History of Fairey Surveys Ltd
Jayne Jupp has sent in some photographs of her father John Parfitt working in photogrammetry, and in a group picture. The film crew in the first picture could be BBC South or Thames TV making a film about map making – does anyone remember? All the people on the group photo have been identified, but not why or when it was taken. Any additional information gratefully received, and will be added here.
Click on the photographs for a bigger picture.
Amazing that this bunch of reprobates is still around, telling each other tales of the old days. A few of the old Faireys, including five from the old Geophysics team, got together for lunch the day of the FSL reunion in July 2013. With many thanks to Carol and John Tompkins for the hospitality.
Back row, left to right: Derek Minter, Rob Wallace, Alex Copeland, Pete Lilley, Arthur Pinto Bastos.
Sitting down, left to right: Heather Smith (Harris), John Tompkins, Gillian Wallace (Edwards)
The reunion at White Waltham cricket club on 19th July had wonderful weather, and Arthur Bastos brought along a really good camera, so we took the opportunity to get a group picture – with apologies to those who may have left before it was taken. Click on the photograph to enlarge. If anyone would like a copy by email, please get in touch through the Contact page.
The second image is the numbered key, with all the names except for Peter Green’s daughter (please let us know!).
Jim Rowe’s son Chris turned up at the reunion in July. He brought some photographs with him, and was trying to get more information about where they were taken, who the other people were, and anything else the assembled company could remember about his father. There were a number of people who remembered Jim, and the places he worked, but there must be more out there somewhere!
Here are a couple of the photographs, from Chile and Rhodesia (?). If anyone has any other photographs, or other memories of Jim, please leave a comment here and we’ll put you in touch with Chris.
A number of people recognised A N Other, but couldn’t remember his name. If anyone knows the name, please let us know (use the comment area).
An email has been received from Mrs Sarah Paddison, the daughter of John Owen Penrose (Pen) a former pilot for Fairey Surveys, until the late 1960s or early 1970s:
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I would be very grateful to know if anyone has any memories or photographs of my father John Owen Penrose (Pen). I recently made my first trip back to White Waltham aerodrome but could not find anything other than the company logo in the Flying club bar.
My first memories of the airfield are getting up early, walking across the road from our house to pick mushrooms with Dad, for breakfast.
Any information would be much appreciated, thank you
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If anyone has any information or photographs to share, please leave a comment, and we’ll pass on your details to Mrs Paddison.