TCA/AC People Gallery
Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts. The following is an extract from the U.K. Pionairs monthly newsletter issued for April 2009 Reminiscences: It's nice to have one from Scotland, and this recollection is from Marion McDonald, put together with the help of Gordie Aitchison. I was the first person in the UK to be hired by TCA, and was working in a lawyer's office in Ayr in 1943. While looking for a change, I discovered in July that year that the local labour exchange had notice of a shorthand/typist being required by Trans-Canada Air Lines at Prestwick aerodrome, which was then a very busy military airfield, being the UK end of the Trans Atlantic Ferry Service. I was interviewed by C.S.(Stan) Hewett, the first TCA Station Manager, and got the job as his secretary. TCA began operating the transatlantic service using Lancastrian aircraft on behalf of the Canadian government on 22nd July, 1943, for the carriage of armed forces, mail and key passengers, mainly Government servants, and was known as the Canadian Government Trans Atlantic Air Service until at least 1945. Already in position were Al Stewart, Chief Engineer, who had with, among others, Licensed Engineers Don McNaughton and Gus Campbell. Al also figured he required a secretary and engaged one Ellen Thom, who therefore would be the second UK employee to be hired, but she became redundant around or before 1950. The only other UK person hired at this early stage was Jimmy Douglas, who was employed to look after the aircraft spares and the import and export of other company material. Other staff at that time, all Canadian, of course, included Ian Edwards, a cheery ginger-haired Newfie as Passenger Agent, and some Flight Dispatchers, probably headed by Doug Stewart. In 1944, I was hospitalized for a spell and was away from the job for almost 12 months, but when I was fit enough to return, Stan Hewett took me on again in place of his temporary secretary. I remained the Station Manager's secretary until I retired in 1986. Marion From the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued July 1986, we have this photo. Tom Wright has sent us this message and these two photos - I was going through photos on my computer and came across a couple of photos of two time periods of the YYZ Metal Shop Personnel which I thought you might be able to use in an upcoming Newsletter. The first one is a group of YYZ Metal Shop guys, I believe in 1944, with their names printed underneath. I worked in the YYZ Metal Shop from 1974 to 1998 and Jack Thompson was my first Lead Hand, when Jack retired Frank Norris took over until he retired.
The other photo is a little later it was taken after I retired, so is after Sep 1998 and CP had joined AC. The guys are Back Row from left to right Mark Valla CP,Schafick Mohamed (Mo) AC, Ken Rowe AC, Andie Brodie AC, John Hobbs AC. Front Row from left to right Tom Yen AC, Bobbie Lennox AC, John Smith AC, Wenson Yen AC (not related to Tom Yen), Robbie Ellis AC, and Joe Roberts AC. Hope you can use the photos, keep up the good work, the netletter's great. Thanks, Be Good, Tom Wright AC Retired Nanaimo B.C. "Musings from "Between Ourselves" Issue dated July/August 1960 Due to bad weather, flights were diverted from YYZ to London, Ontario. A total of nine Viscounts, 2 North Stars and a Super Constellation were handled in one day. Here we have this photo Kiwanis Club in Hamilton entertained this group of Stewardesses Issue dated December 1960 TCA's "United Nations Group" meet in London, England to discuss future plans. Overseas Sales and Operations managers from all stations in Europe met for a 5 day session during December. Here we have this photo. Issue dated January 1961 The smallest hangar workshop on the system is at Heathrow (LHR). Issue dated February 1961 First aircraft to arrive at the new terminal at YUL was North Star CF-TFF on December 1st 1960 under the command of Capt. Bick Neill, F/O Joe Guyles. Stewaredesses were Betty-Jean Rybka and Valerie Cleworth.
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