Phil Graham reports:
The Sunday lunch and Avro Museum visit proved very popular, with 54 members and guests dining at the Deanwater Hotel and an additional 10 going directly to Woodford Aerodrome for a tour of this new facility.
The Avro Heritage Museum celebrates the life of Sir Edwin Alliot Verdon Roe, founder of the Avro Company, and 80 years of aircraft design and construction at the Woodford site. Production ceased in 2011 when BAE Systems sold the airfield for housing development, while providing funding for the new museum on the site of the old fire station.
Terry Barnes, Chairman of the AHM and a friend of nearly 30 years, put his trust in me to take six cars down a dilapidated access road onto the remainder of the runway for a “photo shoot”. Riding shotgun in my 50th Anniversary 911 was Charlie Sheridan, media and PR man for the museum, who organised some static shots and a ‘V’ formation at slow speed along the runway. I reluctantly agreed to a couple of sprints in my car to finish off the afternoon, and everyone left with huge smiles in spite of the rain. Some of Charlie’s photos can be seen on his Facebook page of the AHM web site: http://avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/
Many thanks to Terry, Charlie and all the other volunteers who give up their free time to keep this heritage alive. It is certainly well worth a visit.