A WRITER from Ashford is trying to write the definitive book about Heathrow's history and wants as much of its content, as possible, to be told by the people who work or have worked at the airport in any kind of capacity.

Alan Gallop is putting together the book, called Time Flies: Heathrow at 60', to commemorate the airport's 60th anniversary, and already has the backing of Sutton Publishing, the country's leading producer of popular history.

He aims to have it ready for sale by the Autumn of 2005, in time for the airport's anniversary celebrations, on January 1, 2006.

"Time Flies will celebrate Heathrow, and its role as a generator of employment and prosperity in the south east, over the past six decades, as well as being a key gateway for passengers and air cargo to and from all corners of the world," he explained.

"Heathrow certainly has its critics, but I'm not one of them. If the airport was to close for any reason, tens of thousands of people directly and indirectly employed at Heathrow would be in trouble and the book will celebrate this fact.

"The anti-Heathrow brigade are welcome to produce their own book," he added, defiantly.

Alan is particularly keen to hear from people who may have been involved with building Heathrow's first runways, between 1944 and 1947; the first commercial flight, involving an Avro Lancastrian flying to Buenos Aires, as a special proving flight', the airport's formal opening on May 31, 1946, the Queen's return to Heathrow early from her honeymoon, on February 7, 1952, which marked the first time she set foot on British soil as monarch, following the death of her father and the arrival of the first de Havilland Comet 1, in January 1952.

The building of the airport's famous access tunnel, control tower, Queen's Building, and Europa Terminal' (now Terminal 2), and its official opening by the Queen, in December 1955, the building and opening of Terminal 3, in 1960/61, and how it became part of a film set for the Richard Burton/Elizabeth Taylor film and the building and opening of Terminal 1, in 1968/69.

Mr Gallop would also like to hear personal reminiscences from airport staff, both past and present, including human interest stories about encounters with colleagues and passengers, especially VIPs from the worlds of royalty, entertainment, sport and politics.

Any information on dramatic or humorous incidents would be welcomed. "Time Flies is not just the story of Heathrow, but the people who have made, and continue to make, it work so well," he explained.

Mr Gallop began his professional career as a trainee reporter with Brenards, Heathrow's resident reporting agency, in 1966. More recently, he has written professional books for over 30 different airports in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as books about colourful figures from Victorian history, including Henry Morton Stanley and Buffalo Bill.

Anyone with any memories, or photographs, should write to Alan at Melody House, 22 Ashford Crescent, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 3ED, or email alangallop@compuserve.com All material loaned will be carefully copied, returned to the owner, and credited in the book.