Shack an asked "who remembers the 'Save the Shackleton, Burn Valley' campaign?"
I do with great clarity. When WL754 arrived at Valley after a 'gentle' beat-up, the engineering team followed, swapping the good engines and props for life-ex ones, prior to the aircraft being towed to the fire dump. This was at the time of the UK governments "Save It" campaign to reduce electricity consumption. The personnel at Valley stirred the locals into quite vocal and written contempt of the planned demise of this once fine aircraft. A huge "Save It" sticker appeared on the rear fuselage, and articles appeared with continued enthusiasm in the North Wales papers.
Harry Staish relented, and the Shack was displayed beside the Blister hangars (home of the MRD's) for a good couple of years, easily viewed by an appreciative public.
During the campaign, there was noted to be a concerted effort by 'the management' to quell the uprising amongst the unruly uniformed personnel..which only stoked the fires. Anonymous posters and memo's appeared in many corners, both on the camp and in the local villages, promoting the "save the Shack-Burn Valley" campaign.
Happy days.
Camlobe