Dave Walker

Dave remembers training at Dowty

Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

Dave remembers his apprenticeship and working at Bristol Polytechnic

Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

Dave remembers some incidents during his work

Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

Dave remembers working conditions at Dowty and his role as the leader of the apprenticeship association

Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

Dave remembers flying with Sir George Dowty, the personalities of Sir George, Sir Robert Hunt and Lady Dowty, and being inspired by other people at Dowty including Mike Potts

Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

Dave remembers some of the things he learnt from his time at Dowty

Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub

In this interview Dave remembers his training as a Commercial Apprentice at Dowty and his time at Bristol Polytechnic.

He talks about his apprenticeship experience, including working conditions, rates of pay and incidents.

Dave recalls the personalities and inspirational people he worked with and the life lessons he took from working at Dowty.

Throughout his Commercial Apprenticeship he worked at various sites including Dowty Hydraulics in the costs department, Dowty Mining Equipment, Dowty Group Services in the Works Engineers Department and Dowty Rotol Stats where failures of aircraft parts were investigated.

He was elected as the Apprentice Association Chairman for a period of time, which led to his involvement with the Cheltenham Youth Movement, he represented the apprentices at various events and even got to fly with Sir George Dowty in his Dove aircraft.

Dave recalls some of the events that the apprentices got involved with, including the 24-hour Pedal Car Race at Bristol and “hitch-hiking” to Bournemouth!

Interviewers: John Herring & Paul Evans