Flouting EU regulations is what most members do. The UK, sad to say, plays just about everything by the rules – more fool us.

The Euro-domino effect. Yes, indeed. But if there had been no Euro…….ah, life is full of “ifs”.

All I meant was that had it not been a member of the EU it is unlikely that it would have reached this parlous state.

The payments in and out were based on historical criteria and are probably wholly irrelevant now and at each new country’s accession the terms of membership are debated and wrangled over to all parties’ satisfaction. That’s another way of saying that like everything else about the EU – it’s a stitch up!!;):dev2:

There is no denying your last two sentences!

Electromag-Neil was based in Bristol until it was dissolved 2 years ago. This snippet from some googling:

“By WWII when MH Gamble (who had served his apprenticeship with a German Piano Company) joined the family firm the company had been diverted by the Government into producing Aircraft parts at their 3 factories. After the war MH Gamble went into partnership with the Neil Tool Company to form Electromag-Neil Ltd. Some of the aircraft that the firm produced parts for included the Spitfire, De Havilland, Nimrod & of course Concorde. By 1963 L. R. Neil had sold his share of the company to MH Gamble &, today the company is called ENL Ltd & still has a Gamble at the helm.”

ENL is now in Portsmouth.

Bob – indeed, yes. And Cameron has said exactly that so let’s see if he means it.

Following Interflug’s drift back in time from the thread I must put in a word for the Comet 4.

I too was a massive Trident fan and coming up to the present I have enjoyed 737 and 747 and 757. And aesthetically I prefer them to the Airbus design.

Not really because I am trying to stick to CD’s question and you are broadening the argument out to aid. And that is entirely separate from the Greek debt problem, although no doubt worthy of another thread!!

And my next door neighbour in 1966/68 was one of the small engineering design team which developed that component! Do we know from which Concorde it came?

Linc – a couple of points:

1. Greece has NO chance of repaying all the debts it has incurred.

2. You and I will be pushing up the daisies years before our debt is repayed. And we both intend to have a long life!!;)