Remember safety office Stephen Duckett?

Stephen Duckett, 79, worked as a jig borer at Strand Road and then Samlesbury when it shut.

He said: "I worked as a shop Steward and safety officer. My favourite aircraft was the Tornado.

"I joined the association when I started. I retired when I was 56 after working for the company for 13 years.

"It's a great group. The association committee do a good job, I love meeting up with people who I haven't seen since I retired. A lot didn't join the association because they didn't know about it."

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com

Stephen with Lisa Woodhouse who attended the Christmas event

"it's great catching up with people", says Reg

Reg Aver, 79, worked in the machine shop at Strand Road '328'.

Joining in 1978, he worked for 12 and a half years at BAE, leaving when they shut down the site.

He said: "I liked the company. We were all good mates. It's great to have events like this. I have been coming for a while and it's always good to catch up with people."

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com

Joan enjoys meeting up with old friends

Joan Wilmer, 65, worked in Shared Services at Warton, Channel Way and Strand Road, buying parts for the various aircraft including the Nimrod and Eurofighter.

Joan and her former colleagues get together and meet up with people like Margaret Hoversall.

She said:"We like meeting up for meals and drinks and keep in touch. We meet at the Grey Friars - which is mostly BAE staff!

"I can see a lot of familiar faces at the Christmas party, and some I haven't seen for quite a while."

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com

Joan, pictured with friend Monica Musson

Do you recognise Miss Airframe 1967 Carol Taylor?

Carol Taylor, 70, recalls the moment she was chosen as Miss Airframe 1967.

Carol, who worked in Technical Publications at Warton, was voted for by her colleagues.

She said: "You wouldn't recognise me now! I was voted Miss Airframe and had a photoshoot. I held the title for 12 months and had to represent the company at social events. I was only 18. I was very proud to be chosen."

Carol used torrent the brochures for the main plane - the TSR2.

She said: "It was all very top secret. I worked there for about 7 years. I actually regretted leaving. I loved every minute of it.

"Originally I wanted to be a tracer but there were no positions for me. They put me in technical publications and I spent the rest of my life in printing I enjoyed it that much.

"Technology has changed so much. It used to take us a week to do a brochure."

Here are Carol's Miss Airframe pictures and report in Airframe newspaper, and the lady herself still looking glam at the Christmas Party.

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Neville recalls seeing the Spitfire fly over BAE

Neville Taylor started at BAE in 1961 as an office boy. He started in the training school and went in Vineys and then the tool room. He served his time as a tool maker until 1975 when he started work on quality and inspection.

In 1988 he went on to quality investigation and changed to an engineer in 1999 until he finished.

Neville served 38 years in total at BAE. During his time at the company, he worked in 1 shed, two shed, four shed, 36 shed.

He worked on all the tooling for the Tornado, quality for the Tornado and Eurofighter and ended up working on the Airbus.

Neville recalls when a team of apprentices refurbished a spitfire over a 12 month period.

He said: "I remember us all coming out to watch it fly away at Samlesbury, It was a magnificent sight to see. That's probably my best memory of working at BAE."

Neville praised the events hosted by the committee.

He said: "These events are great. We are in a great club - but it doesn't run on its own. It takes time, effort and finances to ensure it continued to run for years to come.

"These events recognise the years' served and what we have all done for aerospace.

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Sheila Sheldon loves the BAE events

Sheila Sheldon worked in tool control before taking charge of the print room, before later moving to cashiers in payroll at Strand Road. When the site closed, she moved to Samlesbury for one year.

Sheila, from Fulwood, worked for BAE for 35 years and said she really enjoys events held by the BAE Employee Association - and has been coming to them for 20 years.

She said: "I really enjoy events like these. You get chance to catch up with so many people you used to work with. It would be good to see even more members coming along though.

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Sheila (right) with friend Dorothy Crook

Meet 'grumpy' David Geraghey

David Geraghey, known affectionately to his friends as 'grumpy' worked at GEC for over 30 years.

David worked in fabrication at Strand Road on the Pendle Heroes and the London Underground trains - making all the equipment for the control boxes and cabs.

He said: "I have seen people I worked with but haven't seen for ages.

I was made redundant in 2003, and these events are the only way I can keep in touch with a lot of people I used to work with. It's lovely seeing people's faces again and having a catch up and finding out what people are up to."

David's work has taken him all over the world - China, Greece, Poland, Australia, Canada - to show other workers 'best practice' when it comes to fabrication.

Pal David Winder worked with David at GEC. David worked as a progress chaser, or 'gopher' as they were known. He worked his way up to production controller, and then production manager over a 30 year career with the company.

He also finished in 2003 when he was made redundant.

They attended the Christmas party with their friend and fellow Preston Modern Railway Club member Carl Smith, who worked at Fox's biscuits.

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Widow Monica recalls husband John's time at BAE

Monica Musson's late husband John worked as a manager at Samlesbury for 15 years, working on the Tornado and Nimrod.

He served 15 years at Strand Road and then Samlesbury and later the Manchester site.

Monica, right, said: "He travelled a lot, making sure everything got out on time and the contracts were met."

John sadly died in 2011.

Do you remember John? Did you work with him? Send us your memories.

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Monica (right)

Apprentice start at BAE for Brian Firth

Brian Firth, 81, worked for English Electric at Warton. Aged just 15, he started with the company as a probationary apprentice in the photography department.

He said: " that one year stood me in good stead for the rest of my life.

"We went all over the factories. We were allowed just about everywhere - even the top secret areas. It was fantastic. I learned a lot."

From there he went to Preston to start an apprenticeship with English Electric where he worked for almost 50 years - finishing at the age of 65.

He said: "I never regretted my time with the company. In the photographic department we were allowed in the wind tunnels, water tunnels, stress tests. I met everyone.

"I love events like the Christmas Party. It makes a big difference to all the members. It's definitely something to look forward to."

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Brian, pictured with wife Elaine.

George Seefus recalls the last 30 decades at BAE

George Seefus has worked at a range of sites on a range of projects.

When he first joined the company in 1978 he worked on the front fuselage on the Tornado.

He said: "We put the big looms in from Samlesbury. I was in 13 hangar.

The front fuselages were assembled on two lines with 16 aircraft on each. Each person did there job and it moved along the line until it reached the end and then went for testing.

"After the Tornado contract finished, I got moved into the workshop where I did assorts - making panels up and boxes for different things. I worked on the boxes and panels for the Eurofighter cockpit.

"They were only prototypes at that point and had never been built before. They just handed me a big box of wires and a big book of instructions. After that I went to Samlesbury where I make the looms for the Eurofighter."

George also worked at Chadderton and Warton.

At 62, George suffered from shortness of breath and had a quadruple heart bypass before taking early retirement. Now he's in the gym three times a week.

He said: "I like events like this. It gets everyone together."

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Pictured is George with wife Brenda.

Geoffrey Gillard. What a character!

Many people will know Geoffrey Gillard. He has been described as a character by many.

Geoffrey, from Kirkham, worked at BAE for 27 years as a labourer. You could often see him with his trusty brush sweeping up around Strand Road and Samlesbury.

He said: "I worked at 328 and Wellfielde. I was upset when it closed.

"I like coming here, It's really fabulous to see people. I see a lot of faces in the room I used to work with. This is the first time I have come to the Christmas party."

When Geoffrey retired in 1995, the team at 3b threw him farewell to remember. they hung an a-board saying 'we all like Geoffrey' and rolled out the red carpet.

His sister Shirley said: "It was very emotional. Everybody knew Geoffrey.

"He used to hide his brush away. I didn't like anyone touching his brush. Once, they nailed it to the wall."

Do you remember Geoffrey? Send us your memories.

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Pictured is Geoffrey with sister Shirley.

Do you remember working with Ian Hunter?

Ian Hunter joined BAE in 1967 where he held a number of roles.

He started at the company as an apprentice. He was one of 128 apprentices in the annual intake who had 7 trades to choose from.

He said: "The top students got to choose which trade they went into. I ended up as an apprentice toolmaker."

Ian recalls the journey in to work was a long one. After the closure of his local railway line, Ian has to get up an hour earlier, at 5am, and bicycle the 5.5 miles to Chorley where he would get on a bus to work.

He said: "I served my time in the tool room. He later moved on to inspection and then on to investigation.

For the next 35 years, he travelled all over the world, everywhere BAE sells aircraft.

He said: "I have spent a lot of time in Saudi Arabia, and in the gulf.

"BAE is a great company. I worked for them for 44 years and four months. It's a long time, but I loved it. I recognise a lot of faces here at the Christmas Party.

"These events are superb, I will definitely be coming again."

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Ian Hunter

Introducing Paul Kellert

Paul Kellert, 61, worked nights in one shed at Samlesbury on the laser machine, cutting parts for different aircraft. He worked on Boeing, Tornado, and F35.

He said he loved working nights.

“I was quite surprised they offered me early retirement. If they hadn’t, I would probably still be working there now. I quite enjoyed working on my own.

“It’s a really good atmosphere at these events.”

If you are a current or former employee and would like to become a member, email employee.association@baesystems.com.

Paul Kellert

Lots of festive cheer at Association’s annual party

Over 200 people chatted with old friends at this year’s BAE Employee Association Christmas Party.

Men and women who used to work at Strand Road, Warton and Samlesbury attended the BAC Club in Preston for the annual Christmas Party.

The event included a chance for people to catch up with former colleagues, before a short update from Chairman George Nowland. Guests were then invited to tuck in to a buffet and take part in a game of bingo and raffle draw.

Attendees also voted on the location for next summer’s trip – and chose Llandudno as their preferred destination.

The Association has been running since the 1950's and is traditionally Warton and Samlesbury focused.

As the business has changed over the years we have expanded to include Shared Services and others in the North West. The BAE Employee Association (formerly retired employee’s association) is run by people from the Warton Unit sites and is sponsored by a director from MAI.

“David Holmes, President of the Association, said: “It has been outstanding. It is great to be able to see lots of old faces coming together. Listening to the stories and the reminiscing is what it’s all about. It’s very humbling.

“Every fixed wing aircraft the RAF has flown has come out of these factories. These people have all played some part in the design, production and support of these aircraft – which are still world leading.

“We need more members to come forward to ensure this association can continue for generations to come.”

During the last 18 months the group has undergone a number of changes to help secure its future. The association is now open to existing employees and retired employees and recent changes include the creation of this website and social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The committee would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas party

The date has been set for our Christmas party – 14 December. Make sure that date is in your diary!

Every year there’s a great turnout and it’s a fantastic opportunity for all our retired members to catch up over a few drinks Christmas dinner and some party games.

Over 370 invites have been sent out for this year’s event. When yours drops through your letterbox please could you fill in the form and return it as soon as possible to help with catering orders, bus routes and ensuring the bar is stocked.

If you have moved and wish to update us with your address or contact details, please email employee.association@baesystems.com

We hope to see you there!