This was my fathers favourite aeroplane. He managed as a passenger to travel at least once in all the BEA machines, and clocked up 71 Vanguard flights in around a 6-7 years period. These flights were mainly LHR-MAN-LHR and LHR-GLA-LHR, but also managed to include DUB, BRU, EDI and LPL.
Apparently the thing to do when boarding was to head for the rear stairs and turn a sharp right on entering as this was where the 2 config aircraft had the 'F' class seats. He has always been very complimentary about the ride and noise levels and preferred it to the BAC 1-11 srs 510 that replaced them with BEA.
Whilst working at LGW I met a Captain who as a claim to fame had managed to break all 4 Tyne engines on an Air Bridge Merchantman. I'm sure he said he'd melted them, but it was long ago so that might not be an accurate memory.