Concorde made big impression on whole area

If you were living in Gloucestershire during the late 1960s and '70s, you probably recall the sight and sound of Concorde passing overhead.

- Robin BROOKS

The sleekly beautiful plane appeared frequently flying from and returning to its test centre at RAF Fairford.

Nostalgia reader Jim Ball wrote to describe the powerful impression a glimpse of this glorious machine made on him. “Back in the early 80s I worked at Arle Court (for Dowty’s). We learned from a member of our staff who worked at Staverton Airport, that Concorde would be taking off from Cardiff Airport, flying out over the Irish Sea, then up the Bristol Channel, turning over Gloucester and lining up with the runway at Staverton to do a low level pass.

“Dowty Fuel Systems had their offices in Hatherley Lane, now the Nuffield private hospital. I went up onto the roof along with five other people and six pairs of ear protectors when Concorde appeared, a white dart in the sky, sinking lower, turning to line up with the runway, coming towards us, flying with the rear slightly down, the Rolls-Royce Olympus engines roaring.