Rise and Fall of The British Aircraft Industry

David Simmons

The Rise and Fall of the  British Aircraft Industry

For many of us, schooldays were when flights of fantasy were formed.

For this week’s Audlem Probus Club speaker, one was so strong he left school early to follow his dream.

David Simmons was clearly so fascinated by aircraft that he couldn’t resist the temptation to opt out of school to work at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, in Farnborough, which had its origins in the Army School of Ballooning, a training and test centre for Army experiments with balloons and airships.

After spending two years there, David started a university course in Aberdeen. Although he was to spend some 30 years in senior roles within the Information Technology industry, that grounding in the aircraft industry has remained with David to this day.

Witness the subject of his presentation at this Thursday’s (June 11th) Probus Club:

“My talk covers the post WW2 decades of the UK aircraft industry which, in 1945, was the country's biggest manufacturing employer with its own Ministry and of great significance to the NW.

“Over the next three decades famous engineers and designers like Sydney Camm produced some of the world's finest aircraft, but a combination of poor management and inept political decisions led to the steady loss of famous names and factories. While Rolls Royce is still a company of world-wide significance, aircraft manufacturing in the UK is now either foreign-owned, as in the case of Airbus, or, in the case of BAE, dependant on joint ventures.”

David retired almost 12 years ago, in which time he has developed his interest in aviation history and gives his talks on the subject for fees which he donates to the Alzheimer's Society.

Guests and visitors are welcome to join us for David’s presentation at Audlem Public Hall from 10am, Thursday, June 11th .