Congresbury Scrapyard(2006) Zombie

AUSTER AOP

Thanks to everyone who responded to my posting.

Have just spent a fruitless 2 hours searching through old Ian Allan published Civil Aircraft Markings books from from 1970-1973 .(All regisrations spotted carefully underlined with date and location !), I used to have a book of military registrations but i seem to remember throwing it out sometime during the late seventies when girls and thin lizzy somehow seemed more important.So no joy there.

All this has reminded me that on the top of one of my kitchen cuboards is a glassless windscreen frame from a tiger moth that i removed from the remains of a tiger that crashed at Lulsgate sometime in the 50s or 60s. I would have removed the engine but it was a bit weighty for my Puch Maxi moped that i had at the time. The remains of this aircraft were stored in the Bristol and Wessex aeroclub hanger where i worked as an aircraft cleaner at weekends when at school/college.

I used to have a note of the registration from a/c that it came from…

Any one have any ideas ?

AOP9 disposal

According to official records 8 AOP9s were sold to Addicott on 15.10.69. All the aircraft had been struck off charge at 19MU St Athan. I do not know if Mr. Addicott collected the aircraft or not but many soon appeared to be with a different owner.

The report stating that the 6 aircraft at Congresbury were collected from St Athan suggests Mr Addicott didn’t collect them all.

It looks like 4 AOP9s were with Toogood’s on the A38 at Bedminster Down at one time or another – WZ662 XK406 XK421 & XR267. These may have been some of the aircraft at Holder’s.

XR236 was reported to have been collected from Congresbury by a Bristol resident and the aircraft gradually died in a back yard in the St George area.

XP279 was once owned by another local, Graham Kilsby, but I do not know how he obtained this aircraft.

I would be interested to learn more about any AOP9 appearing in Blandford Forum. The nearest I can get to this location concerns XN412 which was reported visiting a night club in Dorchester!

Welcome to the forum Simon.

I must try and get hold of the photos and get them scanned. Will try and obtain them this weekend, but may be a little while to get them here, as we’re all off to Middle Wallop for the Auster Fly-In.

Best wishes,

Martin

Very interesting Simon and welcome to the Forum. I am sure we would be interested in the registrations if possible and photos would be a bonus!:)

AUSTER AOP

I believe that the “scrapyard” you refer to is in fact a car dealership,Holders of Congresbury. It is still in buisness as a Seat dealer but used to be a BL Dealer back in the seventies.

I remember well the aircraft to which you refer as they were for sale literally on the forecourt as they were stored by the side of the showroom at, priced at about £1200 each. At the time, which must have been 1972/3, i was in the ATC and cycled down to look at them a round trip of 10 miles or so. They all had their wings removed and believe you are correct in saying that they came from Toogoods in bedminster bristol.

When they left i cant remember. im sure there was coverage in one of the aircraft magazines of the time ,Air Pictorial or maybe the story was covered by the local newspaper the Clevedon Mercury.

Hope this helps i might be able to narrow the date a bit further if you want and the registrations maybe.

Simon Thompson

Latest update is that I have received an email from the Local History Group who on my behalf made a visit to the garage and made some enquiries. It seems that 6 Austers in total were purchased, all from somewhere in Wales (St Athan) and all were delivered on trailers made up from old caravan chassis. The 9s were too wide for the trailers and so had to have their undercarriage legs strapped together so that they would fit on. All went onto other people, but someone remembers that the last one ‘simply disintegrated’.

As to the Swift this was also purchased by the Garage and became a local landmark. Most of the village children used to play in it as it still had a complete cockpit upon receipt.

Best wishes,

Martin

Hi,

I live just down the road from Congresbury in Nailsea and am a member of the local history society, the secretary of which is very interested in aircraft. I’m sure he would like to hear about the Austers. If he dosen’t have any answers you could publish a request for information in the society’s magazine “Pennant”.

PM me if I can help.

Regards,

Jon

In my dog-eared note book for 5th July 1971 I have the following WZ662 and XK406 Auster AOP9 outside at Towgoods (sic) Caravans.

That backs up what is in Leslie Hunt’s book. Sometime after this XR267 moved from the other site and replaced WZ662 when that was obtained by SWAPS? I dont know its all too confusing….? 🙂

But then in the same publication XK406 is quoted as being back in the village!
(Oww, thought about that too).

I’ve spoken to the local Parish Council and they cant recollect the aeroplanes at all, but they have their main meeting next week and will make more enquiries then and at the same time contact the garage and see if they can shed any light on the matter. I’m sure someone will recollect the Austers or the Swift being present.

As to Mr Addicott, I never realised that he built a number of cars in the sixties (hopefully in Congresbury). For more information have a look at:

http://www.minijem.plus.com/dart/index.html

and at:

http://www.minimarcos.org.uk/mmhdt.html

Best wishes,

Martin

In my dog-eared note book for 5th July 1971 I have the following WZ662 and XK406 Auster AOP9 outside at Towgoods (sic) Caravans.

Thanks for the links….will investigate after have mentioned it to all back at base. Dont want to do anything untoward 🙂

Martin

I had a look at their website last night and was tempted to leave a message asking if anyone there could shed any light on the matter. The text did mention that a lot of the staff had been there for ‘many years’. Its worth a try.

Martin

It may pay dividends to email the local free press, they’re always looking for stories. Here are some suggestions of those that cover the Congresbury area.

North Somerset Times
Editor:- Heather Pickstock [email]heather.pickstock@archant.co.uk[/email]

Weston & Somerset Mercury
Editor Andy Ridgway [email]Andy.Ridgway@archant.co.uk[/email]

Clevedon Mercury
[email]editor@clevedon.co.uk[/email]

The suggestion that the second aircraft was XK406 rather than XR267 also ties in with my memory from 1972/73.

I still haven’t located my spotting notes from that period but I will be attacking the attic tonight.

Should have made things clearer, according to Mr Hunt XK406 was still at Congresbury in 1974, but then that might be incorrect.

I tried spotting once and then went to a PFA fly-in at Cranfield and couldnt be bothered. Couldnt see what to do with the numbers when I returned home. Havent been in possession of a pen or pad since 🙂

Martin

That confirms the Congresbury location, Holders is the one and the same garage mentioned earlier on in this thread, “Congresbury Motor Company”.

I had a look at their website last night and was tempted to leave a message asking if anyone there could shed any light on the matter. The text did mention that a lot of the staff had been there for ‘many years’. Its worth a try.

Martin

I’ve a note saying that I saw WZ662 outside Toogoods Caravan Sales A38 on 1st June 1972. I’m pretty sure that there was second one but my log book is in the attic somewhere (see there is a point to number collectors) and the kids are asleep. My recollection is that it was somewhere in the Congresbury general area.

Just plugged Toogoods Caravan Bristol into Google and then did a search on the post code. This suggests a location for a company called Toogoods Worldwide Transport just off the A38 north of Lulsgate (BS409YF) which ties in with my general recollection, although I do remember the aircraft being displayed by the side of a main road. The suggestion that the second aircraft was XK406 rather than XR267 also ties in with my memory from 1972/73.

I still haven’t located my spotting notes from that period but I will be attacking the attic tonight.

That confirms the Congresbury location, Holders is the one and the same garage mentioned earlier on in this thread, “Congresbury Motor Company”.

I’ve found a little out about the Austers in Congresbury:

WZ662 was issued to 19MU on July 30th 1965 and was declared a non effective airframe on November 8th 1968. Sold to Dizzie Addicott on 15th October 1969 and in turn sold to Toogoods for display outside their garage. (date unknown). At a later date this was swapped with another Auster and moved to Wales with SWAPS.

XR267 was sent to 19MU on June 3rd 1966 and became non-effective on November 8th 1968. On October 15th 1969 it again was bought by Mr Addicott and moved with WZ662 to Holders Garage at Congresbury. Moved to Toogoods for display. Later was with the Skyfame Museum and now being restored to flying condition.

In Leslie Hunts 1974 Vintage and Veteran Aircraft it is stated that XK406 was at the garage then. Perhaps this is one of the unidentified Mk.9s in the photos?

The same publication also states that three AOP.9s were at another Caravan Sales establishment at Blandford Forum in Dorset these being XN412, XR237 and the above mentioned XR267 (which cant of course have been in two places at the same time). All I have to do now is to try and find out if all five Austers were at Congresbury!!

Martin

I’ve a note saying that I saw WZ662 outside Toogoods Caravan Sales A38 on 1st June 1972. I’m pretty sure that there was second one but my log book is in the attic somewhere (see there is a point to number collectors) and the kids are asleep. My recollection is that it was somewhere in the Congresbury general area.

Looking at the photo of the Swift here and from what I can remember from the photos yesterday, it looks like its the same sort of date judging by the cars in the photo. I’ve emailed a local history group to see if they can share any information with us. Thanks to all for taking the time to reply…it is so much appreciated.

Martin

Further to a previous posting it looks like both XR267 and WZ662 were both displayed outside Toogoods Caravan Sales establishment. Wherever that was of course?

This may have been the site that I was thinking of as can plainly see the Church in the background. Perhaps the cars were just junked around the back and it was like you say a garage and not a scrapyard as I originally thought. Got to get those photos!! Martin

I’ve just had a look on Google to refresh my memory and I tend to agree with you, the Garage (Congresbury Motor Company) backs onto Church Path and obviously over looks the Church.

As you drive through Congresbury towards W.S.M, just after a right hand bend there was a main dealer garage on the left hand side, it use to be an MG Rover Dealership. Not sure what it is now, anyhow as far as I can recall it has never been a scrap merchant, however it was quite a large dealership and may have had crashed and damaged cars on the premises. The two scrap yards were on either side of the A370 about 1 mile to 1 1/2 miles towards Hewish.

This may have been the site that I was thinking of as can plainly see the Church in the background. Perhaps the cars were just junked around the back and it was like you say a garage and not a scrapyard as I originally thought.

Got to get those photos!!

Martin