The Bartonian
A newsletter for all RAF, WRAF and Civilians who served and worked at Air Traffic Control Centre Barton Hall, Nr Preston, Lancs.
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2005
Final Reminder
Reunion
Scarborough April 21st 2006
Just
a final reminder to those of you wishing to attend the next reunion. Don’t leave
it too long before reserving your place at this new venue. With the addition
this time of a “Grand Day
Out” on Saturday, it promises to be a great weekend. For those of you who have
mislaid, inadvertently thrown out or recycled the previous newsletter with all
the information therein, here are the details again:
Venue: Clifton Hotel Scarborough
Dates: Fri 21st—Sun 23rd April 2006
Cost:
2 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast plus Sunday Lunch = £95
(Sea
view £5 pp per night extra)
To
Book: Telephone 01723 374374 (Central reservations) and mention that you are
booking for the Clifton in Scarborough and are part of the Barton Hall Party -
this is essential to obtain the special rate.
The
Grand Day Out is
a Free Mystery Coach Trip taking in a
‘Place of Special
Interest’
where we will have lunch. There will be a small entry fee of £2.50 if you are retired or £3.50 if you
are still earning a crust and there
is a café where a snack or a meal
can be purchased—depending on your appetite. Afterwards we will return to Scarborough
via the Scenic North Yorkshire Moors in time for dinner. Please Note it is essential that you
ring or email me and let me know if you wish to avail yourself of this treat
as I need to book an appropriate
sized coach by Christmas. If you cannot commit to the weekend
at this time or for any reason you are late booking and are interested in the
trip, let me know of your interest as soon as possible and we will see if some
alternative can be found. No guarantees of course. This is great value for money
and you will be hard pushed to find a holiday weekend at this price anywhere
else. So give yourself a break and
meet up with some of your old chums, swap some memories, enjoy the spectacular
countryside of the North Yorkshire Moors and the bracing sea air that is unique
to the East Coast (in other words - bring your greatcoat).
Remember,
you can take part as much or as little as you like, there are no standing orders
and no expectations of you other than to have a good time. If you have not
attended a reunion before and are not sure if it is for you, call me for a chat
and I may be able to put you in touch with someone you know from your era at the
Hall. But do give it some thought.
If
you are going please try to bring something for the Raffle or Bring and
Buy—any
unloved item of bric a brac will suffice though we will accept surplus treasure
too.
Contacts:
tasscotton@aol.com
or between Jan and mid March 2006
r.bretherton@virgin.net
Please email me (Tass Cotton) or Pam Chandler
pam.chandler@blueyonder.co.uk
for
her postal address for
subscriptions (£5 )
Wanted
Something
else that I would like everyone to consider over the coming months is whether you would like to be more
involved in organising the reunions,
writing /contributing to the newsletters or have any thoughts on how we
might improve our
organisation. I am happy to
continue doing what I do but I really think a fresh approach would perhaps help
to get more of our membership to the reunions.
Also
perhaps we could look at the possibility of having local “get togethers”. Some time before the Reunion I will go through the mailing list and try to put together groups of members who live in the same
area. Hopefully I can include these in the next
Newsletter in May 2006. You may be surprised to find who is living near you. A classic example is Chris Simpson who
lives in Calgary, Canada. He had
been in touch with me via email for
a couple of years and was registered on a couple of ex forces web sites. When I received an email from
Charles Bryson a couple of years
ago, I noticed that his postal address was similar to Chris’s. Low and behold they lived 5 mins away
from each other and though they were not at the Hall at the same time, they had only missed each other by a
couple of months. So , it would be
nice for someone of an hospitable
nature in each area to perhaps organise a meal in a local restaurant or pub or
better still host an informal gathering at home. I am currently thinking also of a
Local Service WRAF get together in the fairly near future somewhere in
Preston. If any of you girls are
interested please contact me by phone or email. me.
Civilians We
only have a handful of Civilian members so it would be good to try to increase
that. Those of you who have contact with any associations of Air Traffic Controllers or
Meteorologists, perhaps you could rustle up some new members for
us.
Subscriptions This
subject has not been mentioned for a while so just a gentle reminder to everyone
to please send your cheques to Pam Chandler (address at foot of previous page)
or you can pay at the reunion. It is still £5 and goes towards postage, this
newsletter, etc.
Cass
Cassidy in New Zealand was kind enough to send this copy of his ration book from the
1950s .
Emails
Pat
Bell contacted me recently regarding her father, Bill Bell, who was a
Post Office engineer at Barton Hall working on teleprinters and switchboards. He
started working at the Hall soon after the war and retired in 1960. He had fond
memories of other Post Office
colleagues Ray Stansfield
(or Standfield), Joe Noblett and someone called Stan. Pat was also told by her
father that the speaking clock was controlled from Barton Hall (does anyone
else know that?). Pat remembers going to the children’s Christmas
parties
up at the Hall. Bill had his retirement party at a hall in Ormskirk Rd in
Preston. He died in 1965. Someone from the 40s or 50s will probably remember
him.
From
Rob (Jonah) Jones
Very
sad to hear of Joe's death. Tried to find him throughout my time living in
Blackpool (1999 to 2004) with no success. Worked with Joe in ADNC between
1967 & 1969.
Billeted
@ Weeton Barracks with Grant Macintosh, Charles Bryson, Andy Stirling, Brian
Gallagher, Tony Warburton, Taff Davies, Roger Simmons, Richie Houlihan et al.
Knew Bert Maunder & Jimmy Melville from JATCC Singapore.
Recently
retired from the Civil Service & returned (home) to Anglesey to live.
An
interesting one from Daryl Davidson
Congratulations
on your excellent ATCC Barton Hall Website. I work as an administrative
assistant at the State Veterinary Service at Barton Hall Animal Health Centre
and whilst we do not have your marvellous memories and recollections we do still
have the beautiful views due to Barton Hall's location. I maintain a local
intranet website purely for the staff at Barton Hall (50 or so working for the
State Veterinary Service). Is there any chance of me using three photographs in
our web site viz. 1) Old drawing of Barton Hall 2) White buildings with mast and
3) 1948 view along drive. The images would only be viewable by the staff working
here and not for any other purpose and I would include them in my
history
of Barton Hall pages.—Permission granted
Keith
Jones in Canada
wrote:
I sure
enjoyed the midday lunches at the Hall with the civilian staff, such good food
as I remember it, or was it because we were use to getting the warmed up left
overs from what the permanent staff had for evening meal back at camp Weeton. I
remember getting fed at Weeton very late in the evening especially if we got
stuck in the Blackpool Illuminations traffic on or way back in the Garry from
the Hall.
I
remember a few guys at the Hall, one I came up with from Compton Bassett –
Brian Thornton and the other was Dave Boyes – others I just
remember them by their first names. Shortly after I arrived at Barton Hall there
were a couple of lads there that were coming to the end of their National
service and liked it that much that they applied to join the Canadian airforce
and as I remember they were both accepted but never heard from them since. From
the Web site I see that there are quite a few of the old Bartonians now living
abroad. . Just been looking at my Certificate of full time discharge from
National service and it is signed by SQN. LDR G.N Murray 17th
June 1959
Finally
from Rob Jones
It was
wonderful to discover the Bartonions website and know that so many have kept in
touch.
I can still remember quite a lot of names and faces (as they were
then) Ginny Gallagher, Dot Foden, Mary Chippendale, Sandra and Eilaine
Coulthard, Madeline and Gerry Moore, Margaret Conn, Alan Ireland, Steve Taylor, Paul
Austin (on Service pals) Val Yates, Trilly, Gordon Pashley, Jean Sexton, Jim
Calderbank, Joe Armer,(sorry to hear about his passing) George Nichols,
Marion Lancaster, Jim Bannister, Sq/Ldr Veasley, Fl/Lt Kitto, Fl/Lt Wilburn,
Fl/LT John Brown.
Does anyone remember the pantomime we did in the dance
hall, I think the WRAF Cprl.Val ?(Yates )wrote it, The 'do' we had
at a motel at Ribchester, I also remember Ginny's dad burning paint off their
house at Longridge and setting fire to the door. The football matches against
Show Biz Stars from Blackpool at Weeton. I would love to hear from anyone who
remembers me -(Tass has contact details)
In
Touch We
have quite a list of people now who share memories of a great posting. Not
everyone is “active” but we don’t hold that against them. It does not preclude them from reunions
or from getting in touch with old comrades. If you are on the list please do contact me if you want details
of anyone else on the list. Also please think about attending a reunion even for
just one day if you feel the whole weekend would be too much. You may be pleasantly surprised. Check
the list on the next page there must surely be someone you remember.
If
your name appears in the wrong era, do let me know. Some are educated guesses
but there are a few that I don’t have information for though the chances are
that I have had the info at some time but have misplaced it. - I am not perfect—you noticed
already?
*The asterix denotes known
civilians.
|
1940s |
1950s |
1960s |
1970s |
Unknown Era |
|
Ruth
Barton Ian
Copping Arthur
Clarke Peggy
( Micky) Davies Edna
Dyson Joan
Ford (Mrs) Ron
Gregson Jean
Gibbs Elsie
Judson Kath
McGreavey Bruce
Palmer Anne
Reeves Margaret
Sharrott Joan
Wear Ron
Woodward Jack Tyson |
Graham
Archer Alma
Barlow Cass
Cassidy Mel
Chapman Bill
Edgar Ron
Freer Ray
Garnett Wilf
Gerrard Pat
Harper John
Jenvy Keith
Jones Arthur
Jowett Pete
Kelsall Peter
Lamb John
(Monty) Martin Tom
McGuigan Alan
Manion Gordon
Pashley Ernest
Pennington Jim
Preston Ray
Rearden Dave
Renshaw Julie
Shorrock Ian
Sutherland Bob
Skinner Vin
Smith John
Stevenson David
Taylor David
Williams |
Elaine
Alsop Stella
Ashcroft Brian
Atkinson Paul
Austin Ted
Barnes Ron
Bretherton Dave
Brown Jennifer
Brown Norman
Brown Charles
Bryson Roy
Burdin Alex
Campbell Raymond
Campbell Robbie
Cartwright Bob
Charles Rita
Clarkson Ken
Cotton Elaine
Coulthard Sandra
Coulthard Kath
Crocker Alan
Dixon Jim
Dunnett Sam
Dymeck Dot
Foden Terry
Fosse John
Fraser Ginny
Gallagher Rita
Gooch Kath
Gornall Pat
Gregson Ben
Gunn Ken
Gwyther Ken
Harper Pat
Harper B.E.M George
Hawkes Tom
Highcock Phillip
Holdsworth Carol
Holmes Madeline
Hough Richie
Houlihan Ron
Hulme Pam
Humphries Alan
Ireland Frank
Israel Carol
Johnson *Bryn
Jones* Fred
Jones Marjorie
Jones Stan
Jones Bill
Kendall Anne
KitchenJohn Knowles Peter
Lamb Michael
Lambeth Flo
Legge Barbara
Levingstone Frank
(Tich) Lowe Grant
Macintosh Maureen
Mcgrath Terry
Mc Laughlin Jim
Mallinson Jimmy
Melville Brian
Mitter Graham
Mc Murdo Hermin
Moody Gerry
Moore Jean
Myers Diane
Nelson Derek
(Des) O’Brien Beryl
Pape Keith
Parry Terry
Patterson Alan
Poole George
Prattley John
Rhoden Pete
Roberts Joan
Salisbury Dave
Shinn Brian
Sidebotham Chris
Simpson Peter
Sinclair Bob
Skinner *BernieSmith* Vin
Smith John
Stevenson John
Syrett Tass
Tassiker David
Taylor *Ray
Taylor* Steve
Taylor Terry
Tierney Dave
Thomas Judie
Turner Keith
(Tony) Warburton Margaret
Warwick Joanne
Whitfield Jack (Jim)
Williamson Frank
Williams Alan
Walters Val
Yates |
Roy
Burdin Alex
Campbell John
Dale John
Hamilton David Leah Pete
Penny David
Rose Pete Rushton Andrew
Smith Bernie Smith Mike
Stanton Ray
Tibbles Keith
Warburton |
J
Banks C
Bentley Ken
Crowther Jon
Clapham Alan
Dixon H
Finlay Frank
Hobday Cliff
James Bryn
Jones Keith
Jones Graham
Lightfoot John
Lucas Ken
Linfoot Ed
Mason Brian
Murphy John
Noble F
Punchaby Don
Russell Bob
Smart Bernard
Smith Bill
Thompson *Ray
Tibbles* A
Todd Bert
Wiseman
|