Comments on: RAF Box (Rudloe Manor site 1) – Wiltshire

By: Dave Langcake

Dave Langcake — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:51:39 +0000

Hi Mark, I served down the ‘Hole’ in the Commcen early 70′s and enjoyed myself, had some good mates there, weekend night shifts we drew the keys and went around the complex sometimes for hours at a time, saw that huge metal gate that the trains used to enter from the main line and wandered around the small tunnels that linked ‘Districts’ together. The ‘Districts’ were enormous and were not lit up like the small passage ways where it is said Roman soldiers are seen walking through walls, never saw them myself but the Maintenance staff have seen things such as that. These ‘Districts’ were of such a size that even with a torch you could not see the other walls it was quite scary to say the least. There is a book written about the place as far as I can remember it was called ‘City beneath Streets’ regards Dave.

By: Roy Daniel

Roy Daniel — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:04:52 +0000

As a National Serviceman, (1960-1962). Rudloe Manor was my first posting from Compton Bassett as a Teleprinter Operator and being a Yorkshireman, it was a long way from home..My living accomodation was on the Hawthorne site and was quite comfortable. Meals were taken in the canteen there and as I remember were excellent. I remember the Post Office opposite the camp and also the Ex-Sericemens Club just down the road.. I walked down Leafy Lane every day to my place of work in the tiny com-centre there, with a Corporal and a Junior Tech, both of which eventually got posted to Cyprus which left me on my own working in the small centre.. There was a PBX office across the corridor and I remember a Corporal Brian Downes being in charge there..I also remember each day the Orderly Officer visiting to inspect all the confidential documents within the safe, each visit he tried to talk me into signing on..It was when walking to or from the com centre that I was once given a lift by an airman in his new Mini and once by a Sqdn Ldr Vaquier in his Citroen car (his office was the one next to mine)..After about 8 months I was posted to RAF Gan and finished my National Service on that island..Having to complete National Service, I never regret the experience, the friends I made and the comradeship experienced..As for my time at Rudloe Manor, although I worked alone mostly I enjoyed my time there and frequently reflect on it now in my 73rd year….Happy memories.

By: Mark Porter

Mark Porter — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:28:02 +0000

I was based at RAF Rudloe Manor in the late 70′s and early 80′s. We lived in nissan huts on No. 1 site which were cold and draughty, I lived in Spitfire block during my first posting there and then in the MT block in my later posting. Eventually new blocks were built to modern standards, a welcome change.
I worked with some good mates there, I especially remember Paul Hughes (Plug) MTD, Graham Bligh MT Mech and Phill Bignal MT Mech. We all had motorcycles and used to hang around together, mostly frequenting the Northerly Arms in Box and the Borough Arms in Chippenham.
There were two sites one at Hawthorn and another accessed via leafy lane across the A4, a service shuttle bus was used to convey personell from one site to another and I can remember personell waiting for the bus mostly in the rain to return to the residential site for dinner.
A few of my mates worked downstairs in 6SU signals unit and they complained about the flourescent lighting and couldn’t wait to come up to the surface. There was an MOD Policeman on duty as security in a small building above the lift shaft to 6SU and across the road was a post office and The Flamingo club, we had quite a few drunken nights in there as it was open later than our NAAFI and Astronaught Club.
Mick Phillips was a Corporal there in those days and if I remember rightly left the mob to live on Leafy Lane.
We had a Sergent called Dennis, but I cannot remember his surname and another Sergent called Roger Crapps, I think they both left and lived nearby.
HQP&SS Southern Region were situated across the A4 based in the old Manor House on No. 1 site, along with the bedding / clothes store, Sergents Mess and Officers Mess and a car club.
I was the Station Commanders driver for a while for Group Captain Graham Noyce.
A good time was had by all I think as it was very relaxed and laid back, as long as everyone did their job.
I would like to know if anyone based there remembers the good times we had.

By: David Perry

David Perry — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:32:50 +0000

I am trying to find out anything about my grandfather Francis William George Perry. We have very little information on his working life as everything he did was kept secret and died with him. We know that he was stationed at Box on two occasions and on one of those postings he was a Flt Lt and officer commanding some signals unit 1958 to early 1960′s. We also know that he also spent a lot of time at Whitehall working in Churchills war rooms. We also know he joined the RAF as an airman then after promotion to Flt Sgt he took a commision. We have also found information showing he was in Mi5 at some time.

By: Brian Harper

Brian Harper — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 03:37:06 +0000

David Tuck try me on arpo1atwestnet.com.au
Brian

By: Andre Francis

Andre Francis — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:21:51 +0000

I was stationed at RAF Rudloe Manor from summer 1962 to Summer 1963. I lived (in the Nissan huts) on the camp and worked as a Statistical Clerk at the Headquarters, which was situated just across the A4 in the manor house. This house was HQ 24 Group. The statistical area was headed by a civilian (can’t remember his name) but I do remember a colleague Bernard Rogers who was an SAC as I was, but was destined for greater things. The ROC office then was tucked away above our Stats office and their access was through our office! I remember only two other colleagues … a chinese guy called Ng and also a Cpl Callendar who had a Hillman Minx … I have a photograph of me standing beside his car! If anyone was at the camp at the same time, I would love to hear from them. Andre Francis

By: Gwen Whitear

Gwen Whitear — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:54:32 +0000

Dear Brian and Eric,
Thank you so much anyway. Peter is still searching fo his photos! Showed them to our daughter a few weeks ago. Now has no idea what he’s done with them! Senior moments! The pair of us.
Gwen and Peter

By: eric swithenbank

eric swithenbank — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:13:13 +0000

i served in the raf and was stationed at rudloe manor ,i was in the mt section.i seem to remember thet there were two camps as such and you got to the other camp along leafy lane. i was there in 1947 which was the year of the big snow and along leafy lane you could only see the tops of the edges.from rudloe manor iwas posted to raf changi ,singapore.

By: Brian Harper

Brian Harper — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:17:48 +0000

Hi Gwen, I’m afraid I don’t recognise any of those names. Unfortunately I can’t even remember the names of some of those I knew well; even all the names of those I met again in the Canal Zone. Two that I do remember – apart from those I have already mentioned – are Cpl Dingle and Cpl Paddy Stafford…..and Sgt Adams. There was Cpl Cooke too but if I remember correctly he was later killed in a car smash in Germany. Anyway, I arrived at Hawthorn in September or thereabouts in 1950 – after you had left.
Good luck. Brian

By: Gwen Whitear

Gwen Whitear — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:05:06 +0000

It seems that no one was at R.A.F. Hawthorn at the same time as my husband Peter, January ’49 – July – ’50. He worked underground in the telephone exchange, mostly days. Unfortunately, can’t recall any names, apart from Mr. Rosenburg who ran the N.A.A.F.I. at the time. Oh, he’s just come up with 7 other names! George Bryant (a Boxer), Pete Johnson, a keen cyclist, (with an all chrome bike!) Freddie Brookes, (used to lie in bed and miss his breakfast!) Bill Prosser, (a big BIG man) Dave Ward (room mate) Malcombe -? (another keen cyclist, once cycled all the way home to Yorkshire!) Peggy -? and another (more mature gentleman) Cpl. Luck.
I’ve heard many stories over the years, that’s 63, been married 59.
At the time, I had my eighteenth Birthday and he presented me with a beautiful silver locket (I still wear it) , he had just enough money to get back from Bath if he walked to another bus stop, over a thickly snow clad field, all going up his trouser legs! All to
get it for me, bless him!
Whoops! Another name has come up – Maurice Chiverton.
Peter can always tell a good story, a laugh a minute, but anyway, if you do know him, you’ll know that. Kept me happy all these years, but unfortunately, he’s no good on the keyboard as those on the other end of the teleprinter found!
If it’s any good saying, you’ll find me on facebook. I never wanted to have anything to do with it, but although they’re all living near, it’s good to keep in touch with the family.
Gwen