ATC History
JR tight fisted? Don't believe it, but then he never used the LATCC canteen. always bringing his own sandwiches and flask. The other 'D' men made sure he always did 'DO' on night shifts (in Mediatior stage 1/2) and Sector 20/23 in Stage 1 , so they didn't need to talk to him unless they had to (or maybe that was just to stop him doing radar which was done from Sopley up to about '74). A couple of years later, before we heard he'd been admitted to Frimley Park after a heart attack, I read an article in some magazine by him, telling how he'd moved into a house which had a telephone installed, but he didn't want a telephone and had a devil of a job getting BT to remove it, eventually cutting the wires and leaving it on his doorstep and telling them to collect it (must've phoned them from work)
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ATC History
Most of the posts here are from John's detractors and critics, may I be permitted to comment on another aspect of John Reynolds?
Cantakerous and obstinate,John may well have been, as were others of that time, but just remember that John had gained his pilot's wings with the R.A.F in WW2 ,and had flown on operations with Bomber Command. Something that many of his detractors did not do.This alone, should earn John some respect. Each year, on November11,John used to make a pilgrimage to the R.A.F.Memorial at Runnymede to lay a wreath in rememberance of a close friend, missing on operations and with no known grave. That was the other side of John Reynolds. I write this, not to defend John's obvious faults, but merely to add a little balance to this thread.
Sabredog
Cantakerous and obstinate,John may well have been, as were others of that time, but just remember that John had gained his pilot's wings with the R.A.F in WW2 ,and had flown on operations with Bomber Command. Something that many of his detractors did not do.This alone, should earn John some respect. Each year, on November11,John used to make a pilgrimage to the R.A.F.Memorial at Runnymede to lay a wreath in rememberance of a close friend, missing on operations and with no known grave. That was the other side of John Reynolds. I write this, not to defend John's obvious faults, but merely to add a little balance to this thread.
Sabredog
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Sabredog. I didn't know that about JR, however it was a past he undoubtedly shared with most of his generation. Very few of them ever talked about it . It was fascinating to listen in on some of the discussions during the quieter parts of night duties.
Arthur Bramhall was the ATCA 2 whose name I was trying to remember. He too had some fascinating recollections of WW2, in fact most of the D men on my watch did eg Des O'Connel (badly burnt face but I never found out how he did it).
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One of the senior controllers at Heathrow struck up conversation one day with a German lady on the admin staff. For some reason he asked what she did in the war - "I was in the Hitler Youth; what did you do?" "I flew Lancasters". I was told they never spoke again!!!
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Des O'Connell - ISTR that he flew Spitfires. I also STR that he had been a member of 'The Hamsters' - not the rather amazing rock group from Essex, but the plastic-surgery pioneer volunteers....
However, it was a long time ago, and my memory isn't what it used to....used to.... er....so if anyone can verify either of these facts, I'd be grateful.
However, it was a long time ago, and my memory isn't what it used to....used to.... er....so if anyone can verify either of these facts, I'd be grateful.
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Originally Posted by Minesthechevy
Des O'Connell - ISTR that he flew Spitfires. I also STR that he had been a member of 'The Hamsters' - not the rather amazing rock group from Essex, but the plastic-surgery pioneer volunteers....
However, it was a long time ago, and my memory isn't what it used to....used to.... er....so if anyone can verify either of these facts, I'd be grateful.
However, it was a long time ago, and my memory isn't what it used to....used to.... er....so if anyone can verify either of these facts, I'd be grateful.
...The Guinea Pig Club. Des was a Guinea Pig......I'm glad I don't have to write your ASRs any more....
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Des was an Observer/Navigator on Fairey Battles during the Battle of France, he then served on Whitley Bombers with 502 (Ulster)Sqdn.Whilst operating out of R.A.F. Limavady, Northern Island, his aircraft crashed into the Sperrin mountains. All survived, but Des received severe burns, thus becoming one of Archibald McIndoe's "Guinea Pigs".
Still very hail and hearty, I am glad to report.
Still very hail and hearty, I am glad to report.
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Ah yes, the wartime veterans.....most of us old gits will have had the pleasure of knowing some amazing characters.
Heathrow was full of interesting people when I was there as an ATCA...as was everywhere else I went on my cadetship.
Names like Paddy Haycock (EGLL), John Clark (EGPF) Peter Ward Hunt (EGVW).....there was an EFCA there called George, who had spent the war with the Norwegian whaling fleet in the South Atlantic....he taught me to swear in Norwegian I remember and nearly got me killed once when I was doing a runway inspection (bless him)
Heathrow was full of interesting people when I was there as an ATCA...as was everywhere else I went on my cadetship.
Names like Paddy Haycock (EGLL), John Clark (EGPF) Peter Ward Hunt (EGVW).....there was an EFCA there called George, who had spent the war with the Norwegian whaling fleet in the South Atlantic....he taught me to swear in Norwegian I remember and nearly got me killed once when I was doing a runway inspection (bless him)
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I'm happy to be corrected on both counts.....
TDM, I always knew when you'd written my ASR - there was a total absence of joined-up writing, or even english.....
2 minutes after I posted that, I realised where the confusion lay...
'The Hamsters' were the first group of UK heart transplant patients; they were given steroids, which caused them to have 'hamster cheeks'.
My SWMBO tells me the Guinea Pigs wre recently on a documentary, but she can't remember the details....
TDM, I always knew when you'd written my ASR - there was a total absence of joined-up writing, or even english.....
2 minutes after I posted that, I realised where the confusion lay...
'The Hamsters' were the first group of UK heart transplant patients; they were given steroids, which caused them to have 'hamster cheeks'.
My SWMBO tells me the Guinea Pigs wre recently on a documentary, but she can't remember the details....
' just 2 on the frequency he said', the first approaching CLN cruising at 210 and the other, Aeroflot in his VC10ski cleared to 290 just E of the Park. 'What did they ask you on the board?' says the Chief, Alan Fletcher, who was the watch Trg Officer. Chat chat chat,5 mins later,still all quiet - I look back at the radar and Aeroflot was just about to gobble up the slow Cessna (or similar, who I now noticed was doing only 190kts), at the same level. I just got away with it by the skin of my teeth! Boy did I learn a lot from that!
Years later in 94 we were just checking in to a quaint old hotel in Paphos village and the owner on noticing my occupation said 'do you know Mr Murphy?', he rang him up and 10 mins later Spud appeared and we had a beer.
Stewart(?)McIvor was on my watch,or should I say I was on his? He never used to address u/ts directly ie to the mentor 'tell him his board is next week'.After my TMA N board for some reason I started to wear a suit to work (yes really!) and in McIvor's eyes I could do no wrong. It was all over when I grew a beard.Years later when I was at LL I stopped off in Staines after a M duty to do some shopping, and bumped into Stu (long since retired) and he said 'you still need a bloody haircut!'.
My favourite old-timer of all time was the wonderful Norman Whitelock - what a star. We once had a C Watch cricket match between ATCAs and ATCOs at which Norman umpired - everyone had to take a turn at bowling and as I ran up to bowl my second ball all I could see was his shoulders going up and down as he wet himself at my bowling action.
There were some wonderful characters at LATCC in the 70s; Reg Prior, Woo, Dick Yeo, Pat Carroll, Gerry Davies(who was always winding McIvor up), Jock Moffat etc.
Years later in 94 we were just checking in to a quaint old hotel in Paphos village and the owner on noticing my occupation said 'do you know Mr Murphy?', he rang him up and 10 mins later Spud appeared and we had a beer.
Stewart(?)McIvor was on my watch,or should I say I was on his? He never used to address u/ts directly ie to the mentor 'tell him his board is next week'.After my TMA N board for some reason I started to wear a suit to work (yes really!) and in McIvor's eyes I could do no wrong. It was all over when I grew a beard.Years later when I was at LL I stopped off in Staines after a M duty to do some shopping, and bumped into Stu (long since retired) and he said 'you still need a bloody haircut!'.
My favourite old-timer of all time was the wonderful Norman Whitelock - what a star. We once had a C Watch cricket match between ATCAs and ATCOs at which Norman umpired - everyone had to take a turn at bowling and as I ran up to bowl my second ball all I could see was his shoulders going up and down as he wet himself at my bowling action.
There were some wonderful characters at LATCC in the 70s; Reg Prior, Woo, Dick Yeo, Pat Carroll, Gerry Davies(who was always winding McIvor up), Jock Moffat etc.
Attire
Me again! Bit late on this one I know, but was I the first to wear shorts to work at LL? Having started in Nov86 it was probably the following summer, and as I commuted from way west it was too hot to wear proper trousers on the drive up one day and on arrival I thought sod-it! I'm not in the military any more I'll wear what I like!. I did get a strange look from Derek Harriss along the lines of ex-navigators aren't what they used to be. Norrie Wales was almost apoplectic with rage!
I could never understand why some of the guys wore jackets and ties M-F and jeans and t shirt on the weekend. Who were they trying to impress? KCW,Doggett,Bush,Budgen etc? Gosh I bet I have nightmares tonight!
Brian W
I could never understand why some of the guys wore jackets and ties M-F and jeans and t shirt on the weekend. Who were they trying to impress? KCW,Doggett,Bush,Budgen etc? Gosh I bet I have nightmares tonight!
Brian W
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Norman Whitelock was my first Watch Supervisor at Heathrow. He was equallyat home doing Watch Sup or any ATCO or ATCA operational position - might be doing No.2 DIR one minute and next he'd be strip bashing in the tower to give some ATCA an EG.
When time came for my Approach Board the French and Spanish were on strike and there was very little traffic. Norman was an examiner too so he sent everyone away and it was just him on North APC and me on #1 DIR for an hour. That was my practical board!!
Brian.... I had no idea you came to LL from LATCC; I thought you came straight from Boscombe!! We could have exchanged a few stories about Spud.
Take care... Bren
When time came for my Approach Board the French and Spanish were on strike and there was very little traffic. Norman was an examiner too so he sent everyone away and it was just him on North APC and me on #1 DIR for an hour. That was my practical board!!
Brian.... I had no idea you came to LL from LATCC; I thought you came straight from Boscombe!! We could have exchanged a few stories about Spud.
Take care... Bren
My history
Bren, no I wasn't one of the 'Heathrow 10'.RAF 65-73,Herc Nav after training - (that's why IMC always hated me,I think he must have failed at Biggin or was it Hornchurch) - direct entry CAA Nov73,2 months at TK (we discussed Phil F and Mike East before - John Hamilton was there then too),BB for Twr validation,then Area - LATCC 74-80. App Proc Jun 80 then PO,App Radar Jan 83 then Boscombe. Then came the 84 Shift Pay Agreement followed by post/station grading (quite right too!) for pay, so at age 40 with an eye on my pension off to LL Nov 86.Brief flirtation with CCF Oct93 but straight back to the TWR..
We did move to France to celebrate my 60th in 2006,but this homesick man dragged his long-suffering wife back to Blighty in Feb to rented here in Mere - moving to near Ross on Wye next week.
Cheers Brian Wildey
We did move to France to celebrate my 60th in 2006,but this homesick man dragged his long-suffering wife back to Blighty in Feb to rented here in Mere - moving to near Ross on Wye next week.
Cheers Brian Wildey
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Brian 48nav are you any relation to Phil Wildey at IANS?
There were also a few at Scottish, Bunny Crane(?) who had flown Mosquitos and Jock Ellis who walked away from a Typhoon he'd landed in a sand dune in the middle of a dust storm
There were also a few at Scottish, Bunny Crane(?) who had flown Mosquitos and Jock Ellis who walked away from a Typhoon he'd landed in a sand dune in the middle of a dust storm
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Bunny Crane. L Crane. Good old boy. Never did know his Christian name. Did a touchwire evaluation on Apollo with him at EGPX in '67. His pipe filling fingertip didn't work on the wires until they gave him a Post Office finger-moistening sponge....
Hello BTW. Get your haircut, Mate. Have you and AW settled down anywhere yet....?
Hello BTW. Get your haircut, Mate. Have you and AW settled down anywhere yet....?
Metal Strip Holders!
I not only remember metal strip holders, but the delight when we found that the first rubber ( yes there was an era of rubber between metal and plastic!) holders made great windscreen deicers!
Metal strip holders were general when I joined as a cadet in 1963, but were gone from LATCC (the old Centre, Radar and procedural, North Side Heathrow,) when I got there in 1966
Metal strip holders were general when I joined as a cadet in 1963, but were gone from LATCC (the old Centre, Radar and procedural, North Side Heathrow,) when I got there in 1966
Hi Lon More
No, I checked that out when were at LATCC at the same time - he pronunces Wild--e,but for some reason my dad told us we were Wil - dees!
Hello Talkdown Man,my wife won't let me (cut my hair), I think it's the only thing she loves about me. At 64 still mainly brown and no bald patches (amazing for someone who is a born worrier!) not like my follicularly challenged 41 yr old son, mind you his testosterone has always been high!
I'm frantically reading all your posts to identify you - an ATCO wot does low level radar, flying instruction and knows my initials - must be the guy who started LL the same day as me,also ex-LATCC and R&D. MH?
Cheers BTW
Hello Talkdown Man,my wife won't let me (cut my hair), I think it's the only thing she loves about me. At 64 still mainly brown and no bald patches (amazing for someone who is a born worrier!) not like my follicularly challenged 41 yr old son, mind you his testosterone has always been high!
I'm frantically reading all your posts to identify you - an ATCO wot does low level radar, flying instruction and knows my initials - must be the guy who started LL the same day as me,also ex-LATCC and R&D. MH?
Cheers BTW