Hi, castle 261. I was an apprentice at the Seaplane works from July 1945 until January 1947 when we juniors were told that the works were closing & all production was being moved to Short & Harland in Belfast. So we best find another firm who would take us on & extend our indentures. Some of my friends went to Wingets, in Strood & others to Blaw & Knox( who eventually took over No.18 shop). I had always been very interested in aircraft, instigated I suspect by my uncle Hector Smith who had been the chauffeur/mechanic to the 3 Short Brothers, driving their Rolls Royce when they were over on the Isle of Sheppey. He then became an aero mechanic with Shorts (loved the Pobjoy engines they used) & was a member of the team who started up Shorts at what is now Rochester airport. His tales, told with great enthusiasm, were many & varied- hence my addiction! At that time the RAF were advertising for apprentices for Halton, so I sat their exam, passed & spent several years at Halton, etc. Re the shops at the Seaplane Works. The 1st inside the gate was No.1 ( machine shop & detailing section) then a small No.2 ( offices) then No.3 which was final assembly where the engines were fitted- by Bristol personnel- & the a/c was launched down one of the two slipways into the Medway. Various small shops facing the river or behind ( spray booth, panel beaters, lofting hall, canteen over one of them- good grub, only 6d for apprentices, etc.). Then No.17 shop where main planes were assembled & finally No. 18 shop where various sub assemblies were made & different aircraft ( eg Shetland) were kept prior to moving out onto the very large apron at the side.My trade was Fitter & Sheetmetal Worker & I worked in Nos. 18, 17 & 1 ( detail) shops. In recent years I've visited Rochester Museum to find, to my dismay- that there is no area there dedicated to Shorts!( the 2nd largest, by far, employer in the Medway Towns). They just don't have the room but one day.... I gave then some of my tools & other artifacts, which are stored in the basement- just resting! About 5 years ago Liz Walker- the great niece of the Short Bros.- started the Short Brothers Commemoration Society. She- like me- was sad to see the pioneers of the British aircraft industry- & makers of the first world travel aircraft (C Class flying boats) & long range anti submarine aircraft in WW2 (Sunderlands)- with no history in the City/County in which they operated. ( If you go to Stoke, the
designer of the Spitfire,
RJMitchell, is very proudly celebrated).