Lofty,
I'd wager your sherries are safe! I imagine the Odiham community viewed a move to Somerset in the same way CHF would view a permanent move to Benson...There was an extended flying det at Yeovilton with CH47s and there was, supposedly, a big increase in noise complaints - probably a classic case of not being the noise you're used to. I actually quite like it down here!!
WRT CTR of CHF to Merlin, IMHO (whoa, acronym warning...) the move from an obsolete round dial aircraft with several legacy systems to a glass cockpit computer driven aircraft is not as simple as 'just use Junglie cunning'. In these highly scrutinised times due diligence needs to be seen to be observed...
I'd like to see the whole JHC adopt the CTT/CTR concept, with QHIs doing the former and AvWOs/QHTIs/WTIs doing the latter, as it's done in the FJ and AH worlds. The post-HERRICK contingent rebuild will require a re-learning of several atrophied tactical and environmental skills.