Barbara, You'll be pleased to know Kirton, although becoming an army unit for many years, currently houses No1 ACC (Air Control Centre). They received the keys to the town last year for services in Afghanistan. So times don't change too much.
It's not often plotters, (or more commonly now known as Aerospace Battle Managers / nee Fighter Controllers) get praised on pprune. About time! Thank you for your service in war. If it wasn't for your generation we'd all be speaking German .. and I'm terrible at it!