RAF HARROWBEER

YELVERTON

RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group

Here is a brief history of the Harrowbeer Interest Group (HIG), together with a list of events that we will be attending. If you would like us to give a talk, or to take a group on a guided walk around the airfield (or part of) please get in touch.

The RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group (HIG) is made of people from all walks of life, both male and female, (and all ages) all with a common interest in the history of the former RAF Harrowbeer Airfield at Yelverton. It started with just a couple of people exchanging information, and from there it has expanded to about 20 'members', who meet every couple of months on an informal basis, keeping in touch by email and phone in between. (Next meeting 16th April 2009 @ 7.30pm ~ Knightstone Tea Rooms, Yelverton)

Members are actively searching out photographs, stories, news items, maps, etc., in fact anything to do with the life of the Airfield and they especially want to hear from any Airfield Ground or Admin Staff, or Aircrew who flew from Harrowbeer. Also, any local people who may have played on the airfield as youngsters and who may have snippets of information about the buildings that once stood there, or perhaps even the odd photograph or two that the HIG could take copies of?

The Group's original aim was simply to collate and preserve the history of the Airfield, but as time went on, it was felt that they could do more.

The HIG therefore set themselves three aims which were (in no particular order):

1) to erect interpretation boards at three sites around the Airfield
2) to have a new history of the Airfield written/published
3) to create a website to make the history of the airfield more widely available

The last of these was achieved first and leading on from this, the HIG were asked if they would give guided walks around the airfield, which in turn lead to being asked to attend events with their displays, which in turn lead to being asked to give talks on the history of the airfield!!!. Little did we all know what we were starting!!

Work on the book is proving more difficult but the three interpretation boards have now been put up.

Designs for RAF Harrowbeer Interpretation Boards
The agreed designs for the display boards and the plinth on which they will stand. ~ (colouring of maps changed slightly)

Anyone wanting further information on the HIG, or who has information on the Airfield they wish to pass on to us, can email via the address on the 'Contacts' page.

The Harrowbeer Interest Group will be attending the events listed below during the coming year. If you would like us to attend an event, give your group or society a talk or guided walk, please get in touch.

Please note:
Guided Walks. Guided walks around the airfield take approximately three hours. The walking is very easy although it can get a bit wet after lots of rain!

Talks: Our talk takes an hour, then following the this, (and after a short break if required) we can show several pieces of wartime film pertaining to RAF Harrowbeer that we have. We bring our own projector and screen and just need a suitable nearby plug. Along with the talk, we usually bring our Harrowbeer Display boards for everyone to see. We can, of course, leave these behind if there isn't space.

Please also bear in mind that most of us work so daytime talks are more difficult for us and may incur a charge. We don't generally charge for walks or talks but donations to the HIG most welcome.

Archive items:
Mike, Lucy & Francis Hayes, who own Knightstone Tea Rooms, have a private archive of items relating to Harrowbeer, the RAF and WWII in general. These are not to be confused with items/photographs, etc., held by other HIG members on behalf of the HIG. Please note too that they organise the "Harrowbeer Weekends" held at the Tea Rooms and all questions about this event should be addressed to them directly.