Boxkite,
You are quite right about the pubs in Colnbrook a tinny pace whose transport lin ks went back to the days of stage coaches with as you say some old and nice pubs. The ostrich i remember well and it was (is) truly a very very ancient place with all sorts of mythology about it. The White Hart is in Longford thus protected a bit from traffic (on the ground) and has special memories as it was the first date for me and the wife to be , 42 years ago!
Back on track you could set your watch by the Kar-Air DC 6 the last regular piston prop at LHR by many years. It operated most days as I recall and I think had a swing tail. Bit more variety at LHR back in the day.