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Magister Or Proctor In Frront Garden In 70`s.

I remember as a lad a Magister or Proctor parked in the front garden of a large house on Bushey Heath/Stanmore during the late 60`s/ early 70`s, can anyone confirm the identity of this plane and it`s fate?………Martin

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By: WJ244 - 14th October 2008 at 22:10

If it was late 60’s it could have been Proctor G-AOBW which was rescued from a garden in Middlesex around 1967 by the British Historic Aircraft Museum which became the Historic Aircraft Museum at Southend. OBW was cut in half in about 1972 due to glue rot and the rear fuselage was sectioned to show the structure and kept as an exhibit. The front fuselage was burnt and the wings were fitted to NP303/G-ANZJ which was exhibited at the museum and moved on to Paul Raymond after the museum closed. I believe it was eventually stripped of its engine and burnt after it had been sold on followiing the break up of the Whitehall theatre collection.
It may seem appalling now to saw a Proctor in half but don’t forget there were more Proctors about than people who wanted them at that time and the museum decided to cannabalise the best bits from the two they owned to get a display airframe. NP303/G-ANZJ had been an unexpected gift to the original BHAM from Southend Airport after it was impounded for non payment of parking fees. Anson G-AVVO/VL348 landed up with the Historic Aircraft Museum by the same route and was ultimately moved on to Newark as Southend had 3 Ansons at that time!
The only other possibility is that I believe Sandy Topen lived at Bushey Heath and my ancient copy of Wrecks and Relics says he had Magister G-AIUA there at one time but I think this was possibly late 70’s/early 80’s and as this was ex Old Warden I think it was most likely dismantled rather than a complete airframe so OBW seems the more likely candidate.
Has anyone else got any ideas please?

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