Royal Air Force Holmpton 2010

Archived 31st December 2007

NEWS ARCHIVE 2007/6/5/4

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  • NEWS ARCHIVE 2007
  • NEWS ARCHIVE 2006
  • NEWS ARCHIVE 2005
  • NEWS ARCHIVE 2004

 NEWS ARCHIVES - PAST ITEMS

2007 NEWS ARCHIVE

December 21st 2007 - A Big 'Thank You' to our visitors during 2007 - Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year - We look forward to welcoming everyone in 2008 with our many new features and displays for the 2008 season.

December 21st 2007 - SPECIAL EVENTS - Our 2008 Special Events are already advertised and bookings are already open for these tours and shows - See our Special Events Page.

December 16th 2007 - METAL COMES TO HOLMPTON - On Sunday the radar operations room echoed to the sound of Metal/Thrash band 'Sworn Around' as they arrived along with 'Ash TV' to record the video of their latest track. Possibly one of the more unusual uses for our operations room which after all would have co-ordinated defence of the UK if there had ever been a nuclear attack against the nation. Just down the corridor in the offices mess you could hear the music through the ventilation system, but up on the surface through 10ft of solid concrete 'not a sound' We wish then every success with their upcoming gigs and 2008 tour.

        

                In the Ops Room                              Lead Guitars                         Band & Video Crew

December 14th 2007 -     For the 2008 season we are delighted to offer discount tickets for members of the Campaign For the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) and the Civil Service Sports and Leisure Club (CSSC) Just produce your membership card a our reception to qualify. Serving members of the Armed Services also qualify for this discount.

December 13th 2007 - New News Page coming for 2008 - Current News Pages will be archived.

December 13th 2007 -  We are often asked about our redident Cat 'Amber' she is 10 years young and has lived at RAF Holmpton for 5 years. Our visitors often see her curled up on her favourite chair in our administration wing. Amber has a series of cat flaps that allow her 24 hour access to the outside world, although she chooses to spend the majority of her time safe and secure and totally in charge underground at Royal Air Force Holmpton.

December 12th 2007 - Stage 7 of 8 was completed this week on our New Power Supply Project with the removal of the 11,000volt underground transformer. This was a massive task as the transformer was located in the underground sub station some 130yards from the loading bay. Weighing in at just under 2tons the unit was quite a challenge to move on rollers, then using an electric winch to pull it up the access tunnel, before using our hoist to lift it to the surface and finally using a crane and transporter to take it off site. As this was a fairly new transformer only installed here in the 1990's it will be refurbished and put to good use at another site. In January 2008 we will be installing our new generators and this will complete the new Power Supply Project. Full details on our About Us page and further pictures of the project works if you scroll down this newspage.

                            

          Lower Loading Bay                           Ready to lift                                Awaiting Collection

             

                     Lifting                                        Lowering                                   Loading to Depart

December 2nd 2007 - Work now starts on the changes and improvements for the 2008 season - Watch this newspage for regular updates - We re-open on Good Friday 21st March 2008 - But for those who can't wait there will be a special 'Charity Preview Evening Tour' on Saturday 15th March - Gates 7pm - Tour 7.30pm - Details to follow in early 2008.

December 1st -  This years 'Ghosts & State Secrets' Tour was a resounding success with a full house of visitors and a suitable number of 'screams and gasps' especially when Suzie the Spider fell 25ft from the loading bay !

          

For 2008 we will be running this tour again but over two nights to allow for more visitors due to our being unable to meet demand for tickets this year.  Many thanks to all those who came along and we hope you had a 'spook free' journey home. Once again the 2008 event will be in aid of the Withernsea Lifeboat.

November 24th & 25th 2007 - The final tours of the 2007 season were very well attended with visitors taking advantage of our special end of season prices - Many thanks to all our visitors in 2007 and we hope to see you again in 2008 - Many thanks are also due to the local press - 'The Holderness Gazette' for publicising this event for us.

November 15th 2007 - At 1600hrs today RAF Holmpton switched over to it's new low voltage 50Kva supply and the old high voltage 11,000v ring was turned off. On the 26th November YEDL will remove the old Sub Station and we will have completed our major energy saving project. We are delighted to welcome Scottish Power as our new energy supplier.

November 10th 2007 - Work has already started on the many improvements and changes for the 2008 season - These will include some new exhibits - Improvemets to the existing displays with new viewing areas and a new public tour with new films and presentations - The 2008 opening times are already available on our Public Tours page and a full description of the New Tour will be published along with some pictures in early 2008.

November 1st 2007 - YEDL & MURPHY have now completed Phase 1 of our new power supply installation and the following pictures tell the story. Phase 2 will see connection of the new supply by Scottish Power and at the end of November YEDL will return for Phase 3 to remove the old sub station - More pictures to follow later to complete the story - Once completed our main supply will have reduced from an available capacity of 1megawatt (high voltage) to 50kva (low voltage) and internally we have already reduced our energy call from over 200kilowatts to under 45kilowatts, with the installation of energy effecient lighting / space heating / water heating etc. Apart from a huge cost saving to ourselves we have also reduced our 'carbon footrprint' by some 80%. The new system is due for completion on 29th November.

     

        New HV Switch                             Trenching to Intake                         Cabling

         

      Underground Jointing                  Finished Joint                            Pole Installation

                                                     

                                                       Transformer Installation

October 24th 2007 - Three weeks of major electrical works start today to replace the power supplies to RAF HOLMPTON - YEDL & MURPHY are carrying out this work and we will publish a news item and pictures here once the works have been completed - This is part of our GREEN policy and will reduce the overall electrical consumption of the site by some 80%. Work is due to complete by 19th November and this will not effect the public tours which continue as normal.

October 21st 2007 - During October a huge number of special events at UK Heritage Sites were auctioned on ebay to raise funds for the preservation of our national heritage. RAF Holmpton was pleased to offer two special tours as part of this scheme, organised by the Association of Independent Museums. Both our lots were sold and full details may be found on the Top Lots website at www.toplots.co.uk just go to their website and enter RAF Holmpton into the search engine for details. Congratulations to the winners, we hope you enjoy your visits. 

October 14th 2007 - New Web Pages To Come - We are shortly (December 2008) going to add two new web pages to this site following requests from our many visitors - 1/ A Full description of the Public Tour along with photographs (This will replace our present tour description on our public visits page - 2/ A page on Paranormal Investigations and sightings along with reports from past investigations (This will replace the existing brief paranormal details).

September 30th 2007 - PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS - We were pleased to hold an investigation this evening by www.deadhaunted.com very professionally hosted by Phil Wyman of the Most Haunted TV series and you will be able to see a review of their visit on their website shortly after their investigation. We are always happy to host these nights and full details may be found on our PUBLIC TOURS page.

September 27th 2007 - 'In Memory of Moto' our much loved Station Macot who sadly passed away at 6.30pm today after a short illness. We adopted her in May 2002 after she had been abandoned at a motorway service area, hence the name 'Moto' We think she was about 3 to 4 years old then so she has had a good life of about 10 to 11 years and throughout her time with us she has provided constant love - constant companionship - excellent security - constant entertainment and has loved working with our sheep, the last of which she rounded up yesterday. We will all miss her and wish her well with her journey to the great 'Sky Kennel'

   

September 16th 2007 - Work will start in December this year on a major refit of the exhibitions and interpretations, bringing new shows and films along with a completely new improved tour opening to visitors on Good Friday 2008. Watch this space for updates as work progresses. 

August 22nd 2007 - NEW STAFF CONTACTS - Please refer to our 'Contact Us' page for full details of principal staff email contacts - The following is a summary of the various roles.

  • The Chief Secretary is the Principal Officer responsible for the whole organisation.
  • The Assistant Secretary is responsible for the day to day administration of the site.
  • The Custodian is responsible for the safe keeping of the site & the Tours..
  • IT&E staff are responsible the website and all site engineering.
  • Our Legal Manager oversees administrative matters & preservation issues.

August 21st 2007 -  ARCHIVE NEWS - For about 5 years a major privately owned archive has been stored at RAF Holmpton comprising a collection of information about Defence Bunkers and Cold War Sites built in the UK between 1945 to the present day. We originally planned to open this archive to researchers, but with so many other ongoing projects we have never had the time or the resources to do this. We are now delighted to say that ownersrhip of this archive has passed to Subterranea Britannica, the UK's foremost society on 'things underground' and they have now provided the archive with a new home. They plan to firstly catalogue and index the archive, and then make it available for research to their members and the wider public through their website. This is a major undertaking and will take a consideable time to complete, however the work is already in hand and very shortly some of the archive's many photographic images will be used to expand their already extensive web pages, with much of the other information being used to add to their comprehensive historical information. Full information can be found on their own website, and of course anyone can join 'Subterranea Britannica' to benefit from the full membership package, which includes conferences, study days, visits to interesting places and much more. However a great deal of this information is already available 'free to all' on their extensive website, and we wish them well with this major new archive project, which will now see the vast amount of this unique information becoming available to public view for the first time.  www.subbrit.org.uk - Use this link to visit their website

July 7th 2007 - Public Tours re-opened   on Saturday 7th July just one week after after the storms of the 25th June and who came along first it was 28 days Later - Visit www.28dayslater.co.uk

June 26th 2007 -  During the storms our Station Mascot 'MOTO' was evacuated to emergency accommodation - She has now returned home.

June 25th 2007 -   RAF HOLMPTON was effected by the bad weather conditions along with the whole region, but thanks to our emergency management team we were only closed for one week.

June 18th 2007 - INVASION OF THE TRACTORS   - It's that time of year again and we have been invaded by a fleet of farm machinery to undertake the annual Hay Making at RAF Holmpton.

     

                    Fuel                                                Baling                                              Wrapping

           

                                        Take Away                                                         Tractors Line Up

June 2nd 2007 - PARANORMAL - By East Coast Ghost Nights - 8pm Saturday until 3am Sunday - A very interesting night with some additional discoveries about the paranormal history of the bunker. We have now received the report from the investigation team and will publish their findings shortly.

May 26th/27th/28th 2007 - MAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND - Saw record numbers of visitors to the Bunker - It may have been the wettest weekend on record but below ground was certainly the place to be ! 

May 20th 2007 -  - NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM - MGM 2007 - A full house enjoyed this special evening presentation in the operations room at RAF Holmpton. The evening was also a fund raising event for the local Withernsea Lifeboat. Many thanks to the RNLI team and most importantly to all the supporters who made this such a successful event.

April 23rd 2007 - Major staff changes/promotions at RAF Holmpton - New contact details on our Contact us page. 

April 6th 2007 -   The BLOODHOUND MISSILE OPERATIONS AREA opened on Good Friday with a preview tour at 10.30am - This never before seen part of the bunker now reveals a further 3,000sq ft of the site and shows yet more of the HQ's Cold War History. Fully restored with authentic apparatus from the 1960's this operations area was only at Holmpton for about 5 years and gives a rare glimpse into the constantly changing world of our defences. We are very grateful to the Defence Communications Agency & RAF Rudloe for the provision of so much historic equipment which was recovered from the formerly secret and now decommissioned Government Headquarters 'Burlington' near Bath, without which it would not have been possible to restore this area.

March 31st 2007 - RAF HOLMPTON OFFICIAL GUIDE BOOK now on sale - See Guide Book Page to order your copy - Over 20 pages packed with text/photos/history/diagrams telling the story of RAF HOLMPTON from 1951 to the present day.

March 28th 2007 - March 20th 2007 - Many new links and places of interest added to our Places To Visit Page

March 19th 2007 - Specialist Archive Unit announces launch at RAF Holmpton - See ARCHIVES PAGE.

March 1st 2007 - Just out of interest, the team at RAF Holmpton have built/opened more bunker exhibitions in the UK than any other single organisation - Dover Castle Wartime Tunnels - Liverpool War Rooms - Scotland's Secret Bunker - The Mistley Secret Bunker & RAF Holmpton. These exhibitoins are operated by other organisations today and RAF Holmpton has gone on to become the teams base. The team started life back in the 1980's as the RSU (Research Study Unit) and has since developed into the UK's foremost authority on Underground Defence Structures. In our 26 years of operation we have moved literally hundreds of tons of original equipment for display throught the UK and we have also been able to provide may exhibits to other museums. RAF Holmpton now holds the largest archive of original site plans/documents/pictures & records of underground defence sites in the UK from the 1940's to the present day, and this information will shortly become available through our new Archive Website launching in June 2007.

March 9th 2007 -   RAF Holmpton hosted a visit by personnel from RAF Scampton CRC & RAF Staxton Wold RRH - A chance for the operators of our modern day systems to see how their colleagues would have worked underground during the Cold War years.

March 4th 2007 -  RAF Holmpton hosted a visit by the Porsche Car Club - It was a very wet day but over 40 people visited the site and there was a fine 'line up' of expensive cars. We are always pleased to arrange GROUP VISITS and discounts are availablefor pre-booked groups.

February 17th 2007 - Our 2007 season opened on Saturday 17th February and the fully restored 'Bloodhound Missile Launch Control Room' is due to open for previews during April and will be fully open for the Easter Holiday.

February 15th 2007 - We are currently working on a comprehensive GUIDE BOOK for RAF HOLMPTON and this will be published and available shortly - Containing a wealth of information and many photographs, plans and diagrams. This has taken some time to produce as we wanted the photography to be up to date. There have been many requests for this, so we hope to have these in our shop by Easter this year. They will also be available by mail order from this website.

January 2007 -  WORK STARTS JANUARY 2007 - During the winter months we wll be carrying out some major changes and additions to the exhibition here at RAF Holmpton - These new features will be opening during the 2007 season - so even more to see and a good reason for a return visit

  • Additional Exhibitions (From February)
  • New shows & films (From February)
  • Extended Tour (From March)
  • ALL NEW - 'BLOODHOUND MISSILE LAUNCH CONTROL ROOM' (From April)

2006 NEWS ARCHIVE

December 2006 - PARANORMAL - Two further investigations have now been booked at the Bunker for February 2007 and January 2008 - Yes that far in advance so if you are interested in holding an investigation please contact us - info@rafholmpton.com

December 2nd 2006 -  - The GHOST TOUR was very well attended on the 2nd December and the audience were treated to a variety of features - Characters from the past - Sounds - Effects - Special films and presentations - A very big THANK YOU to all who came along making this a very special evening. If you were on the tour and would like a copy of the group picture please just email us: info@rafholmpton.com

November 26th 2006 - The final tour of the 2006 season was attended by a large crowd including members of RAYNET the radio emergency network. Everyone enjoyed the tour which provided a suitable finale to the very busy 2006 season. 

October 10th 2006 - The 2006/2007 winter will see some engineering maintenance work undertaken, along with general improvements to the exhibition - A major new show will be installed in Radar Operations along with some new displays for our 2007 season visitors.

September 10th 2006 - The Summner Season ended with virtually a full house of visitors on Sunday - We now move onto our WINTER SEASON from 16th September until 27th November opening EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY AFTERNOON - Full details on our Public Tours page.

September 7th 2006 -  The HODS open day (Thursday 7th September) went well with visitors to both the special morning & afternoon tours enjoying both the tour and the free admission provided by the HODS scheme. Visitors to this special event travelled from quite some distances to participate in the visits. We will be taking part in this event again next year

August 22nd 2006 - BIG SCREENS - We have just installed new Big Screens in our Cinema and Radar Operations Room to improve the visual impact of the presentations and shows - We have also received comments from some visitors on very large tour groups that those at the back can not always hear the guide. We have now installed new PA systems throughout the tour using Radio Mics and this has resolved the problem - We always welcome comments as this is the only way we can learn what our visitors want. 

August 9th 2006 - We apologse that we had to close on Saturday 5th and also on the morning of Sunday 6th due to unexpected staff illness. We did let the local tourist board offices know hoping they would be able to pass on this information. Tours were up and running again by Sunday afternoon, which was just as well with the crowd that turned up. Just like anyone else we can get caught out, but we are making plans for next year to provide better opening hours with more flexible visiting options. Keeping you posted as usual, and once again a big sorry to anyone who came along to a closed gate.

July 29th & 30th 2006 -  VISITORS ARRIVE IN  MANY DIFFERENT WAYS - Well we know that people are eager to visit RAF Holmpton and its Underground Bunker, but on Saturday a party of 5 decided to drop in by Helicopter and on Sunday a group of over 30 arrived on a Vintage Bus courtesy of East Yorkshire Motor Services. However you arrive you will always be made very welcome. As the pilot very kindly took one of our staff up to have a look we now have a new new aeriel photograph of the site                                                                                                                              

July 20th 2006 - the Joint Support Unit that provided interim management facilities at RAF Holmpton will cease to be responsible for the site as from the end of July 2006, this sees the completion of the transfer of all the site and project management to HIPPO.

July 15th 2006 - THREE PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS - On the 15th July SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE  II held an overnight paranormal survey in the bunker between 8.30pm and 3am. Their findings will be published soon so watch this page for a direct link to their report.                    On the night of the 17th June WHITE ROSE PARANORMAL  carried out an overnight investigation in the Bunker between 9pm and 4am. There were some interesting results and even a sighting - further confirming the results of a previous investigation last year. White Rose Paranormal have now published their findings in a full report which you can  visit on their own website by simply clicking on this link   You can also read a full description along with pictures about last years 2005 original survey by SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE I by clicking on this link This was the first investigation ever carried out in the Bunker and has been the benchmark for all subsequent investigations. IF YOU BELONG TO A GROUP THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HOLDING AN INVESTIGATION IN THE BUNKER - GIVE US A CALL - 01964 630342.www.thisisull.com/down/blairgosthunt.html www.whiteroseparanormal.com 

July 11th 2006 -   Our Ponies moved to a new home in the East Riding of Yorkshire where they will enjoy a guaranteed retirement in the lap of luxury - Although sad to see them move on after so long this assures their long term future and will mean thay can all stay together. We are now delighted to say that they have settled into their new home.

June 17th & 18th 2006 -  RADIO STATION WEEKEND - The Humber Radio Amateurs Group operated a Radio Station from the Bunker for International Museums Weekend - members of the public were able to visit the station over the two days and contact was made with other stations around the world -  'Mike G7UJY' said that the location had a very low background noise and that many stations were contacted.     (Members of the public along with station staff & area manager Mario Brashill are pictured) - For Radio Enthusiasts you can downlod a copy of the 'QSL' card from the following link: www.mikepoole.karoo.net/qsl.jpg

June 17th 2006 - June 17th 2006 - VISIT BY AIR CADETS -   We were delighted to welcome a visit by 1262 Squadron (Blackburn) ATC - Some 40 cadets along with their Officer and staff went underground at Holmpton before travelling on to the Air Museum at Elvington for the afternoon. We wish them well, especially those choosing to make a career in the Armed Services. 

June 1st 2006 -  Lots of people ask us about our Station Mascot so here is a picture -'Moto' is now 7 years old - spends most of her time guarding the site (very effeciently) and also spends between September to March as a working sheepdog minding our on site flock of woolies.

May 12th 2006 - A new Theatre Control System and Control Room have now been installed for our 'Cold War / RAF Holmpton History main presentation show. Along with an updated version of our show, this provides a major improvement in the presentation, sound and lighting and will increase the realism of the experience for our visitors.

May 8th 2006 - Full Tour Description now available on our Public Tours Page & Now open EVERY WEEKEND right through until mid July with extra Tours on Bank Holiday Monday 29th May. Then from Mid July to Mid Septermber open Every Day for the Summer with extra tours every August weekend.

30th March 2006 - NEW  'Special Events Page' now available showing details of forthcoming events - how to book, etc. Plus details of MUSEUMS & GALLERIES MONTH 2006

21st March 2006 - Flying visit by Air Commodore PTC RAF Innsworth. We were delighted to host this visit during which the ACOM was able to visit the underground building and inspect the progress of the historic restoration project at Holmpton.

                         

RAF 'Squirrel HT 1' Touches Down at Holmpton  -  ACOM PTC visits RAF Holmpton

16th March 2006 - The project at Holmpton gets a new branding - HIPPO - Holmpton Initiative Project Planning Office. HIPPO will become fully operational at the end of July 2006 and will provide all the site and project management at RAF Holmpton..

4th March 2006 - Public Tours started on this wet and snowy weekend, but visitors still turned up to visit the site on both Saturday & Sunday. 

1st March 2006 - There is now a handy location map displayed at the foot of our Tours Page.

28th February 2006 - Our first tour of 2006 was held this morning for members of the BP Retired Staff Association. It was certainly warmer inside with the snow falling in the car park outside. The Association Members went on a full guided tour of the site following tea & coffee in the newly refurbished Guardroom. Some of our newest systems were in use for this visit with Plasma TV's - new sound systems and THX sound in the main auditorium. All our new displays are now completed and ready for the 2006 season.  

10th February 2006 -  Work is well advanced on the restoration of additional areas for the 2006 exhibition. The Royal Observer Corps 'Ops' area will be opening and this was the very last operational section of the ROC to remain in the UK up to 1997 - Also now fully restored is the Bunker Hospital, complete with authentic equipment - The Archives have now moved into new offices and this area is also on display during the tour - The Registry and Armoury have also been restored and our main project to complete the restoration of the main 'Radar Operations Room' is also now complete. So visitors in 2006 will now be able to see far more than last year, and to enhance the visit we have an entirely new tour with new demonstrations and presentations.

24th January 2006 - We have now started work on the installation of our new Computer Main Frame and Servers - Once complete this will be one of the most up to date installations in the region. The systems are being installed in a secure air conditioned environment within the bunker and are also fully EMP protected.

2005 & 2004 NEWS ARCHIVE

Our new website was only established in January 2006 and so we do not have a record of the various news items before this date. However by way of a summary RAF Holmpton operated a visitor season during 2005 and this was the first full season of opening. In 2004 we operated a brief two month season which we had to extend by another month due to public demand. 2004 was the very first opening of the site to visitors and we also held a reunion for past veterans who had worked at the site during the first 30 years of Radar operations. On the very first day of opening our guides found it a very strange experience being followed down the access tunnel by members of the public, who for the previous 50 years or so would have been arrested for even trying to get in ! We were delighted to be granted pemission to open the bunker to visitors and since then literally thousands of people have visited Royal Air Force Holmpton.

PRESERVING OUR COLD WAR HERITAGE

RAFHPS at RAF Holmpton 2010