Thanks for the replies and info everyone.
So basically, we're saying that:
1. It was every bit as good as a B52, but we didn't perceive the need in the same way as USA or have the budget.
2. It was a bit of a knacker by the time it was retired and would have cost a bloody fortune to re-engineer / upgrade and no politician wold sign that lot off.
Shame, I drove past the one at East Fortune last month, then the one at Sunderland a few hours later.
So much better looking than a B52........