Rootes Aircraft Factory Speke WW2

[Heyesie]

  This airport was named after John Lennon, and what a travesty that is: it's difficult to think of a less deserving deadbeat.  Is he really the best example of value and worth that Liverpool has?

I think you are a little harsh there my friend
you may not have liked the guy
but the City of Liverpool have done well via tourism from those four lads
as for the airport being named after him
we all know it is a money making scheme for the owners and that all
if it brings in revenue for the City at the same time
well the more the merrier I say

matter of interest, are you from this City

[Englishman]

Yes, I am from Liverpool: originally from near Anfield and then from very close to the airport.

A mile or so from from the airport is Flemming Road, named after Alexander Flemming of penicillin fame.  Given the amount of global human benefit and financial benefit to Liverpool that drug and its derivatives have brought, I think Flemming International Airport may have been more appropriate, but why not just Liverpool's own name?

Lennon (and George Best of Belfast) set such a bad example through his behaviour, and his musical talents were negligible.

When people like that get such official endorsement it's little wonder that our idea of talent, standards and worth are so low, and that we have so much anti-social behaviour.  I know I'm very far from alone in my view of Lennon's abject unworthiness.

[Heyesie]

Yes, I am from Liverpool: originally from near Anfield and then from very close to the airport.

A mile or so from from the airport is Flemming Road, named after Alexander Flemming of penicillin fame.  Given the amount of global human benefit and financial benefit to Liverpool that drug and its derivatives have brought, I think Flemming International Airport may have been more appropriate, but why not just Liverpool's own name?

Lennon (and George Best of Belfast) set such a bad example through his behaviour, and his musical talents were negligible.

When people like that get such official endorsement it's little wonder that our idea of talent, standards and worth are so low, and that we have so much anti-social behaviour.  I know I'm very far from alone in my view of Lennon's abject unworthiness.

Englishman

I agree with you the Great debt we owe to Mr Flemming
But who other than the interested few
would even know who the guy was.

Now come on be realistic
think about it
why have they used Lennons name
its just to make money nowt eles for themselves
and wether you liked the guy or not
you cant write of the revenue he has brought to this City down the years.

If Speke airport really did need to be named after one of them
it should have been Paul or George, both of them lived there.
can you imagine aunt Mimi's distaste at the thought
of the child she brought up
having an airport named after him
in working class Speke
god help her...lol

I think also if a vote was taken with members of this site from our are
about John Lenno
I think that more than likely you would find
a resounding thumbs up for Mr Lennon.

by the way
I am sorry for questioning your place of Birht
I just dont come across Liverpudlians
slagging of any of the the 3 Beatles

I do however understand anyone slagging of Mr Starkey..haha

[MissM]

I must admit, as someone who lives on the airport's doorstep that a lot of the local residents were bemused the the choice of name by the airport, but having now got used to it we don't give it a lot of thought.

Reading Englishman's post I have to agree it would have been nice to have it named after Alexander Flemming and thereby enable others to learn about him and his work.  Unfortunately I do think money was involved in the choice.

As it is, I agree with Heysie that one of the other two Beatles who actually lived in Speke would have been more appropriate.  Many people here remember Paul's time in Speke and his Mum was the local midwife. Being delivered by her was many local people's claim to fame!

You're right about Ringo, Heysie!  Thank goodness the airport didn't choose him as their namesake... he might have turned up at the renaming ceremony.... and SANG!!!

Lynne

[Heyesie]

You're right about Ringo, Heysie!  Thank goodness the airport didn't choose him as their namesake... he might have turned up at the renaming ceremony.... and SANG!!!

Lynne

Yes,, well or at least tried to sing..
going on for 70 now
surely he must realise its not his thing..
mind you was drumming
even Paul once said
Ringo wasnt vevn the best drummer in the Beatles.......

[Pabloabadul]

Who ran the factory would anyone know where to look?

[chrislunt]

Just came across this thread
My late father also worked at Speke during WW2 and assume he was at The Rootes work. I recall him telling me he used to check over Bristol Blenheims before the were delivered to the RAF often going up on test flights. He also worked on converting Liberator bombers into transporters and fitting various types with sand filters for them to operate in the Desert.
I also recall he was a part of an Anti Aircraft crew but dont know where -  possibly home guard unit at the factory???
He joined the RAF in 1945 and then joined BOAC when he was demobbed.
Can anybody give any further details to the above?
Best Regards
Chris

[ScouseBoy]

It has probably  been knocked down and replaced by another factory.

For example the triumph car factory is a possible

There has been a lot of redevelopment over the last 30 years.

[ScouseBoy]

Who ran the factory would anyone know where to look?

. I guess that the site was owned by the government or MAP