Oldest ATCO in Scotland

[Eric T Cartman]

Some recent mild ribbing from colleagues on Facebook has prompted me to ask -
Are there any ATCO's in Scotland born before 12 April 1948 still controlling, & if so, where ?
:O

[mad_jock]

There is a right auld grandad type bloke working in prestwick tower who looks older than that.

[Eric T Cartman]

Aye, & that old geezer has friends in low places, you cheeky rascal ! Basic Service only for you now ! ;) ;)

[10W]

I think I know him, Mad Jock. He writes flight details on a slate and sends morse code when communicating with pilots. He uses the radar to microwave his soup, can't take solids without his teeth in I think ;)

[Eric T Cartman]

Be afraid 10W, be very afraid - you may be a moderator, but remember.. I know where you live ! :cool: :p

[fisbangwollop]

I too was told there was some old coffin dodger at Prestwick....then one day I had the delight to meet him and for someone so old he is a real nice guy. How many days to go now Eric? :cool::cool::cool:

[Eric T Cartman]

You're too kind fis :O As they used to say on 'Chewing The Fat', "We're only here for the banter" :E :E
183 days to go :ok:

[10W]

Can't think of anyone over 60 still working at Prestwick Centre.

[Eric T Cartman]

Yep, that was the view on Saturday night too, now that JR has handed in his hat :hmm:

[mad_jock]

Well there might be a couple older who no longer work in scotland but home is there and work as a contractor in other places.

I know of a couple of the old procedural tower guys travel about doing training and the like in warm bits of the world. And I think there an older sounding scottish bloke on Bahrain.

[west lakes]

One wonders if the ATCO being referred to is the one that is "addicted" to Kendal Mint Cake?

p.s. send money when you want another clandestine shipment or an aircraft to a certain North Lakes airfield (not Carlisle)

[mad_jock]

Fred Wedlock -- The Oldest Swinger In Town (Studio with Legs & Co, TOTP) - YouTube

Right I would suggest that nobody else googles "oldest swinger in town" videos with the family settings off its :mad:ing grim

[Talkdownman]

I know of a couple of the old procedural tower guys travel about doing training and the like in warm bits of the world. And I think there an older sounding scottish bloke on Bahrain
If we are thread-drifting outside Jockland my SATCO is aged 79, APS-valid...and capable...

[Eric T Cartman]

I think following a reference to the oldest swinger in town with the word 'capable' , without qualifying it, could be open to misinterpretation, this being Pprune ! ;-)

[nats]

Oceanic have an old and bold controller >60, keen golfer.

[Lon More]

now that JR has handed in his hat

Had me worried there; I thought that might be John Reynolds from LATCC; him on the NSU Quickly. :eek:

[mad_jock]

So that would make him a over 60 capable swinger then nats?

[Eric T Cartman]

@ Lon
Same name , different guy - this one ex EGLL, Manch & ScATCC - oh & when I said 'handed in his hat', I meant he retired not shuffled off to the big centre in the sky ! :)
@nats
old and bold controller >60, keen golfer
IIRC that was a qualification for the Ocean in the 70's wasn't it ? ;)

[fisbangwollop]

Oceanic have an old and bold controller >60, keen golfer.

Not only that but still a keen spotter....no hope for him I am afraid :cool:

[Lon More]

Speaking of nightmares:E has JC (aka the Euronator) gone?

[Lon More]

Give my regards to Gordon McKenzie. I thought he'd retired a while ago but just heard he's still in harness.

[Big-G]

Shhh Lon, I`m under ATCO Protection and can`t reveal my whereabouts !!!

[Lon More]

I was talking to RGM last night and your name came up. . I didn't think you were the golfer.

[Big-G]

Hi Lon, quite right, I`m not the golfer but he was on the same initial ATCA course so like me has been in a long,long time.

[Lon More]

We've all come a long way from Queen's Terrace.

[Talkdownman]

We've all come a long way from Queen's Terrace
AAAAAGH!! Queens Terrace!! Pink nylon sheets!!
Those were the days, '67/'68 ! You'll be talking about Ardayre House next....
Yup, we've all come a long way from Queen's Terrace!!

[Lon More]

:oh:Ardayre House, where the rats wiped ther feet on the way out.

[eastern wiseguy]

Maybe Lon...but we had crackin' parties!;)

[Lon More]

Yeah, especially when we got into the loft above the bathroom in the girl's flat. :ooh:

[Talkdownman]

Useful orifice, that...Yup, crackin' parties. Chased the rats out with a frying pan....I lived in Flat 2 for a year. Don't tell me you slept in those iron bunk bedsteads too...Drew's 'Heavy' was one and a penny a pint in The Links...then staggering in to Redbrae for a second half on the Ocean for the eastbound flow...Happy Days...

[Big-G]

Nostalgia ain`t what it used to be !! As Olazabal said "All men die, but not all men live", that was Ardayre House parties.

[Talkdownman]

I felt like death for most of 1967.....

[mad_jock]

Just got visions now of a load of blokes in dodgy shirts and even dodgier trousers and hair styles spreading the love like rabbits.

[Talkdownman]

Very perceptive... ;)

[mad_jock]

From the state you see some of the current students going through bournmouth not alot has changed to be honest.

Last time I saw a group of them out one lad took on one of the locals which he was completely unlicensed to tamper with.

You would have needed an engineering license or a widebody type rating just to taxi it past the kebab shop on the way home never mind shoot an approach when you got to destination.

[Lon More]

Had a great time when I was at Sopley as an ATCA. Had a part time job driving for Schweppes. Used to get into a load of places full of nubile young language students for free in exchangs for a few extras on their order (we carried 5% extra to cover breakages. I was very careful) From the last time I was there it looks like it's a different sort of Coke being pushed now. :ugh:

[mad_jock]

Well from the pics on fb that's the 183 days up.

Have a good one, even though you did try and insert a Polar cargo up my jacksee while doing circuits in G-ATOM while I was a PPL. :ok:

[Eric T Cartman]

Thanks MJ - correct - last ever shift done & dusted ! :D
Hope I didn't scare you too much with the 747 (G-OM is still at it btw) :)

[mad_jock]

Nah it was more than likely do able but I was a big girls blouse.

I think you had a 767 and A320, me and something else in the circuit and fitted the Polar in between the lot of us. Didn't have to orbit once either.

[Eric T Cartman]

:ok: That would have been a while ago then, after I'd had a brave pill - I wouldn't try that sort of thing these days ! ;-) :cool:

[mad_jock]

Master at work, as I realised later on in my career.

[Fly Through]

All the best, mate. Your Firemans salute was very impressive!

[Take up the Hold]

Enjoy your retirement. I must think about it one day.

TUTH

[Eric T Cartman]

Thanks guys - I only stopped 14 hours ago & I'm already enjoying it ! ;)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Good luck mate. Did you really wait til 65?

[Aksai Oiler]

I seemed to think my brother was the oldest ATCO in Atlantic House ? He is a grey haired English :} whom lives in Ba;)ssie

[gooneydog]

Congrats Eric I think I have just retired also in the last few weeks

Rob

[Lon More]

Thanks guys - I only stopped 14 hours ago & I'm already enjoying it !

eight years into mine. The going's great

[Eric T Cartman]

@ HD
I did Bren, though it was not altogether my choice. When I started @ PK, the retirement age was 60, then 63 under Stagecoach & finally 65 with
Infratil (of course, @ 65 legislation makes it voluntary now)

@gooneydog
Does that mean you'll be returning to Scotland for good, Rob ?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

OK Eric. Well, enjoy yourself and many years of good health...

[10W]

Lifted from JetBlast

With a successful night shift (spent asleep on the rest room floor) completed, his last aircraft controlled (Ryanair to Dublin, quelle surprise !!), and a little farewell surprise from pilot, ATC, Airfield Ops, and the Airport Fire Service friends and colleagues, our esteemed PPRuNer, Eric T Cartman has hung up his headset and joined the ranks of the retired.

On leaving the building, he was forced in to a seaplane and taken for a quick spin over his home before returning to a salute from the firemen.

Please join me in wishing him a long, happy, and healthy retirement. Please also join me in wishing Cleo good luck as he'll no doubt be in the way and causing her OAP traumas from now on :p

Sincere good wishes to a true gentleman !!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/295844_10151314569141901_1494209337_n.jpg

Not plugged in, cup of tea in hand. There's some things ETC won't need to change much in his retirement !!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/541640_10151314569696901_1269462658_n.jpg

Did someone order a taxi for a Mr ETC ?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/541648_10151314570366901_742310977_n.jpg

But where's the First Class cabin ?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/165424_10151314601911901_1760341668_n.jpg

Showers forecast in the vicinty !!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/922703_10151314571286901_534515789_n.jpg

Only ducks would fly in such heavy rain !!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Wow.. You did him proud guys.

[mad_jock]

Two ATCO's in the front of an aircraft and there wasn't even a MOR filed.

[Bring back Tridents]

Having worked opposite him at Glasgow International, it's very strange not talking to him when we phone Prestwick! Sorry I can't be at the retirement bash in the Parkstone. :sad:

[Eric T Cartman]

A massive thanks to everyone who turned up for my retirement bash last night and for the gifts received. It was great meeting up with friends, old & new - not just ATC, but pilots, engineers, admin & ops too.
I know it wasn't the most convenient date for a lot of folk but by my reckoning there were 68 guests - brilliant ! - a night to remember. :-)

[fisbangwollop]

A great night enjoyed by many, enjoy your retirement.....missing your dulcet tones already over the road. :cool: