 on the South American routes. One current route was London (LGW) Madrid, Casablanca, Buenos Aires, Santiago.....in addition to the Recife, Sao Paulo (VCP) Rio (GIG), and I remember that at some point, there was a meeting of heads of state from various countries in the Middle East, Gulf, and North Africa in Casablanca. Gilda's fame had spread somewhat, and Sheik Khalifa, the then main minister - not at that time the ruler - of Bahrain ( Sandhurst and Oxford, if memory serves) held a party to which all were all invited, and glittering Gilda was the star attraction. Caledonian, and other regular visitors were regularly entertained at K's beach pad during slip periods in Bahrain, and I dare say our Gilda had got a mention at some point. (Previous to Caledonian, up to mid 1960's, and on stops of anything up to a couple of weeks in Bahrain, an invite to Sheiky's beach palace was bliss, since there was rarely room at the Speedbird rest house or the RAF Britannia House, and only one "hotel" with dodgy plumbing and no air conditioning.) I have no idea whether Gilda's presence at Casablanca was a rostering coincidence or not.......anyway Gilda not easily forgotten. In addition to her bouncy visage and personality, she had a strong intelect. Together with one of BCal's Anglo Brazilian Rio based cabin crew - Heather - Scottish family but can't remember her second name - I believe they both later became Brazilian TV presenters, or similar.....Heather had a house in Botofogo. Gilda may have morphed into BCal as GIG based from BUA who had recently operated the route.....maybe somebody has a clearer recollection?......got to be a photograph somewhere...
Last edited by ONE GREEN AND HOPING; 31st May 2010 at 14:49.
Thanks for the link to the site, MERLINXX, but although had a brief trawl through the BUA and BCal aircrew sections, didn't spot Gilda.
Did you actually find a photo yourself?
Clicking on the picture menus didn't seem to enlarge the photographs enough to identify everybody easily. I wouldn't have recognised myself within a group shot, save the fact that my name was mentioned underneath alongside some others.......Maybe it's just that I've got a cheap computer or rubbish specs!
Pleased to hear that Naz is still alive and well. I was the 'other engineer' at SPL at the time of the 'merger' Anybody have a contact for NAZ? His son hasnt posted for 2 years. Maaurits Casteels is well and working for BA at Brussels.....anybody know where Terry Franks is?
I always had a terrible soft spot for Roma Haines.....where are you ROMA???
Oh stop it ! This is rivaling the Gulfair & Orion Threads ! Where are you BUA people ? Jess Edwards, Pat Barling, ALL of the BUA Traffic Dept including that Greek King lookalike & his fabbo wife, Gill, (was it?)
Well, I accompanied theCally move in (gosh) '65 from Horley to Crawley (Rock Barton, Selwyn Thomas). Ooooh, and, Ann Hurst.Er, AND, Pauline Kirkman......seem to remember the chicks more than the guys !
BUA fired my piloting ambitions but Cally gave me the real thrust through Maurice Lothian, Roy Hermes & Stew Calder. Moss from BUA, thanks guys: from you , I just completed 40 years in the industry as a Transport Pilot ! About to hang up me boots and, of course, writing the book. Mike Selmes, Derek Epps.you are there are.
Did time in BUA Traffic,Cally Rostering,Morton OPs, BUIA OPs , before heading to the cockpit where less damage could be incurred !
Special thanks to Marc Carpenter, Chris Scott & Chris Mills (still have your notes, guys) who made it all possible for me.
Fabbo thread, heading off into the cunim bar...cheers,
Maurice Lothian's son, Andrew, was a FO at GB Airways when I was there in Crewing. He went on to become, and still is, a 744 Cpt at Virgin. Keep in touch today via email.
