The Dream that Wouldn't Die - Share Your Memories

We'd like to produce a second edition of The Dream that Wouldn’t Die. If you would like to contribute information for the second edition, then please send us your contact details and a brief description of your topic using the email address below.

We also welcome accounts of your memories associated with Prestwick Airport. We’d like to gather stories about your experiences or information on any memorabilia that you may have so that we can put together more historical literature on the airport.

memories@thedreamthatwouldntdie.com

Peter Perrin's Memory

“I now have your book The Dream that Wouldn’t Die and found it very interesting as I have spent a very long time working at Prestwick Airport. I first came to the Airport in 1959 as a USAF airman at Greenside, saw lots of interesting things but most important was the day I was called out to work on a C-118 (DC6) that Elvis Presley was on. I was at the bottom of the aircraft steps as he came down to meet the officers waiting, I corrected the fault on the A/C so it could continue on to the USA, if I hadn't sorted it the history books would have been changed as he would have had to spend the night here in Scotland.

I left Prestwick in 1963 but after getting out of the USAF I returned to work for SAL in 1966 where I worked for 11 years. I then crossed the runway to work for British Airways as a engineer in 1977 until they pulled out in 1982. Lots of crew training with BA and flights in Concorde on their training flights. Then in 1988 came back to Prestwick and joined the British Aerospace Flying College.

Left in March 1992 and became engineering manager for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency looking after two twin engined A/C. At this time the airport was really run down until Ryanair came in, I was the only engineer who looked after their A/C in the beginning on a helping hand deal (the odd bottle of whiskey as payment) they offered me a job but I left the Fisheries protection and went to Glasgow airport to work till I retired in 2001. As they say in a nut shell I lived for Pestwick Airport for many years and it was good to read the behind the lines info when Mr Hudson and co took it on and gave lots of jobs to lots of young people.

I wish you well on your next book and look forward to reading it.”

Peter Perrin,
Alloway, Ayr