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#Post#: 4702--------------------------------------------------
RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Chris Beverley
Date: November 6, 2012, 6:07 pm
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Got my instructions from SHQ Wittering on how to get to
Neatishead. Journey easy until i arrived at Wroxham and hit a
major problem - the Naarfolk accent. I asked for directions to
Neatishead, but was told it were Neastead and didn't understand
what he said after that. Even after all these years here (on my
Geordie visa) i still have problems with the accent.
Arrived at the main gate, allowed in but only as far as the
guard room. Who was i? Why was i there? The sort of questions
our wonderful (feel sick) plods would say. Directed (on foot) to
SHQ, then armed with arrival card toured the site. Allocated a
visitors pass, escorted to Flight Ops (upstairs part that's out
of bounds to visitors at the museum) to meet F/Sgt Pete Hawkins.
Put onto 1sqd, shown the manning cell and crew-room, then told
to arrive at Coltishall - where i was billeted.
That was in June 1979, stayed in the billet till November '79
moving out to share a cottage with 2 techs (a J/T called 'Q' and
an SAC called John ?). Remained in cottage till posting to
Germany September '80.
#Post#: 4726--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: terry
Date: November 7, 2012, 5:41 am
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Chris. Many thanks. I have been trying for some time to remember
the name of an old friend who sadly passed away last year, and
you have reminded me. Pete Hawkins. Sadly missed TB
#Post#: 4739--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Dick Skinner
Date: November 7, 2012, 7:43 am
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Are you sure Pete Hawkins is dead Terry? I know his wife, June,
died but I thought he was still with us.
#Post#: 8476--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: Gordon Carle
Date: February 1, 2013, 7:15 pm
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Anyone feeling rich!
RAF Airbase On Sale For £2m On eBay
The Neatishead radar base in Norfolk opened in 1941 and played a
key role in monitoring Britain's skies during World War II and
the Cold War.
Since being decommissioned in 2006, the 25-acre site has been
largely unused and a new owner is being sought.
But anyone expecting an online bargain may be disappointed - an
asking price of £2.5m has been set, with bidding ending next
Friday.
While this is described as a "substantial" reduction from its
previous value, the seller stressed that serious bids would be
needed.
Agent Nick Barlow, from Midlands-based Barlow Associates, said
the base had been on the market for some time and he hoped the
eBay listing would attract extra interest.
He said: "There's only so much you can do in property magazines
so we thought we'd try this and it has proved remarkably
effective. It is something slightly different for people who
wouldn't otherwise have heard about it.
"The site has potential for a wide range of uses. The
underground bunker would be a very good data storage centre and
its proximity to the Norfolk Broads and the coast opens up
leisure possibilities."
Mr Barlow added that while the sale was unusual, cuts to defence
budgets mean more opportunities are likely to open up for anyone
wanting to invest in a former military base.
There are 16 buildings on the site, including former radar
rooms, tennis and squash courts, station headquarters and the
old officers' mess - the underground bunker dates from the Cold
War years.
Birmingham-based Stylespace bought the land from the RAF in 2006
for a reported £4m but it has not been suitable for their
plans.
The RAF still carries out communication work for aircraft on a
small part of the site. This would remain, alongside the RAF Air
Defence Radar Museum, which was established on the air base 14
years ago.
#Post#: 8492--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: terry
Date: February 2, 2013, 7:11 am
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According to the news yesterday, the 'Auction' was held
yesterday afternoon. Watched all evening to see if there was a
follow up but didnt hear anything. Did anyone get any more news.
It is just a pity that the site could not have been bought by
someone who has a vested interest in what went on there, and
could put it to good use and not another housing estate. Maybe a
relocation of the existing musem into the buildings that are
there. Just a thought. If it does go for redevelopment, what
about the underground bunker? Has that been filled in. Is it a
hazard? All these questions and more..... TB
#Post#: 8653--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: guest182
Date: February 6, 2013, 3:41 pm
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--- Quote from: Terry Bunce link ---
>
> According to the news yesterday, the 'Auction' was held
yesterday afternoon. Watched all evening to see if there was a
follow up but didnt hear anything. Did anyone get any more news.
It is just a pity that the site could not have been bought by
someone who has a vested interest in what went on there, and
could put it to good use and not another housing estate. Maybe a
relocation of the existing musem into the buildings that are
there. Just a thought. If it does go for redevelopment, what
about the underground bunker? Has that been filled in. Is it a
hazard? All these questions and more..... TB
>
--- End Quote ---
I was in Wroxham on Monday and stopped for a cuppa and sarnie in
the layby as you approach Sprowston.The guy who serves assures
me it's deffo sold and he is up on such subjects coz he once
visited Honnington when he was younger!
Things don't change much...it's the same old story from Buchan
years ago "If you want to know what's happening in Ops or when
there's gonna be a callout ASK THE CIVVY CLEANER!
#Post#: 8659--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: steve beddoe
Date: February 7, 2013, 2:47 am
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--- Quote from: Terry Bunce link ---
>
> According to the news yesterday, the 'Auction' was held
yesterday afternoon. Watched all evening to see if there was a
follow up but didnt hear anything. Did anyone get any more news.
It is just a pity that the site could not have been bought by
someone who has a vested interest in what went on there, and
could put it to good use and not another housing estate. Maybe a
relocation of the existing musem into the buildings that are
there. Just a thought. If it does go for redevelopment, what
about the underground bunker? Has that been filled in. Is it a
hazard? All these questions and more..... TB
>
--- End Quote ---
It's still up for auction on ebay, 1 bid of 2.5 mill so far,
1day 4hrs to run.
#Post#: 8681--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: terry
Date: February 7, 2013, 11:09 am
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Again. according to the news, the sale is tomorrow. Anyone want
to go shares with me? I can raise a couple of hundred. TB
#Post#: 8739--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: steve beddoe
Date: February 8, 2013, 7:10 am
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Auction on Neat now finished. The one bid had been rescinded.
Not sold, fill your boots TB ::)
#Post#: 8743--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Neatishead
DIR By: terry
Date: February 8, 2013, 7:51 am
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OK Steve, here we go. I will put in 5k. All I need is 499 others
to do the same and we have ourselves a site fit for the best Air
Defence Museum in the country. Any body out there willing to
join in. TB
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