Cowes Radar Reunion

Posted by Admin on 24 June 2014, 11:05 pm

.

Former staff of Decca, Plessey, Siemens and now BAE were reunited at the I.W. Community Club in Cowes.

.

The reunions, which have taken place every year since 2008, were originally set up to compile a record of the company’s radar techniques and developments.

.

A book called The Decca Legacy was published and can be viewed at the Island’s libraries and online.

.

The former colleagues travelled from around the country, with some from as far afield as Yorkshire.

.

The book’s writers and creators of many ground-breaking engineering designs were well-represented, including Peter Bradsell, of Wootton Bridge, Donald Brooks of Carisbrooke, and John Coldwell. Peter Venton represented all former managing directors.

.

Decca’s first Island chief engineer, Ron Burr, 94, was unable to make the journey from Arundel but sent well wishes to the group.

.

Reunion organiser and former Plessey employee, Eddie Grove, said: “The gathering was very much a family occasion, reflecting on the passing of ten members of our group since our 2013 get together.”

.

With numbers slightly down, the former colleagues called for new ways to keep the reunions going and it was hoped the apprentices of the 1960s, known as the ‘new boys’ would carry the torch.

.

Decca moved to the Island from Surrey in 1959.

.

By Sara Bryce

sarab@iwcpmail.co.uk

.

Photo and text courtesy of the Isle of Wight County Press.

.

The Decca Legacy can be viewed here.

.

See the Cowes Radar Ex-Employees Association section of this website.

 

 

Church
  • - Church News
  • - Church Diary
  • - Church Diary (past)
  • - Parish Church Officers
  • - Burial Database
  • - Church History
  • - Church Photo Gallery
  • - Parish History
  • - Northwood Clergy
  • - Parish Map
  • - Church Web Links
  • - Northwood News
  • - Friends of Northwood Church
  •  

    Village
  • - Village Forum
  • - Northwood Village Map
  • - Village News
  • - Village Diary
  • - Village Diary (past)
  • - Village History
  • - Local I.W. Councillor
  • - Village Photo Gallery
  • - Village People
  • - Natural History
  • - Local Links
  • - Community Partnership
  • - Local Groups and Clubs
  •  

    Parish Council
  • - Parish Council Diary
  • - Parish Council Diary (past)
  • - Parish Council News
  • - Parish Plan
  •