Originally Posted by
cj241101
Marconi had a number of factories in Essex, including Chelmsford, Basildon and Billericay, which probably explains G-APWY spending time at Southend, although its home base was always Luton. I don't believe McAlpine made much use of it after ownership passed to Marconi - it would disappear off to Southend, return a few days later then do the same again. Presumably McAlpine still provided crews and engineering at Luton.
The regular MacAlpine pilot for G-APWY was Ralph Mooring. Lovely bloke. One day as he was taxiing out we received a report from a disgruntled person he as going to take a pot shot at the next aircraft that took off. We told Ralph and he said he would do a short take-off, an immediate left turn and disappear to the south at low level. Another voice on the RT said 'Bye Ralph' . . . . Can't imagine that happening like that these days!