An estimated 20,000 people, including Rolls-Royce employees, gathered on Wednesday 26 November 2003 to witness the end of an era.

Concorde No. 216 took her final lap of honour around Bristol, the area where she was designed and built.

The aircraft, which is powered by Rolls-Royce Olympus 593 engines, finally touched down on the airfield where it all began more than 34 years ago. Concorde 216 - the last airliner to be built in the city - landed at exactly 13:08.

Cheering fans gathered to wave her home one last time as she took a tour of Bristol, passing over Clifton Suspension Bridge before returning to Filton.

After she landed, a restored Rolls-Royce Spitfire swooped low over the SuperSonic jet as she taxied along the runway, to the delight of spectators who saw the two great British icons together on a runway for the last time.

The event gave Rolls-Royce employees past and present the opportunity to swap stories on their involvement in the Olympus engine programme. This is a small selection of their reactions and memories:

"I've enjoyed working on the Olympus engines and it was a proud moment to see her coming in today."
Paul Lloyd, Fitter in No 2 Shop

"It's been a very emotional day for people like me, it's brought back a lot of memories."
John Manning, ex-Quality Assurance Engineer

"I think we all realised it was a significant time when we were working on it, Concorde was always such a special aeroplane."
Peter Pavey, Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Secretary

"There was something special about the aircraft, it had style, class and quality."
Bill Morris, ex-Instrument Maker

"It's very important that we hand over all this technology and information to the next generation so they can continue to develop it".
Morris Budd, ex-Turbine Test Engineer