History of Fairey Surveys Ltd
From Colin Price we have a set of photos posed for an advertisement (anyone recognise it?), a picture from a Kodak shoot (complete with guns) circa 1988, and a shot of the Clyde MD signing an important contract or sale document. Colin also sent in some beautiful oblique photos of Windsor Castle. Click on the thumbnail photograph to see the full version.
John Tompkins sent this photograph of Roy cutting his 90th birthday cake at White Waltham Cricket Club two years ago – Jane Denham next to him. Please send in any photos or anecdotes, so we can add them here.
It is with great sadness that we have to report that Roy Macdonald died on 14th February 2013.
Maureen Groves, Roy’s daughter, emailed John Tompkins with the information, and a request that the information be distributed to all his friends from Fairey Surveys. The family hope that some of them will be able to make the journey to Bangor to join them in celebrating his long and happy life. John is sending a card to Flora on behalf of all friends from FSL.
There is a video about Roy on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com). Search for ‘Roy Macdonald – the first 90 years’. It was uploaded on 6th August 2010, so we presume that Roy was 92 when he died last Friday.
Attached are details of the service to celebrate his life, for those who would like to attend.
Roy Macdonald – Announcement Card
We would be really happy to upload any pictures, information or anecdotes about Roy onto the website for everyone to share. Please use the ‘Contact’ form on the website to let us know what you would like to pass on, and we’ll get in touch to let you know where to send it.
Adrian Workman sent in this photo of some familiar faces at the West London Aero Club monthly gathering. Summer 2012?
Adrian Workman contributed these photos from Southern Africa from the early 1960s. Click on the photos for a larger image.
Bob Purcell sent this wonderful description of his experience on a survey job in Saudi Arabia, moving equipment from Jeddah to Riyadh over Christmas.
Attached is a photograph from the recent get together in White Waltham, courtesy of Graham Bridges and John Tompkins. The message is for Bob Purcell, who couldn’t be there. Click on the photo for a full size picture.
Don Green, Brian Corbin, Lawrence Scott, Jean Fostekew, John Tompkins, Tony Bamford, Ken Fostekew, Ken Ullersperger, Geoff Milsom, Graham Bridges, Adrian Workman, Bob Berriss
Geoff Milsom, former Chief Pilot, has drawn up a list of pilots who worked for Fairey Air Surveys, Fairey Surveys and Clyde Surveys during his time.
This list is not necessarily comprehensive. Any omissions or corrections would be gratefully received, along with any other information on the pilots themselves. For example: Desmond Plunkett was one of the wartime RAF officers portrayed in the film ‘Great Escape’ (see article under ‘Personnel’), and Paul Heimes flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain.
The list is attached:
This article was published in the Daily Express when Desmond Plunkett, one of the Fairey Surveys pilots, died in 2002. He was one of the RAF prisoners of war immortalised in the file ‘The Great Escape’.
Derek Minter starts this post off with his old employment letters. Does anyone have any other interesting bits and pieces to add? All contributions gratefully received – use the Contact form to let us know if you have anything, and we’ll be in touch. We don’t have to post names …