RAF Marham posting
A lot of people go on holiday to Norfolk - including the Queen. One reason the area has stayed relatively unspoilt (underdeveloped?) is that it's bloody hard to get to. My parents met at a Xmas draw at Marham in 1958 and Mum still lives locally. I was posted there 1988-1990. I love going back to visit. It's so peaceful and the locals are very friendly - when they're not pointing shotguns at you that is!
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Age: 54
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
[QUOTE]locals are very friendly - when they're not pointing shotguns at you that is!/QUOTE]
Must be tricky getting those webbed fingers through the trigger guards
Must be tricky getting those webbed fingers through the trigger guards
Ah yes, rural Naaarfak... Where your sister is your mother and your brother is your wife....and the traditional greeting is a 'high six'!
A few years ago I drove over to visit one of my ex-students at her house in Marsham (not Marham). As it was a nice sunny day, I took a cross-country route...with the roof down.
I did wonder whether this was wise, having noted one local staring at me as I drove past - no doubt the 'fresh meat' message was relayed to the rest of the tribe by finger web drumming. So I kept an ear out for the sound of duelling banjos until I realised that the extra thumb would make that difficult.
We had a holiday on the Norfolk Broads in 1961 - which was great fun until some idiot rammed us and the boat sank. Fortunately we were at anchor at the time!
A few years ago I drove over to visit one of my ex-students at her house in Marsham (not Marham). As it was a nice sunny day, I took a cross-country route...with the roof down.
I did wonder whether this was wise, having noted one local staring at me as I drove past - no doubt the 'fresh meat' message was relayed to the rest of the tribe by finger web drumming. So I kept an ear out for the sound of duelling banjos until I realised that the extra thumb would make that difficult.
We had a holiday on the Norfolk Broads in 1961 - which was great fun until some idiot rammed us and the boat sank. Fortunately we were at anchor at the time!
...until some idiot rammed us and the boat sank. Fortunately we were at anchor at the time!
I rather enjoyed my time at Marham - arrived about midnight one dark night, dropped a Chinook load of paras dressed as Spetnaz and all carrying AK47's in the middle of the airfield and departed about 2 mins later, successfully frightening a couple of police dogs and their handlers in the process. Never went back but I don't think they enjoyed their Taceval!
Mil-26Man, perhaps I should have written 'were moored to the bank' at the time.
A sailing boat was coming down the broad under sail when the helmsman lost control of the sail and promptly turned 90° port directly towards our boat. I watched unable to do anything except warn everyone else as it rammed us amidships, allowing the river to rush in. I stepped off onto the bank and we all stood there watching as the boat slowly sank....
Why the helmsman didn't simply release the sail and put the helm over, we never did find out...
A sailing boat was coming down the broad under sail when the helmsman lost control of the sail and promptly turned 90° port directly towards our boat. I watched unable to do anything except warn everyone else as it rammed us amidships, allowing the river to rush in. I stepped off onto the bank and we all stood there watching as the boat slowly sank....
Why the helmsman didn't simply release the sail and put the helm over, we never did find out...
Many years after I had served at Watton, I discovered that my birth mother came from Necton, and on take off, as I turned right at 500' she was just beneath me, but sadly we never met.
At one time I lived in Buxton Lamas, when I worked for Norfolk County Council, later Mrs W and I lived in the (Neatishead) MQ at Horsham St faiths and then at Little Snoring, so have seen quite a lot of Norfolk
At one time I lived in Buxton Lamas, when I worked for Norfolk County Council, later Mrs W and I lived in the (Neatishead) MQ at Horsham St faiths and then at Little Snoring, so have seen quite a lot of Norfolk
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: East Sussex
Age: 86
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having read all the nasty things the majority say about Marham, I can only conclude how lucky I was to have served for 7 years there on 214 Sqn. It was everything a squadron should be. I believe this applied to all ranks.
Maybe the poor sods who didn't have a good time were on 55 or 57!
I have very mixed feelings about Marham. It was my first and last posting, the first was awful, Valiants being chopped up one side of the airfield but still holding QRA on the other side. The second tour was probably the best UK tour I had, lots of detachments and best of all, 5 months on Ascension for Corporate.
Someone mentioned access, I used to commute Lincoln to Marham weekly and the A17 was horrendous. Two days ago I had a lunch appointment just south of Cromer, in 30 odd years nothing has changed, the A17 is still horrendous, even worse due to the increased traffic density.
Someone mentioned access, I used to commute Lincoln to Marham weekly and the A17 was horrendous. Two days ago I had a lunch appointment just south of Cromer, in 30 odd years nothing has changed, the A17 is still horrendous, even worse due to the increased traffic density.
Worse year and a bit of my life on 27 Squadron mid 80's, both from a personal and career perspective, I only went back once for 4 days, as a civvy, around 2010/11 looked totally different and the road signs being changed to BAE Marham was quite amusing to me at least.
Wander00
Sorry I missed your email, but I've been ferrying grandchildren around.
My wife has no memory of your good doctor and as No2 son is now 46
it might have been a bit earlier than yours.
However further to earlier posts and having spent the previous 10 years moving around at her Majesty's pleasure
I then spent the last 4 at Marham with fond memories of 55 and XH648 in particular. There I said it
C
My wife has no memory of your good doctor and as No2 son is now 46
it might have been a bit earlier than yours.
However further to earlier posts and having spent the previous 10 years moving around at her Majesty's pleasure
I then spent the last 4 at Marham with fond memories of 55 and XH648 in particular. There I said it
C