PRV - Farewell

Though Park Royal officially closed in July 1980 staff are seen here commemorating the closure on the 27th of February (see below).
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Clearly a large number of staff gathered outside the main entrance to the offices with Titan T183 in attendance. Titan T183 (CUL183V) was taken in to Aldenham in March 1980 and then into service at Barking in June. Sixty-eight more Titans were to be built before closure; so this image isn't actually the "last day" as T183's attendance attests. It seems most likely that this gathering occurred on Friday the 29th of February 1980 as, for many staff, this may well have been their last day together as, from March staff were gradually "let go" in stages as their roles diminished. My father, Alf Hill, isn't in the picture as he was forcibly retired on his sixty-fifth birthday (February 9th 1980) and thus didn't qualify for redundancy payment; a raw deal since many staff were leaving with full redundancy less than a month later.

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This photograph was kindly supplied by John Richards. Do you recognise anyone in this image? (Ed.).

Recognition List
Don Matthews	Front left, second along (Safari jacket)
Dennis Busby	Front left, third along (V-Neck sweater & shabby jacket, pen in pocket, with hands behind)
Bill Rees	Immediately to Dennis Busby's right
Bill Chapman	Second row, immediately behind the two ladies standing together in the front row
Cliff Folland	Rear to the right of the door (in the cloth cap)
Ken Hatton	Immediately to Cliff Folland's right (wearing sunglasses)
John Richards	Front, 5th from left and left of Dennis Busby (with beard)
Graham Downey	Rear immediately behind Dennis Busby (tall with light open-neck shirt)
Mick Carolan	Standing on the wall (the tall white-haired man)
David Quainton	Front 5th from right with his arms folded (not a PRV employee - see below)

(David Quainton: Was then the Plant Director at Leyland Workington (and presumably at PRV in connection with the transfer of the Titan production). He went on to be one of the Leyland Bus management buy out team following which he had a career with Plaxton. Also he was one-time Chairman of the Bus & Coach Section the SMMT.)