Goodbye Heathrow Tower
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Sad to see the old tower go. Had lots of fun there in the 1980's when I was a young man, with HD (BMc), AC and others. LATCC gone too now! Look forward to seeing pictures of Swanwick being demolished though, preferably before I start pushing up diasies!
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Its worth living forever to see Swanwick being demolished.
Dreadful soulless place where the Fun Police rule.
I was once with a colleague who got told off for laughing in the Swanwick canteen.
Dreadful soulless place where the Fun Police rule.
I was once with a colleague who got told off for laughing in the Swanwick canteen.
Last edited by DC10RealMan; 14th Jan 2013 at 20:40.
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2Sheds.
Nothing to tell.
A group of us just got told off for laughing in the staff canteen.
I always remember a friend who worked for BA came to Swanwick for a visit and described it as "Waterside by the Solent" as he found it very similar to the dispiriting BA headquarters.
Somehow I couldn't imagine getting told off for laughing in the old days at LHR.
Nothing to tell.
A group of us just got told off for laughing in the staff canteen.
I always remember a friend who worked for BA came to Swanwick for a visit and described it as "Waterside by the Solent" as he found it very similar to the dispiriting BA headquarters.
Somehow I couldn't imagine getting told off for laughing in the old days at LHR.
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Swanwick became a much more vibrant place around November 2007 
I couldn't imagine getting told of for laughing at Swanwick nowadays. A polite foxtrot oscar would probably be forthcoming.
I couldn't imagine getting told of for laughing at Swanwick nowadays. A polite foxtrot oscar would probably be forthcoming.
Last edited by Ninja Controller; 14th Jan 2013 at 22:56.
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Pitty the tower at LHR wasn't listed but English Heritage have their views on what's important. We're trying to get the few remainng cold war missile silos listed (for example at RAF Molesworth) but not sure they are interested.
Trellick Tower = because folks pay to live there, and it gave the luvvies of Notting Hill something to adore (not much else).
An imaginative architect could have preserved the LHR Tower by building around it as a historical centrepiece (similar to British Museum) with the building they wish to put there, but money (& Spanish win).
An imaginative architect could have preserved the LHR Tower by building around it as a historical centrepiece (similar to British Museum) with the building they wish to put there, but money (& Spanish win).
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Trinity 09L : not just CTBs, not just UK. Our local (french) hospice got a quadzillion euros to rebuild, so they totally destroy the beautiful 100+ yo building to make way for a euronowhere bland piece of modern tat. They could have preserved the facade and modernised behind it, but no - just more crap to look at.
The really disturbing thing is that some old guy who hasn't yet been born is going to be saying the exact same thing about the 2012 version one day.......
The really disturbing thing is that some old guy who hasn't yet been born is going to be saying the exact same thing about the 2012 version one day.......
Join Date: Nov 2010
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I loved the old tower; it had real character - by comparison, the new one is just a hastily-contrived, poorly designed tinpot stick of $hite.
and in the old tower it was amazing what could be heard through the partition walls of the dormitory .....
(and we won't mention the night shift ''shenanigans'' which occurred in the snooker room!)
haha! happy days!
and in the old tower it was amazing what could be heard through the partition walls of the dormitory .....
(and we won't mention the night shift ''shenanigans'' which occurred in the snooker room!)
haha! happy days!
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
I recall visiting the old tower with BRL and a few other forumites 7 or 8 years ago, which was a great privilege and for which many thanks to those who arranged it.
That was a good day.
It is always a bit sad to see a structure being demolished that has good associations.
I also visited LATCC at West Drayton (also now gone). Gosh, I'm beginning to see a pattern - you'd better not invite me to the new tower...
SD
That was a good day.
It is always a bit sad to see a structure being demolished that has good associations.
I also visited LATCC at West Drayton (also now gone). Gosh, I'm beginning to see a pattern - you'd better not invite me to the new tower...
SD
More than just an ATCO
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We're trying to get the few remainng cold war missile silos listed (for example at RAF Molesworth) but not sure they are interested.
I opened a bottle of 40 year old malt when I read that HMP West Drayton was to be leveled to the ground.
Most of the places I have worked have either been demolished (Southern ATCC, Preston ATCC, Sc ATCC Redbrae, LATCC West Drayton, Heathrow CTB, Stansted 1st Tower, Gatwick GMC, Farnborough N1 Tower, Blackbushe 'temp' tower) or remain defunct or derelict (Gatwick 1st Tower, Northern Radar Lindholme, School of ATC).
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Unbelievable apathy wrt 'recent' history abounds in the UK.
When I was a Greenham Common Commissioner after the site was returned to 'public' ownership I tried to get TPTB to look at the preservation of the CTB and its conversion to a small aviation museum. Funds would not have been a problem, given the number of US personnel that must have passed through its doors.
But oh, no, the local residents increasingly saw it as their own private playpark, and I remember the Commission meetings usually dissolved into a NIMBY yah-boo session worthy of PMQs...
When I was a Greenham Common Commissioner after the site was returned to 'public' ownership I tried to get TPTB to look at the preservation of the CTB and its conversion to a small aviation museum. Funds would not have been a problem, given the number of US personnel that must have passed through its doors.
But oh, no, the local residents increasingly saw it as their own private playpark, and I remember the Commission meetings usually dissolved into a NIMBY yah-boo session worthy of PMQs...
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Worked there from 1986 to 2010, always knew it was to be demolished by BAA after we moved over to the abomination at the end of Pier 7 but it still came as a bit of a shock when I saw the photos in the press last week. Many happy memories of working there and the characters. When the outfield was relaid at Lords I bought a square of the turf and it became hallowed ground in my garden, I even took it with me when I relocated, wonder if I could have a brick as a memento ? ......................I'll get me coat 
More than just an ATCO
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Unhappy memories
Got on OK with most of the people, with a couple of exceptions