Archived 31st December 2009

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2009

31st December 2009 - It's Official our 2009 season was the busiest on record with literally thousands of visitors joining our Award Winning Public Tours. A very big thank you to everyone who came along in 2009 and we look forward to meeting our visitors both old and new in 2010 when our season starts on Saturday 13th February just in time for the half term holidays. These news pages will be archived soon and a new 2010 news page will start in January.

20th December 2009 - A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE And the good news is that our new Guide Book will be available in January 2010 - see our Guide Book Page for full details. 

November 22nd 2009 -  We are often asked about our Flag and only the other a vsitor commented on it being rather 'tatty' - So let's explain our tradition at RAF Holmpton - Due to the very high winds we often experience here, our Flags don't last all that long - So we fly our Flag continuously from our visitor season opening date to closing date and we then replace it with a new banner the next year - So this flag will retire today and a new banner will be flown from 13th February 2010 when we re-open for our next visitor season.

November 22nd 2009 -  Vist by 298 Squadron ATC (Hornsea) on a special morning visit and a very fitting end to our 2009 season.

November 7th 2009 -   A memorial was dedicated at 10am today at Holmpton Parish Church to commemorate the loss of the crew of an Avro Manchester Aircraft (EM-M L7523 of 207 Squadron) that came down at 20.44 on Mill Hill Holmpton on 14th January 1942. In the words 'overheard' of one of the people attending the service ' To think it was all those years ago' - On this special occasion Holmpton Parish Church was completely full & those attending then enjoyed a reunion and reception at the George & Dragon - The staff of RAF Holmpton were pleased to collect for and place a wreath at the memorial.

November 1st 2009 - Well just November to go with 7 tours at the weekends, so if you have missed out this year now is the time to visit Every Saturday & Sunday with the gates opening at 2pm and the tour departing at 2.30pm - (Last tours of 2009 are on the 21st 7 22nd November) We then close for the winter and start on an amazing amount of work - Replacement of our drainage sumps and the last stage of our water supply upgrade - A complete 'clean down' of the exhibition areas and upgrades to he new tour for 2009 - And work also really gets underway on Area 7 where you can follow the progress on our Area 7 page - During the winter vwe will also be launching our new HISTORY PAGE WEBSITE and publishing our New Guide Book for the 2010 season - So as the last visitors leave in 2009 we start work all over again ! 

October 25th 2009 -  Management of the Public Tours and Conservation of Exhibitions & Historic Collections at 'Royal Air Force Holmpton' has (1st November 2010) passed to 'The Royal Air Force Holmpton Preservation Society' as 'Hippo' has now completed it's restoration of the whole site some 3 years ahead of schedule and under budget - The restoration of Area 7 will now be undertaken by the Preservation Society and a surplus from Hippo's budget has been made available to complete this work. The Society is a not for profit organisation with formally constituted articles in line with those designed by the Charity Commission and the Society will be seeking Charitable Registration in due course - The day to day management of the site will now be undertaken by our 'Joint Support Unit' responsible for Maintenance - Engineering - IT & Technical and General Buildings & Site Management.

October 18th 2009 -  Visit by Mr Alan Winterbottom, who had overall responsibility (1951/1953) as Chief Engineer responsible for building the bunker at RAF Holmpton - Mr Winterbottom worked for architects Mott, Hay & Anderson who planned and commissioned the majority of these bunkers in the UK (They later went on to such projects as the Channel Tunnel and are now an international fim) - Mr Winterbottom also provided some very interesting insights into the construction - Work went on 24 houra a day by floodlight - The site was the first bunker in the UK to use the new process of pumping concrete continuously into the construction - The spoil (where did it go ?) was not taken off the site, it was spread evenly over all the surrounding fields, and the contours above the bunker remain exactly as they were before construction started - The excavation went 110ft into the ground - The base was filled with shale, the building constructed on top and then covered over. The lower internal floor of the bunker is 80ft below ground - That is 3ft above sea level and the sea if 1 mile distant - The bunker is encased in 10ft of concrete - There is a concrete 'burster slab' 6ft below ground, and there is between 20/25ft of earth above the bunker - The Bunker is an R3M2 (which is larger than most of it's R3 equivalents) with an internal floor space of about 35,000sq ft.

September 28th 2009 -  'Lupin' our Official Station Mascot is TWO YEARS OLD Today - Happy Birthday Lupin - And still guarding the gates ! 

September 12th 2009-     Visit by Plt Off M J Hewitt RAF - Who designed the Original Station Badge - Plt Off Hewitt is pictured above during his Service Days at RAF Holmpton, or as it was first known No 336 Signals Unit as shown on the Original Plaque presented to him by the Officer Commanding Wg Cdr George Kirby. The same badge was later adapted to include the name RAF Patrington which later went on to become RAF Holmpton as we know it today - Our current Officer Commanding Wing Cdr S Murphy is now commissioning a replica of the 1st badge to be displayed at RAF Holmpton.

August 24th 2009 -  Visit by HESSLE TWINNING ASSOCIATION - & Many thanks to the 'TRANSLATOR' who made our guide's job much easier (J'avais un peu du Francais) !

August 16th 2009 -  Don't forget the BIG RADIO EVENT over the August Bank Holiday Weekend (SAT/SUN/MON) - with FREE admission 11am to 4pm to the Radio Displays - and why not join one of the Bunker tours to complete your visit - Tour Reception Opens at 2pm and the Tour Departs at 2.30pm daily - Adults £6 - Seniors £5.50 - Child £5 - Family (2+3) £18 and our 4 Adult/senior saver at £19 - Tours end approx 4pm. 

July 17th 2009 - DONT FORGET - Our 'SUMMER SEASON' starts on Saturday 18th July and we are then OPEN EVERY DAY until 6th September - Gates 2pm - Tour 2.30pm daily. 

July 8th 2009 -  Two former RAF National Service Men - SAC Denny Littlewood (Right) & LAC David Halford (Left) along with a friend (Centre) visited RAF Holmpton for a reunion this Wednesday - Although the site here has changed many times since their service in the 1950's they were able to recall some old stories, and the show at the end of their tour brought back 'all those memories' - We are always delighted to meet our veterans, and during the days of Radar at RAF Holmpton over 15,000 personnel went through this site, most of them accommodated at the Domestic Camp then known as RAF Patrington. Our Officer Commanding added 'If these guys had not done the pioneering work on Radar in those early days, we would simply not have the sophisticated systems of today' 

July 7th 2009 -   Visit by Blackburn (1262) Squadron Air Cadets to RAF HOLMPTON - The cadets and staff after a such long Journey also went on to visit the Yorkshire Air Museum. 

June 21st 2009 -  International Museums Weekend - Attended by members of the Finningley Amateur Radio Society who manned the transmitters and talked to Museums & Radio Operators throughout the world over the weekend - The display was also open to visiting members of the public and Bunker Tour visitors. RADIO STATIONS CONTACTED Included: GB2YAM (Yorkshire Air Museum) = GM3KC (Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre) - GBOWAM (RAF Wickenby Air Museum) - GX3ERD ( Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust) - GB2VCB (Bennachie Visitor centre).

6th June 2009 -  A visit by the 'Glorious Vehicles & Personnel' of 'SALT 3 - The East Yorkshire Raid 2009' - A spectacular line up of Vehicles from the SOVIET ERA along with Personnel - Staff - Collectors & Top Brass - A Truly Magnificent Showing Comrades a credit to the former CCCP (USSR).

                         Vehicle Line Up                                   Truck & Proud Owners

                            State Limousine                                        Top Brass

23rd May 2009 -  Visit by 23 Squadron ATC (South Elmshall) - Pictured here with 'Lupin' the Royal Air Force Holmpton Official Mascot - We are always delighted to welcome Air Cadets and can arrange exclusive private visits at any time.

18th May 2009 - HERITAGE OPEN DAYS have now been taken over by ENGLISH HERITAGE and will be going ahead as planned including the Free Event here at RAF Holmpton - Visit our Special Events page for full details of how to get your tickets.

5th May 2009 -  For Organisers of Paranormal Events - Visit our Paranormal Nights Page for full details of our NEW 'credit crunch' reduced event rates - Book now to take advantage of these SPECIAL RATES.

27th April 2009 -  Our Patron Air Vice Marshal S Chisnall receives the CB from HM The Queen at an investiture at Windsor Casstle

23rd April 2009 -  Visit by Waterton & Wakefield JI&N School - The place swarmed with 'Kids' exploring, completing quiz sheets and taking in all the sights and sounds of the bunker - We are always delighted to host these visits just contact us for details - We offer special rates for groups and Educational visits as well, and visits can be tailor made to suit any age group.

12th April  2009 - We get a lot of visits from members of Subterranea Britannica and Urban Explorers and we are always happy to arrange Group Visits for these Clubs & Societies or special Photographic Visits for Groups or Individuals - Just email info@rafholmpton.com for details.

20th March 2009 -  A Special Event to raise funds for YOUNG ENTERPRISE in Hull - Selected members of the 'Apprentice' team spent the night in the Bunker as a challenge to raise funds for this charity - The night involved exploring the bunker - viewing a horror film in the cinema and then a Treasure Hunt by torchlight, suitably scary stuff but everyone came through and the pizzas wer great too ! - RAF Holmpton is only too pleased to support these events.

14th March 2009 - A Great 'GHOST HUNT' with FRIGHT NIGHTS the UK's Premier Ghost Hunting Company was held tonight starting a 8.30pm and ending at 3am - See their website for their next event here or visit our 'Paranormal Page' to see a list of all events open to the public.

8th March 2009 -  Visit by Staff from Local Tourist Information Centres - Other Museums - VHEY & the East Riding Council Museums Officer. This visit was to familiarise staff with the Exhibition & Facilities at RAF Holmpton and from the various reactions they were 'amazed' by the place and it's unique history. 

2 8th February 2009 -     - Visit by www.mids-urbexing.co.uk who came along in the morning for a special Photographic Tour - RAF Holmpton is always pleased to organise these special events and exclusive group tours at any time.  

23rd February 2009 -  Here is a picture of the snow that finally 'got us' earlier this month, but it only lasted for 24 hours - The Dog loved it !

18th February 2009 - The 2009 season started last weekend with a great turnout on Sunday that even took us by surprise so early in the year - Everything went well and our visitors enjoyed the new features now in operation fr the 2009 tours. During the night of the 18th there was also a very successful Ghost Hunt starting at 9pm and ending at 6am.

12th February 2009 -  Our 2009 Season starts on Saturday 14th February - Gates open 2pm - Tour departs 2.30pm - The first person at the ticket window gets a free ticket. We are then open every Sat & Sun until March 1st and then every Tues/Wed/Thur/Sat & Sun until Easter when we will be open 7 days a week.

11th February 2009 -  Top Brass Visit/Inspection today from RAF Air Command - Group Captain Best/Air Command (Centre) - Wing Commander Murphy/Air Command (Right) & Liaison Officer from RAF Linton (Left) - This visit was a major inspection of the facilities at RAF Holmpton and to view the work in progress on the public exhibitions and other areas. Discussions during this visit also assured the continuity of RAF Holmpton until 2028 which 'scotched' a recent rumour that the station was due to close !

4th February 2009 - Work is now completed on the New Films - New Features and Revised Tour for the 2009 Season.

14th January 2009 - Work is well underway for the 2009 Season with - Lots of new features - New Films & Presentations.

1st January 2009 -  Welcome to our NEWSPAGE for 2009 which will be regularly updated with News - Progress Reports - Updates and Pictures throughout the year. 

1st January 2009 - Here are the latest Pics of our MASCOTS - 'Amber' the Cat is now 10 years old and likes to live in the Bunker - 'Lupin' the Dog is now 1year 3months old and lives in the dog pound on the surface - They do occasionally meet, Amber has no time for Dogs and Lupin just ignores Amber.

AMBER (10yrs)                     LUPIN (1yr 3mths)

1st January 2009 -  - RAF Holmpton continues to work towards reducing it's CO2 footprint - In 2008 following the completion of major works we achieved a massive 85% reduction in our footprint (see 2008 news archive) and this year will see completion of this work with the installation of our new emergency generators - In 2008 the Powerhouse was cleared ready for the new installation, and when this is completed we will publish pictures of the new generators and control systems.

1st January 2009 - NEW FEATURES - We are currently working on ALL NEW films and presentations for the 2009 season and we re-open for visits on Saturday 14th February - Gates 2pm - Tour 2.30pm - Come along and be the 1st in 2009. (1st person at the ticket window on the 14th get's a FREE TICKET).