DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Air Defence Operator
HTML https://airdefop.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Tales From Units/Detachments
*****************************************************
#Post#: 7507--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: terry
Date: January 7, 2013, 12:54 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Yes please Chris. I doubt our one is still there as it was
pretty old back then. If it is it would be the one on the
extreme right as you go in, next to the road. TB
#Post#: 7509--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: guest87
Date: January 7, 2013, 1:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
From Compton Bassett to Buchan was great for me as I was going
home,as I was from Fyvie,about 20 miles from the camp.
Arriving at Aberdeen,I went to King St and caught the Peterhead
bus,and counted my blessings about my wonderful posting,what a
lucky sprog was I.
More later.
#Post#: 7516--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: guest92
Date: January 7, 2013, 5:53 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I was at Buchan from 1971 to early 73. Got married Nov 1972 and
because we had hardly any points to qualify for a quarter we
moved into a static caravan on the site opposite Peterhead
Prison. The caravan was quite large but very very cold. We were
in good company as many Buchan personel lived on that site.
We had no fridge but that wasent a problem as we put milk and
butter ect outside on the door step; it was guarenteed to be
almost frozen solid next morning. We had a small parathin fire
which was next to useless. There was a coal burning stove but
because we both worked the same watch, we rarely had time to
light it, so consequently the van was never properly heated.
There was a problem with electrics on the site, if everyone used
electric at the same time, the fuse would blow and the site was
plunged into darkness. Thank God for Ugie taxi's ( many driven
by moonlighting scopies such as Mick Perkins and Ces Charlton)
who would deliver Chinese takeaways. Good job we had gas as well
as electric lighting in the vans.
For all that though it was still the best time at any posting.
#Post#: 7520--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: Bill Reid
Date: January 7, 2013, 7:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Got posted to Buchan after Swinderby via Nocton Hall (October
'70) be a TAG until my coarse came up at Bawdsey, and I like Ian
Argo lived in the local area (Aberdeen) so most times when I
finished work on a Friday I went home.
Now my arrival at Buchan was a right pain as I'd been in
hospital for an operation on my hand for the removal of some
warts, so when I finally arrived at Buchan with a poisoned hand
I was told I'd be working in the mess doing god knows what.
However this soon changed o/c education saw the state of my hand
I was now to be working out of the g/room. In the g/room you
soon learnt to work the system and when if once done ADO course
you got sent back here what the best time to arrive at was
(1645hrs) for those not in the know.
Whilst here as a TAG I was a member of the BEF no not the
British Expeditionary Force, but the Back Every Friday (home
every weekend) mob. This continued once I'd done my coarse at
Bawdsey until I was put on to 'D' Watch. Thoroughly enjoyed
myself at Buchan from my first time there 1970 till my final
tour as an AATC in 1985. ;D
#Post#: 7684--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: Mick Connell
Date: January 11, 2013, 11:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Arriving at Buchan in the summer 0f '72 was initially a
relatively pleasant experience, I think. But a posting anywhere
after 3 years in Cyprus has got to be a disappointment.
Our accommodation was a granite bungalow 'hiring' at Mile End
overlooking the Bay of Refuge in Peterhead, just up from the
prison. In fact we could see the prisoners on the roof of the
prison when they started a riot and ripped off roof tiles and
lobbed them at the wardens below, I think they stayed up there
about a week, until the rain came !
At the time we were there they were reclaiming land from the
Harbour of Refuge for the oil industry, that was interesting see
the progress over the months.
Other than a need for a complete internal renovation, my granite
bungalow was fine until winter came. Our sole source of heating
was from an open coal fire in the living room, which was grossly
inadequate, the house was like a fridge. Our land-lady lived
overseas therefore all our dealings to get the place renovated
etc had to be via her lawyer in Peterhead and the RAF.
Well after long months of communication between the RAF, the
lawyer & land-lady I was getting nowhere. Then unbeknown to me
my wife Mary, got on a bus with our 1 and 3 year old daughters
and paid a visit to the Family's Officer at Boddam.
Shortly after that, in fact very shortly after that I got called
in front of the Flt Cmdr and got a rollicking, Cpls wives don't
do that sort of thing - but Mary did, and guess what, it got
results.
I was allowed to redecorate the home at my land-lady's expense,
my time, her money. Now there were walls that I had to
re-plaster, complete redecoration throughout, windows to repair
(one sash window was lethal, the top & side frame went up but
the bottom was rotted away - made an ideal guillotine should
anyone want to look out of the open window). We did also get a
big night-storage heater installed. So after a month or two of
my hard labours we get a letter from the lawyer giving us a
months notice to get out. A couple of days later the land-lady
turns up on our door-step, I emphasise door-step cuz there was
no way Mary was going to let her across the threshold. THe
land-lady reckoned she didn't know that we had been evicted -
bitch, I should have charged her for my labour and the
inconvenience and hardship my poor family had to endure.
But it did result in us getting a nice MQ in Ugieside on
Scotstown Rd.
I do remember one Sunday morning when I was living at Mile End.
I was working that day so before I left I lit the fire, now the
fire was not starting too well, and I was in a hurry so I
thought a bit of paraffin might do the trick. It did the trick
alright, caused a chimney fire. Finished up with a living room
full of firemen, police and me all in uniform, but it did clean
out the chimney ::)
#Post#: 7814--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: steve beddoe
Date: January 14, 2013, 9:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
"Staggered home to the caravan on many occassion to Barbara's
disgust. Oh happy days. TB"
Just a synthetic for Cyprus Mate ::) ::) ::)
#Post#: 7820--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: Bill Reid
Date: January 14, 2013, 3:56 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Terry Bunce link ---
>
> Spring is sprung and the weather is nice. Even better because
there is a very nice pub just across the road (Cannot remember
the name). Money is short so only get the chance to go over very
infrequently. But have made friends with another SAC who plays
guitar as well and the pub needs a bit of entertainment. So we
go over a couple of evenings a month and play/sing for our
bevvy. Staggered home to the caravan on many occassion to
Barbara's disgust. Oh happy days. TB
>
> TBC
>
--- End Quote ---
Rocksley is the name of the pub, one time watering hole for all
RAF personnel.
Still there.
#Post#: 8209--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: Linda Horner
Date: January 24, 2013, 7:52 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Posted to Buchan, from Basic Training at Bawdesy, January 1971,
along with Ann Stoddart, Liz McFarlane, and John McClelland.
Lucy WRAFs that we were given sleeping berths, from London To
Aberdeen.
We arrived at Aberdeen Station at 7am, a feeling of 'home'
(thought I'd never been to Scotland before). We visited to
station Buffet for breakfast, I remember having a fried egg
(never ate them at home) and it was lovely. I must admit that
the journey to Sterling village has been lost in the mists of
time. (Maybe Ann can remember). I think the drivers dropped of
newsprint in the middle of no-where and drivers changed
somewhere else.
On arrival at Buchan we 3 lasses were allocated to the WRAF
Admin billet, Liz & Annie to share I was sharing with Jackie
(Twiggy) Laing. (Me a poor innocent country bumpkin, put with
Twiggy!) I remained in that billet (Behind the tennis court,
opposite the NAFFI) for the next 12 months. I went onto C
flight, and met some fantastic people. Social life revolved
around the NAFFI, although on one occassion a group of us went
into Ellon for a dance (it had been cancelled). I do remember
Hazel Smith (Scottish) going into the phone box to arrange for a
taxi back, only to be faced with a pone box which had 2 buttons
(A & B), por Hazel was only used to STD, for once being a
country bumpkin came in useful.
In the 12 months I was at Buchan, I passed prom ex to SACW, and
had an 8 week detatchment to Boulmer. Before the detatchment I
applied for an overseas posting (we used to be able to apply
after 6 months service, but this had been extende to 9 months),
I was just under 9 months, but WRF 'G', Mam De Lacey, approved
my application, as I was 'mature'! She really didn't know me!
(As an asside Hazel, who had join up before me, had had her
application refused, due to 'being immature' ! - I recon Haze &
I were 'mixed up')
In the whole 12 months not one flake of snow fell! It just made
up for it the following year.
#Post#: 8227--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: Bill Reid
Date: January 24, 2013, 6:44 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I remember F/Lt de Lacey (Mam) when I was sent up as a TAG, she
got me for not saluting her. Never saw her it was dark and the
lighting was not that good, although did see her sheep on a lead
(dog). Managed to bend my right hand to give her the salute then
went on my way to med centre to have my hand seen to by the
local quack, no RAF doctors here.
Mam de Lacey got me again the next day but this time I did
salute her but she told me to stop, as apparently some kind soul
had told her my hand was poisoned and that I could not
straighten it out.
She did ask why I had not said anything and I answered that it
was none of her business. Nice lady but much nicer sheep sorry
dog.
Found out later that it was o/c Education and the staff in
medical centre that had advised her of the damage to my right
hand. ;D ;D
#Post#: 8296--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Buchan
DIR By: Brian Reynard
Date: January 27, 2013, 2:45 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Terry Bunce link ---
>
> Having just got my service record through this week, and seen
my assessments when at Buchan, I really cannot understand how I
ever got to Cpl. I went there with 2 x 7 from the previous year
at Bawdsey, and dropped to 2 x 5 in my first year there. Strange
thing is that I do not recall ever being told what my
assessments were or being told to sign for them. This was in
1965. so..... did anyone else ever see their assessments around
that time? One thing is sure, if I had seen them I would have
refused to sign for them. But now I know why my promotion was
deferred by the station CO. TB
>
--- End Quote ---
Cant recasll the date when signing for assessments came in -
certainly in effect around 1970, but I cannot recall signing any
as a SAC or Cpl.
*****************************************************
Page 2 of 5
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page