RAF Marham posting
I was in 1st Division North and not 3rd South.
I remember getting diverted into Scampton one night and with much glee each crew member wrote after his name in the Mess 'Warning In' Book - Marham [3rd Div South]
Mine is - still have very happy memories of Marham. Went up to Kings Lynn for a 214 reunion recently and drove out to Marham and took a photo of the Victor K2 opposite SHQ. Seemed strange to think that the Tornadoes there now are older than the Victors were when I was there in the early 70s. Then on to Swaffham and saddened to see how much Swaffham market had shrunk in the intervening years. By chance we met a Cornish woman who had moved to Swaffham about the time we moved to Cornwall. Said she never regretted the move and wouldn't go back to Cornwall, so that's one more vote for Norfolk.
(Mind you, she came from Camborne
)
(Mind you, she came from Camborne
)
Ian, it was a small scale do arranged by one of the crew chiefs from the K1 period. Actually the association were a bit miffed apparently, but I didn't see the problem if someone wanted to organise something in the local area, as the association meetings are now in Derby for reasons which escape me!
Loved it.
Spent summer of 82 to the summer of 86 there on 55 Sqn.
Without doubt (as an engineer, a career highlight).
Wife and 2 young girls, open mind and capitalised on everything on offer.
Left there under a cloud to start 14yrs on those electronic, noisy, pointy, mud moving things (Laarbruch though)!
My memorable quote:
"Only one hill in Narfok, 'n sum bugga built a runway up 't side o it..."
Spent summer of 82 to the summer of 86 there on 55 Sqn.
Without doubt (as an engineer, a career highlight).
Wife and 2 young girls, open mind and capitalised on everything on offer.
Left there under a cloud to start 14yrs on those electronic, noisy, pointy, mud moving things (Laarbruch though)!
My memorable quote:
"Only one hill in Narfok, 'n sum bugga built a runway up 't side o it..."
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My memorable quote:
"Only one hill in Narfok, 'n sum bugga built a runway up 't side o it..."
"Only one hill in Narfok, 'n sum bugga built a runway up 't side o it..."
They didn't have any proper hills, and the bridge wasn't very steep.
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By the looks of it, there's a spot of bother going on at Marham.
Norfolk Constabulary: RAF Marham incident
Norfolk Constabulary: RAF Marham incident
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Do the locals still dance naked around the sugar beet on certain nights of the year? As a founder member of the RAF Marham Mountain Rescue Team, I have fond memories of lazing away many summers.
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Marham and Mountains are not often used in the same sentence.
In KL, the 'starting of an incline' in your driving test was done on the bridge over the railway line.
There were no natural inclines!
In KL, the 'starting of an incline' in your driving test was done on the bridge over the railway line.
There were no natural inclines!
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Fond memories of Marham and 214. I was an electrician on the line from late 1969 to 71.
Worked hard, but a great squadron. Good detachments. I remember that the rest of the station called us RAF Swaffham as we were nearer the market than the HQ.
Also played for the station rugby team.
Good times.
Worked hard, but a great squadron. Good detachments. I remember that the rest of the station called us RAF Swaffham as we were nearer the market than the HQ.
Also played for the station rugby team.
Good times.
We may have just overlapped, Argyll, as I joined 214 in May 71. As you say a good squadron with a reputation for enjoying itself, "214 - hoot and roar" as the saying went.
Are you sure you are not confusing that with the duty crew being chased by the local farmers having raided the ajoining fields for bags of potatoes on dark and stormy nights.......allegedly
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Argyle,
Did that dispersal ever get flush toilets?
We had the dispersal nearest to the Bomb Dump, but when we successfully completed the IFR trials were officially an operational 'Tanker Sqdn'. 49 Sqdn was posted into Marham to make the Wing back up to 3 Sqdn's and they were given our dispersal next to the bomb dump and we moved to RAF Swaffam.
The use of Elsan's greatly increased the value of my Class 'C' license for the RVT!
If you needed a dump, an excuse to visit the Electronics Centre was quickly invented.
Now there a 3 of us, shall we have a virtual reunion?
Did that dispersal ever get flush toilets?
We had the dispersal nearest to the Bomb Dump, but when we successfully completed the IFR trials were officially an operational 'Tanker Sqdn'. 49 Sqdn was posted into Marham to make the Wing back up to 3 Sqdn's and they were given our dispersal next to the bomb dump and we moved to RAF Swaffam.
The use of Elsan's greatly increased the value of my Class 'C' license for the RVT!
If you needed a dump, an excuse to visit the Electronics Centre was quickly invented.
Now there a 3 of us, shall we have a virtual reunion?
