Office refugee: DISA

Here's another of my random retro posts.

Back in the late 1970's my father started working for a company based in Bristol UK called DISA. In 1984 the company changed it's name to DANTEC as a subsidiary of Dantec Elektronik Medical and Scientific Equipment A/S. It was a Danish owned company which made electronic medical equipment for use in hospitals.

I decided to do some research and was pleased to find that the company is still trading under the name of Dantec Dynamics based in Royal Portbury, Bristol.

DISA had their office at Techno House (now Desklodge House), Redcliffe Way, Bristol. This was next to what was then called the Draganara Hotel (now the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel).

During the 1970's and early 1980's the Ladbroke Draganara Hotel was one of Bristol's top hotels. Among those who stayed there during this period were Thin Lizzy, Showaddywaddy and on July 24, 1985 Princess Diana attended a dinner there hosted by the Gloucestershire Cricket Club.

Ladbroke Draganara Hotel, Bristol 1970's

Anyone who lived in Bristol during the 1970's or 1980's will remember the 'temporary' flyover on Redcliffe Way which was opened in 1967.

Bristol's 'temporary flyover' Techno House is the building on the far left and the Draganara hotel is the building on the right

I found this video of the flyover on Youtube:

Techno House, Bristol as it appears today (2021)

The rear of the former Techno House which included the staff car park

The entrance to DISA was via a door on the left side corner of the building. The current entrance to the former Techno House housed a security officer from the Corps of Commissionaires (now known as Corp Security). Wearing their distinctive smart black uniform with white topped cap.

Corps of Commissionaires being inspected by HRH the Queen in 2009

During it's time under the DISA name the company produced a whole range of merchandise in their corporate orange ranging from stationery to it's own branded beer.

Here's a selection of items now lost in time: