RAF Haydock

[Red Setter]

Hi Steve

Was that photo taken coming off camp onto Clipsey Lane?  The other photo you have can you make that larger, as it won't let me enlarge it for some reason.  Alan the PTI use to train me in the high jump and 100 meters, the playing field were just behind the WRAF block. 

Red Setter

[Steve003]

Hi Red Setter

The photo where ? I got it off servicepals.com. I don't think it was Clipsey Lane, but, Haydock Lane, I do however think it's the Sig's(On the left) and Admin block(On the right) Don't know when it was taken, but with not a WRAF in sight, it must be after you girls left If you type in Avery Road ( As mentioned here as where someone lived ) on multimap.com you get  a good view of the area as it now is ( Select aerial shot )
So Alan trained you, so do you ever remember going to RAF Sealand for a sports day, I went along for the ride and ended up guesting for you Sig's guys and running in the mile ( Came second in borrowed footwear if memory serves me right)
Yes I remember the Playing field well, used to play football and cricket for the station.

[JAMIEKLUTE]

Hi all,

I worked in the GO/Families Office from mid 61 until posted to Rheindahlen in Nov 63. I was the dark haired guy and it was me who was courting ? the NAAFI girl called Sylvia. My name was Jim Monkman and I came from Scotland. I was in the GO at the same time as Sgt Carthy and also the dark Cpl. There was also a chap called Neil ?,he wore glasses and came from Todmorden. Anybody remember ?. A WRAF called Gwen Nicholas also worked in the GO. She was also a good pal of Pam Smiths.

Many years ago and loads of memories, sadly fading with the years, nevertheless, it's good to talk with you all.

Cheers

Jamieklute

[James Hanson]

Hello all,
I know it's a little late in the day to be commenting about RAF Haydock, so anything I say might well have been said before.

The RAF camp known as RAF Haydock is often referred to as RAF Blackbrook.
This must come from the 'North West Signals Centre' being codenamed 'RAF Blackbrook' during WW2.
I don't know the exact reason for the use of 'Blackbrook' but, due to the nature of the work undertaken there, it was probably for security and after the war this did not matter so much and it was changed to Haydock, no doubt so personnel could find it more easily.

In actual fact, RAF Haydock (the admin. block and the accompanying accommodation at least) was not in Haydock at all. It was in Ashton in Makerfield, the brook called 'Clipsley Brook', being the boundary between the two places, running between the Signals Station and the Camp.

(should anyone deny this, I live on the site and pay parish tax to Seneley Green Parish Council anually. Seneley Green is part of Ashton in Makerfield township)

The name of the road running between the two sites is Haydock Lane, a smaller road named Slag Lane runs between the Camp (Admin. / Naafi / Spiders Web etc.), and the accommodation sector (Avery Road, Square, Crescent).

The camp has now been developed and, as said previously, the 'Avery' houses remain. Others have been built alongside them and the 'official' side of the camp is now called 'Springfield Park'.

Jemmy.

[Flygirluc]

Hi Folks,
              I was posted to "North West C.C" in 1952. We were billeted at RAF Fazackerley, and driven up and down the East Lancs, by garry, to and from RAF Blackbrook (or RAF Haydock)  The camp was being rebuilt with the communications centre down below ground level. There were no married quarters on site at that time, and the new  accommodation blocks were yet to be completed. As I was a regular "Janker Walla" I spent quite a lot of time (after my stint on the switch board) cleaning up the new sections, and accommodation blocks,(as the builders completed them, and handed them over) My fellow WRAF "Janker Walla's and I, use to have a radio,  and listen to all the latest hits, as we swabbed our way around the buildings. If there was no one around, we would have a jive or two. and really enjoy ourselves. We eventually moved into the Haydock blocks with four girls to a room. Two of the WRAF'S I remember were ---  Sheila Campbell  and Jean Simpson.  From Haydock I  was posted to RAF Abu Suier, Egypt. As I had volunteered for overseas duty, I had to have an interview with the WRAF Officer i.c. She said" by rights, I should turn your application down, as all your charge sheets are full -- and thats on both sides of pages!!!!! but reading them, every one is trivial, and just about all the girls are doing the same moves, but getting away with it. Why is this ? To which, I replied " Don't ever  get on the wrong side of a Snowdrop". It got that bad on the Unit, the SP's ended up, charging each other, and eventually the C.O. interceded, and demanded an end to the episode. The WRAF Officer informed me that under the circumstances she was granting my application, and within a few weeks, I was East bound on an Avro  York

[Flygirluc]

Hi again,
              After I posted my message last night, another Wraf  came to mind, who was at "RAF Faz" and Haydock whilst I was serving there, her name was Law Cormack (a Scot) I remember she claimed her younger brother to  join her on the Unit. She married a corporal, and later was  blessed with twins.  At "Faz" there was a Cockney girl ( I think her name was Rose) and when I  came off the late watch on the switchboard, and walked down the old style billet ( 20ish in a room) Rose was laying on her bunk. I started talking away to her, and got a bit miffed when she seemed to ignore me, then I found out  --- she always slept with her eyes wide open !!!
              I mentioned yesterday that I was a regular on "Jankers" at North West, this was due to a Corporal SP known as "Jock Mc ****"  who kept asking me for a date, and I use to "knock him back" as I was not keen  on him. So he started hitting me with the form 252.  They were for dirty buttons, unpolished shoes, incorrectly dressed, plus a host of other misdemeanors.  I spent  over 30 days on extra duties in total. I'd be "awarded" say five days, I would complete these, and the day I was free, and before nightfall, he would charge me again, and so it went on, and on.
To "prove a point" --- the girls in the billet all got stuck in, my buttons and cap badge were "brassoed" till they shone, my shoes were bulled up so you could see your face in them, The uniform was cleaned and pressed with razor sharp creases, I had always sent my shirt and collars to the Chinese laundry, the collars always came back starched (they would cut your throat if you turned your head too quickly) but it was all in vain --- I received my customary  252 the following morning.  but it was all finally sorted out when the CO became involved

[Teleg+PABX]

Hello Folks,

I'm Jim Haig and I was stationed at RAF Haydock,NWCC (North West Comms. Centre)
from December 1962 until the beginning of 1964,  an LAC Tel II, working in the TASS
Commcen under the slagheap.
I met my wife at Haydock, she was, then, Margaret Lamb, an SACW Telephone Supervisor, working in the PMBX, down the corridor from the Commcen.
My route to NWCC was via RAF Cosford,  and as an ex-Brat, Haydock was my first real
posting.
Margaret came via Spitalgate and Compton Basset and was at Haydock from the end of 1961 until the beginning of 1964.

We both have very happy memories of Haydock as it was a very friendly camp.
Top of the pile was a Warrant Officer Tulloch, who was a Watch DSO and used to
visit the WRAFs on Nightshift to make sure they were OK. It was certainly spooky
down that long dark corridor past the Commcen and down to the PABX!
A Warrant Officer Roberts also has a claim to fame, a bit stricter than Mr. Tulloch,
but as time proved, a man of sterling character.

I used to stand Watch with 'Spud' Murphy, the brother of eminent Rugby player Alec
Murphy. Both Spud and Alec were National Servicemen.
On the same watch there was a NS SAC Teleg Called 'Joe' who used to play the clarinet.
He used to stand in the PMBX corridor on nightshift and play 'Stranger on the Shore.'
Very Evocative !

During 1963 I evapourated to Brunei/Sarawak on an 'Emergency Standby Draft' but
came back to Haydock in time to be captured by the 'Y' scheme and exiled to RAF
Digby in early 1964.

Incidentally, the Spider Club name came about because Haydock was a member of Signals Command and as such, the Commcen could win an award from Command HQ called a 'SPIDER'. This was awarded if a Commcen sent a certain amount of Tape Relay/TASS messages without a single error. This was a highly sought after award amongst RAF Commcens !

Among the people we jointly remember from Haydock were:-

SACW Pam Smith - Should have been our Bridesmaid - but didn't show up!
SACW 'Tuppence' - a wee Welsh Lassie
SACW 'Wendy' - slightly larger Welsh Lassie !
SACW 'Elf' Leslie - from Fort William - was engaged to a lad at Haydock.
The Cleaning Lady in the WRAF Block who used to get the Lassies Fags On Tick!
F/O Woodcock (WRAF)
W/O Rice (WRAF) - o/i/c - the Mess - Great Poached Eggs on Toast!
Sgt Atherton - MOD Policeman
WO Tulloch - Commcen DSO
WO Roberts - Commcen DSO
Cpl 'Spud' Murphy - Commcen DSM
SAC 'Joe' - Commcen Nightshift Clarinet Player Extraordinare !

One final memory. In early (January '63?) I was detailed to take part in a Military Funeral
of a Sgt who had been stationed at Haydock. I guess this was because I was still Smart and Shiny from Boys Service and knew a bit of Ceremonial Drill!

If we have jointly jogged to memory of anyone out there who could flesh out our
memories of Haydock we would be pleased to hear from you.

Thanks

J+M

 

[Red Setter]

Do you remember Janet O'Dell, General Office, Jac Hurley, Accounts we both were friendly with Pam Smith, who was in the same room as us, she married an American and went to live in the States.  Do you also remember Andy Richards who was in the Police.  Can you tell me the name of the WO who was in charge of the mess.  Jac and I have been racking our brains but cannot think of his name.

[Teleg+PABX]

Hi,

Thanks for that contact.

The only WO i/c the Mess was Maam Rice, we cannot remember anyone else.