25 Years have passed Options

[Phil_D11102]

25 years ago, LTCol Neveux handed over the "keys" to the base back to the RAF Commander. This ended some 50 years of an American "presence" dating back to the build of the D-Day.

Over the past week the Greenham Trust have been celebrating their 20th anniversary with a series of events in Newbury and on the base.

While the events have been slanted towards those outside the fence, the publicity today still hovers around them. We know that the history of the base occurred inside the fence.

During the week I have heard some very stupid comments from those outside the gates, that while they were non-violence, they weren't non action. The reason why they first started cutting the fences is to let the deer trapped inside the base out.
They also said they were being imaginative when "marking" the vehicles being deployed that were supposedly able to slip into the country side unnoticed. When stated that these actions put lives at danger, there was no answer. When asked about was driving cars into convoys again putting lives at risk, again, no answer.

At another event there was a comment made about it being not true that women sitting down in front of moving vehicles holding babies and children. Again there was not comment even though a photo was put up on the screen showing a mother sat down holding a baby in front of a car.

I think the biggest joke of the week was a speaker who apparently works with the UN nuclear proliferation treaties calling the USAF soldiers, squaddies, and calling the hardened shelters silos. It goes to show that their experts don't know their ***** from a hole in the ground. FYI, I did ask this expert did they know the difference between a missile silo and a shelter, and she said it didn't matter, as it was only a technical term. Nice to know that people don't know the technical terms for the fields they work in.

Lastly, I was to be interviewed on the radio this morning on BBC Radio Berkshire. This has been cancelled due to a water issue in Reading. Again, push to the side.

Anyway, it's been 25 years since we left RAF Greenham Common, and since then the threat to the world has not diminished, as seen as the events since the 11th of Sept 2001.
I missed being stationed at the base, as it was one of my best assignments. I do have the pleasure to still be living in the Newbury area, as it is a great place to live and raise a family.
To my brothers and sisters who have served at RAF Greenham Common over the past 75 years, God Bless you all. We done a great job, and be proud of what we accomplished.