The Avro Heritage Museum Podcast

In this exciting second part of our conversation with Avro veteran John Nicol, we delve into the significant transition from the Chadderton factory to Woodford. John shares his thrilling experiences of witnessing aircraft parts come together and take flight, reminiscing about his time working on Nimrods, 146s, and ATPs. He also provides fascinating insights into the early days of aircraft design,...

In this episode, we sit down with John Nichol, a veteran of the Avro Heritage Museum, who shares his remarkable journey from apprentice to facilities manager. Starting his apprenticeship in 1960, John recounts his experiences working on iconic aircraft such as the Shackleton, Vulcan, and Nimrod. He reflects on the Avro apprenticeship scheme, his hands-on training, and memorable anecdotes from his...

We welcome back Jeff Brown, a former mid-upper gunner and Avro employee, who shares his fascinating experiences with Ray Reeder from the Vulcan restoration team. Together, they delve into the intricacies of armaments for the Vulcan, discuss Jeff's unique transition from propeller-driven to jet-powered aircraft, and reflect on significant visits to various RAF bases. With captivating anecdotes...

We sit down with 100-year-old Lancaster veteran Roy Lawrence. Roy shares his remarkable journey from a young boy in India to becoming a flight engineer in the RAF during World War II. He reflects on the challenges and dangers of flying missions in Lancaster bombers, the camaraderie among crew members, and the profound impact of loss during the war. Join us as we honour his memories and the sacrifi...

Sergeant ​Jeff ​Brown ​served ​as ​a ​mid-upper ​gunner ​on ​Lancasters ​in ​World ​War ​II ​under ​the ​leadership ​of ​a ​New ​Zealand ​skipper. ​In ​today's ​recording, ​Jeff ​shares ​his ​still-vivid ​memories ​of ​Operation ​Manna, ​a ​humanitarian ​food ​drop ​made ​in ​ Avro Lancasters ​to ​relieve ​the ​starving ​Dutch ​population ​in ​World War II's closing stages. ​ Jeff ​recalls...

We welcome back Jeff Brown, a Lancaster veteran, as he revisits the museum and shares fascinating insights from his time in the Avro design office. Join us for an exclusive tour of the CAE building, where Jeff encounters notable exhibits, including the Avro 707 and the Yellow Sun nuclear device trailer. Discover the intricate details of bomb handling equipment and the memories that these artifacts...

Roger Newton and Trevor Jackson, two veterans of the aviation industry who share their fascinating experiences from the Woodford and Chadderton sites. Join us as we uncover tales from the shop floor, the challenges of top-secret projects during the Falklands War, and the camaraderie that defined their careers. From amusing anecdotes about memorable visitors like the King of Tonga and Prince Philip...

Stephen Barron reflects on his extensive career in aerospace that began with his apprenticeship at Woodford in 1979. Stephen shares insightful anecdotes about his time working on iconic aircraft such as the Buccaneer and Nimrod, revealing the intricate details of aircraft assembly and the importance of mentorship in shaping his career. He also discusses the emotional impact of Woodford's closure,...

Ray Reeder shares his remarkable journey from a successful plumbing career to becoming an integral part of the Vulkan XM603 restoration team. With a passion for aviation and a strong family connection to the RAF, Ray discusses the challenges faced during the restoration process, including the daunting task of finding missing instrumentation. He also reveals how innovative solutions, like Wi-Fi rem...

Frank Pleszak delves into the early life of Roy Clark, a man whose childhood was profoundly shaped by the events of World War II. From his memories of living on a farm near Ringway Airport during the 1940s invasion scare to his first lessons in aeronautics from soldiers, Roy shares his fascinating experiences during a tumultuous time. Join us for a nostalgic journey filled with anecdotes and insig...

In this poignant episode, we bring together two remarkable veterans of the Second World War: 99-year-old Avro Lancaster mid upper gunner Sergeant Jeff Brown and 100-year-old Avro Lancaster wireless operator and gunner Sergeant John Monaghan. As they reminisce about their time as crew members on the legendary Lancaster bomber, they share heartfelt memories of Operation Manna, where they delivered h...

In this episode of the Avro Heritage Museum podcast, Ian Peat delves into the fascinating history of the Vickers VC10 RAF fleet and its significant role in air-to-air refuelling and transport. Join us as we explore the journey of the VC10, from its inception in the 1950s to its eventual disposal, highlighting the aircraft's legacy and its connection to the Avro Heritage Museum. Discover unique ins...

Our host today is again Chris Beswick from the Talking Newspaper. In this final episode of the AVRO Story, Chris is joined by Brian Frakes and Roger Yates, two dedicated volunteers from the Avo Heritage Museum. They share their experiences and insights about the museum's mission to educate visitors about aviation heritage, the importance of accessibility, and how they cater to diverse groups, incl...

Our host today is again Chris Beswick from the Talking Newspaper. In this episode of the AVRO Story, we go back in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Woodford airfield and factory. Through heartfelt conversations with former employees, we explore their rich memories of working in a bustling aviation hub filled with engineering shops and assembly lines. From the golden age of apprentice...

Our host today is again Chris Beswick from t he Talking Newspaper. In this episode of the Woodford Story, we take a fascinating journey into the cockpit of the iconic Avro Vulcan with former pilot Trevor Jackson. He shares his unique experiences and insights from his distinguished flying career during the Cold War era. Discover the intricacies of piloting this remarkable aircraft, its roles, and t...

Our host today is again Chris Beswick from the Talking Newspaper. In this episode, we take an insightful journey through the Avro Heritage Museum with Terry Barnes, the Chair of the Trustees. Discover how this remarkable museum came to be on the site of the former Woodford airfield and factory, from the airfield’s closure in 2011 to the museum’s grand reopening in 2015. Terry shares fascinating st...

Our host today is Chris Beswick from the Talking Newspaper. In this captivating episode of the AVRO Story, he takes us on a journey back to World War II with the legendary Avro Lancaster. We hear the remarkable tales of Sergeant John Monaghan, who recounts his experiences as a radio operator and gunner during harrowing missions over Berlin and beyond. As he revisits the cockpit of a Lancaster at t...

In this first episode of the Avro Story, host Chris Beswick from the Talking Newspaper takes us on a captivating journey through the early days of aviation in the Northwest. Joined by aviation expert Frank Plezak, we explore the significant milestones in the development of aircraft manufacturing, particularly focusing on the establishment of the Avro Company and the Woodford airfield. From the pio...

On 13th December 2023 Wing Commander Martine Verhulst, Air Force Attaché at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London awarded John Monaghan the  "Thank you Liberators" medal. John joined 166 Sqn at RAF Kirmington in Feb 1945 as a wireless operator on the Lancaster. He flew on 18 operations from March to May and participated in several Operation Manna missions, and humanitarian food d...

John Monaghan joined 166 Sqn at RAF Kirmington in Feb 1945 as a wireless operator on the Lancaster. He flew on 18 operations from March to May including Heligoland, Berchtesgaden, and Berlin. He also participated in several Operation Manna missions, humanitarian food drops to relieve a famine in the German-occupied Netherlands, as well as several Operation Exodus missions to repatriate Allied pris...

Welcome to the Avro Heritage Museum podcast. The museum is located at Woodford near Manchester in the UK and you can find more details at https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/ The English Electric Canberra was designed as a direct replacement for the wartime de Havilland Mosquito and entered service with the RAF in 1951.  In total, Avro built 75 Canberras at Woodford during the 1950s We speak with...

Welcome to the Avro Heritage Museum podcast. The museum is located near Manchester in the UK and you can find more details at https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/ We continue our chat with Trevor Jackson, a former Vulcan pilot who recalls his career after flying the Vulcan. Trevor went on to train the members of the Manchester University Air Squadron on the De Havilland Chipmunk and the Scottish...

Welcome to the Avro Heritage Museum podcast. The museum is located near Manchester in the UK and you can find more details at avroheritagemuseum.co.uk This episode is with Trevor Jackson, a former Vulcan  pilot who recalls his path into the RAF from school cadet in the 1950s to flying the nuclear armed Avro Vulcan. Trevor shares the story of his RAF career via the BAC Jet Provost, Folland Gnat and...

Richard Jones is a former VC10 pilot who recalls his path into the RAF in the 1960s, via a pleasure flight company at Manchester’s Ringway Airport. Richard shares the story of his RAF career via the de Havilland Chipmunk, BAC Jet Provost, and onto transport aircraft such as the Vickers Valetta, Blackburn Beverley, de Havilland Comet and onto the Vickers VC10, his favourite aircraft. Make sure you...

Welcome to the Avro Heritage Museum podcast featuring interviews with those that flew the iconic Avro aircraft and the people who worked on them. The museum preserves the legacy of Alliott Verdon-Roe and his company A.V. Roe & Co (Avro). Located on the former Woodford Aerodrome near Stockport in Cheshire, the site saw the production of famous aircraft including the Lancaster, Vulcan, Nimrod an...