Must admit I am one of those who complained about the catering at Duxford and I did get a response from the new caterers.
I have to eat packed lunches all week so if I go anywhere at the weekend it is nice to be able to get a half decent meal but there have been times when the catering at some places has been a let down. I usually find Old Warden is about the best provided you time your lunch to avoid the worst of the queues.

As far as I remember the JU-52 (possibly CASA 352) that displayed at Biggin and then moved to Cosford came from Portugal (as a gift?) and still had Portugese markings for it’s one and only UK display. I have got a couple of photos of it somewhere taken during the display but they aren’t very good.
Having had a look at the online history it is a CASA built machine ex Spanish AF. Must be my memory playing tricks. The online history I found said it was static at Biggin Hill but I am sure it flew in the display. I will dig out the photos when I can find time.

Duxford Friday 8th January:
For anyone visiting over the next few weeks, the Mess restaurant is closed for refurbishment. Joe’s cafe is open all day and there is a temporary coffee bar in Airspace.

Some might remember that I complained about the restaurant towards the end of last year. I emailed the Catering Manager and was pleasantly surprised to receive a positive response in which he mentioned that there were many planned changes and he promised to keep me updated. Looks like the changes are underway with the refurbishment of the Mess restaurant.
Just goes to show that not every organisation ignores complaints and let’s hope the changes mean that trips outside of Duxford for lunch aren’t needed in the future.

I thought I should make it known that I have emailed Duxford and await their response.
In my view anyone visiting Duxford is likely to want food. There had been previous posts alluding to new caterers so I thoguht it was appropriate to pass on my experience particularly as the food issue meant that I was unable to spend the time I planned enjoying the aircraft etc.

The bits with the white marquees look like Biggin. Visible in the background of some shots is an IAS Britannia (maybe G-AOVP) which was eventually scrapped at Biggin.

The new caterers at Duxford seem to be reducing certain portion sizes while keeping the prices – the “famous” Duxford Sausage roll has shrunk in size by about a third. Now they all look like children’s portions. Sides, such as chips, have been trimmed down also. Maybe they feel the need to help slim the nation!

Paid a very cold windswept visit today which was made even less bearable by not being able to get anything to eat that I liked.
GI Joes was serving miniscule portions of something indescribable smothered in melted cheese and a miniscule version of the Duxford Sausage Roll. My friend Jim didn’t like the look of the melty cheese thingy and doesn’t eat sausage rolls so we battled the cold and wind to get back to the main cafe.
Queued for 10 to 15 mins to be offered Ratatouille, some slightly exotic chicken and something with an unpronouncable name. Asked for a Duxford Sausage Roll (which was clearly priced on the main notice board) only to be told that they were only being served in the coffee shop (which I assume meant GI Joes). I have simple tastes in food so none of the other stuff looked remotely palatable to me so I didn’t bother eating as braving the wind to return to GI Joes wasn’t an option. Have to admit the portions did look pretty paltry as well so it seems Duxford catering may be returning to the dark days.
I couldn’t even buy a Mars bar in the shop as apparently they are now only sold in the cafe whiich would have meant another 15 mins or so in a queue so we had a quick look round Airspace and I was back home by 3pm.
I viewed this trip out as a sort of early celebration of my 60th later this week but landed up very disappointed and at the moment I feel like I never want to go to Duxford again.
Many caterers claim customers expect something a bit more exotic now but it really shouldn’t be that difficult to buy plain simple English food at a tourist atttraction.

EWAN; Re ADS (Aerial) I worked for them for a couple of years early 1970s operating out of EGMC, there were some great characters associated with that company,Max Lacy,Don Judd,Ray Andrews, Ladi Marmol (the owner) had a Cemelak Bumble Bee, the Sudan operation was something else!! Happy Day’s

Ladi Marmol was famous at Southend for his short take offs and landings in Pilatus Turboporters and the Bumble Bee which is now with the Science Museum at Wroughton.
The occassional Sudanese registered Pawnees were popular with the local spotters and the mass arrivals of the incredibly noisy Thrush Commanders were pretty unforgetable,