RAF HARROWBEER
YELVERTON
LATEST NEWS!
8th August 2008
We've got our fingers firmly crossed for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, when we will be at Knightstone Tea Rooms with our exhibition, for their 'Harrowbeer Weekend'. Last year we had three days of sunshine, but there's been precious little sunshine this year! Rain, rain and yet more rain and after that...yet more b****y rain!!!! Will it never end!
Still...like I always say...."It's better than nothing!"
If you haven't been on one of our famous guided walks yet, then you've three further opportunities over the weekend. Each afternoon, we will be offering a walk starting at 1.30pm from Knightstone. Just come along on the day and tell us you want to go on the walk. We aren't put of by the weather either, rain or shine...we walk! If it's hot and sunny, put on the sunscreen, if it's wet and windy, put on the waterproofs! Walks last about three hours and it's all easy walking over flat(ish) moorland. Good shoes are recommended as it can get damp at times.
8th July 2008
Once again I've had to change the email address on the website! How much viagra can one old WWII airfield buy! Anyway, it's now info08@ instead.
4th July 2008
On the 12th July we are taking a group on a guided walk around the airfield and we usually find that there are a few spaces available for others to join the walk. If you would like to join us on the 12th, please email us on the usual address and we will send you further details. The walks usually take about three hours.
26th May 2008
Well, the weather Gods were not kind to us this weekend. Despite a week prior to this of fine warm(ish) weather, it all went bad for the Bank Holiday. Saturday was cool and windy, and we weren't able to get our gazebos up with the displays in them. We did try, but it quickly became apparent that they would become hang-gliders in very short time!!! I took six people on the 2pm walk and the weather hadn't improved much by then. Sunday started cold and windy with showers. Definitely no chance of putting the displays up. By the afternoon, the wind had dropped, and Brian took another eight on the walk, and finished in brilliant sunshine, with no wind at all to speak of. In fact it was a glorious sunny evening!!! Monday.......Ha! We would describe it as "blowing a hooley!". Branches were being ripped off trees, horizontal rain...just awful. We welcomed a group from the Widdecombe History Group, who were determined to go on the walk! We split them into three very small groups so we didn't have to shout over the wind too much, and set off into the wind and rain. To be fair, it did ease off rain-wise as we went round, and....at one point, I was bathed in warm sunshine for about 20 seconds! In fact the whole weekend can be summed up with, "Tch! Typical Harrowbeer weather again!".
12th April 2008
The HIG
displays will be in Buckland Monachorum Village Hall on Saturday
17th May, at the Hall's Coffee Morning which runs from 10am to Noon.
We will also have our WWII Flight Simulator running for any budding pilots
to try!
We are also gearing up for the "Harrowbeer Weekend" organised
by Mike, Lucy & Francis Hayes, at Knightstone Tea Rooms, over the
late May Bank Holiday Weekend (24th, 25th & 26th). We will
have our display stands there plus our collection of related artefacts.
HIG members will be on hand to answer questions or to hear anecdotes of
Harrowbeer.
Guided Walk: On each of the three days, we will be offering our 'famous' guided walk around the airfield. If you haven't been on this yet....why not!? It's FREE and takes about three hours, but we don't mind if you drop out half-way round. No need to book, just turn up.
14th March 2008
Just a brief note to say the Harrowbeer Interest Group will be at the Knightstone Harrowbeer Weekend over the Easter Holiday. As usual, we will have our displays and artefacts, plus once again offrering our famous guided walk around the airfield at 2pm on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons.
Follow up:
Well the weather wasn't too kind over the weekend. Twelve hardy souls braved the snow flurries on Saturday, but only three (two of whom are HIG members!) braved the hail showers on Sunday! Monday was a little better..eventually, (but we did manage to get the displays erected at least! Sat/Sun had just been too windy) and another sixteen people enjoyed a tour with us.
Our next guided walks will be at the next Knightstone 'Harrowbeer Weekend' at the end of May.
28th February 2008
It was with great sadness that the HIG learnt of the death of Frank Mares, on the 10th February, following a short illness. Frank, from Czecholslovakia, was a pilot with 312 Squadron and was the first Czech pilot to be awarded a DFM. He lived locally and was a terrific character, as all those who met him will testify. Our condolences to Gwen and the Family.
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Frank at Duxford in 2007, signing copies of his biography, "Mission Accomplished" |
26th January 2008
DNPA Rangers
are organising a further scrub clearance attended, they hope, by Radio
Devon.
Volunteers to meet at the aircraft bay down near the Leg O' Mutton &
Children's playground end of the taxi way. In fact where the last scrub
clearance ended in December. Turn up anytime between 1000 - 1400. Last
time we finished at about 1500.
21st January 2008
The HIG gave its first talk of the year, when we went to Yelverton War Memorial Hall to talk to the Yelverton Ladies Open Group. They all enjoyed the evening and we got some useful feedback too!
10th December 2007
The HIG can now offer you the opportunity to buy a Harrowbeer postcard or an A4 framed print of the graphic created for our interpretation boards. Postcards are available from: Knightstone Tea Rooms, Leg O' Mutton Corner Shop, Yelverton Stores, Leg O' Mutton Pub and Horrabridge Post Office and Tavistock Information Centre. The A4 Framed Print is available from Leg O' Mutton Corner Shop.
If you live a long way away (America? Australia? Canada?) and aren't able to get to any of the above, please let me know and we'll see what we can do. It's the usual email address.
10th December 2007
The DNPA organised a working party to tackle some of the gorse and scrub growing on and around the dispersal bays today. It was pleasing to see about 30+ volunteers getting stuck into a major clearance operation! I didn't take any photos but I have been promised some! [Stephen Fryer]
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Volunteers from several groups tackling the gorse and shrubs that have grown up on the dispesal bays. Another session of this is planned for February 23rd. Photograph
from DNPA: |
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11th November 2007
The Harrowbeer Interest Group laid a wreath at the Rememberance Service at Crapstone War Memorial on Sunday 11th November at 11am in memory of all those who lost their lives whilst serving at RAF Harrowbeer.
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Sunday 11th November 2007 Just before 11am and a photo of the people gathered to pay their respects at the Rememberance Service. The service, organised by the Parish Council, has been getting larger each year recently and over one hundred people attended today. |
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I was proud
to lay the Harrowbeer Interest Group wreath in memory of all those
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The Crapstone War Memorial is situated at the South-Western end of the airfield, on the road from Yelverton to Buckland Monachorum/Milton Combe.
13th October 2007
We have received planning permission for our third interpretation board! This will be placed near the 'armoury' in due course.
We are continuing with our 'walks & talks' during the Autumn and New Year. There are two walks we are doing for a local history group on Saturday 20th & 27th October, on which we will have spaces for others. If you would like to join us please drop us an email for further details. (we can't publish start time etc as we only have limited spaces)
We are also doing talks for private groups, but have no public talks planned. Please get in touch if you would like us to visit your group or club.
27th August 2007
We've just had three glorious warm sunny days for our final outing of the year with the Harrowbeer displays at Knightstone. Highlight of the weekend with out any doubt was meeting Judy Goldup on Sunday, who's Father was a member of the "Fellowship of the Bellows of Brazil"! Take a look at the Bellows of Brazil page for the details.
Our new feather banners look terrific and are very eye-catching!
Our next event will be the Military Weekend at Okehampton Army Camp, over the weekend of 8th/9th September.
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Our new feather banners
fluttering in the breeze outside Knightstone during the |
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Guided Walks! We offered a free guided walk around the airfield on each of the three days. On Saturday, it was bakingly hot (definitely not 'Harrowbeer Weather'!) and only 6 people started the walk and had to give up after an hour because of the heat! We took twenty plus people out on the Sunday and as you can see here, over thirty on the Monday! |
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2nd August 2007 (with 19th Aug update)
First...the spammers have been at it again! The info06 email was being bombarded with pointless viagra adverts and has had to be switched off. I will now use info07...until that starts getting hit!
The HIG are gearing up for our next big event, the "RAF Harrowbeer Weekend" at Knightstone Tea Rooms, over the August Bank Holiday Weekend (25th, 26th & 27th). We will have our display stands there plus our collection of related artefacts. HIG members will be on hand to answer questions or to hear anecdotes of Harrowbeer. We have also purchased some smashhing 'feather banners' to draw attention to ourselves! So you can't miss us now.
Guided Walk: On each of the three days, we will be offering our 'famous' guided walk around the airfield. If you haven't been on this yet....why not!? It's FREE and takes about three hours, but we don't mind if you drop out half-way round. This is the last opportunity this year so don't miss it! No need to book, just turn up. Early indications are that the weather will be dry on the Saturday at least!
There will be lots of other attractions on show at Knightstone over the weekend. Their [Knightstone Tea Rooms] private archive will be on view, together with a replica Spitfire Cockpit and other Spitfire bits and pieces, (courtesy of the South West Historical Aircraft Group) also there will be Military Vehicles, Model Aircraft, plus (all being well) a Spitfire Flight Simulator! There is no charge for entrance although donations to any of the attending groups are always welcome.
29th June 2007
My Wife and I have been away for a short break and during this, we took the opportunity to visit a few airfields during our travels! One of these was Aston Down Airfield near Stroud. We'd just like to say "thank you" to Pat, Richard, and also John Muir, who showed us round and answered our questions. I'll try and add some of the photos I took at the next big update.
In the meantime; we are going to be at three events during July. I am giving a talk at Milton Combe Village Hall on the 9th July in the evening about RAF Harrowbeer. It's open to everyone and the Harrowbeer displays will be there if we can squeeze them in! Then, we are taking the displays to the Eddystone Model Flying Club 'Open Day' on Sunday 15th July, at Little Lane, Staddiscombe. Full details about this event and the model club on: http://www.emfc.rcfun.co.uk/ [This event was cancelled due to bad weather] Finally, we are giving a guided walk around the airfield on the evening of the 17th July for the Yelverton History Society. More details on this last event to follow.
15th June 2007
We will be at Knightstone Tea Rooms next weekend, 16th/17th June for another 'Harrowbeer Open Day' (which is what the Spitfire Weekends have been renamed). On the Saturday & Sunday afternoons, we will be offering another opportunity to go on a guided walk of the airfield. Starting at 2pm from Knightstone, the walk will take about 2 - 2 1/2 hours. No need to book, just turn up in plenty of time.
25th May 2007:
The Spitfire Society (Registered Charity; 2999033) have asked me to point out that group who have visited Knightstone in the past are called the Spitfire Society - South West Region. I am happy to make this clear. I have thus changed all references accordingly. Stephen Fryer
Quote from the Spitfire Society:
"The
Spitfire Society held their AGM at RAF.Hendon, London on 21st April 2007 not
the Knightstone Restaurant, as reported. The South West region is only part
of a world-wide organisation which covers an area of Somerset/ Cornwall/Dorset/Avon
and has been a successful group under the elected chairman Dave Dorey.
It is incorrect to assume the title South West Spitfire Society, the correct
heading is The Spitfire Society - South West Region. Events for this region
have been held at Knightstone, but it is only one of many other locations
and Knightstone Tea Rooms & Restaurant is not endorsed by The Spitfire
Society.
At no time has their been consultation with the Society's Executive Committee
and The Spitfire Society has not authorised the promotion or advertisement
of Knightstone Tea Rooms & Restaurant, which breaches the rules of our
Constitution."
Also, Please Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Spitfire Society - South West Region will NOT be attending any of the weekends at Knightstone previously advertised.
The weather for the Bank Holiday weekend looks very poor for Sunday & Monday. We will not be able to put up our displays if there are strong winds.
20th May 2007 "Spitfire Weekend" at Knigtstone Tea Rooms, Yelverton
We will be at Knightstone Tea Rooms over the Bank Holiday Weeekend (26th, 27th & 28th May) with our displays. We will also be offering a guided walk around the Airfield at 2pm on each of the three days. The walk lasts about 2 hours and takes in most aspects of the Airfield's life.
Also at Knightstone will be artefacts, memorabilia and a replica Spitfire Cockpit. Also expected over the three days are a varied selection of visiting WWII vehicles.
8th May 2007
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Interpretation
Boards formally unveiled!
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It was typical
Harrowbeer weather for the formal unveiling of our Left to right:
George Finegan; Richard Vavrecka; Stephen Fryer; |
On Tuesday evening (8th May) the Interpretation Boards on former RAF Harrowbeer were unveiled by Mrs Pam Fendall, the widow of the founder of RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group, and three WWll veterans: Frank Mares DFM, Richard Vavrecka and George Finegan - combined age 268 years! All three who served together at Harrowbeer in 1942.
In spite of the wet and misty evening the unveiling was attended by about 80 supporters from schools, parishes, tourist organisations and by many individuals - all of whom had supported this community project to install Interpretation Boards on the former airfield site. The occasion was given a military flavour by the attendance of a Flight from 2312 (Tavistock) Squadron Air Training Corps, Officer Commanding Flight Lieutenant Phil Newcombe; and by former Royal Marine bugler, Tony Holder of Princetown.
After a short speech of welcome by Stephen Fryer, Pam Fendal & Frank Mares DFM unveiled the board at Leg O' Mutton and, after moving to the other side of the airfield, George Finegan and Richard Vavrecka unveiled the board near the Rock. There was a reception in Knightstone Tea Rooms (the original Control Tower for RAF Harrowbeer) afterwards, during which guests were able to view the RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group displays, together with artefacts, etc., held at Knightstone by Michael, Lucy and Francis Hayes.
Those conducting the unveiling
were:
Pam Fendall. Widow of the founder of Harrowbeer Interest Group - the
late Norman Fendall of Clearbrook. RAF Harrowbeer enthusiast and long time
friend of Frank Mares. They met because of Norman's interest in RAF Harrowbeer.
Frank Mares. Czechoslovakian former RAF pilot who was based at and
flew with 312 Czech Sqdn from RAF Harrowbeer in 1942. Frank now lives at Sampford
Spiney and aged 87
Richard Vavrecka: served with 312 RAF (Czech) Sqdn throughout most
of war as a parachute packer and 'off duty' tailor at RAF Harrowbeer at same
time as Frank Mares. After the War Richard taught tailoring at Plymouth Polytechnic.
Now lives at Roborough and aged 96
George Finegan: was a Rifleman with the Royal Ulster Rifles who were
tasked with providing RAF Harrowbeer airfield Defence and Security from Sept
1941-December 1942. Now lives in Tavistock and aged about 85.
(Interestingly Frank Mares, Richard
Vavrecka and George Finegan time at Harrowbeer overlapped in 1942. Frank and
Richard served together again in 1944 at RAF North Weald, north-east of London.)
19th April 2007
And now the second is up!
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On the left, our second
interpretation board with |
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18th April 2007
The first of our new interpretation boards has been erected!
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This is by the Leg O' Mutton car park, a short distance from the memorial stone (middle picture).
10th April 2007
Our new Interpretation boards will be installed in the next few weeks! We will then hold an official unveling ceremony in early May. Further details in due course.
The Spitfire Society - South West Region are holding their AGM at Knightstone Restaurant on the 21st/22nd April. The HIG will be there with our displays and we will also be offering guided walks at various times during the weekend. This will depend on demand! We haven't any times in mind yet but if you would like to join one of the walks please get in touch...or just turn up!
2nd February 2007
The HIG are attending a number of local events over the coming months. However, during February, I will be giving a talk on RAF Harrowbeer to the members of the Tavistock History Society at the Tavistock Parish Hall on the 13th February, and then, on the 23rd February, the same talk will be given at Buckland Monachorum Village Hall, to which everyone is welcome. Start time for both talks is 7.30pm.
HIG member David Keeling is giving a talk to the Old Plymouth Society at Mutley Baptist Hall, in Plymouth on the 16th February and to the Yelverton History Society on the 20th February at Meavy Village Hall. The latter talk is more to do with 'old Yelverton' though.
Sometime in April, we hope to be able to officially unveil the new interpretation boards! More on this in due course.
The Spitfire Society - South West Region are holding their AGM at Knightstone Restaurant on the 21st/22nd April. We plan to offer guided walks at sometime during the weekend. More in due course.
Stephen Fryer
23rd January 2007 (copy of Press Release)
RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group wins funding for Interpretation Boards on former RAF Harrowbeer Airfield at Yelverton
Ever wondered what went on at RAF Harrowbeer and what it looked like?
Well, soon, visitors to the former site of RAF Harrowbeer at Yelverton on Roborough Down will see Interpretation Boards informing them of what they are seeing now and what 60 years ago was there when, between 1941 and 1946, it was an active WWll airfield. Thanks to Lottery 'Awards for All', West Devon Borough Council Community Fund, Dartmoor National Park, Buckland Monachorum Parish Council, WestDen Community Chest and individuals, enough funds have been raised by the RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group to provide three Interpretation Boards at key locations around the former WWll aerodrome. The Lottery provided £5000, WDBC £3174, The Dartmoor Trust £500, BMPC £200 and WestDen's 'Communities in Action' £150. In addition we had very good moral support from local primary schools, parish councils, tourist organisations as well as Dartmoor National Park and Maristow Estate.
RAF Harrowbeer was built in 1940 and was operational between 1941 and 1946. Flying from Harrowbeer were many types of planes and nationalities - British, Canadians, Americans, French, Czech and Polish - mostly RAF Squadrons but also Fleet Air Arm and US Navy. The airfield existed virtually intact fo