Kingston Aviation
Name:
John Richardson
Biographical Details:

 

John Richardson joined Hawkers in 1963 and worked for the company until closure. He became a foreman in the Casemaking Department whose job was to make cases for aircraft parts that were then sent all over the world. His work brought him into contact with some of the leading lights in the Kingston set-up.

 

  • Transcript One :  ‘If you can’t get it made at British Aerospace, it cannot be made’
  • Transcript Two: Wally Rayner
  • Transcript Three: Bill Bedford
  • Transcript Four: The Casemaking Department
  • Transcript Five: ‘A good wood machinist has got all of his fingers’
  • Transcript Six: Hunter drop tanks, air freighting and the Torrey Canyon
  •  

    Interview Timeline

    Name:

    John Richardson

    Date of Interview:

    16th November 2012

    0.00

    Introduction and interviewee details

    1.18

    Description of the Casemaking Department and John Richardson’s job as Foreman of the timber Store

    2.50

    The 25 year clock ceremony.

    3.30

    Other work undertaken by the Casemaking Dept.

    4.00

    The Casemaker’s Darts Team

    5.00

    Community spirit in the company

    6.35

    Making cases for Hunter and Harrier parts

    8.27

    Description of a photograph of the Casemakers Dept.

    9.00

    The work done by women in the Small Parts section

    9.46

    Wally Rayner – the Works Mananger

    11.20

    Bill Bedford – Chief Test Pilot

    15.00

    Sending crates to Egypt from Dunsfold

    17.25

    Holding the keys to the timber shed and being able to buy timber at trade prices.

    19.16

    Security at Hawkers

    21.50

    Providing cases for Hunter drop tanks – anecdote about the Torrey Canyon – air freighting – anecdote about a Harrier being delivered to a farmer in the USA in error.

    27.41

    Starting at Hawkers in 1963

    29.11

    What working at Hawkers was like – anecdote about gloves.

    31.30

    Working conditions and injuries

    33.40

    ‘A good wood machinist has all his fingers’.

    33.50

    Numbers of staff working in his department.

    35.00

    The Foreman’s job – putting in posts at Dunsfold.

    36.18

    The age profile of Hawker employees.

    38.20

    Aprenticeships at Hawkers were highly thought of – anecdote about training school.

    40.00

    John’s career at Hawkers

    40.54

    Clocks, watches and long service

    41.34

    Paddy Papin, tinsmith aged 85

    43.05

    Insurance company – everybody over a certain age had to retire

    43.50

    Taking on young people

    44.18

    Jack Whitehorn

    52.48

    Bill Bedford and his trip to Indonesia

    58.53

    Sending stuff to Singapore

    61.50

    Hunter wings

    64.50

    Team spirit at BAe Kingston – ‘if you can’t make it at BAe, it cannot be made’.

    66.00

    Dickie bows

    66.50

    Moonlighting – Homer Days

    67.30

    Thnaks and end.