Charity Events Part 1

During the life of RAF Saxa Vord many thousands of pounds were raised for charities with local, national and service organisations benefitting. It would be impractical to try to cover all the events involved in one section of the blog and so I have titled this Part 1 with the intention of adding more in the months to come.

The events themselves were sometimes organised by the station as a whole, sometimes by sections of the community such as the Cpls Club or the Wives Club and often by small groups of individuals who didn’t always get the recognition they deserved. In this section I intend to publish the small amount of material available on 2 events. If anyone wishes to be credited with the photos please contact me: gordon.carle@gmail.com

Chariot Race 1995. As part of the longest day celebration in 1995 it was decided to hold a Chariot Race from the Domestic Site to Burrafirth. The event was to raise money for the local charity “Care for Unst”

Triathlon 2002. By 2002 the service strength on the Unit had reduced to around 70 and this was a fairly ambitious project for a unit that size. On this occasion the idea was to raise funds for the Lerwick Branch of the RNLI – Royal National Lifeboat Institute. The pictures below include an extract from The Buchan Bronco – RAF Buchan was parenting Saxa at this time and the Unit was too small to justify its own magazine. The event is described and pictured below:-

CONTENTS LIST

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AOCs Inspection 1983 - Air Vice Marshal Ken Hayr

The AOCs Inspection in 1983 took place on 15 Jul and was carried out by AVM Ken Hayr CB CBE AFC RAF. Ken Hayr made a number of visits to Saxa - in fact he had been on Unst just 4 months before this inspection. The Station Commander at the time was Sqn Ldr Stewart Dorward. The first stage of the Domestic Site redevelopment had just been completed and the AOC and his wife formally opened parts of the new airmens accommodation. (Left click on the pictures below to enlarge).

The following article appeared in the edition of the Shetland Times dated 22 Jul 83:-

The story was also covered in the edition of the Aberdeen Press & Journal dated 27 Jul 83 - this was quite appropriate as the Stn Cdr  was an Aberdonian:-

Footnote - AVM Kenneth William Hayr

Ken Hayr had an interesting and distinguished career. He was born in New Zealand and joined the RNZAF before transferring to the RAF. He spent his earlier flying career on Hunters and Lightnings and went on to command 228OCU (Phantom Operational Conversion Unit) at RAF Coningsby. From there he went on to command 1 Sqn (Harriers). He considered this his best flying tour as the squadron had the opportunity to develop operating procedures and tactics for this new type of aircraft. In 1973 he was posted to RAF Binbrook (5 & 11 Sqns) as the CO and was able to increase his flying time on Lightnings.

Following Staff Tours and training courses he was appointed AOC 11 Group on 11 Aug 82 – he was the first New Zealander to hold this post since Sir Keith Park in the Battle of Britain. In 1985 he was posted to command British Forces in Cyprus and this was followed by 2 senior Staff appointments. He was involved in the planning of RAF operations in the Gulf in the early 90s before retiring in 1993.

After that he divided his time between New Zealand and the UK enjoying paragliding and parachuting as hobbies. However, flying remained his main interest and he was very active in the world of display flying whenever the chance arose. It was whilst flying a DH Vampire at the Biggin Hill Air Display in 2001 that he died aged 66. It is thought that the aircraft flew through the wake turbulence caused by a DH Sea vixen, which was taking part in the same display sequence. The Vampire went out of control – there was insufficient height to recover; both Ken Hayr and fellow crew member Jonathan Kerr were killed in the crash.

CONTENTS LIST

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Rugby at Burrafirth - Ladies Day?

I don't know when the following pictures were taken but it must have been in the period 1995 -97. I can be sure it was in that era because I recognise Bill Gray (CO in those years) wearing an extremely becoming floral patterned, knee-length dress set off by a very smart pair of Wellies..  I am also unaware of the owner of these photos, if the owner reads this and wishes either to be credited or to have them removed would he/she please contact me. Obviously I believe it is the national interest that they be published. (Left Click on pictures to enlarge).

CONTENTS LIST

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Updates

I have just completed updates to 2 earlier sections of the blog adding some text, photos and press clippings. These sections are:

Radar Equipment at the Top Site
http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2009/12/radar-equipment-at-top-site.html

Queen Visits RAF Saxa Vord & Unst 1960
http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2009/11/queen-visits-raf-saxa-vord-unst-1961.html

CONTENTS LIST

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Station Personnel - 2005

With the Station Closure looming it was decided to gather as many of the personnel as possible for a series of photographs before the servicemen/women were posted around the world. The pictures below were taken in 2005. (Left click to enlarge).

A few minutes later!

The culprits

CONTENTS LIST

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Annual Formal Inspection (AOCs) 1998

The Annual Formal Inspection (known as the AOCs Inspection in my days) in 1998 was carried out on the 26 Aug. The Inspecting Officer was Air Cdre LA Doble who was Air Officer Air Defence and the Station Commander at the time was Sqn Ldr DK Jones. The photos below were taken on the day. (Left click on pictures to enlarge).

CONTENTS LIST

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