Comments on: NGTE – National Gas Turbine Establishment

By: Graham Deavin

Graham Deavin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:01:38 +0000

I work in the refrigeration industry and believe that there was a huge cooling system to enable tests to be carried out at low temperatures. Do you know anything about it?

Thanks in advance.

By: Andy Dinnage

Andy Dinnage — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:42:28 +0000

Hi, I used to work there. Spent a lot of time in the Airhouse, Cell 3, cell 3 west and cells 1&2. Great seeing the pictures, brought back a lot of memories. It was an incredible place to work.

By: Dennnis Molyneux

Dennnis Molyneux — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:46:04 +0000

I too have read (enjoyed and learnt) Empire of the Clouds by J Hamilton-Preston. Perhaps a few more politicians should read it – they would see how this countries expertise has been squandered by the politicians.

By: Allan Young

Allan Young — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:54:38 +0000

What a blast from the past! Thanks so much for the photos taken during your trip around the NGTE Maralyn.
You brought tears to my eyes with your description and glorious photos. Prior to this I had no photos of my stay at Pyestock, if you were caught with a camera in the 50′s you would be hung drawn and quartered. So thanks a million again.
My association with NGTE started way back when my father was enployed at Power Jets at Whetsone Leics.
We then moved to Pyestock estate in late 1949 as the dwellings were being constructed.
My apprenticeship with NGTE started in 1955 and the first year of training was all at “The Training Shop” on the RAE Tech’ Col’ site.
I then moved over to the NGTE site for the remainder of my 4 years of training, ending up on The Old Site where we were experimenting with a revolutionary tubular helicopter blade that was to be fitted on top of a conventional aircraft……VTOL on a grand scale. ah ! happy days.

I am now living in Melbourne where I have worked in various jobs for a large petro- chemical company since 1966. Of course I am now retired with 4 wonderful grandchildren.
Thanks for the memories.

By: Jennie Mitchell

Jennie Mitchell — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:15:40 +0000

My husband has just been reading Empire of the Clouds, and I found this site for him, such a shame that our heritage has been allowed to die.

By: Mike Prescott

Mike Prescott — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:33:01 +0000

I foumd this site after reading ‘ Empire Of The Clouds’ ( a fascinating book ). To think that such a historical place exists this day and age when everything is torn down in the name of progress. Hope somebody somewhere has the means to save at least something of this fantastic piece of history.

By: Anthony Fripp

Anthony Fripp — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:09:48 +0000

I also came across the site having read ‘Empire of The Clouds’ by James Hamilton-Paterson.
I was very interested, as when I was an apprentice with Vickers in the late 50′s I worked on a design for a set of hugh hydraulic cylinders for Pyestock. I think they were for the altitude test chamber, but not sure. The book is worth reading as it explanes reasons for the decline of the British aircraft industry. I also worked for Bristol Siddeley for a while before the decline.
I left the country in 1966 to work for an American company as there was no future for engineers with my experience in England. I wish the site could be made open for viewing.

By: Anthony Pearson

Anthony Pearson — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:35:08 +0000

Came across site having read ‘Empire of The Clouds’ by James Hamilton-Paterson.
I served with bomber command during the glorious fifties and followed with great attention how the British Aircraft Industry was developing up to and following the intervention of Duncan Sandys’ 1957 White Paper. He thought missiles would take over from Fighter Command!
It is so sad now to see that anything associated with the hub (British) of the worlds
aircraft industry has to be destroyed as though it meant nothing and was not worth preserving and should therefore be relegated to the dustbin (Tesco) of this Great British past.

By: David Jarrett

David Jarrett — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:41:53 +0000

Did my apprentiship at pyestock 1972, i remember mr travena how u doin, and anyone else reading,great times in maintenance/ still see a few old faces, ray lynch,john pettigrew, barry appleyard, spreddy, see you all at xmas.

By: Maralyn Tamblin

Maralyn Tamblin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:25:16 +0000

My dad, George Watson and my mum Doris Watson worked at Power Jets in Whetstone, Leicester with Frank Whittle. Power Jets I believe was then nationalised and became NGTE at Pyestock, Farnborough. We moved there in 1950 to Pyestock Estate (Whetstone Road). We were one of the first families to arrive and the houses were still being built. All of the people on that estate worked at the NGTE. Not many cars in those days they all used to come home on their bikes – quite a sight. My dad was an engineering inspector and often used to bring apprentices home for a good meal. A couple of them stayed as lodgers. Prior to her death in 1983 my mum had also worked at Pyestock in the drawing office. As a child I used to enjoy the Christmas parties and outings and much later my parents started an Old Time Dance Club with the help of the Sports and Social Club. I also took fencing lesson there. It was a great era and so sad that it has ended up like this.