They were common at EGCC in the '60s. I well remember their twin Avons rattling the peace of the Bollin Valley woods as they blasted Paris-wards off 24.
One day, passing the 06 threshold in the school bus (the Wilmslow road crossed close to the western end of 24 in those pre-tunnel days, with gates closed to road traffic for 06 arrivals) we saw a Caravelle had run off the end of the runway and was axle-deep in the mud. I seem to recall it took some time to move.
As an aside I saw my first VC10 from that bus, a diversion from Heathrow (East African I think) landing on 06 as we waited at the gates.