Drem control tower

I had a drive around Drem today, the shops and workshops are in the old WAAF’s quarters, in the aerial photos top right, now to the east of the road which in Wartime ran through that area. There are a couple of other buildings but not much of aviation interest except revetments (if that is the correct term). The Drem Airfield Museum is now in the Archery Centre and is the remains of what was previously on show. The Archery owner could not remember who originally set it up but clearly its not had much care an attention recently. No helpful photos on display and it all looks a bit sad.
There was a copy of an airfield map on display but i could not read the legend to see where the tower was.

Google Earth

Thought I’d add this in to show the different time lines..

As noted above I went to the Archery Centre this morning but it was closed. It does have a notice saying “Drem Airfield Museum” so will go in again soon.
I wonder if checking out the squadrons that were at Drem around the relevant dates might prove a good avenue for photographs of the buildings?

Thanks you gentlemen for your continuing comments.

I’d assumed that Wrighton was given some embarkation leave before joining the Arakaka, but having just just received copies of some pages from the Drem observation book I find I was way out. He was at work until 6 pm on the 22nd October which left him just the 23rd (probably spent travelling) and 24th visiting his family in Hertfordshire before catching the train to Liverpool the following day.

Things were a trifle different in those days.

Brian

Hi Robert,

Well first the arts and crafts place next to them closed as I think I am right in saying the owner did a bunk without paying staff etc. Although the Arts and crafts gallery were actually nothing to do with the shop it must have suffered and only survived a short while after the shop closed. The had art and craft products that I wouldnt really have ever bought. The only reason I was ever there was because of the Drem stuff. I think I am right in saying it was a former assistant at the Museum of Flight that ran the place. I say assistant because I dont remember his position. I think he was higher up in the place and get the feeling he was forced out or quit when the “New” management were put in place. This is my understanding of it but I could be completely wrong. Anyhow it was him that started the place and ran the small Drem museum. I had hoped it would thrive and be a bigger success perhaps even outgrowing the building but these things have a way of not turning out. Others on here will know the correct story or the exact story but this is my understanding and I am always willing to be proven wrong.

And Lyffe yes that is the place I am thinking off. I am very local when it comes to Drem and like Robert I can pop in anytime I choose. I also used to fly model aircraft at Drem.

My mate informs me that some of the old museum stuff could be seen at the archery centre. That was at least there the last time he was down. I think last year.

Robert,

The old website gives the location as Arts & Crafts Gallery at Fenton Barns Retail Village; but whether that’s the one Merlin is thinking of is another matter. I couldn’t open the link to the location.

Brian

Robert I wouldnt bother going to the arts and crafts gallery wartime Drem display as it no longer exists. Abandoned a few years ago. But some of the items exist in a smaller display in one of the other Fenton Barns buildings. Another place took the items under their wing and displays them albeit poorly from what I was told. I may be able to let you know which building it was. Might take some time though.

That’s OK I will be passing in any case and will ask around.
Do you know who ran the exhibition and what happened?

Robert I wouldnt bother going to the arts and crafts gallery wartime Drem display as it no longer exists. Abandoned a few years ago. But some of the items exist in a smaller display in one of the other Fenton Barns buildings. Another place took the items under their wing and displays them albeit poorly from what I was told. I may be able to let you know which building it was. Might take some time though.

That’s extremely kind of you Robert.

It’s a bit complicated but it’s part of the story of Sgt Richard (Dick) Wrighton (753664) who was one of the meteorological observers at Drem from 29 June 1940 until about 11 October that year. He then joined the SS Arakaka, a merchant ship which had been chartered to undertake weather observing duties in mid-Atlantic. The ship was torpedoed by U-77 with the loss of all hands on 22 June 1941 (there were survivors, but they were left to fend for themselves).

He was engaged at the time of his death and although his fiance married after the war, she never forgot her first love, keeping his ring and letters. I’m helping her daughter put together his story. My thinking was that the Drem met office would have been in the control tower and, as such, helps place him in time.

I know it would help bring to life the man who, had things turned out differently, might have been her father.

The story is unusual in that few know two weather ships, the SS Arakaka and SS Toronto City, provided weather observations from mid-Atlantic from September 1940 until June 1941 (the Toronto City was torpedoed by U-108 on 1 July 1941). With the sinking of the Toronto City the concept of weather ships was abandoned by the British.

Brian

Robert,
I tried that website last night but it appears to have been abandoned – nothing in the photo gallery and the links do not appear to work. No contact details either.
Brian

I will go along to Drem airfield in the next few days and see what the small exhibition has on display. Remind me by PM if you dont hear from me!!
Why the interest?

Thank you gentlemen, much obliged – the Airfield Focus series seems the one for me.

Robert,

I tried that website last night but it appears to have been abandoned – nothing in the photo gallery and the links do not appear to work. No contact details either.

Brian

We’ve certainly got some in our Airfield Focus on the airfield

There might be a photo here
www.rafdrem.co.uk
I havn’t visited the exhibition for a while so cant remember what photos are on display! Do you know if Drem actually had a Control Tower? Apart from the Hangars photos I have seen suggest that the buildings were wooden huts.

You could try contacting The museum of flight at East Fortune. If anyone has an image they might.