Introduction
First of all I would like to start out by thanking Chris Scott for running an excellent tour in October at Sedgemoor. I was unfortunately unable to attend as I was about to go the Middle East for a month.
I would also like to wish all existing and new members a Happy New Year and I look forward to supporting our new Chairman Mike Peters in all his efforts on behalf of the Guild. I would also like to personally thank Tony Coutts Britton for all his work for the Guild and support over the last 12 months.
After a relatively successful year in 2011 for the SW group with 3 events I have been trying to give thought to what our programme should be for 2012. I believe we should be looking at 3 events once again all spaced through the year though your feedback on this would be very welcome. I would be grateful if all of you could put your thinking caps on and make some suggestions for events this year and send them to me by the end of January.
In the meantime I am very pleased to announce that Paul Oldfield has been working on a proposal for an event based around Bulford – a location very familiar to him and one dare I say I also know quite well.
The Proposal – Walking Tour of the Bulford Area
The proposal is a short walking tour around Beacon Hill which sits above Bulford Camp to the north and the A303 to the south. A clear day is absolutely essential. Meeting point would be on Gaza Road in the Bulford Officer MQ patch (directions to follow). We will walk from there to the top of Beacon Hill, c.2 kms. Beacon Hill was the start point for the first measurement of the Ordnance Survey and the site of a RAF jamming station in WW2 during the “battle of the beams”. Looking around Paul will talk about:
Thruxton airfield (just out of sight) - launch point for Bruneval Raid.
Boscombe Down airfield and the experimental flying from the early days until now, only Battle of Britain VC, testing of air dropped munitions at Ashley Walk.
Amesbury – HQ of one of the Para Bdes prior to D-Day.
Larkhill – first military airfield, 1912 trials, first night flight, WW1 camps, railway.
Salisbury Plain in general – first use, summer camps, expansion in WW1, permanent camps.
Upavon – Central Flying School, glider tug aircraft and jump ships in WW2.
Netheravon - which was an early flying station that was used by WW2 gliders and training for Pegasus Bridge
Syrencot House – HQ 6 AB Div prior to D-Day.
.... and a few other places.
On the walk back we will see the Bulford Kiwi and, following a short drive and short walk, some well preserved WW1 practice trenches. Paul suggests that we have lunch probably at the Boot in Shipton Bellinger which he tells me has crackingly good food. Those not wishing to walk quite so far (total c.5.5 kms) have the option of parking at the layby at the top of Beacon Hill heading east on the A303. It is only 400m to the top of Beacon Hill from there, but there is very limited space.
Suggested Dates
Inevitably choosing the right day with clear weather is going to present issues however for the purposes of initial planning the following 3 dates have been suggested where Paul is available and which appear to conflict with other Guild events- the 15th 21st and 22nd April 2012.
Can I ask those who would wish to attend and are currently available on these dates to send me an e mail expressing their interest to me at my e mail address imitchell195@btinternet.com by January 20th.
Posts
