Tail end of production

A shadow of its former self. Sheet metal worker Dave Russell working on a Tornado.

Counting down to the final closure of Chadderton’s famous BAe factory
THE end of aircraft manufacturing in Chadderton took place seven years ago.

This Chronicle picture show the sad sight of the last sheet metal engineer in the bay, Dave Russell, carrying out final repairs on a Tornado rudder to be packed off to the RAF in 2005.

The future of the factory, which was home to more than 11,000 workers at its wartime peak, remains unclear after the final 105 office-based employees move to the BAE Systems plant, in Samlesbury, after Friday.


THE public have voiced their opinions on the factory’s closure and also their memories of the historic Greengate site. Here are just some of the views.
“MY husband Frank started work at A V Roe in 1936 at the age of 14 with an apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker. He worked on the first Vulcan in Woodford and he loved his job but unfortunately lost a few fingers with being a sheet metal worker so had to transfer to the offices at Greengate.

“We were married in July, 1961, and our photo was in the British Aerospace news and he retired in 1987 after 51 years of service. He had a happy retirement but sadly passed away in June, 2004.”

Audrey Gunn

DURING the Second World War my father was in the Civil Defence and patrolled the British Aerospace roof.

I was told that one night my grandfather, who also worked at BA, was crossing a yard in the factory when a German fighter plane appeared from nowhere and sprayed the area with bullets.

Fortunately, he was able to get under cover without being harmed.

COUNCILLOR DAVE HIBBERT

MY husband George Read won the 504 Trophy in 1960 and was presented with the award by Sir Douglas Bader, RAF fighter pilot. The company used to take all the 504 Club members down to London for dinner, speeches and the annual presentation. George was given a model of the original 504 aeroplane.

JILL READ


WE had Ferranti and Mather and Platt’s and with BAE Systems closing — they will be all gone. It is a tragedy not just from Oldham, but for the whole region.

COUNCILLOR JACK HULME


I remember when the plant was being built. I used to ride past on my bike and to end up working there when I was 14 in 1943 and working through the war years was fantastic.

ALAN MORRIS, who worked there for 48 years