RAF Finningley
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 84
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If ever the UK needs an enema, then Finningley is where the tube will be inserted. I did two "tours" there, 7 years in toto, NEVER was I so glad to leave anywhere in my 22 years in uniform!
A dull, grey miserable place, populated by dull, grey miserable people, and I don't suppose they'll have changed any in the 24 years since I last saw the place.
Chuck a "bucket of sunshine" at it, it would surely improve the hole!
Kind regards,
TheNightOwl.
A dull, grey miserable place, populated by dull, grey miserable people, and I don't suppose they'll have changed any in the 24 years since I last saw the place.
Chuck a "bucket of sunshine" at it, it would surely improve the hole!
Kind regards,
TheNightOwl.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Germaneee
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tim I probably kicked you, your mum, your sisters back doors in!!!
Donnie! What A night/early morning!
I was lucky to be present in the Sgts mess in the last year when they were trying to 'lose' all the mess dosh to save it being 'accounted for' else where. Fri-Sun was a 'mess function of extra ordinary quality and length!
My mate and I were on a JFACTSU course and we never left the bar before 0200 for three weeks! Apart from the obvious excursions doon toon. Four birds picked us up in the mess on the first night (they had the decency to tell thier hubbies, who were propped at the bar, where they were going!) and dragged us on a massive pub crawl. It kind of went from bad to worse from there. They ordered us to meet them at the bus stop at the main gate. We reluctently obliged. The double decker stopped at every tiny village en route and approx 3 doris's got on at each stop. They just so happened to be the tottie's mate that had trapped us in the mess. Me and me mucker felt like a pair of school girls which was handy as most of the trouts who were on board were too! 2 v 30! Even we could score with those odds!
Now both me and me pal were both ex infantry of some years but these tarts certainly taught us a couple of things when it came to drinking large quantities of booze and other matters! ............................................REMAINDER OF STORY CENSORED...........................................
Nightmare course that cost me something in the region of £2k.
I have nothing but starry eyed memories of Finningley and heavy overdraft bills and some obscure rashes of Donnie and the trouts that frequent it. What a bleedin waste!
Having chatted to chaps who have done the same course at Leeming, Bedale doesnt seem to have the same attractions!
Donnie! What A night/early morning!
I was lucky to be present in the Sgts mess in the last year when they were trying to 'lose' all the mess dosh to save it being 'accounted for' else where. Fri-Sun was a 'mess function of extra ordinary quality and length!
My mate and I were on a JFACTSU course and we never left the bar before 0200 for three weeks! Apart from the obvious excursions doon toon. Four birds picked us up in the mess on the first night (they had the decency to tell thier hubbies, who were propped at the bar, where they were going!) and dragged us on a massive pub crawl. It kind of went from bad to worse from there. They ordered us to meet them at the bus stop at the main gate. We reluctently obliged. The double decker stopped at every tiny village en route and approx 3 doris's got on at each stop. They just so happened to be the tottie's mate that had trapped us in the mess. Me and me mucker felt like a pair of school girls which was handy as most of the trouts who were on board were too! 2 v 30! Even we could score with those odds!
Now both me and me pal were both ex infantry of some years but these tarts certainly taught us a couple of things when it came to drinking large quantities of booze and other matters! ............................................REMAINDER OF STORY CENSORED...........................................
Nightmare course that cost me something in the region of £2k.
I have nothing but starry eyed memories of Finningley and heavy overdraft bills and some obscure rashes of Donnie and the trouts that frequent it. What a bleedin waste!
Having chatted to chaps who have done the same course at Leeming, Bedale doesnt seem to have the same attractions!
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Floatin' on th' Black Pig, Yarr!
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gainsy,
If your sister wore purple leg blotches and shagged blokes called Baz in Bowers Fold then I would likely have confused her with most of the other women in Doncaster.
Do you remember those two silly cows from Intake who both changed their names by deed poll to "Ziggy Stardust" then had a fight in The White Bear over who did it first?
Typical Doncaster slappers.
If your sister wore purple leg blotches and shagged blokes called Baz in Bowers Fold then I would likely have confused her with most of the other women in Doncaster.
Do you remember those two silly cows from Intake who both changed their names by deed poll to "Ziggy Stardust" then had a fight in The White Bear over who did it first?
Typical Doncaster slappers.
I had 2 tours at Finningley and very many memorable trips to town. The people are warm friendly (it was a bit rough during the miners strike)
I never knew so many people hated it, as all I remember from camp is how long so many people had done there.
If it were re-opened tomorrow I'd be the first to volunteer
Loved it the and still like donny now
I never knew so many people hated it, as all I remember from camp is how long so many people had done there.
If it were re-opened tomorrow I'd be the first to volunteer
Loved it the and still like donny now
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 84
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
insty66 - what a sad admission, I fear you are beyond redemption! It was VERY rough during the miners' strike, not a pleasant time at all to be in S. Yorks., I agree. The only things I miss are a decent pint at The Bird and Bastard, and the brass bands which used to ply there in the summer. The rest of the place can disappear into oblivion!
Kind regards,
TheNightOwl.
Kind regards,
TheNightOwl.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 425 Likes
on
224 Posts
Ah yes, the miners' strike! Those flying picket ba$tard$ kicked my garden fence in, then used private land including our garden to cross over the border from S. Yorks to get past the police lines to the local colliery.
Well, it didn't work, the local collieries are all gone with nowt to replace 'em. Local unemployment is still extremely high, many Coal Board housing estates in the Donny area are boarded up.....and I still haven't had my missing garden fence replaced....
So it will be a good day for all when Finningley opens as an airport - except for those retired RAF folk who bought cheap houses under the "disused" flightpath
Well, it didn't work, the local collieries are all gone with nowt to replace 'em. Local unemployment is still extremely high, many Coal Board housing estates in the Donny area are boarded up.....and I still haven't had my missing garden fence replaced....
So it will be a good day for all when Finningley opens as an airport - except for those retired RAF folk who bought cheap houses under the "disused" flightpath
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Next door
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm surprised at the number of people who didn't enjoy their time at Finningley. I loved it. 
Role on the airport opening up, can't wait.
Yes there is a fair share of numpties in the area, but no more so than other parts of the country where the pretentious live.
Role on the airport opening up, can't wait.
Yes there is a fair share of numpties in the area, but no more so than other parts of the country where the pretentious live.
Cunning Artificer
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Age: 76
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah, them were't days...
I enjoyed everywhere I went including BCVSS at Finningley. I guess its all a matter of attitude. As a single twenty-something the world consisted entirely of totty and alcohol punctuated by occasional bouts of 'work' - if messing about with aeroplanes can be considered working. Finningley? Doncaster? Loved 'em both! I even have happy memories of Lincoln for goodness sake! Oh yes, and one of the most interesting episodes of my young life (involving highland dress and a MILF) took place in a No.1 Bomber Group bus in the car park at Caenby Corner. Any place is exactly what you make of it.
**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
I just remember it as a friendly camp where (almost) all were up for a laugh and there were always the Berlin trips to enhance the experience for those of us lucky enough to go (mon cheries & that bath
I guess it's like everything else 1 person moans and everyone listens ignoring those who had nothing to complain about.
Would still go back and live in my cheap quarter after all there are no civvy a/c with afterburners anymore!
I guess it's like everything else 1 person moans and everyone listens ignoring those who had nothing to complain about.
Would still go back and live in my cheap quarter after all there are no civvy a/c with afterburners anymore!
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had a great time at Finningley as a QFI on the UAS between 87 and 91. The station itself suffered somewhat from the usual training b*llsh*t, but I really enjoyed the UAS and South Yorkshire. My time living in Bawtry were some of the most fun years of my life - and everything said about Donny above is true. Everything!
There never was any subsidence below the runway, though other parts of the station's estate did suffer slightly. The runway was completely rebuilt between 1988-89 (we even had our own tarmac factory for a while), and has probably more life left in it than any in UK.
There never was any subsidence below the runway, though other parts of the station's estate did suffer slightly. The runway was completely rebuilt between 1988-89 (we even had our own tarmac factory for a while), and has probably more life left in it than any in UK.
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FL, USA
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yup, Bawtry was ok - good curry house and sunday market...walking the dog round the old HQ grounds...ahhh.
Farkin' Donnie Rovers FC: took a guest from the US...BIIIGG mistake - God, they were cr@p! Never seen so many flat-caps in my life looking glum - deservedly.
FY had some great flying - Dom low-levels, Berlin sh@g-aways, busy circuit, aircraft continually breaking and getting stuck...what a hoot.
oh, and a really cute Adminner - can't remember her name though...
Seventh Heaven - had a frightening experience there with some monster with a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp...and that was the cute one...
I think some of them must fly for us here at American now...
Farkin' Donnie Rovers FC: took a guest from the US...BIIIGG mistake - God, they were cr@p! Never seen so many flat-caps in my life looking glum - deservedly.
FY had some great flying - Dom low-levels, Berlin sh@g-aways, busy circuit, aircraft continually breaking and getting stuck...what a hoot.
oh, and a really cute Adminner - can't remember her name though...Seventh Heaven - had a frightening experience there with some monster with a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp...and that was the cute one...
I think some of them must fly for us here at American now...
