North Unst - Viewed From the Sea

David Goodall (Saxa Vord 1959 to 1961) holidayed in Shetland in 2008. Whilst here he took a cruise in the Ezra (a converted 19th Century pilot cutter) to a number of the Islands. The voyage included a visit to Baltasound, followed by a trip around the north end of Unst. The photos below are all from his trip and they show parts of Unst from a perspective slightly different from that most of us are used to. (Left click on photos to enlarge)

Arriving at Baltasound

Approaching Baltasound Pier

Inner Skaw, site of the old RAF Skaw on the Horizon

Saxa Vord & the Entrance to Burrafirth

Muckle Flugga

Saxa Vord

Saxa Vord & the Entrance to Burrafirth

Muckle Flugga

Muckle Flugga & Hermaness

Muckle Flugga

Out Stack

Muckle Flugga with Saxa Vord in the Background

(All the photos above in this section are from David Goodall)

 

CONTENTS LIST

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Fire Practice at Inner Skaw

I'm afraid I don't know the exact date of the Fire Practice at Inner Skaw illustrated in the pictures below but it is believed to be in the early 70's. The only participant to be named at this stage is second from the left in the first picture - Malcolm Maddison (Maddy),  a Medic who worked in Sick Quarters.

I'm pretty sure that most historians would not approve of this use of the buildings on the old wartime RAF Skaw base!

 

Links to a few more pieces in the blog about the Saxa Fire Section here:

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/fire-section-part-1.html

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2011/01/fire-section-part-2.html

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/fire-section-part-3.html

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.com/2012/02/memories-of-fireman-nick-broom.html

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/neale-bulbeck-firefighter-saxa-1998-2000.html

CONTENTS LIST

http://ahistoryofrafsaxavord.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/contents-list.html



Saxa Vord - The Landmark

The Top Site located on Saxa Vord Hill (285m) is the highest point in Unst. It forms a prominent landmark which can be seen from places as far away as Fetlar, Out Skerries and from many other parts of Shetland. Attached below are some views of the site taken from viewpoints on Unst itself.

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Views of the Top Site Before the Radome

A few views of the Top Site in the era before the Radome are attached below.

CONTENTS LIST

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Views from the Top Site

No matter what the season, no matter the weather, the views from the Top Site were always spectular unless it was pitch dark! A small selection of views are attached below.

CONTENTS LIST

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Article about RAF Saxa Vord in the Tengah Times

Wg Cdr Le Cheminant, who was CO of Saxa from 16 Feb 68 to 31 Dec 69, was posted to Singapore, where he took over as CO of the Air Defence Radar Unit Bukit Gombak. He wrote the following article about his Unst experience and it was published in the June 1970 issue of the Tengah Times (Tengah parented  Bukit Gombak). The article was subsequently reproduced in the Shetland Times.

 

(Left click twice on text for larger image)

CONTENTS LIST

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Catering Section

My father-in- law, the late Hughie McMeechan, worked for the Catering Section for 21 years. These pictures are from his collection. Unfortunately I am unable to put names to many of those featured.

 

CONTENTS LIST

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