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.