14 (my dad) (1963 to 1975)

??

From 1971 forklift truck driver

Madrid

My dad, John McLoughlin, started work around 1963. He had a mate called \"Nobby\" and a foreman called \"Jumbo\" Wheeler. Dad was known as \"Jacko\". He was made redundant in 1975. I´d lvoe to hear from an

He said very little about it but I do remember a Sports Day there.

1940\'s and 1950\'s

despatch and engineering testing

not sure about that

Joyce moved to St Annes and sadly died recently. Her Dad died in the 1980\'s.

Just wondering if anyone out there remembers them. Love to get an email.

My grandfather, Fred Pattison, was an engineer and I believe he worked on research or testing. He retired in the late 50\'s I think, with ill health. He was prematurely bald if that jogs anyone\'s memories! My mum, Joyce, worked in despatch in the late 40\'s and early 50\'s and was friends with Joan, Ivy and Brenda. Fred came from Sunderland originally and he managed to get jobs at AEC for many of his nephews - Teddy and Len Choulerton. Len became very active in the AUEW.

1921 - 1971 - father Arthur Joseph Witham (dob 1907 - 1982)

Jig borer - tool shop

Chargehand

I remember dad talking about colleagues Sam and Tubby.Other people were Bill Williams, Bill Holloway, Jack Heron and Eric Lay.

I can\'t remember dad talking much about the work but I do remember the children\'s Christmas parties.

Webmaster

Thanks for all the great posts everyone!

Dad worked there, in the drawing office, and I went to the AEC Christmas parties!

9 years

Apprentice, various assembly departments, chassis rectification and Industrial Engineering

Apprentice, fitter then industrial engineer

Ingatesone, Essex

Left AEC 1978, then Ford since - now retired

Re-Posting this as I now have a different e-mail since retiring. Would be pleased to anyone who knew my dad - or me

worked at AEC from leaving school in 1969 to 1975, following my Grandad, Dad, uncles, cousins and neighbours from Southall who also worked there. Grandad (Bert), moved (I think) from Walthamstow to Southall when AEC moved to the new Southall factory (before the war) – working there till he died in ’58. He worked on Axle assembly. Dad (Ray) joined AEC after WW2 - leaving the RAF, working there till closure. He worked in various areas on the fitting side – becoming foreman in the prototype build shop, followed by Foreman of Track 1 assembly. As a boy I remember him test driving bare chassis units, sitting on a temporary “lashed” on seat structure, dressed like something out of the film “The Great Race” –with goggles and a big long trench-coat.
I was an apprentice at AEC From 1969 to 1975, starting in the trade school under John Gudgeon, followed by spells in Engine assembly; Chassis assembly (Track 1), Chassis details; Engine test; Progress chasing dept; Works Transport dept and Chassis Rectification – which is where I ended my apprenticeship, staying there for 2 years before moving to the Industrial Engineering department (the old rate fixers dept).
As a boy I remember the busy social life of the social club - with Xmas parties in the canteen (I remember a much loved AEC Routemaster die-cast toy bus from Father Christmas), coach trips to London for Panto or the latest films. There was also the annual River Thames swim at Wallingford in the summer – usually won by a member of the same family – the Shons?–I think.
Dad was a keen snooker player, winning the snooker completion one year – the prize being a game with Hurricane Higgins – who thoroughly trounced dad. The social side also included dinner & dances in the club, cricket matches (with lavish salad spreads for tea-time) – the bar being always open. The Inter departmental cricket competition always seemed to be won by the Internal transport dept (nearly all keen cricketers of west Indies origin – formidable fast bowlers and batsmen). Occasional cricket matches with Thorneycroft at Basingstoke, again with the bar open and lavish teas – all seems a lifetime ago.
Looking through the names on this site re-awakens many memories – mostly good ones. If there had been a future there, I would never have left the place – but the writing was on the wall – even in 1975. Worked at Ford Industrial Engineering ever since. Unfortunately Ford vehicle production also ceases next week - when Southampton Transit plant shuts!

1968 - 1969

Computer

Computer Programmer

Reading

IT Computer Consultant

I trained on a Sandwich Course 6 months at AEC and 6 months at Isleworth Polytechnic!
I worked mainly at Southall but went to Aldenham, Chiswick Works and Park Royal!

1950-1964

Cutter, Grinder

Deceased 1984

I\'m posting this on behalf of my long lost cousin Ronald Fisher. He left for Australia in 1964 and disappeared of the radar. I know it\'s a long shot but I\'d love to hear from anyone who knew him.

1968 to 1974

boys shop and millwrights

engineering apprentice

retired and living in North Cadbury, somerset

london fire brigade 1974 to 2006

first year in boys training school, then into millwrights to complete apprentice ship,

9 years

Mailig room ,Training School Bar floor Stores Old toolroom Brass line

Canada

7

I was very friendly with Brian Chapman on page 2 and would like to contact him can you advise how I can obtain his daughters Christine\'s E mail address
An E mail icon is shown but I cannot get it to

I certainly can and will

1951-1966

Crane Driver

Basingstoke

I lived in Southall and worked at the Aec for about 15 years.

Loved it there and only left to move to Basingstoke in1966

4

Apprentice millwright coppersmith\'s tinsmiths

Sheet metal worker

British airways engineering

Emi hayes

Great place to work very happy times

5years

Expediting

Expeditor

Retired

Purchasing officer,National fleet Sales Manager Avon Tyres.

Great place to work and lovely people very sad when I left for a better job in 1978 as I knew the company was going in 1979.Just wonderful memories.

Met so many good people not just in my office but on the shop floor as well. Had some really good laughs especially in the social club meetings.

Apologies for the spam posts which have appeared. Please ignore them and explore the dozens of messages from former AEC employees. The spam messages will be removed asap. Thanks.

We\'re working to beef up our anti spam measures. Thanks.

Storeman

passed away

My Father worked at AEC until he passed away in 1970 he worked for many years for them before i was born I was born in 1951 he was a jack of all trades when the firm closed for the holiday he would

I loved the Christmas parties

Seven

Mail Room ,sales Accounts

Guarantee claims clerk

Retired in Cambridgeshire

Martin Baker Aircraft,Rank Xerox ,Avis

My husband is Peter Wood whom I met at the A.E.C in 1961 He worked in the old tool room from early sixties until 1972 .

Loved working there had to move to Buckinghamshire when my parents moved.Worked with Miss Renee Farrer who I stayed friends with for years after ,also Gwen Rogers .

1952 - 1955 Crossley Motors Stockport

Laboratory

Lab Assistant

France

Though known as Crossley Motors actually they were owned by AEC.
We used to test bus ref Centre of Gravity
We also did tests on internal body panels & the effect of chemicals on the colours.

1977 to 1979

Engine Test

Engine Tester Inspector

Ireland

Motor Engineering Education and Training.

I remeber some very hot summer days on Test Stand (usually 23 and 24)
near the end of the Test House testing The 760s,505s L12s and TL12 and some the odd MOD Variants.
Some great memories

1978 79

ENGINE TEST HOUSE

ENGINE TESTER

LOCAL

MACHINE SHOP

AEC WAS A TOWN ON ITS OWN .PLACE WHERE A TRUCK CHASSIS WERE BUILT FROM SCRATCH

1963-1972

Service Dept

Apprentice through to Tech Asst to GSM

Retired in NZ

Tech Asst to Engineer, City of Oxford Motor Services, Service Training Executive NZ Motor Corp. Partner Cascade Hire Centre NZ

Emigrated to NZ 1974 employed by NZ motor Corp [BLNZ] as Service Training Executive. Job was to travel country and train mechanics on how to repair B L vehicles. Shock to system, no pits, no special equipment, changing engines on side of road with rope thrown over branch of tree. Repairs completed with second hand spares including pistons and liners because new parts were 6 weeks away in UK and operators could not wait that time for spares. BL was failing at this point, could not get spares or new vehicles. Change of direction in occupation, went into Hire industry, all engines got a lot smaller, retired after 33 years. Now live in beautiful Bay of Islands New Zealand. So many good memories of AEC and guys I worked with. Reason went to AEC, my dad told me to, he drove a bus an AEC RT out of Southall Bus Garage just across the road from Windmill Lane.

Did all usual Office work before Training School, bit of time in Gear Grinding before moving to Service Centre under the immortal Ron Farrar. Covered all aspects of engine recon before moving to Chassis shop. Gear box, diff chassis repairs, engine repairs over pits with all the gear to do the job. Moved to Aldenham to finish apprenticeship, joined guys from Leyland Scammell in biggest repair depot in UK. Promoted to Tech Asst to Reg Mathews workshop manager. From memory we could get 72 vehicles in workshop 24 over pits. Transferred back to Southall to work out standard times for repairing vehicles. Then Tech asst to GSM, Jack Eaton. Finally left, to work for End user. City of Oxford Motor Services, bus co. 300 vehicles plenty of AEC.

Maintain the good job and generating the group!
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http://www.klfservice.se/