Amazing life of aircraft engineer who worked on Concorde

Cyril Plimmer, was six years old when his father Stanley took a job the new Boulton Paul Aircraft works in Pendeford, Wolverhampton. Little did he know that this decision would not only shape the next 90 years of young Cyril's life, but would also see him play a significant role in aviation history.

Cyril, who dedicated much of his life to Wolverhampton's aircraft industry, has died at the age of 96. He began his career at Boulton Paul as a 14-year-old office boy in 1942, and retained close links with the company for the rest of his life.

He worked for the company for 46 years, but his association continued throughout his retirement as chairman of the Boulton Paul Association, where he became known for creating life-size models of some of the company's most famous planes. Almost all of the time, he was supported by his childhood friend Jack Holmes, who followed him into Boulton Paul, and was also a leading member of the Boulton Paul Association in retirement.

Cyril was born in Armoury Terrace, Shrewsbury, in March, 1928, and briefly lived in Newport before his family settled in Claregate, Wolverhampton, in 1934. Boulton Paul had opened its factory in the town the same year, and Cyril's father Stanley took a jobs as a fitter at the new works, sparking young Cyril's fascination with the company's planes.

In March, 1942 - two days after his 14th birthday, he started work as an office boy, with the potential of an apprenticeship upon reaching  the age of 16, providing he secured a school certificate in the meantime