Sergio

My parents, grandparents and wider family all worked at 'English Electric' (later BAC) at Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire, which kick-started an interest in military aircraft. Yet even attending a Warton open day in the days of Canberra production was trumped by my Uncle George one quiet Saturday morning. He was a progress-chaser at Warton and knew everybody. He got me into the factory and into a hangar where I was able to climb up and sit in the pilot's seat of an English Electric P1 fighter. I was only about ten years old at the time and as you might imagine, this was an experience I have never forgotten.

I often watched aircraft such as P1s, PIAs, P1Bs and finally Lightnings being flown in and out of Warton aerodrome. But then came the graceful TSR2. I saw it take off and land at Warton more than once with my nose pushing through the chain link fence at the Lytham end of the runway.