London and Amsterdam ATC in the 70’s. Red One to London

[Dave Clarke Fife]

I’ve posted this in the History and Nostalgia section but just in case you don’t venture into there I’m posting here to show how ATC was back in the day. Clipped accents, jacket and tie (handkerchief in breast pocket for some) and 70’s casual sexism towards the female LHR approach controller (Beverley) from the television reporter. Having been into Swanick and a fair few VCR’s I found the radar sequences incredible with just a blip on an orange screen. Not a speed, height or callsign to be seen.
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[kcockayne]

Yes, that's the way it was .... & there were those who viewed Radar as the "Work of the Devil" ! I well remember the "Luvvies" making this film at LATCC.

[zed3]

LATCC were known on the European side of the game as the 'Inventors of ATC' in the 70's and 80's. Those were the days.

[chevvron]

Captain Welford used to say as he passed Abbeville inbound on Amber 2 'crossing the enemy coast; it's just like a return to sanity'.
Well that's what the late Len Vass told me anyway.

[Brian 48nav]

Well very interesting! What happened to all those 'posh' voices'? Did I drag it down when I joined in '73?

I recognise the first CLN ATCO as Keith Perkiss, second looks familiar didn't know his name. Was the TMA NE Bill Jellett, later in the office as Info' man or something?

At LL, it was way before my time, North seemed to be on the right of No2. When I arrived in '86 that would have been No1 S position. A very young Rod Metcalfe as No1 then I think No2 was Dennis Berryman who came to LATCC in the mid to late 70s. Paul Louden on GMC?

Interestingly lots of 'sloppy' RT considering we are looking at future Training Officer LATCC and LL LCE. 'Recleared', 'Call' oh dear!

What do you think Talkdown man?

Re sexism - a perfectly reasonable question from the TV man. When I arrived at LATCC in '74 out of some 350 plus ATCOs about only 8 or 9 were from the fairer sex - even when I went to LL in '86 there were only 4 ladies out of 75 plus ATCOs. Before I retired, on more than one occasion, I was the only bloke in the tower - one evening one Speedbird driver said you sound happy, I replied I'm the only guy working with four gorgeous ladies and they're taking me for a beer when when we're finished!

Happy days!

[chevvron]

One day when I was training at Glasgow, the ladies took over and only I and the supervisor, John Sellars, were the only blokes, so an inbound, having spoken to ladies on approach, radar, and tower, when another replied to him on GMC, the silence was deafening!
The assistants were both female too.

[Eric T Cartman]

@ chevvron
Well, it wouldn't have been JS plugged in during daylight hours anyway ! ;-) ;-)
[he was my WS for 4 years btw :-) ]

[NRU74]

[QUOTE Clipped accents, jacket and tie (handkerchief in breast pocket for some) [/QUOTE]

Isn’t the head honcho wearing a ‘made up’ bow tie ?

Bounder!

[Eric T Cartman]

Isn’t the head honcho wearing a ‘made up’ bow tie ?

Bounder!

Back to the days of Arnold Field & his real bow tie whilst driving his "post-vintage
thoroughbred" Bentley & Geoffrey Stallibrass with his flower buttonhole ! :-)

[Dan Dare]

Like “Lez's trousers” everything eventually comes back in to fashion. Gonzo does his bit for bringing back Sartorialism. Bow ties and button holes surely to follow shortly...

[Brian 48nav]

I never trusted ATCOs who wore bow ties- often full of themselves and no reason to be so! Only saying'.

[chevvron]

A certain CSC on 'D' Watch told me during tea break one day that he had just been 'pulled' by the WM for daring to take off his jacket to reveal he was wearing, wait for it, a SHORT SLEEVED shirt! He was wearing a tie too.
He was subsequently posted to Boscombe as SATCO where he made headlines in the staff newspaper by parachuting out of an Andover over Studland Bay (NB: This was a 'standard' part of the MOD[PE] Air Observer Course which all Boscombe controllers could do if they wanted to) leading to him being posted again.

[Lon More]

LATCC were known on the European side of the game as the 'Inventors of ATC' in the 70's and 80's. Those were the days.
I always thought it was " pieces at last"