Archived 19th February 2009
NEWS ARCHIVE 2008
- Scroll down this page for
- NEWS STORIES & PICTURES from 2008
December 27th 2008 - A HUGE 'THANK YOU' to all our visitors during 2008 who helped to make it the busiest season on record to date - All our staff wish you a Happy New year and look forward to meeting friends both old and new in 2009.
December 11th 2008 - During the winter months we will be undertaking some major technical and engineering refurbishments, and we will post news items along with pictures here as this work progersses. Also for 2009 we are working on new films and presentations for our new season tours which star on Saturday 14th February 2009.
November 30th 2008 - 
Intrepid explorers set off down the 130yard tunnel deep underground at the start of this year's SEASON FINALE -' Civil Defence & Ghost Tours' Held this year in aid of the WITHERNSEA (RNLI) LIFEBOAT.
October 27th 2008 - 
Visit by HERIB (Hull & East Riding Institute for the Blind) A local charity for the visually impared - Our OC was delighted to host this visit for 23 members of HERIB who enjoyed a full tour of the Bunker at RAF Holmpton before setting off for lunch at the George & Dragon our local pub. RAF Holmpotn is delighted to welcome groups with disabilities and although we are sometimes limited by our staircases we will always do what we can to assist with these visits, which can be organised at any time of the year.
October 19th 2008 - 
Peter Offord (Corporal) RAF was one of the last personnel to work on the final night shift in 1974 before the radar station functions at RAF Holmpton closed at 1000hrs the following morning - Peter paid us a nostalgic visit on Sunday and was delighted to see his former place of work once again - The Commanding Officer at the time was Group Captain J H Walton.
September 28th 2008 - 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 'Lupin' Our RAF Holmpton Official Mascot is 1 year old today.
September 28th 2008 - 
ATC 1324 Squadron Brough on a visit to RAF Holmpton - Pictured with 'Lupin' who celebrates here 1st brithday today.
September 9th 2008 - 
- A visit by members of RYEDALE RAFA on a specially oganised tour of RAF HOLMPTON - Many had never heard of the site during their service days and were amazed by the size and scale of the Underground Command Centre.
September 6th 2008 - 
A visit by 33 members of Subterranea Britannica was held this morning - Running for about 3 hours the members enjoyed a full visit to the bunker - Arriving and departing by double decker bus they went on to explore the ROC post at Paul near Hull and on Sunday visited the recently restored ROC HQ at York.
August 10th 2008 - PARANORMAL EVENT ORGANISERS - See our Paranormal Nights Page for our new graded fees for investigations including some new rates - These do not alter any bookings confirmed and booked prior to August 2008.
August 26th 2008 - A Record Breaking Summer Season with a huge number of extra visitors this year - The Summer season continues until Sunday 31st August with TOURS EVERY AFTERNOON - We then have a weeks holiday for the staff and the AUTUMN SEASON starts on Saturday 6th September - Full details on our Public Opening Times Page.
July 27th 2008 - Our SUMMER SEASON is now under way and we are OPEN EVERY DAY - Gates 2pm - Tour 2.30pm - Full details on our PUBLIC OPENING TIMES Page.
July 22nd 2008 - 
See or PARANORMAL NIGHTS page for details of actual Hauntings & Sightings in the bunker - and why not join one of our overnight Paranormal Events to see for yourself.
July 14th 2008 - 
HIPPO has just completed the handover of the entire Historic Collection at RAF Holmpton to the RAF Holmpton Preservation Society (RAFHPS) - All the various owners of the collection have now generously donated their equipment and artefacts to the Society, which now holds possibly the most authentic Bunker Collection in the United Kingdom. Once the restoration of RAF Holmpton is completed the Society will take over the day to day management of the site and their ownership of the collection forms the initial part of this process. Chairman of the Society Mr Terry Clout said that he was delighted to become the first custodian of this unique collection. A new logo for the society will be launced on this website soon.
July 10th 2008 - 
On the 9th July former members of staff from RAF BEMPTON and their families held a reunion at the local pub in Bempton and on the 10th July they paid a visit to RAF Holmpton - RAF Bempton operated as a satellite for RAF Holmpton until the 1960's - Sadly the small single level bunker at Bempton has since fallen into a state of dereliction - The site firstly operating as an Early Warning Station later had a Type 80 radar installed and in about 1962 when RAF Holmpton closed for a major refit the entire staff moved to Bempton which operated as the principal station for about 9 months. Following the refit at Holmpton the site at Bempton closed and RAF Staxton Wold replaced it. Bempton was also used as a Test bed for the new HSA (High Speed) radar system under the code name 'Project Winkle' ad this accounts for the rather strange concrete pillars still clearly visible on the long since closed site. The reunion was a great success and it was a pleasure to meet so many Veterans with their happy memories of their time at Royal Air Force Station BEMPTON.
July 6th 2008 - A great Paranormal Investigation last night with the 'Prepared To be Scared' team who found a considerable amount of activity in the Bunker - You can visit their website at www.prepared2bescared.co.uk
June 26th 2008 - 
Visit by the MG CAR CLUB (Yorkshire Central) - The members enjoyed a guided tour of the Bunker and the event saw a superb 'Line Up' of MG Cars along the front of the Guardroom ranging from the latest to vintage models of these superb cars.
June 25th 2008 - 
A Visit by the (National Service) Royal Air Force Association Lincolnshire Branch this afternoon brought 16 Veterans to RAF Holmpton for a tour of the Bunker. From a variety of service units one had been stationed near to Hiroshima during WWII and another on Christmas Island during the Nuclear Testing programme.
June 14th &15th 2008 -
- International Museums Weekend brought the Finningley Radio Amateur Society to RAF Holmpton for the weekend - Members of the club along with the public visited the Radio Displays throughout the weekend and a large number also took the chance to visit the Bunker on one of the weekend tours - the Radio Club will be visiting RAF Holmpton again for future events.
Transmitter Van Ariel Mast Inside the Van
June 6th 2008 - Paranormal Investigation tonight by Rotherham Ghosts - To see a report vist their website at www.rotherham-ghosts.com Why not join in one of our Paranormal Nights - Full details on our Paranormal Page - RAF Holmpton is rapidly earning a reputation as a premier and exciting new site for a variety of hauntings and happenings
May 31st 2008 -
- Thursday 5th June is WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY and RAF Holmpton is pleased to announce that following the completion of major Energy - Water - Land Maintenance - Drainage and Waste Recycling Projects we have now achieved a reduction in our carbon footprnt of 85% (Yes that is 85% some achievement)
May 25th 2008 - 
Another great paranormal night with Phil Whyman of Most Haunted Fame - You can view details of his investigations on his own website at www.deadhaunted.co.uk and don't forget to look on our PARANORMAL NIGHTS PAGE for details of upcoming investigations at RAF Holmpton - Full contact details of the organisers are listed so that you can book tickets and join in with one of the fascinating events.
May 24th 2008 - 
Congratulations to HULL CITY on their graduation to the Premier League - HULL getting bigger & better every day The Pioneering City.
May 20th 2008 - SHOP - 
Our new Shop is now completed and ready for our visitors along with our refurbished Foyer and extended waiting space.
May 18th 2008 - Shopfitters moved in today to alter the Foyer providing more waiting space and to fit out an entirely new shop area for our visitors - Opening Wednesday 21st May -Pictures and full details to follow shortly.
May 17th 2008 - 
Museums & Galleries Month 'Night in the Museum' welcomed Kids & Adults for a special screening of 3 Wallace & Gromit & Shaun the Sheep adventures on the big screen in the Operations Room 80ft below ground - Everyone enjoyed the event and it raised over £150 for the RNLI Withernsea Lifeboat Appeal - See the pictures below. With special thanks to the BBC - Aardman Productions and 2entertain for providing the films and a great evening - Also many thanks to the MGM 2008 organisers.
MGM 2008 Visitors Wallace & Gromit Raffle Prizewinners
May 13th 2008 - 
10 Helicopters from the Helicopter Club of Great Britain flew in today for a lunchtime visit and tour of the bunker - We have added slideshow with over 70 pictures of the helicopters on the ground and in the sky just Click on the Helicopters page tab opposite.
May 10th 2008 - 'LUPIN' now has her own Slideshow Page and we will add regular updates too - Have a look by clicking on the index tab listed as LUPIN CAM.
May 1st 2008 
This is 'LUPIN' our new Station Mascot - She was born in Scotland on 28th September 2007 and arrived at RAF Holmpton on Sunday 20th April - She is currently settling into the RAF Police Office and getting to know everyone while her own accommodation is being built - She follows in a tradition of Border Collies at Holmpton and we will update her progress on this website.
April 26th 2008 - See our SPECIAL EVENTS PAGE for details about Events and Charity Auctions at RAF Holmpton - Something different and advance booking always available.
April 10th 2008 - PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS - There are a huge number of these events already booked for this year so why not have a look on our PUBLIC SPECIAL EVENTS PAGE contact the organisers and come along - It's a whole other world.
April 5th 2008 - 
A return visit by members of the 28dayslater Urban Exploration Group - Plus the chance to visit parts of the bunker not usually open to visitors - You can find out more on their website - www.28dayslater.co.uk
March 31st 2008 - 
RAF HOLMPTON is delighted to have won the prestigeous Quality Assured Visitor Attraction Award from Visit Britain the UK Official Tourist Authority.
March 29th 2008 - UPDATED WEBSITE - Visit our PUBLIC TOUR PICTURES PAGE for a Full Description of our 2008 Tour - Also Visit our New SLIDESHOW GALLERY on our Slideshow Page - You can view Individual Pictures - Run a Slide Show or View in Full Screen Format - We will be adding more pictures to this Gallery over the next few months.
March 24th 2008 - 
Even with the unexpected Easter Snow the holiday opened with a huge number of visitors getting our 2008 season off to an excellent start at RAF Holmpton and a 'Full House' on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.
March 16th 2008 - 
A fantastic evening was had by all for the Pre Season Launch Tour in aid of the Withernsea Lifeboat. Although it was a foggy night it was nearly a Full House and we received excellent feedback on the new Tour which is now in place for the 2008 season starting on Good Friday 21st March at 10.30am.
March 13th 2008 - 
RAF HOLMPTON features on the This is Ull website and you can view the article by clicking here now - LINK
March 11th 2008 - 
SPECIAL OFFER - (March 25th to April 25th) - 2 Adult Tickets for the price of One or 1 Child Goes Free with a Paying Adult - These Special Offers will be available ONLY through the Yorkshire Tourist Board during March/April 2008 - To get your vouchers just click on the YTB Website and they will have a link to this Special Offer - You can then have a voucher emailed directly to you - Just CLICK on the direct link below to the YTB Website, then click on their SPECIAL OFFERS logo and then click on EASTER OFFERS - Simple as that - Click Here Now - www.yorkshire.com
March 6th 2008 - 
RAF HOLMPTON ON BBC TV - Just click on the link below to view the BBC Look North Report on RAF Holmpton 2008 and then click on the Cold War Museum Opens it's Doors Logo - LINK
February 23rd 2008 - 
NEW TOUR FOR 2008 - Just click on our VISITOR OPENING TIMES Page and scroll down to the TOUR CONTENT section for a complete 'Pictorial' description of the NEW 2008 PUBLIC TOUR.
February 22nd 2008 - 
Congratulations to 1&1 Internet on their 20th Birthday - One of the largest internet & website providers - 1&1 provide hosting for the RAF Holmpton Website from their UK Headquarters in Slough.
February 16th 2008 - Work is now completed on all the changes and improvements for the 2008 Season - See the new item below for full details - COMING SOON - A full pictorial guide to the New Tour to be published on our Public Opening Times Page shortly.
February 10th 2008 - Work is now almost complete on the improvements and changes for the 2008 season including a New Tour - New Viewing Areas - New Films & Presentations and a New Show in the Main operations Room - We will also be opening for the very first time the Historic Message Centre which back in the 1960's formed a part of the Radar operations at RAF Holmpton - This area has been fully restored with original equipment dating back to the 50's and 60's and gives a marvellous insight into the type of technology used all those years ago and long since forgotten.
January 27th 2008 - Work starts on February 4th to install a new viewing area for the Support Command Operations Centre, this will allow for much better viewing of the room and will provide improved access to this area - Just part of the major changes for the 2008 season.
January 20th 2008 - Another excellent Paranormal Investigation by Phil Whyman and his team - Starting at 10pm on Saturday and concluding at 6am for the weary investigators - Full details of the findings to be published shortly and we will provide a link to their website.
January 8th 2008 - Work on the New exhibitions is well under way with the historic Message Centre now completed and work starting on the New AV Presentations - Dont firget to book for the exclusive Preview Tour - Full details on our Special Events Page.
January 1st 2008 - NEW EXHIBITIONS - NEW GUIDED TOUR - NEW FILMS - NEW PRESENTATIONS & A NEW SHOW - All coming in 2008 for our new season - Special Preview Evening Tour - Saturday 15th March - Gates 7.30pm - Tour 8pm (Full details and bookings on our Public Special Events Page) - Our season then starts on Good Friday 21st March (Full details on our Public Opening Times Page)
January 1st 2008 - RAF Holmpton is delighted to have as it's patron Air Vice Marshal S Chisnall. The AVM is a serving senior RAF Officer and his current post is as Chairman of the Senior Directing Staff at the Royal College of Defence Studies. Prior to this he was ACOS A1 at RAF Strike Command High Wycombe. THE AVM is a keen supporter of our Royal Air Force Heritage. RAF Holmpton remains a part of the RAF/Defence Estate under Air Command at High Wycombe.
January 1st 2008 - RAF HOLMPTON reduces it's carbon footprint by 85% - See our About RAF Holmpton page for full details (Green Issues).
NEWS ITEMS FROM 2008