Sunday 24 October 2010

Visit to Unst by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh - 1 May 1995

In May 1995 the Duke of Edinburgh, who was en route to Sweden, paid a short visit to Unst.  He arrived at the Baltasound Airstrip in a 32 Sqn helicopter, went straight to the Top Site, on to the Sgts Mess, saw the new Quarters at SHE and then visited the Unst Leisure Centre. The whole visit was over in less than 3 hours. A copy of the Itinerary from the Admin order is below. (Left click on pictures to enlarge).

The only photos I have of the visit were taken at SHE in the afternoon. The photos look like someone’s private snaps – I would be happy to credit them to the photographer or remove them if so wished. The first phase of the new quarters had just been completed and Prince Philip unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion.  In the photos (apart from Prince Philip) I can recognise the Lord Lieutenant for Shetland Mr JH Scott, the CO – Sqn Ldr Hann and Dennis Buddle.





An extract (now declassified) from the Unit History (F540) which describes the visit, is below:-
CONTENTS LIST