GP0 the earliest photo we’ve seen of the tower before the terminal and hotel were built
GP0a
GP0b
GP0c
GP0d
GP0e
GP1
looking through the memoires of Eric Matthews he mentions that in 1936 Speke had what he believes was the only location at which there was a Marconi Beam Approach System with Marker Beacons all operating on Medium Frequencies.
GP2
Mr George Pickup the duty “Key Thumper” taken through the hatch by the duty ATCO in 1947 during a break on Grand National day. Note the Direction Finding Receiver (Bellina-tosi array on the tower)
GP2a George Pickup
Steve Balfour has provided some welcome additions to the EGGP post.
GP3
(and GP3a via Barry Davidson)
These Mustangs come from three units of the USAAF, one Eighth Airforce and two Ninth Airforce. QL is the 22nd Reconnaissance Squadron, 69th Reconnaissance Group; YC is the 16th Reconnaissance Squadron also from the 69th RG and CY is the 343rd Fighter Squadron from the 55th Fighter Group. Near Liverpool both Haydock Park and Burtonwood were major USAAF bases, maybe they had diverted in due weather at Burtonwood or there was a USAAF staff meeting at Speke. Its taken in the first half of 1945, possibly just after the end of the war in Europe.
(and GP3b Taken on 23 February 1965 – Les Tranter)
GP3c
and GP3d from Barry Davidson. there are a lot of spectators on the roof; were the Beatles or another merseybeat group or Liverpool FC or Everton FC due?
GP3e G-AMOY or OX
GP3f G-AMOA
Percival Prince G-AMLZ of Shell Oils outside the art deco splendour of the former Liverpool Speke Airport terminal now the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Liverpool John Lennon Airport July 2013
GP5
GP6
GP7
Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel Airside
GP8 Cessna G-GYAV
Jon Wornham added these three of the tower in the winter of 1981/82
GP8a US NAVY 22255
GP8b Jon is the bearded cadet on the left
GP8c
our thanks to Alastair Meikle for the following photos
GP9 Runway control, touchdown end rwy 27. ATC Avenger Estate
GP9a Interior of Runway Control Van (touchdown Rwy 27)
GP10 First Boeing 747 to land at Liverpool with tower and terminal behind.
GP11 Liverpool tower Al Heys (?) on left
GP12 Inside the old Liverpool Airport terminal. Flight briefing room on right
GP13 Liverpool Airport ‘Remote Met’, when ATCA’s took over met observations the runway control van was closed and the runway control ATCA combined both jobs from ‘Remote Met’
GP14 Observers desk ‘Remote Met’
GP15 Cloudbase recorder in remote met
GP16 Merseyside Fire Brigade ‘Pathfinder’
two more photos from Ray Draper
GP17 both feature Keith Williams – extreme left below.
GP18
and now another 7 photos from Paul Funnell
GP19 EGGP Tower 1967
GP19a via Barry Davidson British Eagle BAC1-11 G-ATPJ named “Stalwart”.
GP20 EGGP TWR 1967 Rob RAYNER Derek DENNINGTON Alan HAYES and Elsie
GP21 EGGP New Rwy 28 caravan
GP22 EGGP App lighting
GP23 EGGP App lighting in Mersey
GP24 EGGP BEA fleet div to EGGP fog at EGCC 1967
GP25 EGGP RWY 28 RAF Short Belfast Training 1967
GP26 from Barry Davidson.Autair Airspeed Ambassador at Speke
GP26a Invicta Viking G-AHPL at Speke
and three more from Barry
GP27 Chrisair G-ADDI. Barry tells me the white hangar is diagnostic of this being Liverpool “as it was built in the 1930s to accommodate Railway Air Service companies and also appears in several reference works about the RAS companies”.
GP28 Chrisair G-ADDI
GP29
and now for six photos from Norman Henderson dated 1973/74
GP30 Ian McDonnel 1974
GP31 Vince Lawson (L), Ian McDonnel (R)
GP32 tower assistants desk
GP33 From G-ARMP
GP34 Rwy 27 from G-ARMP
GP36
GP37
GP38 Starways Viscount G-ARIR
GP39
GP40
atchistory 
GP8B It looks like Dave ‘MODAK’ Casey on the right? He, John Wornham (and me!) were on the same Cadet course, 38
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GP8B – Is that John Tierney standing on the right with the dark pullover and moustache ?
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More nostalgia….
photo GP32 (ATCA desk) shows the kettle lead hung over the window latch. Everyone will remember how fickle the lift was and if it was u/s the only way up to the tower was through the terminal, out onto the first floor viewing balcony then up the fire escape with spectators watching! Brewing up was an art. The kitchen was 2 (?) floors down so all the brew stuff, kettle, milk, cups & saucers had to be placed in a galvanised bucket, the emergency trap doors opened, then lowered on a rope. If you got a swing on – stop! If the bucket caught the side it could up-end and all the brew stuff would tip out! Folk might be wondering what purpose the clock on the tower building served – since it couldn’t be seen by anyone in the terminal or viewing balcony. One only has to look at Croydon’s Art Deco building. The clocks faced the active airfield. The clock was synchronised with the ATC clocks and accurately checked with GMT (UTC) for aircrew time checks. All control was procedural for many of the early years.
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Some very random memories – The trips down to the terminal bar soon after arriving for a night duty – the code word for “landings” to broadcast if we were needed sharpish! As the “back desk” ATCA, your most important job on a morning duty was watching out for the Hales bakery van coming down Speke Boulevard, lest we didn’t get our JD’s!
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What a great update! I was there twice, once on detachment from PATCC in 1974 and then posted in in summer 1977. I was trained 1st time by Jean and second by Nancy – legends. I can hear Harry Seekts now “Alright Der, Nance”. When I first saw him he’d only come in to deliver Nancy’s regular home brew and a bag of spuds! He must have been doing some DIY at home the way he was dressed. When he’d left I said to Nancy “who was that, one of the maintenance guys?” She said ” No – he’s the training officer”!!! More reminiscences to come!
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Sadly, recent news is that the replica Rapide (see GP5) has been broken up; the victim of lack of maintenance. The cockpit and some smaller items may be saved.
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It was G-AMOE which ran into the gate at the terminal building. G-AMOX was a helicopter and G-AMOY was an Auster!
I don’t think the B&W photo of G-ADDI was taken at Liverpool. I can’t recall any white (or light-coloured building) which looked like that and I worked there for seven years! The building which Railway Air Services used was attached to hangar 50, which would just about fit a Rapide, or maybe a DH89. I know because I worked there and opened the pale green hangar doors many times!
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Spot on, Barry.
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I was posted to Liverpool at the end of my cadet course in 1975. The day before I received my licence they wanted to change my posting to JATCRU Lindholme where I had trained. I spent a month at Liverpool before making the move. – Perhaps the shortest posting in ATC history?
I recall passing the Triumph factory on the way in. The latest model TR7 was in production and would be driven to a holding compound along the road. Many didn’t make it and could be seen parked along the way.
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Wonder if any of these pics are of use?
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOfjN1WNdZmcTzg1QbXy_VFiu8t7TpsJCMBoan2J_rAZRpt5q0pjyqJ76DeVKeYKQ?key=RU9DRVQxWkpldWVxdm5oOTBvZmFPTmc5anlPSHlB
Many are of poor quality alas.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOJ8cdpEsUCmZa8ffkh9KUEs8wbyyFeRJQm7JbmU55WR0Aoo4unaUzcDz9fvSTggA?key=Z2s5SGNGTzExMFpXVzN3aV9MZFNsTmxyZU5PU2Fn
After 6 years on A side & radar boards at Southern ATCC and LATCC I joined 102 Aerodrome course (but can find no pics) and was posted to GP. Later joined 22 course for APC & radar.
Both seem to be missing from your excellent site.
Deep joy, Martyn Pawson.
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Thanks Martyn
Sadly no one has sent in photos for 102 aerodrome or 22 course.
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These are brilliant pictures Martyn. I am surprised they dont appear to be on the main site or maybe I just don’t see them. I was at Liverpool in late 75 to summer 76. My 3rd ATC posting and my first outside Scotland as an ATCO Cadet doing Approach / Approach radar on the old radar in the cupboard. Harry bloody Seekts was one of my main mentors and I loved the guy. He was so unconventional and a really great people person. I learned so much from Harry. An then there was Janet ,,,,,, the picture there captures her brilliantly. I was 21 and married at the time but wow what a girl. I met up with her lots of times in our ATC careers and she was a great person on the Watch at ScATCC. Very happy memories of Liverpool and growing up while training
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Cheers Doug. I remember you “passing through “.
It was a happy unit….
Harry’s favourite question, “what is an occulting light?”
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Gp11 shows Graham Williams on the RHS. I”be never been to Liverpool, but worked with Graham at Prestwick in the 80’s. I seem to remember that he was posted there after CAA/NATS lost the contract at Liverpool?
Mark Howell (EGNX).
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Graham was obviously a jinx Mark. He was posted to Glasgow after NATS lost the Prestwick contract. As far as I know he never moved house from Prestwick and was still heard moaning about “bloody Scotland” years after 🙂
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You mean he bought a house!!! When I was there until end of 89, he was still living in the Towans hotel!
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What memories of the back of beyond Met Office observing hut! GP13 & 14. I was an ASO met office observer on detachment from Abbotsinch EGPF for about 6 weeks during the summer of 1977. The office had a great view of the runway but the terminal building was on another planet. My abiding memory of Speke was of the stench of the Mersey, the sulphur of the Swan Vestas factory and the plague of corn flies that greeted me on the long drive en route around the airfied on my motorcycle and during observations. They were everywhere and the controllers used to have a laugh at me stuck out in the field being bitten alive. Happy happy days. A Met Observer’s view. Alan Laird.
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I was an ATCA at “The Pool” 1972-75. I have a few photos I’ll try to upload.
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GP17, is the gentleman with the cup Harry Shepherd?
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Steve – I think not; that is Ken Pratt, watch sup at the time. In GP18 he is seated furthest from camera with Frank Leeming gazing into distance. Keith W is mentoring Dave Smith IIRC.
Great to see the ATCA desk again !
Were the tower fittings dumped when service moved to south airfield ?
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Great to see the L’pool faces in GP20; happy days
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GP9 The avenger looks like the one I managed to have a prang in when I hit the Airfield Police vehicle at S3 fire station Harry Seekts was watch manager His reply to being told is unprintable !!!!!
Sandy Sandford Sept 73 to Nov 76 @ Liverpool then an ATSA 2
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I was with you that day having just arrived at EGGP from LATCC as an ATSA2! Alastair Meikle
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Brilliant
what a laugh it was I still remember his comment!!!!!!!!! and him
He passed away last year
RIP
Sandy
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