Life at RAF Saxa Vord 1963/64

Once again all of the photos in this section were supplied by Pete Brindley (Saxa 63/4, 73/4 & 77). Pete was Ground Comms and spent most of his working time at Transmitters. There were occasional trips to the top site and to Receivers for fault rectification. It’s doubtful if the Health & Safety regulations would allow these duties to be carried out by one person on their own on nights and at weekends nowadays. There wasn’t even a requirement to make regular check-in calls to the PBX or Top site.

The first 3 photos were all taken at the Transmitter Site. (Left click on photos to enlarge).

I’m told the next Photo features the Transmitters Motor-Cycle Display Team – good job the bike is still on its stand as neither of them were qualified to ride the bike, which it is thought to have belonged to Jock Farquhar.

The next sequence of pictures features the inhabitants of Block 15B Room 1.

Personnel were not working or stuck in their billets all the time. There was usually the opportunity for a bit of entertainment or sport - the gym and Ice Cap cinema were always well attended. Radio Saxa Vord provided an outlet for budding DJ's and broadcast a good mix of music and entertainment with updates of camp news and activities. All of this counteracted the lack of TV and other forms of entertainment taken for granted back on the Mainland.

The NAAFI (Viking Club) was always an important feature of RAF life.

A six-a-side Soccer Team from Block 15B taking part in a tournament at Haroldswick in 1963.

And finally, there was always the “Station Bike”.  In Saxas case there were a number of them kept in the Guardroom which could be taken out on loan. Borrowers would be very unpopular if they were to return “damaged items”

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Da Voar Redd Up

Da Voar Redd Up is a Shetland-wide event which has taken place for the last 23 years. The word Voar comes from the Norse for spring and the whole expression can be translated to “the spring tidy up (or clean)". The purpose is to clear litter from roadsides and beaches, providing a good example of environmental practice. In recent years up to 4,000 volunteers have taken part and between 50 and 100 tons of rubbish (bruck as it is known here) collected annually – not too bad when you consider that the total population of Shetland is about 22,000. A specific weekend is designated for the event but, dependent upon the availability of volunteers, it can be spread over a couple of weeks. The Shetland Amenity Trust provides gloves and bags. Groups of volunteers undertake to clear specific areas and, when complete, inform the Shetland Amenity Trust to arrange for the removal of the rubbish and its disposal by the most environmentally friendly means.
RAF Saxa took part in the proceedings on a number of occasions and the pictures below come from one year’s event (probably 1995 or 96). (Left click on pictures to enlarge)

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Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations 1st to 4th June 2002

Major celebrations were held throughout the UK to recognise the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne. A chain of over 2000 beacons were lit from the north of UK right to the south of England. The first beacon to be lit was at Saxa Vord. Both the RAF and the community of Unst were very actively involved in the festivities and because of the islands significance at the start of the chain of beacons there was much coverage in the media.

On the RAF side, planning for the occasion started very early. Support from outside sources was forthcoming and frequent meetings held. Below are the Minutes of the last meeting before the event. (Left click on pictures to enlarge).

In the lead up to the day there was plenty of advertising.  At this stage in the Stations life the total strength was less than 70 and it was important that everyone got involved. A copy of one of the adverts is below

The following pictures are copies of some of the articles which appeared in the press. (Left click on pictures to enlarge).


National Press

Daily Mail 4 Jun 02 

The Daily Record 4 Jun 02

The Sun 4 Jun 02

Local Press

The Shetland Times 7 Jun 02

RAF Coverage

Buchan Bronco

RAF Buchan Station Magazine (Buchan parented Saxa at this stage)

Letter to the RAF News

RAF News 21 Jun 02

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AOSNI May 1998

On 18 May 1998 the Unit was paid an “informal” visit by Air Commodore JH Haines OBE ADC RAF. Air Cdre Haines was at the time Air Officer for Scotland and Northern Ireland, usually abbreviated to AOSNI. The Station Commamnder was Sqn Ldr Jones. The Air Cdre toured the station, re-opened the Viking Club and distributed a number of awards and Medals.
A number of photos taken during the visit are attached below. (Left click on photos to enlarge).

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Seeking Information

Whilst I am always seeking interesting information and pictures relating to RAF Saxa Vord there are 3 particular areas I am researching at the moment and would welcome any assistance which you can provide. The subjects concerned are:
1. The CO from Feb 68 to Jan 70 – Sqn Ldr/ Wg Cdr Jerrold Le Cheminant
2. The purpose of “Building” 21
3. Saxa Golf Courses

My email: gordon.carle@gmail.com

Sqn Ldr/Wg Cdr Le Cheminant

“Chem” as he was known by practically everyone in the RAF who knew him, was an ex Battle of Britain Pilot who spent many years in the Fighter Control Branch. He was promoted during his tour at Saxa. He and his wife, Eileen, donated the “Le Cheminant Cup” before leaving Unst – this trophy was competed for annually by the Saxa soccer team and an Unst “select” side. I know that he served at Bawdsey, Saxa, Bukit Gombak and many other air defence units. He was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and I would very much like to gather any information or photos of him & his family from any of the places where he served.

Building 21
I believe that an accurate picture of the buildings and main equipment at the radar heads is almost complete. I now know the site of the Type 14 radar and purpose of most of the buildings. At some stage in the future I intend to draw up an annotated plan of the radar site. One area which is eluding classification is “Building” 21. I put building in inverted commas because, as far as I am aware, there never was a building there! The location consists of just 4 concrete pads, each about 2ft square, close to the Trig Point on top of the hill.

The concrete pads appear to have been in situ since the main site was built in 1955-57. The only purpose I have seen them used for is as an anchorage point for the anemometer. I believe that it is most probable that they were laid as the base for a plinth, cabin or gantry which was never installed. It should be noticed that there are a couple of similar features north of building 21 – these were for theType 13 & Type 14 gantries. However, for these gantries the pads seem slightly further apart and set at a different angle.

Once again I would appreciate it if anyone can shed light on this feature.

Saxa Golf Courses

As from next year it is hoped that groups enthusiastic golfers will be offered trips to Unst to tour Shetland golf courses. There are 3 active courses on Shetland - one on Whalsay and 2 on the mainland. One of the main attractions is hoped to be a reconstruction of one or both of the UKs most northerly courses – the one on Skaw (Lamba Ness) and the one at Burrafirth. Obviously the RAF courses were maintained by volunteer labour and run on a shoestring so little information remains on Unst. Unfortunately I have little data other than that which I put out earlier:-
http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2009/12/most-intimidating-golf-course-in-world.html

Whilst there is a commercial interest to this venture I am happy to do what I can because I feel that the MOD/RAF still has a contribution it can make to the economy of Unst and because part of any proceeds raised will be donated to fundraisers for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Service

If anyone has plans of the 2 courses, photos or any other significant information, please get in touch.

General
Whilst any suitable photos/data about Saxa would be welcome, I am particularly short of material from the period 1971 to 1977 when Woolston, Boddy, Daniels and Glasspool were the COs. If anyone has material  they are prepared to share I have repeated my email below:-

gordon.carleAThomail.com (replace the AT with the usual symbol)

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