Bristow Sumburgh - End Of An Era
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 161
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From: Shetland
Great Pics Plank Cap, would love to see these a bit bigger (800 pixels across the top max).
I can just picture all the Sumburgh "old boys" with their noses pressed against the computer screen trying to read the registrations
Not many now without the old spectacles in the top pocket
I can just picture all the Sumburgh "old boys" with their noses pressed against the computer screen trying to read the registrations
Not many now without the old spectacles in the top pocket
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22
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From: Pershore
Sad days indeed!
Worked in Ops with Ian Hooker (RIP) and an Australian lady in 1978, having come up from Teesside after working with the S58's on the Ekofisk. Noticed earlier post advising Garth Parfitt is no longer with us - can someone pm me details - I did some marvellous flying with him.
Other chaps I remember are Gordon Woods, Al Streeter, Roger Fisher, Graham Davies and old Tom(forgotten his second name), last 2 being Ops. I have a few pics of Sumburgh too - will post after I've scanned them.
Most memorable flight ever was flying through the valley on Hoy, then around the Old Man in SA330 G-BFNF on my delivery flight from ABZ to LSI!
Other chaps I remember are Gordon Woods, Al Streeter, Roger Fisher, Graham Davies and old Tom(forgotten his second name), last 2 being Ops. I have a few pics of Sumburgh too - will post after I've scanned them.
Most memorable flight ever was flying through the valley on Hoy, then around the Old Man in SA330 G-BFNF on my delivery flight from ABZ to LSI!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 2
From: PLANET ZOG
This really has brought back some memories, some sad, some happy.. some very happy.
There are just too many names and characters to go through, Engineering, Aircrew and Ops!! Lots of people no longer with us and RIP to them.
I thought Sumburgh would go on forever but it seems not.
uuoret... The aussie lady was big Steph and Tom was maybe Tom McCarthy, a real gentleman and also now no longer with us.
Harky... thanks for posting the pictures, it looks really sad in that hangar, just how did we get all those aircraft in?? I'll bet there are a few "ghosts" wandering around there and on their way up to the Club!
3D
There are just too many names and characters to go through, Engineering, Aircrew and Ops!! Lots of people no longer with us and RIP to them. I thought Sumburgh would go on forever but it seems not.
uuoret... The aussie lady was big Steph and Tom was maybe Tom McCarthy, a real gentleman and also now no longer with us.
Harky... thanks for posting the pictures, it looks really sad in that hangar, just how did we get all those aircraft in?? I'll bet there are a few "ghosts" wandering around there and on their way up to the Club!
3D
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 197
Likes: 17
From: Sussex, New Brunswick. Formerly Bowen Island B.C. Canada - one of the greatest places to live on Earth...
Never forget the Portapub! 
Now that was great fun at the tower as the Silver Wings club; then at the back of the British Airways hangar. Cheap beer and you could hardly get in the door on a busy night!
Now that was great fun at the tower as the Silver Wings club; then at the back of the British Airways hangar. Cheap beer and you could hardly get in the door on a busy night!
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
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From: Downeast
Let's not forget the "Colditz" where the interior walls did not always reach the exterior walls.....leaving little to the imagination about what was going on in the adjoining rooms. Some interesting stories to be told I reckon!
Phil.....was there ever a "slow" night at the club???
Phil.....was there ever a "slow" night at the club???
Last edited by SASless; 22nd September 2009 at 18:19. Reason: speling prolbems!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 829
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From: taking up the hold
uuoret
Al Streeter now lives in Cyprus. There is a of photo of him on the Bristow Photos thread here & his biog is here.
Roger Fisher left BHL to join BIA & when they wound up he moved to British Midland. He & his wife, Alva, Moved to South Africa upon his retirement a few years ago.
There are a number of Sumburgh faces on the Bristow photos Thread.
Al Streeter now lives in Cyprus. There is a of photo of him on the Bristow Photos thread here & his biog is here.
Roger Fisher left BHL to join BIA & when they wound up he moved to British Midland. He & his wife, Alva, Moved to South Africa upon his retirement a few years ago.
There are a number of Sumburgh faces on the Bristow photos Thread.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 80
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From: Back of Beyond
Sad to hear that it is all closed down, lots of great memories of Sumburgh, plus a few hazy ones.
Don't think that getting into the Portapub was a problem, getting out of it was on a few occasions, what I liked about it, that apart from Bristow and BAH, you also got the local characters in as well so it made for a great atmosphere, don't think the new club was ever as good, offcourse there was a lot more people around then, mind you the Bristow bar in the hotel had some great nights.
Nessboy. You probably spend a fair bit of time now on standby next door, maybe you should use it to organize a reunion, think about it when you have a beer with Phil at the weekend.
Don't think that getting into the Portapub was a problem, getting out of it was on a few occasions, what I liked about it, that apart from Bristow and BAH, you also got the local characters in as well so it made for a great atmosphere, don't think the new club was ever as good, offcourse there was a lot more people around then, mind you the Bristow bar in the hotel had some great nights.
Nessboy. You probably spend a fair bit of time now on standby next door, maybe you should use it to organize a reunion, think about it when you have a beer with Phil at the weekend.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Bath, Somerset
How very sad to see, Shetland lost something when Oscar Charlie went, now the total closure too, it seems that everything that was Shetland is dissapearing, and there's still worse to come!
I had a fantastic flight in Oscar Charlie arranged by Norman Leask a few years ago, he and Simon Butler flew me over places I would never have seen, I will never forget that flight, Norman or O.C., infact I have a greyhound named after Oscar Charlie.
Thanks again Norman.
I'm glad I moved off a few years ago, sad to see the heart being ripped out of the isles, so much going on (wrong)
Regards to every-one,
Terry
I had a fantastic flight in Oscar Charlie arranged by Norman Leask a few years ago, he and Simon Butler flew me over places I would never have seen, I will never forget that flight, Norman or O.C., infact I have a greyhound named after Oscar Charlie.
Thanks again Norman.
I'm glad I moved off a few years ago, sad to see the heart being ripped out of the isles, so much going on (wrong)
Regards to every-one,
Terry
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 876
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From: Inside the Industry
Many happy days spent in Sumburgh on the old S61 in 1980-82. Normally living in Hardbreaks (no 9 was the transit itinerant house for us Aberdeen detatchees)
Lived with Eddie Ford and David Stephens on one 2 week hitch, I think I still have a headache nearly 30 years later!
I also remember flying with Michel Z to "ze Sistle" for BNOC
What was M'hat M'coat's real name, Gordon.?
Happy days
Lived with Eddie Ford and David Stephens on one 2 week hitch, I think I still have a headache nearly 30 years later!
I also remember flying with Michel Z to "ze Sistle" for BNOC
What was M'hat M'coat's real name, Gordon.?
Happy days
