Retirement of Ranir Ben Bedi

[yellowgirl]

Hi guys.

I've been asked to pass on to the great and good of the ATC world and the pilots too, that Ranir 'Ben' Bedi is finally hanging up his headset in the not too dim and distant future after almost 50 years as an ATCO.

Many of you will know Ben from his long career in aviation and air traffic control, and his (my) current employer is arranging a farewell lunch and presentation for him on 26th July.

If any of you would like to be remembered to Ben during the farewell then please PM me; we would be honoured and grateful for anyone who knew him to be remembered in his farewell.

Thank you.

[055166k]

Who? Where? When? More detail [ANY detail] please. If we come do we get a drink? Do you mean 50 years controlling or something else?
Sincerely though....many congratulations....and respect.
Deeply envious of the farewell lunch and presentation.....our long servers just hand in their headset/pass/locker key and walk out of the door unnoticed by management.

[On the beach]

I worked briefly with "Ben" at Southampton in 1980/81 before he disappeared to Scatsta, I believe.

Have a great retirement, Ben.

[10 DME ARC]

We put the world to rights a few times on phone when I was at Sumburgh happy retirement Ben all the very best.
Glen

[ATC Watcher]

after almost 50 years as an ATCO.

Jeesus ! , how old you retire in your country?
He must not only deserve it, but is a blessing to the pension fund I guess..

[chevvron]

I was wondering about the 'nearly 50 years' too. I joined at the age of 20 and left at normal NATS retirement age of 60, thus doing just under 40 years, but 50 seems a bit excessive, although I could claim extra as I've been a FISO since I retired ie 44 years total now.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

How lomg was "Ash" at Sywell at ATCO? And my old chum Ted Winstone was still ATCOing into his 70s.

[chevvron]

Freddy Frost nearly 80! But Mr Bedi looked to be my age or younger when I met him at Southampton; that was about 1980 and he told me he was taking his approach radar exam the next week, so he can't have been in the job that long.

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by chevvron

Freddy Frost nearly 80!

80 last Feb. Still radar valid. Probably the oldest valid UK ATCO. He was an ATCO at EGHI in '57 so has clocked at least 56 years. This is only my 47th.

[Vulcan Lover]

Party Invite for Ben's Farewell

Hi 055166k. To answer your questions. His current employer is SafeSkys. The presentation will be in the tower at North Denes at 12:00 on Friday 26th July with drinks in the Imperial Hotel, Great Yarmouth at 13:00 on Friday (only for non-duty ATCOs !!). If you want to attend the drinks reception please pm ‘Yellowgirl’ and she will ensure that there is enough champagne for you. If you have any messages for Ben could you pm them to ‘Yellowgirl’ as your pprune identity will not mean anything to Ben when she passes on the messages . Thanks.

Friend of Ben

[Glamdring]

Never met him but spoke to him a few times on the phone. Happy retirement Ben

[Jester Wester]

I never met Ben, but I certainly remember him providing ATC at Southampton whilst 39 Cadet course took our PPL course.
Yes, the good old days when trainee ATCOs knew what it felt like to take your first solo flight. I distinctly remember flying downwind on my first solo, humming the theme tune to M.A.S.H. - It was only after Ben had cleared me to land that I realised the actual name of the theme tune was "Suicide is painless"!!
Happy Retirement Ben

[peeriebreeks]

Often spoke to Ben up in Unst, where he fitted in nicely
"too many chiefs and only 1 indian" he said.
Wish him all the best for his retirement

[NABLAG]

Met Ben in Weston, Ireland when he was Manager there, he took us on a tour of the operation. A gent.

Enjoy your well earned retirement Ben

[britkit]

Coverage of Ben's Retirement

Hi guys, thanks for the best wishes for Ben, they have been passed on.

Ben's retirement was quite a 'big day' with the local papers covering the event (not sure they got everything correct - as you'll know Ben made nothing of his being Indian or Sikh but the papers had a field day with this aspect

This is the coverage from the local paper:

UK?s only Sikh air traffic controller retires in Great Yarmouth - News - Great Yarmouth Mercury



and the Lord Mayor of Great Yarmouth coming in for it; this is the story from the Safeskys website:

News ¦¦ Safeskys - Leading from the ground up ¦¦ Air Traffic Control Services

[freeoldman]

yellowgirl

HI YELLOWGIRL, THANKS FOR MR. BEDI'S WORKING PERIOD!
SOME CORRECTION REQUIRED, MR. BEDI HAS BEEN WORKING SICE 1966 AND RETIRED IN 2013, THIS MAKES HIM TOTAL OF 47 YEARS OF AVIATION EXPRIENCE ETC.ETC
BUT OUT OF THAT MR. BEDI WORKED IN UK AS ATCO, SATCO,MATS & AIRPORT MANAGER IN THE UK FOR ONLY 37 YEARS. A HISTORY LESSON
REGARDS
FREEOLDMAN