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

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.

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.

A larger group met in the evening at the old BPA social club on Wobaston Road Fordhouses, where a talk was given by the company Moog (formerly Boulton Paul) on the evolution of the company over the years.

Former apprentice Rob Walker attended the reunion to reminisce with his former colleagues.

The 78-year-old, who grew up in Bushbury but now lives in Worfield, Shropshire, said that the reunion went well and he saw lots of faces he recognised.

After leaving Boulton Paul, Rob started his own business - Plasmar - which manufactured an array of items, including rubber parts for Dyson vacuums.

Speaking of his time at Boulton Paul, where he worked from December 1959 until 1964, Rob said: "We were all apprentices really. When you're kids, you don't realise the importance of the work you're doing

"I did two days at school then started work, making tea in the office when I was 15. Then I became an apprentice and learned engineering and how to work on the machines."

Rob's favourite memories revolve around playing sport while he was an apprentice, saying: "There was a big sports pitch and sports club at Boulton Paul.

"I have a lot of fond memories of playing football and cricket and table tennis, so most of my favourite memories are of me playing sport.

"All big companies looked after employees very well back then."

Boulton Paul can trace its history back to an ironmonger's shop in Norwich which was opened by William Moore in 1797.

However, when the First World War began the company began helping the war effort.

Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd moved to a new factory in Pendeford in 1934. A training school was also set up in Cannock. The company produced one of the war's most iconic planes, the Defiant Bomber Destroyer which helped destroy German Luftwaffe bombers over the skies of Great Britain.

The first Defiant was built in 1937 and though were overtaken by more manoeuvrable aircraft like the German Messerschmitt and British Spitfire, the Defiant continued to help the war effort in a variety of roles including jamming radar on the South Coast.

During the Second World War, the factory manufactured 25,000 turrets and more than 1,000 aircraft were used in the effort.

At its height more than 5,000 people worked at the company which had its own sports ground in Fordhouses, where employees could play cricket, football and tennis.