I had a happy 6 months holding at Manston waiting for an OCU Cse in the late 90s. There were only 10-12 livers in, so often we'd have a "whole mess dinner" in the middle of the week where there were almost as many staff as members! I can remember playing cricket and asking the bowler to wait as an An124 taxied behind him.....the pitch was effectively on the airfield.
It's probably the only station I've been at where the locals were desperate for the unit to expand and get busier; I think they were dismayed when 202 left. Sadly I feel the shareholders see a West Malling future as already mentioned....