Shropshire Star

Proud ex-aircraft apprentices gather for a final reunion at special RAF Cosford get-together

Former apprentices from an aircraft manufacturing company in Wolverhampton which closed in 2013 have gathered for a final reunion at RAF Cosford.

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Former workers in front of the Boulton Paul Defiant aircraft at RAF Cosford

Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd played a monumental part in fighting the Nazis in the Second World War and produced some of the war's most iconic planes.

Over the years, the Pendeford company's aviation workers have gathered for reunions to catch up with former colleagues, but Tuesday marked the company's last reunion.

The reunion was organised by Ron Gregory, who emigrated to Australia after leaving the firm, and received the company's first ever Sister Beebee Trophy, which was awarded to the top apprentice at Boulton Paul every year.

The reunion of former Boulton Paul Aircraft workers

Around 40 people who worked at Boulton Paul between 1934 and 2013 attended a gathering at RAF Cosford in the morning, where the last remaining Boulton Paul Defiant in existence is displayed.

The Defiant is one of the most iconic relics of the company, an aircraft which helped destroy German Luftwaffe bombers over skies of Great Britain.

Apprentices at the reunion gathered for a photo in front of the Defiant and embarked on a tour of the Cosford Cold War Museum and Michael Beetham Restoration hangers.