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#Post#: 788--------------------------------------------------
Saxa Vord
DIR By: Rein Boomsma
Date: September 5, 2012, 2:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I know, we have covered this station before the old site got
hacked so lets start it again and get back the wealth of
memories from the most Northerly RAF Station in the British
Isles. At the sharp end during the "Cold War" with the most
X-Rays plotted in a single day, the strongest ever recorded
windspeeds before the anemometer blew away. So strong even
several T80 aerials blew off their mount's. Gordon Carle
started a separate site with memories from those who served
there but lets see if we can re-record some of our own memories
again. The station is now closed, sold just recently for
£19.000. Only ghosts now man it, it's radar long gone, as are
all the scopies. Just memories left, so lets get some back on
here. I was there from 1971-73. Seen the Northern lights, Muckle
Flugga lighthouse, fished from the cliff edge catching seatrout
that we cooked on the nightshift. Played Cowboys and Indians,
because nobody was watching and even if they did, nobody cared.
I even did the Most Northerly Aercheological dig whilst up there
with guys you'd never have thought of being interested in that
sort of thing. We even had a radio station that was listened to,
RSV with it's huge library spanning nearly 20yrs then. No idea
what happened to it when it closed down. So lets get cracking
again and get the old brain going.
#Post#: 790--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: Eddie Conway
Date: September 5, 2012, 2:40 pm
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Rein, I was there in 2004/5. There was still some equipment and
even records knocking around from RSV. They were stored in the
old gym, but then the bldg was condemned and we weren’t
allowed in there to remove them; not sure what happened to them
after that.
#Post#: 793--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: alanshield
Date: September 5, 2012, 3:02 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I was threatened with a posting to Saxa if I changed my mind
about PVR by Taff Jenkins who had to complete all the paperwork.
If anything was a spur to get out, that was!!! ;)
#Post#: 810--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: chris george
Date: September 6, 2012, 1:28 am
---------------------------------------------------------
One of my lasting memories of my time there was standing outside
the old Ops Block watching a Vulcan MMR flying along the
Burrafirth Sound BELOW where we were standing. Incredible
looking down on that aircraft as it slowly flew past. Wish I'd
had a camera!
#Post#: 959--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: Gordon Carle
Date: September 7, 2012, 6:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Added a few Saxa Pics to the gallery - funny my blog pics seem
to be coming from everywhere!
#Post#: 993--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: guest66
Date: September 8, 2012, 9:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Stew Wright link ---
>
> I remember the skittles nights and the longest day
celebrations, just one long piss up rely
>
--- End Quote ---
I had my wedding reception in the old skittle alley, lasted 3
days ;D
#Post#: 999--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: Martin Boughen
Date: September 8, 2012, 12:04 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Remember in the mid 80's being detached to Saxa and having to
live in the Baltasound Hotel, I'm the staff training was based
on a Faulty Towers sketch. The place was so bad it was funny. In
particular breakfast was a lottery as the chef(?) was often so
pi**ed the night before he used to forget how to cook and offer
sandwiches as an alternative. When I returned in the evening he
would insist on buying be a drink or six as a way of an apology
but then he'd forget to stop drinking and the same thing would
happen again the next morning.
#Post#: 1017--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: guest83
Date: September 8, 2012, 3:08 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Rein Boomsma link ---
>
> I know, we have covered this station before the old site got
hacked so lets start it again and get back the wealth of
memories from the most Northerly RAF Station in the British
Isles. At the sharp end during the "Cold War" with the most
X-Rays plotted in a single day, the strongest ever recorded
windspeeds before the anemometer blew away. So strong even
several T80 aerials blew off their mount's. Gordon Carle
started a separate site with memories from those who served
there but lets see if we can re-record some of our own memories
again. The station is now closed, sold just recently for
£19.000. Only ghosts now man it, it's radar long gone, as are
all the scopies. Just memories left, so lets get some back on
here. I was there from 1971-73. Seen the Northern lights, Muckle
Flugga lighthouse, fished from the cliff edge catching seatrout
that we cooked on the nightshift. Played Cowboys and Indians,
because nobody was watching and even if they did, nobody cared.
I even did the Most Northerly Aercheological dig whilst up there
with guys you'd never have thought of being interested in that
sort of thing. We even had a radio station that was listened to,
RSV with it's huge library spanning nearly 20yrs then. No idea
what happened to it when it closed down. So lets get cracking
again and get the old brain going.
>
> Rein's thanks for this it has stirred lots old very good
memories and do not forget the People we had the pleasure to get
to know. Do you remember the 78 records on the radion to the
billets, Horror ones read by the Actor (Scotish undertaker) from
Dad's Army, listerning to them at midnight made the hairs on
your neck stand up. Happy Days
>
>
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 1061--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: Rein Boomsma
Date: September 9, 2012, 10:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Oh I remember them well Bernie, I used to put them on too. Still
have some of those BBC transcription records from old shows.
They should have been destroyed after 6 mnths but we never did.
Even have some of the old Goon shows. And what about that ghost
up topside? Many a time did I hate walking to the canteen to
make a brew only to feel this whatever it was close. Making a
brew was only done before sundown, never after
#Post#: 1125--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saxa Vord
DIR By: chriswalker2
Date: September 10, 2012, 4:42 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Martin Boughen link ---
>
> Remember in the mid 80's being detached to Saxa and having to
live in the Baltasound Hotel, I'm the staff training was based
on a Faulty Towers sketch. The place was so bad it was funny. In
particular breakfast was a lottery as the chef(?) was often so
pi**ed the night before he used to forget how to cook and offer
sandwiches as an alternative. When I returned in the evening he
would insist on buying be a drink or six as a way of an apology
but then he'd forget to stop drinking and the same thing would
happen again the next morning.
>
--- End Quote ---
Martin, I left there in 1984. Was Sheena still the Manageress by
any chance ?
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