Geoffrey Powell put a comment on our picture of Fylingdales and aroused our interest. We got in touch with him and he sent us lots of images by email and then went to the trouble and risk of posting his albums of photographs recording his time at Goldsborough and Fylingdales to us. He also sent a copy of his own story; we are privileged to be able to share a selection of these with you. Russell Pigott commented: “Not strictly to do with the subject, but it looks like the picture is on Colchester station, was this chap based down there? I’ve just driven a train through there this evening! Also is there any pictures of the huge nuclear bunker at Goldsborough which is now flooded?” Geoffrey Powell responded with: “In answer to your questions the answer is NO it was taken on Stockport station between postings. I do know to my horror that vandals have wrecked the Radar building and I was lucky I did not disappear down a manhole filled with water as I stepped back to take a picture as the cover had been removed on my last visit .”
Geoffrey added: “I have got to the Archive have done a wonderful job on the story about the men at Goldsborough and Fylingdales etc. I didn’t think with the change it was going to get better but it has and I thank you for your efforts at doing so as when we are long gone there will be a legacy for others to read as I don’t think the threat of a intercontinental or invasive attack will ever go away. This site for that reason is most interesting and as you have done so, should have a permanent record. It so happened that on joining the RAF I was given a portable radio and to take the boredom away; after getting an electric shock I swapped it for a camera otherwise these wonderful pictures would not have been recorded. An excellent job you have done, I was 19 or 20 years old then and now 72 where have the years gone to.. and still got Alfie my constant companion Black Labrador in the pictures .Thank you and ALL responsible for a wonderful site. Geoffrey Powell SAC 5131 Bomb Disposal Sqn RAF 1960 /63/.”
Image and information courtesy of Geoffrey Powell, thanks to Russell Pigott for the update.
SAC Powell was a Mechanical Transport Driver attached to 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron. He was posted to RAF Goldsborough (East Barnby camp) in 1961. He travelled by train from his home in Leicestershire to York, York to Malton, then Malton to Whitby, via Pickering. He was collected at Whitby station and taken to RAF Goldsborough. Geoffrey was struck by the beauty of our countryside. Ian Terry tells us: ”I was an Armourer and joined 6217 BD flight at Goldsborough directly after my Christmas leave in January 1962. where I was reunited with my mate Mick Hodge. I remained on Bomb Disposal until September 1964. In September 64 I was posted to No 31 squadron RAF Laarbruch.” Terry also tell us: ”When we were at Goldsborough there were actually two flights. 6217 and 6226.” Dennis Carlton told us: “6226 was also at RAF Goldsborough from 1959 until 1962. I wonder if anyone caught Cancer as the workers at Fylindales used to chuck asbestos sheets on the dump. Whats ‘elf and safety’? The flight also worked at Lastingham.”
Image and information courtesy of Geoffrey Powell, also many thanks to Ian Terry and Dennis Carlton for the updates.
Goldsborough camp housed the men and back up staff supporting the work going on at Fylingdales. Geoffrey was tired and lonely when he arrived, but soon got to know the others in the Billet. Their accommodation block had bunk beds and there was a stove in the middle and a bathroom and showers at the rear; the men ate in the Airmen’s Mess. In present times the site is better known as East Barnby Centre, part of the North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Service and described as: “The UK’s Greatest Outdoor Classroom”; providing a residential centre for field studies or outdoor activities.
Image and information courtesy of Geoffrey Powell, further information about RAF Goldsborough can be found on ‘Subterranean Britannica’ website.
Geoffrey’s place of work was the MT (Motor Transport) section. They had Bedford R/L three ton trucks, Austin two ton trucks, a Morris Commercial Ambulance, a small Bedford ration truck and two Land Rovers on site. There was also a Standard Ensign staff car for the CO. The mudguards of the trucks and ambulance were painted red to denote that they were on explosive business. The letters BD (Bomb Disposal) were painted on the Land Rover and Vanguard car.
Image and information courtesy of Geoffrey Powell.
One of Geoffrey’s duties was driving to Middleton St George (now Durham Tees Valley Airport) for camp rations; he also drove to other depots for kit and materials that was required by the Bomb Disposal men.
Image and information courtesy of Geoffrey Powell.
The MT section transported the Bomb Disposal men and their equipment over to the Fylingdales moors every day, down Lythe Bank, through Sandsend and Ruswarp. Their job was to clear unexploded munitions and other objects that had been left over from when the Army used the area as a firing range with their tanks. They were clearing the moor ahead of the contractors building RAF Fylingdales. The designated drivers stayed out on the moor with them. At lunchtime a two ton Austin truck took hot meals out to the men.
Image and information courtesy of Geoffrey Powell.
It was soon observed that the MT (Motor Transport) drivers were wasting time sitting in their vehicles for most of the day. They were told to help the BD (Bomb Disposal) lads, doing different duties, moving tapes and the occasional digging.
Image and information courtesy of Geoffrey Powell.
When off duty, the men played cricket and football on camp. They walked to the village of Goldsborough and to Kettleness and down to the beach at Runswick Bay. They went boating at Ruswarp and visited Hutton le Hole in an old Standard Eight car. They got to Scarborough and Durham as well.
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