Initially I had nothing in the archive on Luton ATC but Malcolm Hemming sent me an article to get started.
for the article click on Luton – ATC-article
the photo below is Luton tower in the 60s. it is copyright of Airteam Images. I’ve tried to link to it but the link doesn’t work.
GW1
John Bennett has now sent me a fine selection of Luton ATC photos in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s . The photos are courtesy Mike Harper, the late Dave Gearing, John Bennett , McAlpines , and the local press.
GW1a Luton Control Tower July 1980 and the view from the tower of the old apron with Autair Vikings and a Jet Provost
GW1b
The next three are in the 1970s
GW2 newspaper cutting 1972
GW3 late 70s
GW4 Aerodrome Control 1970s (Windows Misting up Runway hidden by streetlighting!!)
then the 1980s
GW5 Aerodrome Control 1985
GW6 Approach Radar 1980s
GW7 ATSA position 1980s
GW8 Ground Movement Control 1980s
GW9 Ground Movement mid 80s
GW9a
The photo above, from Roy Bradbury, is of Luton Approach with Richard Schofield and Brian Jacobi., guessing the date to be mid eighties, the radar is the AR15 with SSR . Luton always boasted it was the second approach radar unit with SSR. There was an ACR 430 out of shot.
and the 1990s
GW10 Approach Radar 1990s
GW11 from Barry Davidson – the new tower
GW11a
GW12 BAC 1-11, G-BLHD, Mark Turner identifies this as the current apron control building at Luton
GW13 from Barry Davidson
GW14 Once upon a time in 1989
and two more from Barry Davidson
GW15 Dakota G-ANAF
GW16 LN-MTT Convair 440 of Stella Airfreighter and G-AOVG (?) Britannia of Monarch Airlines
GW17 is a series of stills taken from a cine film clip shot by Brian Macdermott on a visit to ATC in 1971. Can anyone add any names to the faces?
GW18 Percival Provosts Burmese Air Force UB215, via Barry Davidson as is
GW19 Percival Proctor III G-AHFK
GW20 Celebrating the 1953 Coronation. from Tom Singfield
GW21 Hunting Surveys DC-3 G-ANAF at Luton in front of a Monarch Britannia
GW22
GW23 G–AMGK, Avro York of Eagle Aviation,
GW25 BEFORE AND AFTER TOWERS plus Piston Provost T1 WV614
GW26 I’ve been sent this as Luton but I’m not sure, maybe Hurn?
atchistory 
GW9a
Farnborough had SSR in 1981 (Cossor Compass 9000 displays replacing the Plessey AR 1 and S232 with the Heathrow or Pease Pottage SSR) but I don’t think we were the first approach radar unit to get it.
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P.S. For a short while, after graduating from the cadet course, I was a member of Luton Flying Club. Seems weird recalling operating from the north/south (?) grass strip….no doubt long gone.
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Hello. Just caught up with this lovely archive. The connections are two-fold. For the past 14 years, I have lived approximately 10 NM west of EGGW under the turn to finals when Luton is on Easterlies. Second is that I was on No. 17 ATCO course as was a gentleman and lady I recognised from this site viz. Roy Bradbury and Penny.
I am keen to keep in touch with matters aeronautical and Luton has by default become my local airport. Not sure what, if anything, can come from this but glad to be part of a community which is clearly not forgotten. Best regards.
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Hi Brian
welcome to atchistory, glad you find us. Hope some of the former Luton controllers will be in touch
John Levesley. atchistory administrator
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Only just seen this as I was sending some background to a great nephew now flying with easyJet. Think you may mean DENNY in your entry. We’re living in the area west of Mentmore and long retired but still keep in touch with a few of the course mainly, Les, Martin and Arthur and Denny has contact with Lesley and a couple of other wives from the group.
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I agree with Mark – GW9a & GW10 are a similar time frame, early to mid ’90s. Richard radar trained after me, & I trained 89/90. GW10 is Craig Donnelly left, Richard Warner right. GW5 is Mary Turner with Kevin Ineson; GW6 in John Bennett; GW7 is Shirley Wardrop (sp?); GW8 is Mary Turner.
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GW9a is mid 1990s, long after the ACR430 was pensioned off around 1988.
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