Open skies at RAF Upper Heyford

A group of friends visited RAF Upper Heyford today and had a tour of the various historic buildings, many of which are now listed though in very bad condition.  Upper Heyford was a military airfield used in both World Wars and Post-War. During World War Two, the airfield had three concrete runways and six aircraft hangars (Type A). 

In 1950, the United States Air Force moved into the airfield as part of the NATO defences against the Cold War. The Americans lengthened the airfield’s main runway and built new facilities including bomb store structures with an “igloo”-like appearance in a fenced compound, protected by guard towers. In the 1970s and 1980s the role changed to a fighter base and further modifications were made, making it the largest base of its kind in Europe at that time, Some of these additions included the avionics maintenance building (a semi sunken bunker designed to survive nuclear attack).

In 1980, 56 Quick Reaction Alert hardened aircraft shelters were added. There was also a battle command centre and hardened telephone exchange. In 1993 the USA left and the airfield returned to the Royal Air Force control, closing in 1994.

First some infrared images of the buildings and summer sky.

 

Guernsey - Underground Hospital

Photos taken in the tunnels of the German underground Hospital - more or less from the camera to show the extraordinary range of colours. (Last one for Matt and Ellie.)

Between the years of 1940 and 1945 hundreds of slave laborers working under the direction of German occupying forces dug 7,000 square meters in underground tunnels. 
The  men and women of numerous nationalities, many of whom died in the tunnels’ construction, used explosives, drills, hand tools, and their bare hands to carve these tunnels from solid rock. The subterranean complex was intended for use as a German military hospital and ammunitions storehouse. 
By the time construction ceased at the onset of the D-Day invasion the hospital complex was large enough to house 500 patients. In addition to the three main entrances, the ventilation shafts were equipped with stairs and ladders so they could double as emergency exits.

For all its planning, after three years of construction the hospital was only in use for around three months during the summer of 1944 when German casualties of the D-Day invasion filled all available wards. Hospital operations were eventually moved above ground when it became clear that the tunnels’ damp, dark atmosphere was not conducive to recovery. The ammunitions storage facilities were used for around nine months.

Brighton West Pier - A Sad Tale

I spent quite a lot of time contemplating the sad remains of the West Pier at Brighton which has disintegrated over the years that I have visited Brighton. It was designed in 1863 by Eugenius Birch and was used for over a century before it became unusuable without rennovations which were being actively planned before the Pier tragically burnt down in 2003. It was designed to cope with the impact of the waves and featured an impressive network of cast iron columns and girders to support the promenade. The aerial shot image is as I remember it as a small child visiting from London - it was an impressive structure with fairground, ball room, bingo and more. The sunset was taken in 2001. There is still a very active group determined not to lose its history https://www.westpier.co.uk 

London Walk: King's Cross to Camden Lock. I Granary Square

On Saturday ten Members of CCC enjoyed a wonderfully warm and sunny day in the King's Cross/Camden area of London. While five Members set off on the Underground for Camden Market, our party planned to walk to the same destination. We started at Granary Square and the King's Cross Basin of the Regent's Canal. The Granary building houses the Central St Martins Art School with the main attraction over 1,000 choreographed fountains. To the left of the Square they are developing the Coal Yard - I spent a long time on the various structures and how they are preserving these. We eventually dragged ourselves away to start the walk along the Canal.

A Walk along the Thames at Greenwich I

For once, I had to admit to an overcommitment of time and pulled out of attending the PAGB Finals in Ormskirk as I needed Friday and Saturday to catch up with life after the 5 days of chaos with the grandchildren. I was sorry to miss the event but pleased to hear Cambridge did well - just missing a place in the Final 8 by 1 point and coming second in the plate by 1 point. 

By Sunday things were straighter and I felt able to join the CCC trip to Greenwich led by Alan Clarke - many thanks for a great day out. These images are from the end of the day - I will post more from earlier in the day when time to sort them. The panorama shows the area visited. We started our day in Silvertown where we parked and then by DLR to Canary Wharf. Here we refreshed with a coffee, took a few images and then used the DLR to Greenwich Cutty Sark area. We took the SouthThames path along and round the Greenwich Penisula to the O2 building; then by the Emirates Cable car back to Royal dock area. The day was grey and overcast until we arrived at the Crystal building when the skies cleared to give lovely evening light over the Royal Docks.