Air Cadets grounded?
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,625
Received 298 Likes
on
166 Posts
Colleague who lives by Kenley tells me there has been a major fire on aerodrome overnight, looks as though it may be amongst the buildings to the north of the 615 hangar. 
Another colleague who lives next to the site hasn't appeared yet, I gather there are some road closures.
Nothing on the local news sites yet.
Another colleague who lives next to the site hasn't appeared yet, I gather there are some road closures.
Nothing on the local news sites yet.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hotel Gypsy
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kenley Officers' Mess Fire
Sadly the end of another era.
I used to be a member of the Officers' Mess at Kenley and went to the last two Battle of Britain balls held there before it closed it's doors for the last time, so this is very sad. I have fond memories of the place.
The owners/developers of this part of what remains of this historic airfield have been trying to build some expensive houses but the presence of the Officer's Mess complete with its history has stopped them.
I sincerely hope that this site is now razed to the ground and made part of Kenley Common and that the developers are not able to benefit from this "accident".
I used to be a member of the Officers' Mess at Kenley and went to the last two Battle of Britain balls held there before it closed it's doors for the last time, so this is very sad. I have fond memories of the place.
The owners/developers of this part of what remains of this historic airfield have been trying to build some expensive houses but the presence of the Officer's Mess complete with its history has stopped them.
I sincerely hope that this site is now razed to the ground and made part of Kenley Common and that the developers are not able to benefit from this "accident".
Isn't it amazing how often these damp old buildings, sometimes listed, often inconveniently blocking a lucrative development, spontaneously self-combust? It really is quite remarkable - I don't suppose anyone out there understands the scientific principles behind these unusual conflagrations?.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,625
Received 298 Likes
on
166 Posts
I don't suppose anyone out there understands the scientific principles behind these unusual conflagrations?.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To burn down a Battle of Britain legacy building such as the Mess at Kenley is a slap in the face to all those who lost their lives in WW2, both ground crew and air crew. Some time ago I brought an RCAF vet to the UK on one of my scheduled flights, we dined at the Kenley Officers mess as guests of my old Air Cadet C.O. Flt Jack Archer, a WW1 RFC vet,Jack must be turning in his grave over this, is nothing valued or sacred in the UK any more?
clunckdriver,
It's not a slap in the face to anyone!
It was a derelict abandoned building that hadn't been used for years. Plenty is valued in the UK, and this building is hardly rare or of any particular architectural merit.
It was going to be converted into flats. It's less than half destroyed so this could still happen.
It's not a slap in the face to anyone!
It was a derelict abandoned building that hadn't been used for years. Plenty is valued in the UK, and this building is hardly rare or of any particular architectural merit.
It was going to be converted into flats. It's less than half destroyed so this could still happen.
clunckdriver,
It's not a slap in the face to anyone!
It was a derelict abandoned building that hadn't been used for years. Plenty is valued in the UK, and this building is hardly rare or of any particular architectural merit.
It was going to be converted into flats. It's less than half destroyed so this could still happen.
It's not a slap in the face to anyone!
It was a derelict abandoned building that hadn't been used for years. Plenty is valued in the UK, and this building is hardly rare or of any particular architectural merit.
It was going to be converted into flats. It's less than half destroyed so this could still happen.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually, the building was constructed to the standard layout for such an airfield, both before and after the "Expansion Scheme", and does in fact have much merit as such, by your logic Windsor Castle should be torn down, it certainly lacks any redeeming features and has not contributed to the survival of the free world , {or whats left of it} as Kenley has in the recent past.The old Guards Barracks in Caterham have been turned into civilian housing, the Kenley Mess deserves to be preserved, but then you may have forgotten about "The Kenley Wing", led by Johnie Johnson, that's if you ever cared about the contribution made by Canada to your survival.
Isn't it amazing how often these damp old buildings, sometimes listed, often inconveniently blocking a lucrative development, spontaneously self-combust? It really is quite remarkable - I don't suppose anyone out there understands the scientific principles behind these unusual conflagrations?.
Officers' Mess was Listed Building
Despite the former Officers' Mess being a listed building it seems that Tandridge local authority in Surrey wants to redevelop part of the Battle of Britain conservation area in a drive to build thousands of homes on the Green Belt.
See article here. ....and what date was that article? Oh dear so recent as 17th January 2016!!
Today's report in the Inside Croydon website observes that..
Sadly the Officers' Mess will not now be part of that preservation.
See article here. ....and what date was that article? Oh dear so recent as 17th January 2016!!
Today's report in the Inside Croydon website observes that..
Firefighters were still on the scene at 10am today, with a spokesman from Surrey Fire and Rescue reported as saying that the building’s interior are “completely destroyed”. Which should make it all the more convenient for any development plans, someone is bound to suggest.
I am very happy to report that last year, the Friends of Kenley Airfield were granted a £881,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant for a project to preserve parts of the historic site, which the Lottery described as “an incredible example of outer London’s heritage”.Sadly the Officers' Mess will not now be part of that preservation.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sneaking up on the Runway and leaping out to grab it unawares
Age: 61
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually, the building was constructed to the standard layout for such an airfield, both before and after the "Expansion Scheme"
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 75' from the runway edge and 150' from the threshold
Age: 74
Posts: 247
Received 30 Likes
on
12 Posts
Air Cadets Grounded
So, apart from an old officers mess having been burned to the ground and the Control Tower and other buildings, as well as the runways being demolished at RAF Ballywalter to enlarge an american style trailer park, I believe that the ACO gliding fleet has been grounded. Any truth in that?
Last edited by ACW342; 29th Jan 2016 at 15:57. Reason: completed a sentence and spelling
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ExAscoter, I stated that this was the "standard design" BEFORE and AFTER the expansion scheme, I stand by this as was actually copied in Canada with a few modifications at two locations ,both alas gone, {such as improved plumbing, heating and snow load stress,} in fact it states quite clearly that the design was found to be satisfactory without much modification AFTER the expansion scheme started , Of course there was no way Canada was going to replicate such fine buildings when the BCATP started. How do I know this trivia? As part of my research into a local BCATP airfield I came across memos between the RCAF and the RAF on this very subject.As for it "having nothing in common" with pre -expansion buildings, all the specs for red bricks , steel roof trusses and other components were, I recall, written to the same specifications, some of which, such as bricks, could not be duplicated in Canada.But such obscure stuff wont get the cadets flying, or undo the damage to the building.
Last edited by clunckdriver; 29th Jan 2016 at 17:47.
LISTED OFFICERS MESS
Amazing; the part that has gone is the 'listed bit'. which of course was very inconvenient to the developers.I believe the 'wings' although of the same vintage somehow missed getting listed therefore are less of a problem to them.
'Protection' for listed structures does very little to stop this sort of 'removal' as i doubt if Tandridge Council have the resources to follow up any investigation and
follow on action.
Does not affect the security for 615,but just confirms how little regard we have for modern history and the very important part Kenley played in the countries survival in 1940.
I do hope the planners do not roll over and give the developers a clear run,but fear the legal argument will be expensive to follow up,although the owners did have a responsibility to protect the location.
CLUNK; Jack Archer was still 'assisting' at 450 as a civilian when i joined in 1960,and i think he actually 'lived in'. You are quite correct it is a disgrace to Kenley's part in two conflicts and those that were part of it.
'Protection' for listed structures does very little to stop this sort of 'removal' as i doubt if Tandridge Council have the resources to follow up any investigation and
follow on action.
Does not affect the security for 615,but just confirms how little regard we have for modern history and the very important part Kenley played in the countries survival in 1940.
I do hope the planners do not roll over and give the developers a clear run,but fear the legal argument will be expensive to follow up,although the owners did have a responsibility to protect the location.
CLUNK; Jack Archer was still 'assisting' at 450 as a civilian when i joined in 1960,and i think he actually 'lived in'. You are quite correct it is a disgrace to Kenley's part in two conflicts and those that were part of it.
I see from the latest RAF Museum Newsletter that they are going to have an exhibition to mark the 75th Anniversary of the ATC. Exhibition will apparently include Viking glider "which you can sit in"!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Gliding School Launches for Air Cadets
Now let's see what they have achieved since this excellent PR article....
err..........excellent flight safety, white fleet with no mileage, instructors not instructing, gliders stuck in hangers doing nothing.....
I am sure we can add to that list!
Happy Anniversary 2FTS.
err..........excellent flight safety, white fleet with no mileage, instructors not instructing, gliders stuck in hangers doing nothing.....
I am sure we can add to that list!
Happy Anniversary 2FTS.