Thanks for the history narration on this. I was there in 1981 at the RAF Police Training school and QPD (Qualified Police Dog-Handler) Course. I'd forgotten just how many kennels were there.
Thanks for this video.i was based here from 1977 to 1978.i worked in air traffic control tower as a ground radio technician. I had great times..my mentor was a civilian technician Mr William cantwell a brilliant man.
Thanks for posting this! This is where I was born and grew up on Trechard Close 1982 for the 1st 4 years of my life as my dad was stationed here. My dad was James Beardsley who was stationed here as part of the dog section you may have known him!
Thanks for making and posting this video, Steve. As station photographer from Sep 1979 to Oct 1983 (long posting) I thought I knew every inch of the place but you've (happily) proved me wrong! Did a lot of work for RAFP, especially dog section. It was 4 very, very happy years with great people and many, many laughs! Cheers.
Recently I discovered your WW1 battlefields and nowspend most of my evenings following you and find your tours wonderful in that they fill in so much for me for I have made half a dozen battlefield tours and I can now see where I walked from above which fill the places in and make it so complete. I had only one family member in that war which he survived and became CO of thr Royal Scots. I was like you as was RAF but mid 50’s but have just seen your Newton film : almost certain my cousin trained there as he was a S.Pthe Colonial police.
Thanks for posting Steve very interesting. I was there in 1981 on my Police Course and later Dog Course. I never ventured up to the bomb dump mores the pity. I can’t even recall it being there. We didn’t use it for training. I do remember going up the road to Syerston with the dogs. My dog Sasha would go nowhere near the station cinema there. Something spooked her. Happy days
Thank you for watching. I did my police and dog training at Debden in 73/4 and was at Newton on the Dog Demo team in 76/7. Wish I could time travel and go back!
Thanks Steve, nice to see RAF Newton from the air. Never saw much of the back of the station while I was there, 1987 - 90, remember visiting the Dog Section a couple of times, all looks so very different now.
A really interesting video. My father was stationed here during his national service in the 1950s (I don't think he enjoyed it too much!!). It's a real shame these places are gradually disappearing, like you say there's some great history contained within. I did some flying here with the cadets in the late 1990s and the grass runway was still going strong. Nice to listen to someone who was also stationed there talk about the place.
Hi Steven, great videos. I remember RAF Newton from the early 70's, at that time I was a member of 2229 Sqn Loughborough ATC and we used to visit Newton twice a year getting 'air experience' in the DH Chipmunk. Several other Sqns would visit at the same time and between 2 to 3 aircraft would take turns at giving cadets a 30min flight. Changing the cadet in the rear seat was often carried out with the engine still running. If cadet numbers were lower than usual, it was possible to get several flights throughout the day (my highest was 3 trips). There used to be a small brick hut / cabin in the middle of the airfield from where the day's activities were controlled. The grass runway was lined with white cones which could be moved to account for wind direction...happy days!!
Thank you for watching. I was in 1600 Birmingham Sqn. ATC. We flew Chipmonks at RAF Cosford, probably about the same time. My time at Newton was with the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team 1976-7.
Thanks Steven, I discovered your site only recently and have been slowly working my way through your videos which are most enjoyable. I too have a strong interest in the First World War and in recent years have made several visits to the battlefields in France and Belgium. Your RAF Newton video brought back fantastic memories of my time in the ATC. We also enjoyed summer camps at RAF Oakington and St Mawgan and experienced flights in the Varsity, Nimrod and the Shakleton MR3... like I said magic days long gone!
Steve, I was there from 75 to 78, my dad was Sqn Ldr Hoar, RAF Police. (used to work at SIB training I believe). His office was in the H block adjacent to the parade ground, next to the Fosse Club. I used to work on the station farm for three years and walked up there past the dog section every day, chatting to the kennel maids (do they still break Tonka Toys I wonder?).... The bomb dumps you filmed were used by Brian Woolley (farmer) as stores for straw, hay, onions etc, great area for rabbiting with a ferret and Goshawk! Whoever nicked the steel doors from the remaining first six bomb stores (left to right in your film) must have made a fortune! Names I remember are Steve Harrison, (Big Geordie) and Tim Waudby both from the MT Section, Arthur Kent, Fire Section and a good looking couple of girls, Kimberley Jones from MT and Babs ? (she of the Cleopatra look), Cpl, RAFP. (I think she wanted to join HM Customs and Excise after they came to train dogs for a while). Would you recall Jeanie Piper, telephonist? Who else...'Yorkie' Barker, ChiefTech? 'Wink' McGuffy? I think she was a police sgt and used to run the indoor rifle range after hours at the bottom of the officers quarters next to the A46 bus stops. ('Chalky White' got killed there running across the road to catch a bus)... :( My hang out was the Fosse Club, usually in the pigs bar :) Weds night disco's when the local civvy lads were allowed on base, Coopers, Wattons et al, (always a good chance of a scrap when the disco closed :) ). Great times! Many thanks for the filming, such a pity to see it all gone.....Good to see you ride a Harley! :) BTW, the grass airfield was the largest one left in service from the war.
Thank you for watching and sharing your memories. Not sure about your reference to a step-father as I do not have one. I was stationed there on the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team from early 1976 to late 1977. Exactly when you were there.
You might know my step dad he was a Sgt at this dog section Phil cracknell? This was a good dog section before it was closed and moved to Melton which was crap
I knew Phil very well. We were on the same demo team in 1976 and 77. Did the silver jubilee royal tournament, we were both on the advanced party. Worked together for 18 months. I have a couple of photographs of him if you want copies let me have your email address.
@@StevenUpton14-18 I too knew Phil, I was there 89-92 at the dog section. The actual quarantine block was away further down the back path with only a a couple of kennels.
@@Daydreameruk I heard that he had died about fours years ago (not sure how long) but I could not get to the funeral due to being out of the country at the time. Was you a dog handler?
They landed on took off on grass? I never knew they did that. I would have thought it too unstable for the heavy bombers. I do love the history of the air war. I'm waiting patiently for "The Mighty Eighth" mini series to come to HBO. In Denver I grew up going to Lowry AFB where the WW2 Navigator and Bombardier school was located as well as the first AF Academy. My dad was retired Navy so we had base privileges. The base closed in 94 and has been mostly redeveloped but if you know where to look there are still many AF buildings to be found. There are two WW2 era hangers still there. There are only a few left now in the whole country. One of them houses the Air and Space museum. Francis Lowry the base's namesake was the 1st airman from Colorado shot down and killed in WW1 btw.
When I was based there in the 70's it was the last grass airfield left in the RAF. They actually landed a Vulcan bomber. Never took off again as they were scrapping it.
Used to drive past here with my dad a lot when I was a weeun. Always wanted to see inside. Such a shame what defence cuts have done, eroding places like this.
Hi... I deliver around this area. Yes the control tower has now been turned into a residential property and looks very nice. Most of the hangers now are occupied by businesses and the police still do train on site. Not seen them with dogs but armed officer training. Rest of the building are going to ruin now which is a absolute shame I'd love to see photos of it in its glory days if you may know where I can find any.
I live close to this, I go for walks just outside Newton, I brought a car from Newton a while ago, is this still here? I drive through Newton on the way back from Bingham and never realised this was still here!
Thank you for watching. Half of the camp has had houses built on it. Last time I was there the hangers were still in use by a trucking company. I lived here in 1976/7.
@@StevenUpton14-18 We have windmills converted here but sadly no air controller towers as far as I know.. ;) Started to wtach 1917.. Looks good but was a little put off ocne they left the spiked guns and came to the farm and mostly undamaged ground so close to the front... Felt weird..
Thanks for the history narration on this.
I was there in 1981 at the RAF Police Training school and QPD (Qualified Police Dog-Handler) Course.
I'd forgotten just how many kennels were there.
Thank you for watching. I was on the dog demo team 76/7.
Thanks for this video.i was based here from 1977 to 1978.i worked in air traffic control tower as a ground radio technician. I had great times..my mentor was a civilian technician Mr William cantwell a brilliant man.
Looks like we may have been there at the same time. I was on the dog demonstration team until bout March 77.
Thanks for posting this! This is where I was born and grew up on Trechard Close 1982 for the 1st 4 years of my life as my dad was stationed here.
My dad was James Beardsley who was stationed here as part of the dog section you may have known him!
Thank you for watching. I was there in 1976/7 on the Police Dog Demonstration team.
Thanks for making and posting this video, Steve. As station photographer from Sep 1979 to Oct 1983 (long posting) I thought I knew every inch of the place but you've (happily) proved me wrong! Did a lot of work for RAFP, especially dog section. It was 4 very, very happy years with great people and many, many laughs! Cheers.
Thank you for watching. I was on the dog demo team 76/7. I still have photographs taken by your predecessor.
Recently I discovered your WW1 battlefields and nowspend most of my evenings following you and find your tours wonderful in that they fill in so much for me for I have made half a dozen battlefield tours and I can now see where I walked from above which fill the places in and make it so complete. I had only one family member in that war which he survived and became CO of thr Royal Scots. I was like you as was RAF but mid 50’s but have just seen your Newton film : almost certain my cousin trained there as he was a S.Pthe Colonial police.
Thank you for watching. I was at Newton 76/77.
Thanks for posting Steve very interesting. I was there in 1981 on my Police Course and later Dog Course. I never ventured up to the bomb dump mores the pity. I can’t even recall it being there. We didn’t use it for training. I do remember going up the road to Syerston with the dogs. My dog Sasha would go nowhere near the station cinema there. Something spooked her. Happy days
Thank you for watching. I did my police and dog training at Debden in 73/4 and was at Newton on the Dog Demo team in 76/7. Wish I could time travel and go back!
Thanks Steve, nice to see RAF Newton from the air. Never saw much of the back of the station while I was there, 1987 - 90, remember visiting the Dog Section a couple of times, all looks so very different now.
Thanks for watching. I was there 76 to 77.
Went back to train on the bloodhound missiles and the test equipment. 1979 .had a great time
Thank you for watching. I was there 76/77.
A really interesting video. My father was stationed here during his national service in the 1950s (I don't think he enjoyed it too much!!). It's a real shame these places are gradually disappearing, like you say there's some great history contained within. I did some flying here with the cadets in the late 1990s and the grass runway was still going strong. Nice to listen to someone who was also stationed there talk about the place.
Thank you for watching. I was there in 1976/7.
Hi Steven, great videos. I remember RAF Newton from the early 70's, at that time I was a member of 2229 Sqn Loughborough ATC and we used to visit Newton twice a year getting 'air experience' in the DH Chipmunk. Several other Sqns would visit at the same time and between 2 to 3 aircraft would take turns at giving cadets a 30min flight. Changing the cadet in the rear seat was often carried out with the engine still running. If cadet numbers were lower than usual, it was possible to get several flights throughout the day (my highest was 3 trips). There used to be a small brick hut / cabin in the middle of the airfield from where the day's activities were controlled. The grass runway was lined with white cones which could be moved to account for wind direction...happy days!!
Thank you for watching. I was in 1600 Birmingham Sqn. ATC. We flew Chipmonks at RAF Cosford, probably about the same time.
My time at Newton was with the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team 1976-7.
Thanks Steven, I discovered your site only recently and have been slowly working my way through your videos which are most enjoyable. I too have a strong interest in the First World War and in recent years have made several visits to the battlefields in France and Belgium. Your RAF Newton video brought back fantastic memories of my time in the ATC. We also enjoyed summer camps at RAF Oakington and St Mawgan and experienced flights in the Varsity, Nimrod and the Shakleton MR3... like I said magic days long gone!
Certainly great memories.
Steve, I was there from 75 to 78, my dad was Sqn Ldr Hoar, RAF Police. (used to work at SIB training I believe). His office was in the H block adjacent to the parade ground, next to the Fosse Club. I used to work on the station farm for three years and walked up there past the dog section every day, chatting to the kennel maids (do they still break Tonka Toys I wonder?).... The bomb dumps you filmed were used by Brian Woolley (farmer) as stores for straw, hay, onions etc, great area for rabbiting with a ferret and Goshawk! Whoever nicked the steel doors from the remaining first six bomb stores (left to right in your film) must have made a fortune! Names I remember are Steve Harrison, (Big Geordie) and Tim Waudby both from the MT Section, Arthur Kent, Fire Section and a good looking couple of girls, Kimberley Jones from MT and Babs ? (she of the Cleopatra look), Cpl, RAFP. (I think she wanted to join HM Customs and Excise after they came to train dogs for a while). Would you recall Jeanie Piper, telephonist? Who else...'Yorkie' Barker, ChiefTech? 'Wink' McGuffy? I think she was a police sgt and used to run the indoor rifle range after hours at the bottom of the officers quarters next to the A46 bus stops. ('Chalky White' got killed there running across the road to catch a bus)... :( My hang out was the Fosse Club, usually in the pigs bar :) Weds night disco's when the local civvy lads were allowed on base, Coopers, Wattons et al, (always a good chance of a scrap when the disco closed :) ). Great times! Many thanks for the filming, such a pity to see it all gone.....Good to see you ride a Harley! :) BTW, the grass airfield was the largest one left in service from the war.
Thank you for watching and sharing your memories. Not sure about your reference to a step-father as I do not have one. I was stationed there on the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team from early 1976 to late 1977. Exactly when you were there.
Steve, the ref to step dad was for the comment made by Nosey Parker re Phil Cracknell...
@@b1ker47 okay, I knew Phil Cracknell we were on the demo team together. He died about 3 years ago.
Thank you . Qpd 1993 👍🏼
I was QPD trained at Debden in 73/74. On the demo team at Newton 76/77. Thank you for watching.
You might know my step dad he was a Sgt at this dog section Phil cracknell? This was a good dog section before it was closed and moved to Melton which was crap
I knew Phil very well. We were on the same demo team in 1976 and 77. Did the silver jubilee royal tournament, we were both on the advanced party. Worked together for 18 months. I have a couple of photographs of him if you want copies let me have your email address.
I remember your step dads' name, my old man used to mention him often.....
He was my QPD instructor in '92.
@@StevenUpton14-18 I too knew Phil, I was there 89-92 at the dog section. The actual quarantine block was away further down the back path with only a a couple of kennels.
@@Daydreameruk I heard that he had died about fours years ago (not sure how long) but I could not get to the funeral due to being out of the country at the time.
Was you a dog handler?
They landed on took off on grass? I never knew they did that. I would have thought it too unstable for the heavy bombers. I do love the history of the air war. I'm waiting patiently for "The Mighty Eighth" mini series to come to HBO. In Denver I grew up going to Lowry AFB where the WW2 Navigator and Bombardier school was located as well as the first AF Academy. My dad was retired Navy so we had base privileges. The base closed in 94 and has been mostly redeveloped but if you know where to look there are still many AF buildings to be found. There are two WW2 era hangers still there. There are only a few left now in the whole country. One of them houses the Air and Space museum. Francis Lowry the base's namesake was the 1st airman from Colorado shot down and killed in WW1 btw.
When I was based there in the 70's it was the last grass airfield left in the RAF. They actually landed a Vulcan bomber. Never took off again as they were scrapping it.
Nice video Steve, the hangars are owned by NNLLP not a haulage firm. The Control Tower is now a house.
Thank you for watching and for the correction.
Used to drive past here with my dad a lot when I was a weeun. Always wanted to see inside. Such a shame what defence cuts have done, eroding places like this.
I lived there for 18 months and remember it as a busy RAF base. Today, much has been built on with new houses. The rest is mainly derelict.
Hi... I deliver around this area. Yes the control tower has now been turned into a residential property and looks very nice. Most of the hangers now are occupied by businesses and the police still do train on site. Not seen them with dogs but armed officer training. Rest of the building are going to ruin now which is a absolute shame I'd love to see photos of it in its glory days if you may know where I can find any.
Thank you for watching. The only photos I have from when it was operational in the 70's are of people, not the place.
I live close to this, I go for walks just outside Newton, I brought a car from Newton a while ago, is this still here? I drive through Newton on the way back from Bingham and never realised this was still here!
Thank you for watching. Half of the camp has had houses built on it. Last time I was there the hangers were still in use by a trucking company. I lived here in 1976/7.
My Grandfather was based there flying WHITLEY IN 1941.
Thank you for watching and sharing this.
Really nice video...pass this base on the A46 on a weekly basis...so much better from the air...
Thank you for watching. I lived there in 1976-7 as a RAF Police dog handler.
RAF newton looks old
Sadly, it looks a lot different from when I was there in 1976. Thanks for watching.
lol, interesting housing project, the airfield control tower..
Thank you for watching. I think that the control tower at former RAF Manby was converted.
@@StevenUpton14-18 We have windmills converted here but sadly no air controller towers as far as I know.. ;)
Started to wtach 1917.. Looks good but was a little put off ocne they left the spiked guns and came to the farm and mostly undamaged ground so close to the front... Felt weird..