When keep fit took off at Airways House

1:06pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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The launch party for the first phase of Great West Quarter, 13 acre regeneration of the Wallis House site on the Great West Road left Joan Cooper in a spin.

Developers Barratt laid on a lavish Roaring Twenties themed bash, as reported with pictures in the Times last week.

Stamford Brook resident Joan, 84, went along with her sister Gladys Smith, 88 and Gladys's grandson Paul Kemsley-Smith. Joan had worked at what was called Airways House in the 1950s when the occupants were British Overseas Airways Corporation.

And later, Paul's father Brian Smith was a project manager at the building for 30 years. As soon as the organisers heard this the small party was whisked off by Barratt West London's managing director Andrew Storey as honoured guests.

"It was just wonderful", recalled Joan, "They treated us like royalty and the champagne flowed like water. I rang Gladys the next morning and said, Did we dream all that?"

BOAC had bought Wallis House in 1947 and converted the factory designed for Simmonds Aerocessories to office accommodation. Joan was engaged in 1951 to operate a comptometer, an early electro-mechanical adding machine that, in the hands of an experienced operator, proved faster than a modern calculator.

She started on May 7 at a weekly salary of £6.12s.6d and would be eligible to join the corporation's contributory pension scheme after twelve months' probation (six months for men!).

BOAC held their social meetings known as The Speedbird Club, in the main hallway of Wallis House. Joan affectionately recalls a fitness club in the space run under the auspices of the League of Health and Beauty and still has the insignia, above, featuring the famous Speedbird logo.

After 31 years of service Joan retired as an accounting officer in 1982. In 1955 the site was acquired by the Beecham Pharmaceutical Company employing Brian Smith for 30 years -truly a family affair!

After narrowly escaping demolition in 1993, Wallis House has been under the protection of The Twentieth Century Society. It is one of three remaining original buildings along The Golden Mile. Joan remembers that the other factories included Coty Cosmetics, Lucozade, Macleans and Firestone. "It's been sad seeing the area going downhill, but now Barratt is bringing back The Golden Mile", said Joan.

Members of the League of Health and Beauty, Speedbird Section (the famous Speedbird insignia top right), with their teacher Marie Connor at one of the classes held at Airways House. The photograph was taken in 1955 and Joan is sitting on the front row, fourth from left. "Sheila Parslow is to my right and the girl on the back row, third left was called Betty. I can't remember her surname", recalled Joan. "We wore white satin blouses and black satin pants". Joan is still active in the fitness movement which was renamed some years ago as The Fitness League. "We're modern, have fun and of course don't wear any uniform' now", she said. Her Chiswick class is led by Brian's wife Margaret Kemsley-Smith - another family connection - and classes are held at The Arts Educational Schools, Bath Road, Chiswick and Worple Primary School, Isleworth. Find out more from Margaret on 020 8570 8519, m_kemsleysmith@hotmail.com Are you in these photographs? Send us your pictures and memories.Joan Cooper is second left, back row, in this group of workmates taken in around 1952-53. Left to right: Betty ?, JC; Joan Foreman; Audrey Cave-Abbott and Audrey Griffiths, both now deceased. Front row: l-r: Sheila Parslow; ?; and Mrs Morley, their supervisor. "In 1956 BOAC moved to Heathrow and Beecham came in and while we were awaiting new premises at the airport we moved into prefabs", Joan remembers.