Random Stuff!

[richard winterbourn]

For some of us old Brummies (i'm one but now living in the sylvan Herefordshire countryside) a leisurely open-topped bus tour of Brum taking in both the old and new sites of our great city would be a nice way to put faces to names. Just a thought...

 

[GliderPilot]

I’ll think of some things to add to that page Aviador!

 

[Brum X]

Whilst walking around on my lunch break today, i saw these in Victoria Square

 

[Ray Finkle]

Whilst walking around on my lunch break today, i saw these in Victoria Square

https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/news/...SocialSignIn&utm_content=Birmingham+Remembers

Bet it will be packed

 

[superking]

I cant find this any where. I see the old control tower and terminal has had a presavation order put on it.Am I right in saying it was opened in the late 50s early 60s.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I cant find this any where. I see the old control tower and terminal has had a presavation order put on it.Am I right in saying it was opened in the late 50s early 60s.

There's a thread about the building linked below, it has some decent information.

http://www.forums4airports.com/threads/3647/

The Elmdon Terminal was opened on July 8th 1939 by the Duchess of Kent. There is a bit about the history on the Birmingham Airport Wikipedia page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Airport

 

[superking]

Thank you for the correct dates Ray I only caught the last bit of the report.I knew some one would put me right, and also Ray if you want to move the post please do so. ty.

 

[Brum X]

Just heard there is going to be a flypast over the city centre at 3pm today by the red arrows as part of the RAF 100 Years of celebration. Think it was due to be tomorrow (Sunday) but maybe due to it going to be a washout on sunday, maybe they have put it forward by 1 day.

BRUM X WILL BE LOOKING UPTO THE SKY AT 3PM

 

[Brummiegem]

According to Red Arrows twitter feed,they will flyover Birmingham City Centre tomorrow(Sunday)@15:07.From Brize Norton.Not aware of them flying over the city today.

 

[Brummiegem]

Hardly surprising but due to the weather the scheduled displays by the Red Arrows have been cancelled today.This includes the Birmingham Flypast.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I was going to go in an watch but the monsoon season definitely arrived today.

I'm now glad that we didn't book a camping trip for this weekend

 

[wolfheze]

Whilst walking around on my lunch break today, i saw these in Victoria Square

Went today. Despite the weather it was quite good with quite a few interactive displays (probably aimed more at children) I embarrassed myself by getting beaten by er indoors in a exercise that involved riveting two pieces of aluminium together using a hammer to peen over the rivet . The aircraft on display looked quite decent despite being replicas. One thing though. On the information board in front of the Spitfire it stated that Sergeant Raymond Holmes brought down an enemy bomber by ramming it when his Spitfires guns ran out of ammunition, now I'd of thought of all people the RAF would have known he was flying a Hurricane

 

[Ianbutty]

Hardly surprising but due to the weather the scheduled displays by the Red Arrows have been cancelled today.This includes the Birmingham Flypast.

Annoying. Told me Mum and she was excited. Weather just as bad here in sunny Essex. November has come early. Happy Christmas.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Happy Christmas.

Ooooo, does this mean I can finally post Fairytale of New York on the what are you listening to now thread?

 

[Ianbutty]

Of course, Ray. Getting the Now Thats What I Call Christmas CD out. Tree coming in tomorrow. Mince pies all round. Hark I can hear the sleigh bells sing....

.....or....we had our town 'festival' today. Day packed with music, food, bouncy castles, candy floss etc. So it should have been.

Last year a 2,000 turned up. Today I reckon 200 turned up. But the bands played on, the bouncy castles went in doors. Faces painted. I painted a nice mug, kids painted plates and we have a great soggy time.

Why let a bit of rain stand in anyones way.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Tremendous photo of Spitfires being built at Castle Bromwich.

Picture courtesy of @Brumpic Twitter with full credit to the taker.

https://twitter.com/Brumpic/status/1033795002877595648

 

[Ianbutty]

Tremendous photo of Spitfires being built at Castle Bromwich.

Picture courtesy of @Brumpic Twitter with full credit to the taker.

https://twitter.com/Brumpic/status/1033795002877595648

Wow. Production line gone bonkers.

I was once told that there was a spitfire factory on the Elmdon Industrial estate to the north of the railway with a link across the railway which aligned with the end of the old runway and during the war when an aircraft was completed they start the aircraft up, throw open the doors and off it would roll across the bridge into the runway and in the air all in one swift movement.

Most likely mythology but nice if it were true. I would not be surprised if they did it at Castle Bromwich (or Vale). You would not want to the planes on the ground for any time.

 

[rollo]

They assembled Lancasters and Stirlings there which actually were manufactured at Longbridge amongst other shadow factories so mostly true.

 

[wolfheze]

Factory building was still there in the mid seventies still in camo paint when I started going to Elmdon. Became part of an industrial estate then I'm guessing demolished perhaps in the nineties?

 

[Ray Finkle]

to the north of the railway with a link across the railway which aligned with the end of the old runway

Are the foundations found either side of the railway the remains of that link?

The other bridge seems way too narrow?