Eric Beattie

I have been doing some research on the Dowty Turbocraft for the Isle of Wight Classic Boat Museum, for which I am a volunteer.

My father, Eric Ramsay Beattie was company secretary for Dowty Mining and Dowty Seals under Mr Banbury.

He started during WW11 when he moved to Hewlett Road, Cheltenham with his wife Olga. During the war, due to a pre-existing injury, he was not able to join the forces so continued to work for the Dowty Group at Arle Court.

Due to his injury I understand that he would spend nights up the tower at Arle Court as a fire spotter.

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Arle Court House – showing the original ornate main tower turret, apparently it proved a wonderful observation post for Arle Court’s ‘private army’ as the local home guard was known, and even a Lewis gun was mounted there”

He was born in Cumberland in 1910 and died in Cheltenham 1973 before he retired from Dowty.

As an aside, later in 2003 our son, Eric’s grandson, Thomas John Campbell Beattie had his wedding reception at Arle Court, I don’t know what Sir George would have said.

I know little else about my father’s time at Dowty as he didn’t talk much about it, but I do remember him bringing home a brochure about the Turbocraft, I just wish I could find it!

Arle Court House - showing the original ornate main tower turret, apparently it proved a wonderful observation post for Arle Court’s ‘private army’ as the local home guard was known, and even a Lewis gun was mounted there”
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

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