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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0596.PDF
272 FLIGHT The staff of A. V. Roe's Clifton Street works in the Spring of 1915. Those in white overalls are mostly trade apprentices, and in the centre of the middle window is seen Ted Foulkes, the foreman pattern-maker. On the extreme right, his hat at a jaunty angle, is Albert Piatt. The lady in the front row is believed to be Miss Walker, and on her left are H. V. Roe, A. V. Roe and, two further along, H. E. Broadsmith, while on her right are seen Roy Chadwick and R. Parrott, the works manager. In front and to the left of Mr. Foulkes are Messrs. Gaunt, Clifton, Holmes and Scott. PRE-1915 APPRENTICES DINE A Remarkable Avro Function: Recollections of Pioneer Days REUNIONS are usually happy occasions the world over. Last week, on February 26th, a rather special affair of this kind was held at the Cafe Royal in London, when the earliest apprentices of A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd., Manchester, met together for the first time since 1915. A few had kept in touch and even arranged meetings, but the majority had not. Hardly any one of these pioneers is still connected with Avro or even with the aircraft industry, but as Sir Roy Dobson said, they had handed on their skill, teaching others to carry the job on. They had started Avro and the breed went right through. The moving spirit behind the reunion idea had been Mr. J. C. C. Taylor, who for many years has been with Shell-Mex and B.P. His idea was received enthusiastically, and Avro, through Mr. Wood and others, took over their share of the organization. During the evening each of the pioneer apprentices received a handsome pair of initialled gold cuff-links from his old company. Speeches—everyone made one—were informal and reminiscent, although both Sir Roy Dobson and Mr. Taylor had a few more serious points to make. Received with particular enthusiasm was a proposal that a trophy should be provided by subscription as a prize for present-day apprentices. The "two-minute" speeches of each apprentice provided a rich store of personal recollections, many of which ought to be pre served in a history of the company and its employees. Several confessed that their memories of the early days were more vivid as well as more pleasurable than those of between-war events. Mr. J. C. C. Taylor, given the job of proposing "the firm," observed that although some of the party had not met for over 30 years, they had all been founders together; few, however, were in aviation today. After a word on Avro personalities and products today, Mr. Taylor recalled some ancient history which personally concerned most of the guests present. He referred to Fred Holmes, the "gentleman apprentice," who used to be given the job of entertaining important visitors at Hamble; A. Cdre. Smylie, who was remembered for his F. N. motor-bike and the old mackintosh that went with it; Bill Gower and his Calshot and Circuit of Britain Race associations; A. Cdre. John Oliver, who had left to join the R.F.C. and was still flying and racing today; Albert Piatt, who ran amok in Mather's works in a 504; and to Henry Goodyear's association with the first raid on Friedrichshafen. Sir Roy Dobson, replying for the firm, first read messages from apprentices who could not attend, and from friends and associates of the company. Among them were Mr. Clifford Kent, operations manager for B.O.A.C. in Montreal and Mr. H. E. Broadsmith from Australia who, proposed to drink a toast to the company at the time of the dinner, even though it meant getting up at 6 a.m. After reviewing "the old firm's" war-time production record, Sir Roy referred to the Avro Canada company which was thriving, as were the many new industries dependent upon it. Clockwise around the reunion table are seen Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe, Sir Roy Dobson (in front of the waiter), and Messrs. Holmes, Smylie, Norwood, Morris, Prince, Gower, Oliver, Thurstan James, Piatt, Rylance, Partridge, Fozard, Mather, Shires, Goodyear, Maurice Smith, Horrax, Shipperbottom, Ratcliffe, McKenna, Taylor and Clifton. "Flight" photograph
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