Glory days when the sky was the limit
Reporter: Andrew Rudkin
Date published: 28 February 2012
Continuing our daily tribute to the last days of British Aerospace in Chadderton
ROB Elsworth remembers the power of the Vulcan which could be heard for miles around.
The long-time BAE Systems employee (pictured right) recollects the day Chadderton stood still watching and hearing the strategic bomber in its glory.
Rob (47) said: “It came so low, people thought it was a nuclear bomb attack, all the houses were vibrating.
“When the pilot put the afterburners on it shook the roof tiles off the factory and the whole building shook.
“Everyone was outside and it was a great moment.”
The globetrotter, from Littleborough, is one of three brothers who has worked at the plant.
Rob has travelled to a number of European countries through his work with BAE in his 31-year career.
The site conveyor hails transporting part of the Vulcan out of the factory as one of his proudest moments and also working on Lancaster, Boeing and ATP among his highlights.
He said: “It’s great the history is here in Oldham and AV Roe starting it all here as the biggest purpose-built factory in the world at the time.”
The Vulcan in flight showed the might of the aircraft built in Chadderton. The strategic bomber is already part of aviation history from its introduction in 1956 until most were retired in the mid-1980s.
In its Cold War heyday, the Vulcan was on 24-hour standby to drop nuclear bombs on the former Soviet Union.
During the Falklands War, five Vulcans took part in record-breaking 8,000-mile flights from Ascension Island to bomb the runway at Port Stanley.
In 1956, an RAF-serving Vulcan would cost £750,000 to produce, it is believed.
A total of 136 Vulcans — which included prototypes — were produced.
Emotions set to run high
CHARITY always began at the home of aviation in Oldham.
Samantha Parnell is one of an abundance of current and former employees at the Greengate site who have raised thousands of pounds for the community — through BAE Systems’ Charity Challenge initiative.
The Failsworth resident, a former chairman of the committee, would arrange fund-raising events with a band of kind-hearted employees.
The 41-year-old Procurement Group leader, said: “We have done an awful lot of work with Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and local schools.
“Being a big employer in the area gives us the chance to give something back to the community. It is nice to help people and working here gives us that opportunity — true Oldham community spirit.
Samantha, who has enjoyed 25 years at the factory, recollects with emotion her strong family link with the site.
Her twin sister and grandmother worked at the factory which closes for the final time on Friday, along with late father Tony.
A tearful Samantha said: “A member of my family has always worked here.
“Me and dad crossed over for about five years — he had worked here for 40 years.
“It’s going to be really sad on Friday. I have been the worst emotionally, especially with my dad working here.
“I’m not going to come in,” she joked.
