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
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The agreed designs
for the display boards and the plinth on which they will stand.
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(colouring of maps changed slightly)
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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.
Public
Events Diary for 2010
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Saturday
3rd, Sunday 4th & Monday 5th April (Easter)
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Knightstone
Tea Rooms ~ Harrowbeer Weekend
HIG displays on show
and Guided Airfield Walk during each afternoon @ 1pm
Starting from outside Knightstone Tea Rooms
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Sunday
2nd May (TBC)
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"Devon
Strut" Fly-in at Bolt Head ~ HIG displays on show
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May
Bank Holiday
29th, 30th & 31st May
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Knightstone
Tea Rooms: RAF Harrowbeer Weekend
HIG displays on
show
and Guided Airfield Walk during each afternoon @ 1pm
Starting from outside Knightstone Tea Rooms
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Saturday
12th June
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Buckland
Monachorum June Fair ~ HIG displays on show
Combat
Flight Simulator demonstration! Fly head to head against a friend
to see who is the best fighter pilot.
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Saturday
& Sunday
19th & 20th June
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Knightstone
Tea Rooms: RAF Harrowbeer Weekend
This is the start
of 'Armed Forces' week.
HIG displays on show
and Guided Airfield Walk during each afternoon @ 1pm
Starting from outside Knightstone Tea Rooms
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Plymouth
Air Show (TBC)
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HIG
displays on show
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August
Bank Holiday Weekend
28th, 29th & 30th
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Knightstone
Tea Rooms: RAF Harrowbeer Weekend
HIG
displays on show
and Guided Airfield Walk during each afternoon @ 1pm
Starting from outside Knightstone Tea Rooms
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Saturday/Sunday
in September (TBC)
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Okehampton
Army Camp ~ HIG Displays on show
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