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'Uncle Roger' on the telly

A short item on the BBC World News website today (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28583252) describes the de Havilland Comet programme. The ‘talking head’ was Mike Ramsden – described as an ‘aeronautical engineer’. When I first met him, he was editor of ‘Flight’ magazine, and it is no great secret that he was also ‘Roger Bacon’ of the ‘Straight and Level’ column. It is in the role of Flight editor that he is best remembered by the older veterans of the UK aerospace industry, but it seems that the world of the media has a short memory. Good to see that he is still in good shape, and still not late on the roundout.

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By: Bruce - 7th August 2014 at 14:12

Mike was a director at the Mosquito Museum for many, many years, and a de Havilland man through and through. On his retirement from the position, he gave us a wonderful talk of his experiences, including the time when he had to tell Geoffrey that the DH110 had crashed.

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By: Mercurius - 7th August 2014 at 11:16

My understanding (from talking to the late Mark Hewish, who once worked for Flight), was that ‘Straight and Level’ was largely written by Ramsden, but some of his input came from the Flight staffers, and from Uncle Roger’s many ‘nephews’ (external sources). I suspect that the latter were largely from industry or from the magazine’s readership, but freelance journalists might also have sent him stuff.

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By: Loose-Head - 6th August 2014 at 21:55

Roger Bacon he may have been, but I was always of the understanding that the content of ‘straight and level’ was a pick of the best submissions sent in by aviation journalists the length and breadth of the country.

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By: Mr Creosote - 6th August 2014 at 21:34

I used to love “Straight & Level” too. Had no idea that “Roger Bacon” was in fact Flight’s own “Top Kneddy”

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By: Mark12 - 6th August 2014 at 20:38

“Still a little late on the round out, Hoskins”

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By: Seafuryfan - 6th August 2014 at 20:20

Thanks Mercurius. Finally….Uncle Roger revealed! For many a year as a youngster I read old copies of Flight International, Uncle Roger’s column always being a ‘must read’. The humour was to me very English, perhaps even a bit Spike Milligan, in tone. If you’re reading this, ‘Uncle Roger’, thanks for the laughs.

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