Late 1940s my grandfather was the contracting quantity surveyor for the construction of LHR. On Saturdays when I wasn’t at boarding school we would drive from Putney to the South side buildings where his office was in a portable, but comfortable with a big desk and a leather sofa. I would sit for half an hour or so while he made phone calls and then we’d go over to the other side for lunch in the restaurant, which was in a Nissen hut. They had an hors d’oeuvre trolley, all rotating chrome and white dishes which you could choose from, then breaded plaice, chips and peas because I was too nervous to choose anything more interesting.
Had my sixth or seventh birthday party in that restaurant with a tour of the Comet and a huge bonfire afterwards down near the end of the airport. (Couldn’t do a lot of things these days!)
He used to organise Cricket matches on the airport, builders vs news people (there was a news agency on the airport) or administrators.