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#Post#: 14744--------------------------------------------------
RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: September 18, 2013, 12:05 pm
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I may have upset a few on this site, thought I was amongst the
lads :)
I survived Fylingdales on Facebook
, have deleted myself hopefully.
Anyway I have bailed out of it apologies to the members who were
on there, they did not like the word prawn or my version of
service humour;D
A lot of tales to be told, I would prefer them to be about our
trade and other blue trades :)
They were happy days, loved Yorkshire and I was single at the
time :D
Let us keep it in house, lots of tales to be told and laughs.
#Post#: 14746--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: September 18, 2013, 1:01 pm
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I remember one Sunny day outside the mess, we were on our six
days off.
Put a table and a few chairs outside the Sgts Mess at lunchtime,
and were enjoying a drink, it did not last long, call from
across the road SHQ, remove them forthwith.
There after, most times I was the only one in the Mess, the rest
were married Salters Gate Inn and Goathland was the local
watering hole, walking distance.
Besides that instance, there was more than one way to skin a cat
:) and it was a great place to be based socially for a singlie
:)
#Post#: 14800--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: chris george
Date: September 20, 2013, 2:34 pm
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My initiation to Fylingdales (and the North York Moors) was when
I was attached there in Jan 1984 for the pre-employment BMEWS
course.
I'd been home to North Wales on Xmas leave and drove over to
North Yorkshire. The initial weather forecast was that there
might be a bit of snow and low cloud over the Pennines and the
moors late in the day.
Well, the trip over Pennines was pretty hairy and by the time I
reached Pickering it looked bloody bleak but decided to carry on
up the A169 towards Fylingdales. I must admit that until then I
had never experienced weather on the N York moors. It was late
afternoon and getting dark as I climbed up out of Pickering and
the weather progressively got worse though the road was not too
bad as had been cleared recently by a snow plough.
It all got a bit scarey as I reached (what I later learnt was)
the top of the climb at The Hole of Horcum and dropped down
Saltersgate - sideways! Luckily there was no other traffic and I
ended up the still on the tarmac and facing the right way to
make progress. So I did, slowly.
I eventually reached the right turn for RAF Fylingdales and the
approach road had been cleared so I made it to the guard room
where I checked in, much to the amazement of the staff on duty
who had not expected any arrivals that night. Anyway they booked
me in and told me the way to the Sgts Mess. 'Follow the road Sgt
and take the first right and it's just a 100 yards in your
front.'
Great, follow the road and turn right. No probs. Only, after the
turn right the road had not been cleared of snow and I slide
into a snow bank literally yards from the Mess main door!
After a journey from North Wales to North York Moors I failed in
the last few yards. Stuff it, left the car in the snow drift and
staggered the last few yards to the warm embrace of the Sgts
Mess bar!
#Post#: 14803--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: Mick Connell
Date: September 20, 2013, 5:44 pm
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Mine was a similar story Chris. Posted there just after
Christmas '86, my journey wasn't quite as long as yours, I was
living in Withernsea at the time (Copse Cottage - ex Police
House !).. Needless to say plenty of snow enroute particularly
on a very steep hill, possibly Sledmere, but not sure.
Anyway I thought it best not to go AWOL on my first day, so like
you I followed the odd snow-plough and finally made it to base -
fantastic you may think. Only problem was I was the only silly
bugger to make it in for the next few days. I couldn't
officially arrive until admin etc managed to get in a few days
later. I could have stayed in sunny With for a few more days,
and if I remember correctly I spent the New Year there on my own
admiring the paintwork of my bunk - my stay at Fylingdales
didn't improve from that first day! AND I never got a medal for
my for my troubles !!!!
As I was medically down-graded for my Tinnitus and high tone
hearing loss I prematurely discharged myself July 11th 1988. I
did get the opportunity to complete my resettlement course in
Canada which lead to a job offer. So it was hello Canada
good-bye Fylingdales.
#Post#: 14841--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: September 23, 2013, 7:54 am
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I arrived Jan 80 from TSSU RAF Wattisham on my Honda Super
Dream with my holdall the back.
To say I was foundered was an understatement, just got in in
front of a snowstorm and had a few stiffeners in the mess, to
really thaw out :)
When the BMEWs Course started we were lodged in Jack and Doreen
Grey's B and B in Whitby, another Mum and Dad to us all :)
I actually went through from Pickering in a near blizzard when
the road was closed, from Pickering to Whitby.
The Fuzz stopped me, I was on the way back from Felixstowe on
shift the next morning, he let me go through, but had to check
in with the Fox and Rabbit?
I carried on past that no lights on, however just past there and
to the Hole of Horcum and to Saltergate, I really was on a wing
and a prayer.
All the way with my boots as outriggers.
#Post#: 14842--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: Ian Pluck
Date: September 23, 2013, 8:14 am
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--- Quote from: Eddie Thompson link ---
>
> I arrived Jan 80 from TSSU RAF Wattisham on my Honda Super
Dream with my holdall the back.
>
> To say I was foundered was an understatement, just got in in
front of a snowstorm and had a few stiffeners in the mess, to
really thaw out :)
>
> When the BMEWs Course started we were lodged in Jack and
Doreen Grey's B and B in Whitby, another Mum and Dad to us all
:)
>
> I actually went through from Pickering in a near blizzard when
the road was closed, from Pickering to Whitby.
>
> The Fuzz stopped me, I was on the way back from Felixstowe on
shift the next morning, he let me go through, but had to check
in with the Fox and Rabbit?
>
> I carried on past that no lights on, however just past there
and to the Hole of Horcum and to Saltergate, I really was on a
wing and a prayer.
>
> All the way with my boots as outriggers.
>
--- End Quote ---
I bet the Hole of Horcum was sporty in that weather! It's bad
enough in a car! :o
#Post#: 14843--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: September 23, 2013, 8:27 am
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Indeed Ian,
All in second gear as well lol
#Post#: 15571--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: Mick Mills
Date: November 5, 2013, 10:29 am
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Carrying on the theme of arriving at Fylingdales in extreme
weather I too had difficulty keeping on the road. This was
January 1974, I had travelled up from Neatishead but once on the
higher ground past Pickering I couldn't see hand in front of me
because of fog. How I arrived safe and sound I'll never know, it
would have been nice to know of the steep and sharp corner at
Saltersgate. I even almost missed the right turn into the camp.
I also stayed at Jack and Doreen's in Whitby, as you say Eddie
'a Mum and Dad to us all', excellent home cooking! Was there
with Brian Martin, John Gates, Ted Ellis to name a few because I
can't remember any more at the moment. We were looked after by
Rusty Griffiths who was already posted there. What ever happened
to all of them, although I do believe John Gates is no longer
with us.
#Post#: 15652--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: Eddie Thompson
Date: November 9, 2013, 12:24 pm
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Ted Ellis retired to Whitby in the Eighties and was making and
selling Jet for jewellery.
Rusty was the F/Sgt on B watch in 1980, we seemed to follow each
other round, Penang and Fylingdales and he was Adj at the school
at WD when I went there in 86 prior to my PVR in 87, so that
was the last I saw of him.
John Osler apparently is living in Scarborough, last I heard and
Trev Sait is in Cyprus, he married Sarah from Ops registry.
Rod Scott and his wife Rita visit us regulary and live in Essex.
Best I can do at the moment Mick :)
#Post#: 15653--------------------------------------------------
Re: RAF Fylingdales BMEWS III Golfballs
DIR By: guest5
Date: November 9, 2013, 12:47 pm
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Last time I saw Rusty is when he retired at Boumer early 90's. I
do believe he either ran a pub or owned a pub around the Red Row
area
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