Why Barnsley?

[knobbygb]

OK, so I must be really bored, but...

Where do the ASR's get their names - particularly Barnsley?

I can understard Chatham, Cotswold, Portland, Holyhead, Yarmouth etc. - all prominent or well-known places in their relevant regions, but Barnsley? What's that got to do with aviation or meteorology? Am I missing somthing - was it once a centre of excellence for weather reporting? All I know Barnsley for is it's (lack of) coal mines and a third-rate football club.

Seriously, where do the names come from?

[topcat450]

I beleive it was in 1973 that the regions were named. It came about after a 6 month consultation with various bodies and authorities. It just so happens than in 1973 a local prominant councillor was also studying for his PPL and heard about the discussions while at Leeds Flying School. He was responsible for the Borough of Barnsley and ironically enough his name was also BOB.

Anyway, Bob fought long and hard with the CAA to enable the the region to be named after his borough, rather than York which I beleive was the prefered name. No-one really knows how Bob managed it, but rumour has it that he bribed someone in a position of influence to force Barnsley through via any means possible, and the rumour goes that it was simply a form on which the name York was hand-crossed out and replaced with Barnsley whilst on the way to the printers. Before the CAA realised, there had been thousands of charts and maps and documents produced quoting Barnsley and by which point they decided to leave it as was rather than rock the boat and re-open the consultation. Although if I remember correctly Lord Harvey was reprimanded over the mix-up and hasn't over-seen a CAA consultation paper since.

Hope it helps

TC

[Northern Highflyer]

Knobby

Check your PM's

[topcat450]

OK OK, I admit it...I was as bored as Knobby when I made up the answer. :O

[knobbygb]

I actually believed you! :oh: You shouldn't have come clean - Northern Highflyer wasn't grassing you up - it was about somthing else.

[FNG]

May I simply observe that I believe this to be unquestionably the finest question to be asked on pprune in the last decade.

ps: Topcat's answer is at least in the running for finest answer.

[long final]

Second that. Believed every word of it. Well done.

LF

[ratsarrse]

Very convincing. 9/10 I'd say.:D

[Ronbmy]

ratsarsse

Was that 9 crossed out and 10 written in on the way to the forum?

Brilliant answer.

[topcat450]

Sugar...I thought I'd been sussed....

Watch out for the next answers I give:E I'll know not to confess too quickly.

[Capt BK]

Had me fooled:( :(

[topcat450]

What can I say, I learnt everything I know from Baghdad Bob :)

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

It was a mistake - a CAA cock-up. It should have been 'Barnoldswick' because of the RR factory (as in Rolls Barnoldswick, the RB of RB211 fame).

The CAA got it as 'Barnsley' by mistake (maybe they are Parky fans??.

SSD

[knobbygb]

Hmm... Can SSD be believed? Would make sense, but I'm not convinced after being caught out once already.

[long final]

SSD, a lot of my regulars from Barlick make the bits for said RB211 and assorted assemblies. I see them on a Sunday night after a full weekend.

It worries me.

A lot.

:suspect: ;) :suspect:

LF

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Hmm... Can SSD be believed? Would make sense, but I'm not convinced after being caught out once already.

:ok: :ok: :ok: :ok:

Wise man, Knobby :cool:

SSD

[Keygrip]

Remember that the deal with Regional Pressure Settings is to give the lowest forecast QNH for the area...

I just asked this question of the CAA - and their (tongue in cheek) reply was that "the lowest forecast QNH, for that area, must be at the bottom of a coalmine"

I don't have a UK chart to hand anymore but - is Barnoldswick actually in the Barnsley Altimeter Setting Region?

[Sir George Cayley]

Don't know why Barnsley was choosen but looking on the map my best suggestion is that it's at the C of G of the region?

SSD Appropos to Barnoldswick don't let the good folk of that town hoodwink you that the B in RB211 refers to them

It actually commemorates Bristol as Rolls Royce bought out Bristol Sidderley and their then Vice Chairman was an ex Bristols man

Sir George Cayley

The air is a navigable ocean that laps at everyone door

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Ok, ok my post was a wind-up (but you knew that, didn't you??)

However, Sir G, I do have it on very good authority from within RR that the 'B' in RB211 is indeed Barnoldswick (this is no wind-up - I meet senior RR folk professionally who've confirmed it).

SSD

[long final]

Sir George Cayley

The bulk of the development of the RB211 was done at Barnoldswick and the name does originate from the town.

:p

LF

[QNH 1013]

Keygrip, Sounds like your CAA contact doesn't understand the concept of QNH at all.