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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: mafsef on Thursday 10 May 07 18:57 BST (UK)
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I'm trying to find info on Jimmy McClean who worked at Shorts in the 50's. Also I would be interested in making contact with any old Shorts people of that period and find out if anyone has copies of the "Short Story" that the company published in the same era. All my requests in various venues have so far not borne fruit and I'm beginning to wonder if all the old guys from flight test, the design office and the loft have flown away to the hangar in the sky.
Alan F.
Moderator comment: if you have info about living people to help Alan, please send it to him by PM to protect their privacy.
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Alan,
You'll be after the PETIT-CREWs then?!
[Sorry, couldn't resist.
Please forgive me!]
Good luck with your search.
John
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Hi John, presumably a name (Pettigrew) but not one I recognise - but perhaps there is another hidden message in there that, for the life of me, I can't decipher.
Are you ex-Shorts?
Alan
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Alan,
Yes, the name PETTIGREW is the key.
[It derives from the Hugenot PETIT-CRU, meaning "of small stature".]
I was attempting to make a joke linking "SHORTS" and "CRUISE"-LINING (Harland & Wolff, Titanic, etc.).
Guess it sunk without trace.
[Its the way I expell them - isn't it?..?..?]
Guess there's no point in trying to extend the the scope to David and Goliath ...
The closest I got to SHORTS was when I was in the cub scouts.
[But I did know a man who did some consultancy there once ...]
Just ignore me - everyone else does!
Will crawl back in to my cave now ...
Hey, if were not having fun we shouldn't be doing it!
John [The occasional spoiler.]
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I'm trying to find info on Jimmy McClean who worked at Shorts in the 50's. Also I would be interested in making contact with any old Shorts people of that period and find out if anyone has copies of the "Short Story" that the company published in the same era. All my requests in various venues have so far not borne fruit and I'm beginning to wonder if all the old guys from flight test, the design office and the loft have flown away to the hangar in the sky.
Alan F.
Hi there...
You would'nt have any info pertaining to Sir Philip Foreman, who was affiliated with this company? Would be extremely interested in it....
All the best
Wendy
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Hi Wendy, I can tell you that Phil Foreman was the Chairman and Managing Director of the company in the early eigthies. He initially came aboard as Chief Engineer sometime earlier.
I can tell you more but I need to go back through my old papers to refresh the memory. I'll be pleased to do that but I'm going out of town for a couple of weeks so it will be the end of the month before I can make progress.
Do let me know if you are prepared to wait a while.
Alan
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Hiya Alan F,
It might be an idea to post a message on Belfast Forum. (http://www.belfastforum.co.uk) Several of the site members worked at Shorts ...
I read one message in which one of the members said that Shorts belonged to their family as so many
of them were employed by the company 8)
Chris
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Hi Wendy, I can tell you that Phil Foreman was the Chairman and Managing Director of the company in the early eigthies. He initially came aboard as Chief Engineer sometime earlier.
I can tell you more but I need to go back through my old papers to refresh the memory. I'll be pleased to do that but I'm going out of town for a couple of weeks so it will be the end of the month before I can make progress.
Do let me know if you are prepared to wait a while.
Alan
Hi there...
Thank you, yes...prepared to wait..plse see the private message I sent you.
All the Best
Wendy
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Hello Alan
I just spotted your posting while browsing.
I wonder whether you have seen the short article by Jimmy McClean of Short Bros & Harland at:
http://www.peoples-history.org/Index.asp?MainID=5170
I have no connection with Jimmy or Short Bros (apart from great respect for their wonderful efforts in WWII). This was just the result of a Google Search on your behalf.
With warm good wishes for your further research and I do hope that you find someone who remembers Jimmy!!
David
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Hi Alan
Can't help in the period 46/60. However I worked in Shorts from 79 to 96. I have lots of info which I saved including sales literature.
Steve
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Hi Steve, thanx for your reply; it seems that the old guys from my time have vanished 'cos I haven't had many replies from many postings. But the more modern Shorts is definitely of interest to me as some people stayed in spite of the "brain drain" to the States.
I would be very interested in looking over what you have, it would no doubt trigger memories, so how do we proceed?.
I live in Florida (in totally relaxing retirement) but where are you?
Let me know and let's keep in touch.
Alan.
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Hi Alan
I live in sunny Ulster!
The sort of info I have in my possession is:
The book 'Shorts Aircraft' by C H Barnes
The book ' Pictorial History' by M Donne
The book 'Pioneers of the Sky' by M Donne
Literature re Shorts and the Wright Brothers
Literature re Bombardier's take over
Wall Charts of Shorts Aircraft
Sales Literature from 1980s
Information re FJX
Shorts designed and sponsored primary school project
Although I was an Engineer I never worked as an Engineer for Shorts. I was the Head of IT.
Cheers
Steve
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Hi Alan
I have found among my papers a small booklet of 14 pages called 'The Short Story'. The last aircraft listed with a date is the Belfast 1964 although the Skyvan is highlighted on the next page but without a date. The front page has 3 circular cutouts.
The booklet is a reprint and the reprint date is 1972.
Is this what you are looking for?
Steve
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Hi Steve, the book you mention sounds interesting and I would be pleased to have a look at it, it sounds like the Company magazine which was published quarterly
and called "The Short Story".
I'll be pleased to pay postage and return it to you if that suits you.
Also the sales literature and the Bombardier take-over sounds interesting; would no doubt fill some gaps in my rememberences.
Where in Ulster do you live? I had a house off the Comber Road in Dundonald (by the railway bridge) and my wife is from Lisburn although it's a mixed marriage as I'm originally from London. Joined Shorts in the early fifties after leaving the RAF.
Well it's coming up to my cocktail hour (G and T by the pool) so I'll look forward to hearing from you.
Alan
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Hi Alan
I live in Ballynahinch
The booklet is not a copy of the company magazine which as you say was also called 'The Short Story'. This booklet was sales literature. I am happy to scan and email to you any pages that you might be interested in. Basically it lists all Shorts aircraft with a picture and brief comment. I should stress that the booklet is quite small and hence the photographs are very small. Towards the back there is a more comprehensive description of the then current products.
You probably knew Freddie Mills. I worked closely with him in the 1988/89 period just before he retired.
Steve
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I'm trying to find info on Jimmy McClean who worked at Shorts in the 50's. Also I would be interested in making contact with any old Shorts people of that period and find out if anyone has copies of the "Short Story" that the company published in the same era. All my requests in various venues have so far not borne fruit and I'm beginning to wonder if all the old guys from flight test, the design office and the loft have flown away to the hangar in the sky.
Alan F.
Moderator comment: if you have info about living people to help Alan, please send it to him by PM to protect their privacy.
Do the names Pat McAllister or Paddy McNulty ring any bells?
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have you seen
Aviation in Ulster / John Corlett. Belfast : Blackstaff, c1981.
Bib Id 17124
ISBN 0856402524
Physical details xi,136p : ill., facsims.,ports. ; 24 cm.
Subject Aeronautics - History. - Northern Ireland
Note Bibliography, p134. - Includes index.
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Hi AlanF,
A message to the Secretary, Shorts Social Club, Old Holywood Road, Belfast may produce results.
You could also try posting messages to the Editors of the Belfast Telegraph and the East Belfast Herald www.ebherald.com
A reasonable number of Short's employees lived in the East Belfast area.
Christopher
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HI FOLKS - CAN'T RECALL THAT NAME JIM McLEAN - I SERVED APPRENTISHIP FROM 1952 TO 59 - ON VARIOUS AIRCRAFT INC. SUNDERLAND FLYING BOATS / BRITTANIAS ETC. - CAN I ASSIST OTHERWISE ? - HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD SHOTS - WAS LOOKING FOR PLAN OF THE PLANT AS I THINK BOMBARDIER HAVE SOLD IT FOR DELMOLITION - WHAT A GREAT SHAME - THANX J.C. IN SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA
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To Wendl - I have a copy of The Short Story - No 5 which covers the speech given to employees about the move to Belfast. My father Edgar 'Robbie' Robson worked in the Drawing Office and we lived in a Shorts house in Holywood.
I have scanned the booklet so can email.
I am involved with a few aviation groups between Bournemouth and Southampton and am working up a 50min talk entitled 'A Short Story - Long History'
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To Wendl - I have a copy of The Short Story - No 5 which covers the speech given to employees about the move to Belfast. My father Edgar 'Robbie' Robson worked in the Drawing Office and we lived in a Shorts house in Holywood.
I have scanned the booklet so can email.
I am involved with a few aviation groups between Bournemouth and Southampton and am working up a 50min talk entitled 'A Short Story - Long History'
Hi Steve,
That would be wonderful....unfortunately until you have posted 3 times, you cannot access private messages so I can send you my email address.....I look forward to hearing from you, and appreciate your reply.
All the best
Wendy
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OK - can you access my email or should I post it here?
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No, members can't see other member's email addresses and you are not allowed to post personal details.
If you make 1 more post you will be able to use PM (Personal Message) system-
http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
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Just checking so I can make no 3
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I have just found this thread and I see it was posted some years ago .Can anyone tell me if these Shorts are my relatives who were the aviation family from Northumberland.
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I was a Short Bros. apprentice @ Seaplane works, Rochester from July '45 - Jan '47. They were moving all production to Belfast & works about to close, so we were told to find somewhere else to continue our apprenticeship. I had always been very interested in a/craft ( my uncle had been chauffeur/ mechanic to the Short Bros. @ Leysdown & currently a mechanic @ Rochester airport, so I think that's where the interest started) so I joined the RAF as a Halton app.( went from airframes to aero engines!). Didn't know anyone at Belfast, so can't help you but I do have a couple of Short Story's still. I was going to send them to the RAeS library as they have a few but didn't get around to it! Did take my tools to Rochester museum for WHEN! they get to having a Shorts section- sadly nothing at present. Would like to visit Belfast but is it all shipping there? & is there anyone to contact if I did go please? Dave55th Smith
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Hello David ,
First of all may I welcome you to Rootschat
there are people who are willing to help you
on any family subject you are looking for
William Short b 1803 was my 3rd Grt Grandfather
His sons were the Short brothers .They had one sister Jane and I come down that line
I'd be most welcome for any information you can give me
At the moment I cannot contact you by PM until you make 2 more postings
If you could do that I will be able to contact you better
Good Luck
Elizabeth
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Wife's late father played ice hockey for (Shorts Raiders) around about 1945, have a photo of the team.
regards Brosie.
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Was Shorts Rosie a team to do with Shorts Aviation Brother
Elizabeth
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Certainly was, he worked for Shorts he was a mechanic to trade and played in goal for the hockey team, there was a few Canadians in the hockey team. He mentioned assembling planes in Belfast near to the Sydenham by pass, I take it that must be near where George Best airport is now. There was always a mention about the Americans and how he was never short of petrol for his motorbike (war rationing) Not much technical data I'm afraid just an old boys fond memories. Many years ago I flew out to the British Virgin islands in a Belfast made by shorts, one comfortable military plane, if I remember correctly the fly boys (R.A.F) called it the slug. After that it was the Hercules c130 for us.
regards Brosie.
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Hi Alan
Have noted from a very old posting, dating back to 2007, that you were enquiring about the Labouring Boys pub in Isleworth, London.
Might be able to help. What is your interest?
Wiseman48
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My mother's first job was in the Kings's Hall, working for Shorts and Harland. That would have been about 1941, so may be too early for you. Think she wasn't there very long before she got a job at Stormont. Her name was Maureen Sheils at that time.