Remembering Croydon Airport

A Memory of Cranford.

When I left Stanley Technical School at the end of 1956, I got a job as a 'Trainee' (another word for Apprentice' but without the security of a longer term employment), at Rollason Aerocessories at Croydon Airport, who were a small offshoot of the Rollason Aircraft company also on the Airport. Does anyone have any memories of those days? A lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days (or, should I say , a lot of air has passed under the wings since ,..etc? I would be nice to know if anyone had memories of those times?'
The day I started, as a 'New Boy', the Works foreman asked me what experience I had working machinery and I thought, this is where my technical school experience on a wide range of workshop machinery would stand me in good stead. So I told him this and he asked me, "Then you understand the need to have a clean workshop area?" To which,of course, I agreed. "Good" he said, "Grab that broom and keep this place tidy,it's a b****y tip". - My first introduction to "Never volunteer for anything!"
Happy days, you could buy an ex RAF Tiger Moth trainer aircraft (in bits) for £200, plus an extra £50 for an engine, but who had that sort of money available in those days?

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