Working Memories

Following on from that last post, my memories of Menasco are far better than those from Dowty, indirectly I think that Larry was the best boss I've ever had, he knew his trade and was a lot of fun to work for, sometimes a bit explosive but that's part of the fun. The same is true with Gerry K, I've never worked for anyone better, the code was if you respected them, they respected you.

It was hilarious sometimes to watch Larry and Alvin have an enormous row, shouting at each other, then ten minutes later they'd be laughing and joking with each other again, never a question of a grudge.

I remember taking on the Fokker 100 after Steve Harding left, after a week there the lock actuator failed on test and both Gerry and Larry made me squirm in front of Allan Farmaner down at the test department, basically saying to me "What the f#&k did you do wrong this time?" - thats the sort of stuff that went on.

Gerry K took me down to the shop floor after the DCH8 400 main fitting was machined, he pointed at the upper part (where it eventually failed) and said to me "what the f#&k where you thinking?" and he was right, the actuator lug interface was hopelessly undersized (by me), and even fingers crossed and letters to santa failed to stop that fiasco on test (not to mention the yoke).

All great stuff, which can be placed in my "best working memories" box.

The list of blogs to the right has been updated to include "The Magnet" which will be a retrospective blog from 1974 onwards, taking advantage of old diaries and memories from my personal and working life.