Visit Suffolk website is promoting ten unusual or hidden attractions to visit during the Autumn. Bawdsey Radar is on the list at Number 5!
More information can be found on: www.visitsuffolk.com/blog/10_most_unusual_attractions_in_the_UK.aspx
If you missed the Forces News series of programmes ‘ RAF Bases: Declassified’, visiting various places with interesting links. Here is the link to the Bawdsey episode https://www.forces.net/…/declassified-raf-bawdseys-lasting-…
Thank you to Ashley and the PGL team and to Manns Farms for access and Sian and the team from Forces News.
Bawdsey Radar is a Heritage Lottery Supported project – thank you to Lottery Players.
RSPB Dungeness are running a Sound Mirror open day on September 1st, 10am to 3pm. More details available via their website https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-438947
They are also organising guided tours and photography days to the Dungeness Sound Mirrors. More details are available via the following web links:
guided tours: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sound-mirrors-guided-tour-tickets-47674435520
photography days: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sound-mirrors-photography-day-tickets-47469037168
RAF Bawdsey will feature in the Forces TV series ‘RAF Bases: Declassified’. The tv company spent a day in June filming at the Transmitter Block. The series will be shown on Forces TV channel available via: Freeview 96, Freesat 165, ,Sky 450, Virgin 277, week beginning August 13th. The Bawdsey episode will be shown on Thursday 16th August at 1300 and 1730. Other stations filmed for the series are RAF Hethel, RAF Elvington, RAF Upper Heyford and RAF Lissett.
Bawdsey Radar Trust was privileged to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to unveil a commemorative plaque at the official opening ceremony of the Bawdsey Radar Transmitter Block on Friday July 13th.
He was greeted on his arrival by pupils from Bawdsey Primary School. His Royal Highness was given a tour of the WW2 building and the new exhibition which opened to visitors in October last year following a year long conservation project. The Duke spoke to trustees of Bawdsey Radar Trust as well as the many volunteers that have been involved in the project. His Royal Highness also met sponsors together with the construction and development teams, and saw how the early radar systems were able to track and report enemy aircraft during the war.
His Royal Highness met Eileen Gray, who had served as a radar operator at Bawdsey during the war. Prior to joining up, Eileen had been a telephone exchange operator.
Mary Wain, Founder and previous Chair of the Trust said “Bawdsey Radar Trust is thrilled that The Duke of Gloucester has opened the recently restored Transmitter Block and the new radar exhibition at Bawdsey. It continues an association dating back to July 1959 when The Duke’s mother, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, unveiled a plaque in the entrance to Bawdsey Manor that paid tribute to the pioneering work developing radar that had been carried out at Bawdsey in great secrecy.”
Sunday 24th June saw the RAF100 Baton Relay team arrive at Bawdsey. It started that day’s Suffolk leg at RAF Wattisham, including visits to Debach airfield, Rock Barracks Woodbridge before finishing at the Transmitter Block. A guard of honour was provided by the local Air Cadets. Group Captain Rob Woods OBE MA BEng (Hons) now Station Commander at RAF High Wycombe, Chair of the RAF Orienteering Association and originator of the relay was present along with his father Peter who was stationed at Bawdsey to welcome the baton runners Gemma and Callum.
The team will be here on Sunday 24 June from approximately 2pm and we’d love to give them a warm welcome, so do come along and support the team. Entry to the Transmitter Block will be free for the day.
In the meantime, please do follow the team’s progress on Twitter @RAFBatonRelay and on face book RAF Baton Relay.
Bawdsey Radar and Bawdsey village hosted a Suffolk Local History Council Focus On… Day on Saturday 9th June. SLHC is the umbrella organisation for local history societies and Parish Recorders and every year showcases two communities who organise a group visit for fellow members from all over the county.
Over 40 people enjoyed talks on the history of Bawdsey village, the Quilter family and the lost Medieval village of Goseford. Over lunch there was a visit to the church and an opportunity to climb the tower for magnificent views of the surrounding area bathed in beautiful sunshine. The afternoon highlight was a visit to the Transmitter Block, followed by tea and cakes at the village hall.
The Bawdsey Reunion Association gathered at Bawdsey Manor at the weekend for their annual lunch, thanks to PGL, who now own Bawdsey Manor.
Over forty Ex-RAF personnel who served or trained at RAF Bawdsey had the opportunity to visit the Manor and reminisce about the time they were stationed there. Following the lunch many of the guests visited the Transmitter Block to view the new exhibition.
Exciting news! The RAF is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. As part of this year-long celebration and commemoration, the RAF Baton Relay will visit 100 sites in 100 days. Each site has a special association with the RAF and the relay team is coming to Bawdsey Radar.
The team will be here on Sunday 24 June from approximately 2pm and we’d love to give them a warm welcome, so do come along and support the team. Entry to the Transmitter Block will be free for the day.
In the meantime, please do follow the team’s progress on Twitter @RAFBatonRelay and on face book RAF Baton Relay.
