A Sad Tale BAe Woodford

Well, I did my best... Security not keen for me to visit site, but Manchester Airport ATC gave me clearance to 400 ft, so here we go... Some of the Factory features at the end, so you may wanna switch off early. I do miss this place and it is SAD to watch ! Hope at least some of the airfield footage may be appreciated, it took me two visits :-)

[@nigelthomson4387]

I served my apprentiship at Woodford starting in 1967, and became an aircraft electrician, then estimator working on the 748, Nimrods, Victor K2 and occasional Shackleton and Vulcan both at Top Shop & Flight Sheds.I learnt to fly gliders from the field so spent most of my time on that wonderful airfield. Thanks for the footage which was emotional as I heard it was being torn up for housing and what a bloody disgrace that we have allowed our aircraft industry to be decimated and I agree with Chris Cain our government was conned by the US and the AWAC's, the Nimrod was technically the better all round performance and we gave it up, shame on British Government in many ways.

[@andrewward7042]

I lived in Hazel Grove as a kid. When in primary school Vulcans used to fly very low on their approach to Woodford.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Lived in Cheshire growing up. Visiting the annual Woodford airshows and Manchester airport were major influencers that got me a career in aviation.

[@alanmartin1949]

Well done Eoin - I worked for Hawker Siddeley Aviation from 1973 to 1976 with many great colleagues on many great aircraft such as the Nimrod, 146, 748, victor & Vulcan - it is so very sad to sad what happened to the site! :-(

[@EoinA2012]

Thanks for all the kind comments about the footage ! It was clearly worth two days to document what there was before it is all gone. I agree that the Government have made terrible mistakes which can never be rectified, sad and very upsetting !

[@normanfawley7379]

So glad you did that.The memories came flooding back.Thanks.

[@Millerman77]

So sad to see Woodford go like this. My Dad worked there from the mid-60's through to the early 90's as a draughtsman (working on the Vulcan's, Victor K2's, Nimrod's, 748's, 146 and the ATP) and I have great memories of the airshows and the family open days. Successive "Governments" have a bad habit of screwing up major projects - TSR2 and Nimrod Mk4, spring to mind amongst many others just because of budgets, but are quite happy to waste money elsewhere. If my Dad was still alive I'm sure he'd very upset at what has happened to Woodford.

[@captainrimshot1648]

Thanks for taking the time to do this Eoin, although I did 'my time' at Chadd I had regular visits here whilst a BAe employee and long after that in different roles.

[@ericlees7518]

i worked there from 1985 to 2002 in the stores on the last 748 through to the 146 great days collected loads of paperwork about the ATP and 146 models while i was there went on an aerospace trip from Woodford in 1985 to the farnborough airshow by train from Stockport Edgeley on a day trip still have the airshow book from 1985 great to look back on and most of the monthly woodford ATP monthly update mags too

[@stuartfoulkes-2ndaccount302]

Huge thanks for sharing this video, breaks my heart seeing the site/factory in this state ... appreciate this was filmed in April and I'm posting the message in Oct

[@20gibbon]

Thank you so much for this footage, brought a tear to my eye.

[@fitzylar]

Epic. Thanks for doing that. I watched all the way through shaking my head. The blue floor, still in place.It seems like only yesterday, there where sharks swimming there.So sad to se it in this state. You had to be there. R.I.P Woodford.

[@tilsworthworks]

Chris Fitzgerald I worked for the site cleaning contractor at Woodford in the mid 1990's driving a floor scrubbing machine back and forth on that blue floor, back then it was just skid marks that were hardest things to clean off - this view of it now is just pitiful. I don't know why but Ive always hung on to an old copy of the internal company magazine (Flightline i think), it's now a poignant reminder of my time there.

[@tomjohnson9730]

You want to see it now: a massive housing estate! So sad to see it go. I lived in Cheadle Hulme as a child and used often to watch the Avro Vulcans on test flights as they flew almost over our house.

[@intrusivenature9758]

Great fun working there. I think it was about 7am every morning loads of us grabbed a brew and our ciggies and went out side to watch the woman from the Post Office have a shower right up against the window. She was very soapy and well blessed.

[@daveke110ck]

Wow Eoin . Just had a suggestion from KZbin. Brings back all the memories.

[@IvanDrago69]

What a terrible shame. Thanks for sharing.

[@KyleMediaFilms]

Thanks for taking time to film this piece. However, so very sad to watch. What a wonderful history - what fantastic world beating innovative aircraft produced over so many years. All the human effort, all the skills now long lost forever. This Country has gone to the dogs - makes me sick to the stomach to watch our Governments ruin our once great nation. I have great respect for the pioneers who championed early aviation technology on sites such as Woodford - what would they think if they saw your film now ? Great memories, but nonetheless extremely sad and dissapointing. Never mind defending our coastline, there is nothing left worth defending.

[@andyrad]

great video. been today and the green sheds are still there! 27th Nov 2016

[@EoinA2012]

Thanks very much ! Nice to hear that the old AVRoe hangar is still there :-)

[@paulmannion7097]

Looks like the Design Office is still there. Is that being used or going to be knocked down?

[@a11csc]

so sad to see this

[@tomshiba51]

Sad. It would be nice to maintain the physical past, but like old trees, the past is either knocked down, or it dies in place and is taken away.

[@2009SONICFAN]

so this is my uncles work. he worked at woodford for years building the Vulcan... I honour him in the heritage museum

[@EoinA2012]

+Sonic the hedgehog I worked there for over 10 years and this is just as they were knocking the place down :-( Very sad Indeed !

[@2009SONICFAN]

Did you know someone called Norman?

[@EoinA2012]

+Sonic the hedgehog There were 3500 people who worked there... so not sure who Norman could be... sorry

[@2009SONICFAN]

He was one of the people in charge

[@EoinA2012]

+Sonic the hedgehog That still doesn't help as 3500 workers is a lot of people and I didn't know everyone - who could ?

[@Horizon344]

Is there any military facility left in this country that isn't being demolished "for housing". (Music is a distractingly bad fit with the footage).

[@petervare]

So sad

[@MrSkyskooter]

What attracts the seagulls?

[@captainrimshot1648]

When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.........

[@timothylyons5686]

While it is distressing to see the site you can't keep an area the size of Woodford as an unused airfield when the country needs new housing for all the illegal immigrants that are allowed to stay here.