Closing a unit - traditions and formalities.
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Closing a unit - traditions and formalities.
Are there any formalities or traditions to be observed when closing a unit (an SRO signing off,that no one will ever read, a signal going out,that will never be responded to or picked up, a final drink in the bar onto a tab that will never be paid off)?
And is anyone allowed to take away any final trappings of office, or does it all, down to the last pennant, get taken away to be stored in the corner of some big hangar until no one cares enough to resist burning it?
I only ask because the final RAF Cottesmore road signs have now gone.. I wonder if anyone cared enough to bag any of those on-site signs.
And is anyone allowed to take away any final trappings of office, or does it all, down to the last pennant, get taken away to be stored in the corner of some big hangar until no one cares enough to resist burning it?
I only ask because the final RAF Cottesmore road signs have now gone.. I wonder if anyone cared enough to bag any of those on-site signs.
down to the last pennant
Last edited by Fox3WheresMyBanana; 2nd Feb 2013 at 22:09.
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At RAF Brawdy, the first formality was denial of it happenning!
All ranks of SNCO & above were ordered into the station cinema in two sittings for a briefing by the Station Commander one day. The gist was that Brawdy was not closing and we were to return to our sections and kill the rumours that it was.
I was in the first presentation and as we trooped out, the second group were going in for the CO to repeat the message to them. A Sergeant going in asked those departing what it was all about (we hadn't been told in advance) and was firmly told "Pack your bags - Brawdy's closing, mate".
The close-down started six months later.
All ranks of SNCO & above were ordered into the station cinema in two sittings for a briefing by the Station Commander one day. The gist was that Brawdy was not closing and we were to return to our sections and kill the rumours that it was.
I was in the first presentation and as we trooped out, the second group were going in for the CO to repeat the message to them. A Sergeant going in asked those departing what it was all about (we hadn't been told in advance) and was firmly told "Pack your bags - Brawdy's closing, mate".
The close-down started six months later.
Chronologically, one of the first things to be done prior to closing an RAF base is to spend lots of money improving it in the year or two before the closure is actually announced!! 
At least the Army often benefit from the money spent!
At least the Army often benefit from the money spent!
Last edited by Biggus; 3rd Feb 2013 at 10:03.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
In our case the major work on upgrading a workshop was due on the Monday but I managed to cancel on the Friday as we were closing the following month. If we had had to pay penal cancellation charges it would have been well deserved.
I've experienced a few examples of closing-down oddities over the years.
1. When it was announced that my station was to be closed, quarters tenants were offered the chance to buy the furniture. I (actually my wife, because I was away on detachment) paid a few quid for the full contents of our house plus a few choice items from barrack stores. As it rapidly became apparent that the station would be handed over to the army, the offer was withdrawn. But I had my receipt, so kept the lot.
2. While trying to equip a new officers' mess, I visited the storage depot at Stafford. I was shown the lockers full of silver, and invited to take anything without unit markings, in case that unit might reappear. I took an estate car full of silver candelabra.
3. On the closure of a station where I had served, I contacted the closure team, seeking to buy a particular item. It was a nice old tankard from the 1940s, engraved with "RAF Coltishall - OC Flying." It had sat unused in the silver room for a couple of decades before I brought it out and added my name to the engraved list of users. So, I thought that I had a fair claim to entitlement to purchase. However, the team member I spoke to thought that this item should be kept in case it should be needed at another unit.
1. When it was announced that my station was to be closed, quarters tenants were offered the chance to buy the furniture. I (actually my wife, because I was away on detachment) paid a few quid for the full contents of our house plus a few choice items from barrack stores. As it rapidly became apparent that the station would be handed over to the army, the offer was withdrawn. But I had my receipt, so kept the lot.
2. While trying to equip a new officers' mess, I visited the storage depot at Stafford. I was shown the lockers full of silver, and invited to take anything without unit markings, in case that unit might reappear. I took an estate car full of silver candelabra.
3. On the closure of a station where I had served, I contacted the closure team, seeking to buy a particular item. It was a nice old tankard from the 1940s, engraved with "RAF Coltishall - OC Flying." It had sat unused in the silver room for a couple of decades before I brought it out and added my name to the engraved list of users. So, I thought that I had a fair claim to entitlement to purchase. However, the team member I spoke to thought that this item should be kept in case it should be needed at another unit.
We auctioned off a load of really neat stuff from the Officers' Mess when we closed it down at Farnborough. Unfortunately I'd fallen for the free bar before the auction and successfully bid VERY generously for some fascinating and very useful items. Anyone want to buy a broken pen holder to go next to their visitors' book?
Last edited by Courtney Mil; 3rd Feb 2013 at 11:37.
The silver gets 'recycled'. I remember the 'Airwork' trophy on my UAS, which was about the size of the FA Cup, had had a previous life as the RAF Luqa Bowling Cup. I expect the final winner of said trophy was quite miffed when he couldn't keep it, but as a University student I thought it was wonderful to win a humongous piece of silver.
Well, I did until one of the previous winners insisted I had to fill it with champagne and drink it all, as he had.
Well, I did until one of the previous winners insisted I had to fill it with champagne and drink it all, as he had.
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Roland Pulfrew
You forgot to add:
"... and change it's name to something totally unrecognisable to the rest of the world!"
Allenbrook
Dalton
Normandy
El Alamein to name but a few
and now Kendrew
(PS I walked away with a toaster from Robin Hood)
You forgot to add:
"... and change it's name to something totally unrecognisable to the rest of the world!"
Allenbrook
Dalton
Normandy
El Alamein to name but a few
and now Kendrew
(PS I walked away with a toaster from Robin Hood)
Last edited by unclenelli; 3rd Feb 2013 at 11:55.
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The CO's pennant at Coltishall was signed by all of us who were left (only about 60) and presented to the CO just after the closure parade.
As far as other items go, all public items get returned to Supply for onward re-allocation. Non-public items (Mess TV's/paintings etc) gets offered to other units, with the stipulation that the gaining unit must come and get it. If after a period of time (3 months or so), items remain unwanted, then they can be disposed of locally, with proceeds going to the respective funds.
Cottesmore Offs Mess had a very very nice piano, which caught the attention of several individuals, who made it known they would be interested in having it. However the PMC stuck to the letter of the law and it went to another unit, who came and collected it.
As far as other items go, all public items get returned to Supply for onward re-allocation. Non-public items (Mess TV's/paintings etc) gets offered to other units, with the stipulation that the gaining unit must come and get it. If after a period of time (3 months or so), items remain unwanted, then they can be disposed of locally, with proceeds going to the respective funds.
Cottesmore Offs Mess had a very very nice piano, which caught the attention of several individuals, who made it known they would be interested in having it. However the PMC stuck to the letter of the law and it went to another unit, who came and collected it.
Last edited by muttywhitedog; 3rd Feb 2013 at 19:12.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
So what happened to all the original Russell Flints in the Mess at RAF Lyneham. Indeed how come the Mess had so many?
Sometimes Messes have things like that where they have no idea of their value although with the internet that is becoming less likely and with fewer messes . . .
Wittering, that front line VSTOL unit with the RAF's Premier sqn consigned a couple of old paintings of a Victor and a Valiant to a store room until, one day, someone realised that they were Shepherds and rather valuable. I think 40 years ago they were worth £5,000 each - same as a decent house.
Sometimes Messes have things like that where they have no idea of their value although with the internet that is becoming less likely and with fewer messes . . .
Wittering, that front line VSTOL unit with the RAF's Premier sqn consigned a couple of old paintings of a Victor and a Valiant to a store room until, one day, someone realised that they were Shepherds and rather valuable. I think 40 years ago they were worth £5,000 each - same as a decent house.