History of Fairey Surveys Ltd
New has come in from Ken Fostekew that Ron Neal has passed away. Ron was one of Fairey Surveys’ well known and loved pilots. More details will be posted when they arrive.
Ron is fourth from the left in this photograph from Len Sellwood of the crew from a Nigeria survey in 1974
These photographs and newspaper cuttings came from Kieran (Ken) Roche via his brother Gerry Roche. Kieran was the Flight engineer on what was described as the first ‘Fairey Surveys’ flight out of White Waltham in 1947.
Air Survey aircraft (AIRSPEED OXFORD). First ‘Fairey Surveys’ flight out of White Waltham, 1947. Left to right: Brian Attwell (management), Richard Younghusband (pilot), Ken Roche (engineer), Group Captain Lawes (management). Richard Younghusband, has a claim to fame from even earlier. He was apparently flying back from France the day war broke out, and triggered off the first English World War 2 air raid alarm.
Hotel Baron, Aleppo, Syria.
This was our hotel and x marks the spot where we usually sit at night nattering. This was taken during the siesta period, hence the deserted appearance of the street, shops closed etc. Only a few Bedouin at large.
Aleppo, Syria. Air Survey photographers and Ken Roche with medieval citadel in background. From left: Freddie Worton, John Rushton, Ken Roche, ?
Aleppo, Syria. Time off … Left to right: ?, Ken Roche (engineer), Richard Younghusband (pilot).
Newpaper cutting from the Daily Telegraph in 1968, about the building of the Aleppo dam on the Euphrates river.
The Hotel Baron in Aleppo had a long history and many interesting guests on the register. The last sentence of this press cutting is quite poignant. A couple of website links give information on the current state of the Hotel Baron and the Mazloumian family:
http://pvewood.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-hotel-baron-at-war.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11239988/War-in-Syria-takes-toll-on-Aleppos-oldest-hotel-in-pictures.html?frame=3111065
More news of the Hotel Baron from the Times on 14th May 2016. Mr Mazloumian died recently, and the hotel has taken a couple of mortar hits, but it is still standing and occupied by Mr Mazloumain’s widow and three refugee families.
These photographs were sent by Steve Hulland, Mervyn’s son. Mervyn worked for Fairey Air Surveys/Fairey Surveys from about 1955 to 1966, when the family emigrated to South Africa. They came back a few years later, and Mervyn worked on development for deHavilland on the TSR2 in Bristol, and also for Atlas Aircraft Corporation on the Impala.
Most of the photographs are unlabelled, but quite a few appear to have been taken in Kenya. Any help identifying places or people would be appreciated.
This postcard was interesting – no change in aerial photography problems!
This cutting from the Maidenhead Advertiser was sent in by Adrian Workman. He won a Kodak prize in the 1980s, and the presentation was made in the office by the Kodak sales representative. Adrian worked in the Reprographic Department, so photography really was his life then!
Ulrich (Uli) came to Fairey Surveys for survey experience during two summers – June to September of 1967 and July to September of 1968, and lodged with Eddie Holmes during his time here.
He is now Dr Ulrich Münzer of LMU University in Munich, Faculty of Geosciences, with a speciality in subglacial volcanoes in Iceland. Details and even a photograph here: www.isviews.geo.lmu.de
He spends summers in Iceland, so can’t get to the reunions, but has sent in some photographs of his time at Fairey Surveys, and his reference from Lawrence Scott when he left in 1968.
Click on the photographs to enlarge.
We know the date and most of the people in the photographs, but not what the presentations were for. Attendance? Good behaviour?
Left picture, L-R: ?, ?, Ken Pinkney, Bob Embleton, Rex Ackland, Peter Challis, Dave Parker
Right picture, L-R: ?, ?, Bob Embleton, Ken Pinkney, Peter Challis, Dave Parker
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.
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:
============================================================
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
============================================================
If anyone has any information or photographs to share, please leave a comment, and we’ll pass on your details to Mrs Paddison.