RAF Uxbridge?

Just a quick update. move in completed! commence dog walking with camera in hand!

From a quick look around all seems intact on site. Gate guard still in place. awaiting installation of internet before some pics go up!

thanks all!:)

Stopped by RAF Uxbridge on Friday on my way back home to Wales to check out my new place! Just to keep anyone who maybe interested up to date, Uxbridge is now no longer operational with all Dept’s re-located to Northolt, however, the stations married quarter patch is going to remain in place once the fence comes down. There is no set date for development to start as a number of the accomodation blocks still remain in use, mostly by Army personnel from the Bks in Hounslow. I shall endeavour to get as many pics as possible before work commences on site. Also, no news of the Spit gate guard, Plod on the gate wasnt much help!

Very interesting – thanks for the info.

ds

Oops…of course. But I always wondered why – if it was part of the RAF – was it ‘HMS’ – was it a naval base before that? (Northwood being renown for its long association with the sea……)

ds

No, intitally it was RAF and then gradually the naval operations were moved there.

Northwood was Coastal Command HQ from 1939 to 1969 and became a joint establishment from 1953 when NATO CinC Eastlant was established at Northwood. In 1960 CinC Home Fleet moved to Northwood and the site was commissioned as HMS Warrior in 1963; in 1966 the NATO Channel Command (a post also held by CINC Home Fleet) moved to Northwood from Portsmouth and the Navy took control of the site from 1971.

Although Northwood/HMS Warrior is now a joint services establishment, it was originally RAF – it was Coastal Command HQ from 1939….

Oops…of course. But I always wondered why – if it was part of the RAF – was it ‘HMS’ – was it a naval base before that? (Northwood being renown for its long association with the sea……)

ds

1939? Sunderland then! :diablo:

Yep, but not at Northwood HQ – although this is not an RAF base, and was HMS Warrior previously so should have a plastic ship outside (in the duck pond), therefore probably won’t qualify for a gate guard
ds

Although Northwood/HMS Warrior is now a joint services establishment, it was originally RAF – it was Coastal Command HQ from 1939. The dark blue lot are newcomers, having dropped anchor in 1963. So a gate guard would be quite appropriate, though maybe not a Spitfire. Maybe a Nimrod 😉

Having been stationed at Uxbridge, Northolt and Northwood, all three have a special place in my memories.

There’s a plastic Spitfire at Northolt already. Visible from the A40 in front of the Civil Terminal.

Yes but not that visible really behind a 10 foot fence alongside a fast 6 lane “motorway” with no footpath. Just a shame that it couldn’t be incorporated into the new gate area that is being developed at the moment and displayed in a way that the Uxbridge spitfire is now.

Blueredblue, enjoy your time here, it’s a nice area with a good balance between London and countryside.

PeterW

There’s a plastic Spitfire at Northolt already. Visible from the A40 in front of the Civil Terminal.

Yep, but not at Northwood HQ – although this is not an RAF base, and was HMS Warrior previously so should have a plastic ship outside (in the duck pond), therefore probably won’t qualify for a gate guard, but as I drive past daily it would be nice to see a Spitfire on my way to work 😀

Sorry for the off-topic blueredblue – I hope you enjoy your time in Uxbridge – good shopping, nice Odeon cinema in the shopping centre and good connections to central London but right on the edge of the countryside (well, what a Londoner like me considers as the countryside!)

ds

I hope you have as good a time as I did during five very happy years at the base, the last one as a married airman living in a standard 2/3 bedroomed RAF married quarter near Vine Lane. It was a good, well maintained property about a ten minute walk from my office in Station Headquarters’, and a very convenient place for my new wife and I to pursue our various interests. All London football clubs, as well as West End Theatreland and the numerous London attractions (including the dreaded Oxford Street shops) were just a tube ride away. Heathrow was a few miles to the south and in the other direction, RAF Northolt was just about within walking distance (We did it once!)

Being on the outer fringes of Greater London the countryside was very close at hand and as a consequence I remember spending numerous very pleasant afternoons in nearby places such as Windsor and Henley-on-Thames. However, I am mindful that this was almost forty years ago when football admission prices (even at Chelsea, where I was a regular) were very cheap and tube and bus fares weren’t even worth thinking about when costing a day out. Not so these days’, I fear!

Historically, apart from the underground ‘war room’, I’ve just remembered that during my ‘single’ barrack block days’, I was told by a very knowledgable and wise old RAF officer (there have been one or two!) that my bed space was once occupied by ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (T E Lawrence) after he left the British Army as a Colonel and joined the RAF at Uxbridge Depot under the name of Aircraftsman Shaw. I felt quite honoured by this and made a special point of seeing the film – unfortunately the bedspace didn’t feature!

Anyway, I very much hope that you enjoy your posting there. Best wishes.

Regards……….Paul

There’s a plastic Spitfire at Northolt already. Visible from the A40 in front of the Civil Terminal.

Hi all,

thanks for posting your info guys its much appreciated. I shall be heading up there at the weekend to recce before my move in two weeks will keep you all updated.

thanks!

Chris Wren still runs the Ops Room visits. Not been for a few years but some friends went only last month. The future of the Ops Room is secure but the rest of the base is going with most things having moved to Northolt. I’m hoping the Spitfire gate guardian might also move to the new entrance being made at Northolt at the moment.

PeterW

Agreed – but if it is going spare my preference would be for outside Northwood HQ – my local 😀

DS

Chris Wren still runs the Ops Room visits. Not been for a few years but some friends went only last month. The future of the Ops Room is secure but the rest of the base is going with most things having moved to Northolt. I’m hoping the Spitfire gate guardian might also move to the new entrance being made at Northolt at the moment.

PeterW

Moving to married quarters there in 2 weeks. Any info on the place anyone? no matter how small!!??

Do you mean Uxbridge as a place generally or specifically the Married Patch? (which along with Vine Lane isn’t part of the UXB sell-off/redevelopment)

Presumably you won’t be based there as RAF Uxbridge itself has just closed! (Unless you have been sent there to turn out the lights!)

I visited back in the ’90s to see the BoB operations room which is underground there. Our club had a private tour before parts of it were opened to the public. It was run by a chap called Chris Wren. I’m not sure if it’s still open or whether you can get access to it now. If you can get to see it it is well worth a look. I have no idea what the rest of the base or the married quarters is like. I recall that the main thing going on was vehicle servicing and repairs but I think that was about to stop and be carried out elsewhere, though I can’t be certain as it was a while back now.