The Epilogue – Part Two
According to the dictionary, an epilogue is a short chapter or section at the end of a literary work, sometimes detailing the fate of its characters. As it can be clearly argued that the history of RAF Driffield is still being written, so is this epilogue. The fight goes on. Accordingly, one benefit of printing on demand (POD) or electronic publishing is the ability to continually amend and update.
It’s been nearly six months since I wrote this book. I even made a grand total of £6 in contributions, via PayPal. In that time, I have also witnessed both a renaissance and a recent, sharp downturn in my fortunes. I feel elated that I have achieved so much in such a short space of time, yet feel compelled to scream, or worse. I have good days and bad. One minute I feel fortuitously blessed, and the next cursed. And RAF Driffield?
In early 2008, Strawsons Property announced plans to build 500 houses on the site. They confirmed that most of the buildings would be demolished, though the officer’s mess and married quarters might be retained. In their scheme of things, the accommodation blocks and technical site will be removed. The various planning guidelines that I was assured would prevent high-volume house building might have been bypassed. Local councillors are nonplussed or have taken a back seat. The local populace are apathetic or preoccupied as ever, while the site has become a target for thieves and vandals. And there is me, in my darkened corner, trying to be heard – fighting the good fight.
In January, I wrote the first of this year’s crop of letters to the Driffield Times:
Dear Editor
Like many who read the Driffield Times, I was rather taken aback by proposals to build 500 new houses on the former RAF camp. As some of your readers may be aware, my desire is to see the historic site retained, while providing new opportunities in residential, social and economic redevelopment.
I write again to express my concerns over the future of RAF Driffield. Through your newspaper, I would also like to remind those council officials, who are meeting Strawsons Property, that current planning guidelines, which they themselves drew up, prohibit the building of 500 houses on the site in the first place.
As with all planning authorities, there exists within the county a series of complex guidelines that largely dictate what can be built and where. Talking to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in 2004, it was clear that building hundreds of houses on the site wasn't going to be allowed under any circumstance. It was also made clear to me that both current and future guidelines, then being drawn up, prohibit the building of a large volume of houses in the general locale, and that such large developments would be consigned to the Hull area.
The Local Plan identifies Alamein Barracks as an exceptional opportunity and sets out a series of policies, to 'assist in enabling development to come forward in a comprehensive and co-ordinated manner'. It states there are major constraints to development of the entire site as a single comprehensive scheme, such as housing. It also 'allows for the conversion of barrack blocks for residential or office use', and 'the reuse of existing housing along Lumsden Close'. The 'conversion of the former Officer's Mess for reuse as tourist accommodation, public house, private club or a medical care facility' is also allowed.
The former RAF camp also falls within the Northern Sub Region of the Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) for Hull and the East Riding. Accordingly, the site is classed as an area of restraint. Driffield is categorised as a town, where new housing and employment development, to meet essentially local needs, is to be concentrated. Even then, only limited new (housing) allocations are likely to be required during the plan period to 2026. Note that there is a huge divide between local needs and aspirations, against the greed of high-volume house-builders.
Both the Local Plan and the Joint Strategic Plan both prohibit the building of houses on the site in large numbers. While the planning authorities are open to mixed use of the site, Strawsons are deluded if they think that 500-plus houses and a few shops construed mixed use. Talking to the ERYC, they consider mixed use to include industry and leisure. While it goes without saying that good public transport access and appropriate amenities are a necessity, these also do not construe mixed-use.
What surprises me is the matter-of-fact way in which some local councillors have always pointed towards the inevitability that the site would end up as one giant housing estate, despite their own powers to block such a proposal using the aforementioned guidelines, that prohibit such a development in the first place.
So, what do I propose?
Well, I would retain the 68 married quarters. I am thrilled at the prospect of 68 local families being able to buy their first home. I would also convert the eight accommodation blocks into 48 spacious apartments, and I would also build around 120 additional new houses. There is also space for a private swimming pool (used by local schools and the Army Cadet Force), self-storage centre, tennis courts, squash court, football/rugby pitch, shops, school (if required), and several new business units.
In my scheme of things, some of the technical buildings would have to go – replaced with industrial units, but most of the key, historical buildings would be retained. These concrete buildings are few in number, yet according to experts in the field of concrete preservation, they can be saved.
Phillip Rhodes
This was met with the usual silence, which only added to my anxiety. Yet, my fortunes were very different leading up to Christmas. Let me explain…
In May 2007, I underwent weight loss surgery (current weight: 16st 3lb). It worked, but only now do I fully understand and appreciate the benefits. It must be said, that going under the knife wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one that I now don’t regret. Yes, I knew that I would be healthier, slimmer and more agile, but the heightened level of motivation is astounding. Although subtle and gradual, the change has become more noticeable. I first noticed it when I wrote this book. There was no procrastinating, I just wrote a ruddy book.
I also decided to have another bash at self-employment.
In the UK, if you have been unemployed and in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance (welfare) for more than 18 months, you are automatically signed onto New Deal, an intensive programme to get you back into work. Wanting to start another business, I volunteered to go onto New Deal (self-employment option), this sooner, rather than later. Following an initial interview and intensive business course lasting weeks, in January, I put theory into practice, starting 26 weeks of test trading. During this period, you still receive your benefits, plus a small allowance.
Figuring out exactly what to do was both plagued with misfortune and blessed minor miracles. In the end, I decided to resurrect my aviation postcard and print business.
Back in February 2002, I commissioned UK digital artist Pete West to create a series of 13in long profiles of the famous North American P51D Mustang. Sadly, half way through the project, Pete announced that he was emigrating to New Zealand. Just before leaving, he posted me a CD containing his unfinished work. Recently I rediscovered this CD, thought lost, and accordingly, I decided to complete the project, thus creating a set of colourful 12in x 16in prints, suitable for framing.
The premise was simple; the work had been paid for and completing the project (selling prints) would be an opportunity to pay off some of my debts and finance other projects. While Pete created the profiles, I had loads of fun recreating the individual unit badges, which were quite therapeutic to replicate, working until the early hours, lying in bed, working from a laptop. The badges were sourced from the internet, then enlarged and carefully redrawn in PhotoShop.
I originally selected the aircraft from several dozen profiles already created by Pete. Originally created to illustrated books and magazines, these works of art were enlarged, and then detail carefully added to create a superb set of prints – each depicting an aircraft that flew with the Eight Air Force, from England circa 1944/45.
The whole project was advanced by a series of both minor and abstract miracles. Firstly, Pete’s original CD wouldn’t read on any computer. Luckily, I also discovered a back-up CD. Its presence was unexplainable. I guess the premise is simple: Don’t forget that you’ve backed-up!
Then my cash-card inexplicably snapped in two. Don’t know how. Don’t know when, but the replacement chip ‘n’ pin Maestro card meant I was able to order materials online.
While spending Christmas with mum, I bought a photographic magazine – an impulse buy. Inside was an advert for a Manchester based digital photo lab. I was able to upload my prints online, pay for them online and they would be delivered by post the following morning. Expertly printed onto Fuji Film Professional photographic paper, the name of the company is DS Colour labs, and the quality is superb.
After several test prints and numerous amendments, I finally ended up with a perfect set of P51D Mustang prints. With my new Maestro card I was able to buy a domain name and secure hosting for my website: www.avprints.co.uk. With each upward turn in my fortune, I became more confident and more motivated. There was nothing stopping me from making a success of it. But there, in the back of my mind and three miles south-west of Driffield was that long-standing quandary.
With the plight of former RAF Driffield always present, albeit usually just below the surface, thoughts drifted towards achieving a longstanding objective – the creation of that much needed concept plan – my vision of an aerodrome preserved through sympathetic redevelopment.
One Sunday night, I inexplicably found myself searching for a map of the camp. Buried in a PDF sales brochure, I discovered a low-resolution map of the entire site. With my new-found graphic abilities, I managed to extract this map, and started to trace around the roads in PhotoShop. Then I added a few layers, each dedicated to a series of buildings.
I started work around midnight. By 9am that morning, I was well satisfied with my endeavours. The following night, I created a customised paint brush – a simple plan view of a tree, which was then dabbed across the site. I added new structures, namely houses and business units (see page 153). In my scheme of things, some of the concrete buildings would be replaced with more viable structures (in blue). Three night shifts later and the work was done. And it didn’t cost me a single penny.
I emailed the 12in x 18in plan directly to Strawsons Property and several council officials. The response was predicable. After all that frustration and then elation at achieving something physical – something tangible, feedback wasn’t forthcoming, just a nonplus acknowledgement from Adrian Sail (Strawsons Property).
A few weeks later and I telephoned Adrian. He confirmed plans to build 500 new houses – news of which was first reported in the Driffield Times. While the timescale can be measured in years, it’s likely that the site will be cleared sooner, rather than later, in one, single phase. This happened at former RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire.
Adrian also confirmed that they are still in talks with the MoD over relocating the ACF. It appears that any decision as to the fate of the Cadet Training Centre at Driffield will be made by the higher echelons of the ACF and Defence Estates. Local pride in former RAF Driffield, and concerns about the historic buildings contained within, will not be taken into consideration. Rumour has it that the army cadets will move 200 metres to the west of the guardroom. It appears that they will occupy the site on, or near, the MT vehicle sheds and engineering block, which will be demolished – thus reducing the opportunity to develop this part of the site for industry.
In recent years, the ACF have invested wisely in Driffield, and it shows. The buildings are well maintained, as are the grounds. In February 2008, I showed a couple of researchers around former RAF Driffield. They, like me, were extremely impressed with the ACF enclave, and at the level of preservation. We agreed that for the ACF to relinquish the site would be catastrophic.
Despite the lack of interest shown in preserving the camp, it appears that the continued military presence at Driffield is appreciated. Accordingly, most individuals living locally are prepared to see the camp disappear under hundreds of houses, knowing that the enclave will remain – acting as a reminder to RAF Driffield’s historical past. Yet, if the enclave and Army Cadet Force disappear then everything that has gone before; the bravery, dedication and hard work of both airmen and soldier will have been betrayed.
I’m now very sceptical of Strawsons’ true intentions and sincerity. It appears that they do not have any respect for the site or its history. They have owned most of the camp for nearly a year now. In that time, the site, which I was assured would be guarded, has been targeted by thieves and vandals. I was led to believe that security would be improved. Yet, the officer’s mess and a number of other buildings (visible from the main road) appear to have been broken into, with doors smashed open. Several buildings have had their cast iron drain pipes removed (valuable reclamation), while internal wiring has probably been taken (valuable scrap).
While I understand their intention is to clear most of the site, to be less than proactive in preventing such wanton damage only shows Strawsons in a bad light. I understand that they do not have any onsite security guards, while the fence appears have been breached. When I visited the site in February, I felt bereft and angry. No respect. That’s what angers me the most. All that vibrant history, declared valueless by English Heritage, and now being exploited by thieves. And this is just the start.
I only wish the local inhabitants took more interest in this significant issue. Yet their apathy is only matched by the appallingly bad manners shown by some local councillors and business leaders, who still can’t even be bothered to acknowledge my correspondence. I again wrote to both councillors and council planning officials, outlining my concerns and aspirations for the site. Nothing.
In February, I decided to write to an Australian newspaper – every Australian newspaper in fact – around 500 titles, which is still an ongoing process:
Dear Editor
Thousands of kilometres away in Great Britain, part of Australia’s heritage is under threat.
During the Second World War, RAF Driffield, a military air base in the East Riding of Yorkshire, became home to No.466 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. Also based at Driffield was No.462 Squadron, RAAF.
As everyone knows, the Royal Australian Air Force has a proud and distinguished history. That said, I have always felt that its contribution in Bomber Command, and in the defeat of Nazi Germany, has always been overshadowed by the war in the Pacific.
From 1944, Driffield became home to the Halifax bomber, a four-engined aircraft flown by Australian crews. They served with honour and their courage is not in doubt. Now what remains of this historic air base, from where they flew, is under threat.
RAF Driffield remained a military base until 1996, when the camp finally closed. In 2007, the barrack blocks, married quarters and workshops were bought by Strawsons Property. Despite the rich and diverse history of RAF Driffield, this property developer is planning to clear the site, to make way for around 500 new houses. Although current planning guidelines prohibit such redevelopment, most observers predict such drastic change is inevitable.
I am trying to convince local planning officials that this historic airfield can be preserved, while providing new opportunities in residential, social and economic redevelopment. Most of the wartime buildings survive, and their preservation, through sympathetic redevelopment, maybe the only opportunity we have to preserve such an important aerodrome.
I would like to appeal to your readers, both young and old, to write in support of RAF Driffield, not only through this newspaper, but also through Driffield’s own newspaper, The Driffield Times.
Perhaps you have a relative who served at Driffield during the war, or maybe you have a keen interest in the history of the Royal Australian Air Force? I need the support of Australians of all ages, especially those, who 60 years ago, once called Driffield their home.
My aim is to present the developers and local planning officials with a collection of emails and letters, provided by your readers, which support my endeavours. The more support, the better RAF Driffield’s chances of survival.
The local War Memorial dedicated to the RAAF in Driffield is well maintained and the sacrifice made your compatriots is still in the minds of many, even after all these years.
Australia, please help save RAF Driffield.
Best Wishes
Phillip Rhodes
Dozens of newspapers published and continue to publish my letter, and many Australians wrote to me or the Driffield Times, including Tony Ryan from the town of Wingham in New South Wales.
He wrote: “I am a 67-year-old former member of the Royal Australian Air Force and current honorary secretary of the Old Bar Heritage Airstrip Management Committee. I recently read a letter from a member of your community, Mr Philip Rhodes, published in the Dubbo Liberal, with great interest. The writer sought support, from Australians in his endeavour to preserve the former RAF station in Driffield.
“Members of my family served with the RAAF in the UK during WWII, one operating Halifax and later Lancaster bombers and being awarded the DFC. I have great sympathy for the writer seeking support. I wish to implore your local community to do all in their power to preserve the memory of those who have served to make the UK a place in which people may live in a democratic society. Often we are all too eager to destroy historic sites in the name of so-called progress.”
This very much mirrors the sentiments of Andrew Macdonald, of Brisbane in Queensland, who wrote: “I was very lucky to have lived in the United Kingdom for a substantial part of my life and a significant part, too. Sadly, for one reason or another, I was obliged to move overseas. That said, I still think of the UK as my home and will continue to do so for the remainder of my life.
“I am not overly patriotic, but having been brought up with a strong sense of pride and responsibility by my parents, I understand the significance our cultural and historical presence here presently, and in the past.
“We have a rich and colourful history. There is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world. More than 60 years ago, our country (the United Kingdom) took part in the greatest war in human history. Part of it occurred on our homeland and if you look closely, there are still faint signs across the countryside. Sadly these physical signs of World War Two, like the people that built and occupied them, are fast disappearing.
“Military airfields were once dotted across the landscape like spots on a Dalmatian. They were utilitarian and served a specific purpose, which they did for a short but illustrious period of time. They were not particularly attractive to many eyes and I suspect that is perhaps one of the many reasons for their demise and their exclusion from proper preservation.
“I know, given the current economic environment and lack of housing, how increasingly difficult it is to preserve wartime aerodromes. There are many and some are in a dreadful state of preservation. But we have already lost the large majority of them through urbanisation, and we look set to loose many more in the coming years as defence cuts are made.
“I support attempts to preserve RAF Driffield in at least some practical and methodical capacity. I understand its significance to our present and future generations.
“Surely, we can use these buildings in some way that enables people to occupy and work from them without their loss? Very soon indeed, we will lose our lifeline to the men and women of the Second World War. When their voices are gone, all we will have left are the tangible reminders of that epic time in our history. If the airfields are demolished, we will lose that unique connection with our past and the very reasons for our prosperity and freedom.”
For RAF Driffield, an aerodrome that has survived for over 70 years, the end appears to be near. My old friend, I feel so bloody helpless, knowing that I can do no more, other than go through the motions of exercising one’s rights to make a noise. I don’t know how I’m going to cope, as it wont be a quick and painless death. Not only has the establishment failed RAF Driffield, but it is also impossible to be heard. How do you make people take note and how do you fight against greed and systematic bollocks (technical term used in times of frustration)?
Thing is, it matters not if you label English Heritage a bunch of rude expletives or chastise those responsible for the demise of RAF Driffield, as they clearly hold the high ground. Not the moral high ground, but that strategically defended by status and clout (both financial and legal). And if you do shout and scream too loudly, the well oiled wheels of political and departmental spin will inevitably paper over the cracks.
But is it all doom and gloom for RAF Driffield? The hangars are technically safe. All four have now been leased, with Caledonian Building Systems taking on three hangars only recently. They plan to create 200 new jobs, and that can only be a good thing. Work starts within weeks to refurbish the structures, but what that entails is open to debate. And if Strawsons Property are sincere in their plans to retain the officer’s mess and married quarters, then that can also be seen as a consolation. That only leaves the technical site and the accommodation blocks. Now if only I can find a sympathetic developer to take on a challenge…?
Back to Business
For three, magical months I worked around the clock. To follow up my P51D Mustang prints, I created “Spitfires Ascending”, a 16in x 20in print, depicting three iconic fighters breaking through cloud. While creating the prints has been fun, marketing is the key to success, and so far I have failed abysmally. Build a website, and they will come and buy. We all know it doesn’t work like that, but when you are transfixed with your newfound abilities and motivation, all sense of reasoning go out the window. The real problem was that I was forced to start test trading before I was ready. Marketing my prints has been sporadic – patchy. Three months in and not a single sale.
I’m blessed to have achieved so much, but the real problem is one of credibility. The internet is a vast chasm, filled with scam artists and wannabe entrepreneurs. Attracting customers has proved difficult. And with no spare cash, paid advertising is beyond my means. Not sure what the future holds? But I’ll be damned if I’m giving up. I’ve learnt from my mistakes. Rule number one in business: be proud of your products and services. I delight in what I’ve achieved, with the generous help of others, notably Pete West.
So that leaves just RAF Driffield to contend with, and more bittersweet prose.
No doubt the landscape of RAF Driffield will change. That was always going to be inevitable – even with my own plan for the site. That said, what Strawsons Property propose is fascistic, unnecessary and it will corrupt. Money always does. I can both preserve RAF Driffield and make a profit. The problem is that greed dictates that the more houses that are built, irrespective of local needs and aspirations, the more money Strawsons Property will make. I’m alright Jack, and so are my shareholders and investors.
The real tragedy is that we – sorry, not we – I’ve done my bit. No, the real tragedy is that English Heritage and all those faceless minions, in local and central government, won’t learn from the mistakes made at Driffield. English Heritage are impervious to the fate of RAF Driffield, which was partially of their making. We looked to them for help. Not only me, but my band of brothers – those concerned about that innocuous aerodrome structure, or that Edwardian building, we pass on the way to work each morning.
My fight is much about the discarded. Every high street or village or industrial landscape has a structure that we adore, but which doesn’t tick all the right boxes. The unlistable. Yet, when they are gone, they will be missed, probably more than those ‘icons’ of statutory protection. With the government’s current obsession with eco-towns, an increasing number of historical and fairly complete airfields are under threat.
I recently revisited RAF Driffield with two researchers. We explored not only the site, but also the general locale. We confirmed the existence of a concrete pillbox, that overlooks the airfield. We also visited former RAF Hutton Cranswick. It was here that we discovered another defensive structure – a battle headquarters. This was an underground bunker, designed to direct airfield defences against invading forces. This structure isn’t statutory protected, and its survival is down to the goodwill of the owner. Despite being nearly 70 years old, this mundane structure is in excellent condition.
Yet, under current guidelines, it is unlikely that it would qualify for listed status. How long it survives is down to the family who owns the land and their future prospects. Farmers retire and farms are sold. One day, the luck will run out for this structure. It is important to understand this – preserving any structure isn’t about today or tomorrow. It’s about viewing the distant past from the perspective of future generations. How will we look upon the past – the history of the 20th Century – through the eyes of those living 100 years from now?
I’d like to think we can do more - to ensure that what little remains today survives beyond tomorrow.
Close your eyes…
I often sense the past. I can feel that time and that place – albeit for a fleeting moment. That notion that you’re ‘back home’ comes without warning and is separate from remembering RAF Driffield or my childhood, which takes effort. Sensing or remembering the past is both a curse and a blessing. Collecting conkers, or making that 1/72nd scale Airfix model of an Avro Anson, or just being there. The weather. That summer. The sense of personal nostalgia is palpable. I feel it – those memories that transport me back to a particular event or moment in time, both small and sometimes very insignificant.
I knew RAF Driffield during its final years of completeness – before the control tower was demolished, and the runways were removed. Yet, only recently have I come to terms with the realisation that actually, I rarely ventured onto the airfield during the 1970s. Looking back and analysing my childhood experiences, I probably explored the airfield no more than maybe a dozen times during the five years the family lived on camp.
I remember not only the events, but also the weather and the dimensions involved. Airfields are not flat expanses of grass and concrete. They are three dimensional, more so in their later years of abandonment. At ground level, you have the breadth of the concrete runways, then the knee-high grass and the myriad of small structures – which have all gone now. Then as you look up, you see the high-vaulted sky in a myriad of emotions. It could be winter and the darkening skies would propel you homeward bound. The stinging rain would soak into your clothes, and the pain of defeat would quicken your step.
The warmth of the setting sun, in late spring or early summer would calm your resolve, keeping you out until well past bed time. That day. That evening. I remember standing near Hangar Four, looking across the airfield. The warm colours cast by the setting sun on the hangars, control tower and long grass, brought with them a sense of majesty. Compare that moment to now, and as Spike Milligan once wrote: “Oh, yesterday leave me alone”. It’s dangerous to become too addicted to one’s memories – they rarely resolve present predicaments or difficulties. Subsequently, dreaming about the good old days can sometimes make things worse, but they are necessary. I think?
That said, although I was only seven or eight, the majesty of that moment has stayed with me all my days. I am not a poet. Love or passion don’t come easily to me either. But that moment was pure magic. Those days, never bettered, have driven me to both enlightenment and despair. I am both a better person because of RAF Driffield, and I am also a broken man. That day, and that moment, I caught a ray of glowing nostalgia and appreciation for an aerodrome in its final years.
Minutes later, I was caught by one of the RAF guards and frog-marched back to the guardroom. As is life.
According to the dictionary, an epilogue is a short chapter or section at the end of a literary work, sometimes detailing the fate of its characters. As it can be clearly argued that the history of RAF Driffield is still being written, so is this epilogue. The fight goes on. Accordingly, one benefit of printing on demand (POD) or electronic publishing is the ability to continually amend and update.
It’s been nearly six months since I wrote this book. I even made a grand total of £6 in contributions, via PayPal. In that time, I have also witnessed both a renaissance and a recent, sharp downturn in my fortunes. I feel elated that I have achieved so much in such a short space of time, yet feel compelled to scream, or worse. I have good days and bad. One minute I feel fortuitously blessed, and the next cursed. And RAF Driffield?
In early 2008, Strawsons Property announced plans to build 500 houses on the site. They confirmed that most of the buildings would be demolished, though the officer’s mess and married quarters might be retained. In their scheme of things, the accommodation blocks and technical site will be removed. The various planning guidelines that I was assured would prevent high-volume house building might have been bypassed. Local councillors are nonplussed or have taken a back seat. The local populace are apathetic or preoccupied as ever, while the site has become a target for thieves and vandals. And there is me, in my darkened corner, trying to be heard – fighting the good fight.
In January, I wrote the first of this year’s crop of letters to the Driffield Times:
Dear Editor
Like many who read the Driffield Times, I was rather taken aback by proposals to build 500 new houses on the former RAF camp. As some of your readers may be aware, my desire is to see the historic site retained, while providing new opportunities in residential, social and economic redevelopment.
I write again to express my concerns over the future of RAF Driffield. Through your newspaper, I would also like to remind those council officials, who are meeting Strawsons Property, that current planning guidelines, which they themselves drew up, prohibit the building of 500 houses on the site in the first place.
As with all planning authorities, there exists within the county a series of complex guidelines that largely dictate what can be built and where. Talking to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in 2004, it was clear that building hundreds of houses on the site wasn't going to be allowed under any circumstance. It was also made clear to me that both current and future guidelines, then being drawn up, prohibit the building of a large volume of houses in the general locale, and that such large developments would be consigned to the Hull area.
The Local Plan identifies Alamein Barracks as an exceptional opportunity and sets out a series of policies, to 'assist in enabling development to come forward in a comprehensive and co-ordinated manner'. It states there are major constraints to development of the entire site as a single comprehensive scheme, such as housing. It also 'allows for the conversion of barrack blocks for residential or office use', and 'the reuse of existing housing along Lumsden Close'. The 'conversion of the former Officer's Mess for reuse as tourist accommodation, public house, private club or a medical care facility' is also allowed.
The former RAF camp also falls within the Northern Sub Region of the Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) for Hull and the East Riding. Accordingly, the site is classed as an area of restraint. Driffield is categorised as a town, where new housing and employment development, to meet essentially local needs, is to be concentrated. Even then, only limited new (housing) allocations are likely to be required during the plan period to 2026. Note that there is a huge divide between local needs and aspirations, against the greed of high-volume house-builders.
Both the Local Plan and the Joint Strategic Plan both prohibit the building of houses on the site in large numbers. While the planning authorities are open to mixed use of the site, Strawsons are deluded if they think that 500-plus houses and a few shops construed mixed use. Talking to the ERYC, they consider mixed use to include industry and leisure. While it goes without saying that good public transport access and appropriate amenities are a necessity, these also do not construe mixed-use.
What surprises me is the matter-of-fact way in which some local councillors have always pointed towards the inevitability that the site would end up as one giant housing estate, despite their own powers to block such a proposal using the aforementioned guidelines, that prohibit such a development in the first place.
So, what do I propose?
Well, I would retain the 68 married quarters. I am thrilled at the prospect of 68 local families being able to buy their first home. I would also convert the eight accommodation blocks into 48 spacious apartments, and I would also build around 120 additional new houses. There is also space for a private swimming pool (used by local schools and the Army Cadet Force), self-storage centre, tennis courts, squash court, football/rugby pitch, shops, school (if required), and several new business units.
In my scheme of things, some of the technical buildings would have to go – replaced with industrial units, but most of the key, historical buildings would be retained. These concrete buildings are few in number, yet according to experts in the field of concrete preservation, they can be saved.
Phillip Rhodes
This was met with the usual silence, which only added to my anxiety. Yet, my fortunes were very different leading up to Christmas. Let me explain…
In May 2007, I underwent weight loss surgery (current weight: 16st 3lb). It worked, but only now do I fully understand and appreciate the benefits. It must be said, that going under the knife wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one that I now don’t regret. Yes, I knew that I would be healthier, slimmer and more agile, but the heightened level of motivation is astounding. Although subtle and gradual, the change has become more noticeable. I first noticed it when I wrote this book. There was no procrastinating, I just wrote a ruddy book.
I also decided to have another bash at self-employment.
In the UK, if you have been unemployed and in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance (welfare) for more than 18 months, you are automatically signed onto New Deal, an intensive programme to get you back into work. Wanting to start another business, I volunteered to go onto New Deal (self-employment option), this sooner, rather than later. Following an initial interview and intensive business course lasting weeks, in January, I put theory into practice, starting 26 weeks of test trading. During this period, you still receive your benefits, plus a small allowance.
Figuring out exactly what to do was both plagued with misfortune and blessed minor miracles. In the end, I decided to resurrect my aviation postcard and print business.
Back in February 2002, I commissioned UK digital artist Pete West to create a series of 13in long profiles of the famous North American P51D Mustang. Sadly, half way through the project, Pete announced that he was emigrating to New Zealand. Just before leaving, he posted me a CD containing his unfinished work. Recently I rediscovered this CD, thought lost, and accordingly, I decided to complete the project, thus creating a set of colourful 12in x 16in prints, suitable for framing.
The premise was simple; the work had been paid for and completing the project (selling prints) would be an opportunity to pay off some of my debts and finance other projects. While Pete created the profiles, I had loads of fun recreating the individual unit badges, which were quite therapeutic to replicate, working until the early hours, lying in bed, working from a laptop. The badges were sourced from the internet, then enlarged and carefully redrawn in PhotoShop.
I originally selected the aircraft from several dozen profiles already created by Pete. Originally created to illustrated books and magazines, these works of art were enlarged, and then detail carefully added to create a superb set of prints – each depicting an aircraft that flew with the Eight Air Force, from England circa 1944/45.
The whole project was advanced by a series of both minor and abstract miracles. Firstly, Pete’s original CD wouldn’t read on any computer. Luckily, I also discovered a back-up CD. Its presence was unexplainable. I guess the premise is simple: Don’t forget that you’ve backed-up!
Then my cash-card inexplicably snapped in two. Don’t know how. Don’t know when, but the replacement chip ‘n’ pin Maestro card meant I was able to order materials online.
While spending Christmas with mum, I bought a photographic magazine – an impulse buy. Inside was an advert for a Manchester based digital photo lab. I was able to upload my prints online, pay for them online and they would be delivered by post the following morning. Expertly printed onto Fuji Film Professional photographic paper, the name of the company is DS Colour labs, and the quality is superb.
After several test prints and numerous amendments, I finally ended up with a perfect set of P51D Mustang prints. With my new Maestro card I was able to buy a domain name and secure hosting for my website: www.avprints.co.uk. With each upward turn in my fortune, I became more confident and more motivated. There was nothing stopping me from making a success of it. But there, in the back of my mind and three miles south-west of Driffield was that long-standing quandary.
With the plight of former RAF Driffield always present, albeit usually just below the surface, thoughts drifted towards achieving a longstanding objective – the creation of that much needed concept plan – my vision of an aerodrome preserved through sympathetic redevelopment.
One Sunday night, I inexplicably found myself searching for a map of the camp. Buried in a PDF sales brochure, I discovered a low-resolution map of the entire site. With my new-found graphic abilities, I managed to extract this map, and started to trace around the roads in PhotoShop. Then I added a few layers, each dedicated to a series of buildings.
I started work around midnight. By 9am that morning, I was well satisfied with my endeavours. The following night, I created a customised paint brush – a simple plan view of a tree, which was then dabbed across the site. I added new structures, namely houses and business units (see page 153). In my scheme of things, some of the concrete buildings would be replaced with more viable structures (in blue). Three night shifts later and the work was done. And it didn’t cost me a single penny.
I emailed the 12in x 18in plan directly to Strawsons Property and several council officials. The response was predicable. After all that frustration and then elation at achieving something physical – something tangible, feedback wasn’t forthcoming, just a nonplus acknowledgement from Adrian Sail (Strawsons Property).
A few weeks later and I telephoned Adrian. He confirmed plans to build 500 new houses – news of which was first reported in the Driffield Times. While the timescale can be measured in years, it’s likely that the site will be cleared sooner, rather than later, in one, single phase. This happened at former RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire.
Adrian also confirmed that they are still in talks with the MoD over relocating the ACF. It appears that any decision as to the fate of the Cadet Training Centre at Driffield will be made by the higher echelons of the ACF and Defence Estates. Local pride in former RAF Driffield, and concerns about the historic buildings contained within, will not be taken into consideration. Rumour has it that the army cadets will move 200 metres to the west of the guardroom. It appears that they will occupy the site on, or near, the MT vehicle sheds and engineering block, which will be demolished – thus reducing the opportunity to develop this part of the site for industry.
In recent years, the ACF have invested wisely in Driffield, and it shows. The buildings are well maintained, as are the grounds. In February 2008, I showed a couple of researchers around former RAF Driffield. They, like me, were extremely impressed with the ACF enclave, and at the level of preservation. We agreed that for the ACF to relinquish the site would be catastrophic.
Despite the lack of interest shown in preserving the camp, it appears that the continued military presence at Driffield is appreciated. Accordingly, most individuals living locally are prepared to see the camp disappear under hundreds of houses, knowing that the enclave will remain – acting as a reminder to RAF Driffield’s historical past. Yet, if the enclave and Army Cadet Force disappear then everything that has gone before; the bravery, dedication and hard work of both airmen and soldier will have been betrayed.
I’m now very sceptical of Strawsons’ true intentions and sincerity. It appears that they do not have any respect for the site or its history. They have owned most of the camp for nearly a year now. In that time, the site, which I was assured would be guarded, has been targeted by thieves and vandals. I was led to believe that security would be improved. Yet, the officer’s mess and a number of other buildings (visible from the main road) appear to have been broken into, with doors smashed open. Several buildings have had their cast iron drain pipes removed (valuable reclamation), while internal wiring has probably been taken (valuable scrap).
While I understand their intention is to clear most of the site, to be less than proactive in preventing such wanton damage only shows Strawsons in a bad light. I understand that they do not have any onsite security guards, while the fence appears have been breached. When I visited the site in February, I felt bereft and angry. No respect. That’s what angers me the most. All that vibrant history, declared valueless by English Heritage, and now being exploited by thieves. And this is just the start.
I only wish the local inhabitants took more interest in this significant issue. Yet their apathy is only matched by the appallingly bad manners shown by some local councillors and business leaders, who still can’t even be bothered to acknowledge my correspondence. I again wrote to both councillors and council planning officials, outlining my concerns and aspirations for the site. Nothing.
In February, I decided to write to an Australian newspaper – every Australian newspaper in fact – around 500 titles, which is still an ongoing process:
Dear Editor
Thousands of kilometres away in Great Britain, part of Australia’s heritage is under threat.
During the Second World War, RAF Driffield, a military air base in the East Riding of Yorkshire, became home to No.466 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. Also based at Driffield was No.462 Squadron, RAAF.
As everyone knows, the Royal Australian Air Force has a proud and distinguished history. That said, I have always felt that its contribution in Bomber Command, and in the defeat of Nazi Germany, has always been overshadowed by the war in the Pacific.
From 1944, Driffield became home to the Halifax bomber, a four-engined aircraft flown by Australian crews. They served with honour and their courage is not in doubt. Now what remains of this historic air base, from where they flew, is under threat.
RAF Driffield remained a military base until 1996, when the camp finally closed. In 2007, the barrack blocks, married quarters and workshops were bought by Strawsons Property. Despite the rich and diverse history of RAF Driffield, this property developer is planning to clear the site, to make way for around 500 new houses. Although current planning guidelines prohibit such redevelopment, most observers predict such drastic change is inevitable.
I am trying to convince local planning officials that this historic airfield can be preserved, while providing new opportunities in residential, social and economic redevelopment. Most of the wartime buildings survive, and their preservation, through sympathetic redevelopment, maybe the only opportunity we have to preserve such an important aerodrome.
I would like to appeal to your readers, both young and old, to write in support of RAF Driffield, not only through this newspaper, but also through Driffield’s own newspaper, The Driffield Times.
Perhaps you have a relative who served at Driffield during the war, or maybe you have a keen interest in the history of the Royal Australian Air Force? I need the support of Australians of all ages, especially those, who 60 years ago, once called Driffield their home.
My aim is to present the developers and local planning officials with a collection of emails and letters, provided by your readers, which support my endeavours. The more support, the better RAF Driffield’s chances of survival.
The local War Memorial dedicated to the RAAF in Driffield is well maintained and the sacrifice made your compatriots is still in the minds of many, even after all these years.
Australia, please help save RAF Driffield.
Best Wishes
Phillip Rhodes
Dozens of newspapers published and continue to publish my letter, and many Australians wrote to me or the Driffield Times, including Tony Ryan from the town of Wingham in New South Wales.
He wrote: “I am a 67-year-old former member of the Royal Australian Air Force and current honorary secretary of the Old Bar Heritage Airstrip Management Committee. I recently read a letter from a member of your community, Mr Philip Rhodes, published in the Dubbo Liberal, with great interest. The writer sought support, from Australians in his endeavour to preserve the former RAF station in Driffield.
“Members of my family served with the RAAF in the UK during WWII, one operating Halifax and later Lancaster bombers and being awarded the DFC. I have great sympathy for the writer seeking support. I wish to implore your local community to do all in their power to preserve the memory of those who have served to make the UK a place in which people may live in a democratic society. Often we are all too eager to destroy historic sites in the name of so-called progress.”
This very much mirrors the sentiments of Andrew Macdonald, of Brisbane in Queensland, who wrote: “I was very lucky to have lived in the United Kingdom for a substantial part of my life and a significant part, too. Sadly, for one reason or another, I was obliged to move overseas. That said, I still think of the UK as my home and will continue to do so for the remainder of my life.
“I am not overly patriotic, but having been brought up with a strong sense of pride and responsibility by my parents, I understand the significance our cultural and historical presence here presently, and in the past.
“We have a rich and colourful history. There is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world. More than 60 years ago, our country (the United Kingdom) took part in the greatest war in human history. Part of it occurred on our homeland and if you look closely, there are still faint signs across the countryside. Sadly these physical signs of World War Two, like the people that built and occupied them, are fast disappearing.
“Military airfields were once dotted across the landscape like spots on a Dalmatian. They were utilitarian and served a specific purpose, which they did for a short but illustrious period of time. They were not particularly attractive to many eyes and I suspect that is perhaps one of the many reasons for their demise and their exclusion from proper preservation.
“I know, given the current economic environment and lack of housing, how increasingly difficult it is to preserve wartime aerodromes. There are many and some are in a dreadful state of preservation. But we have already lost the large majority of them through urbanisation, and we look set to loose many more in the coming years as defence cuts are made.
“I support attempts to preserve RAF Driffield in at least some practical and methodical capacity. I understand its significance to our present and future generations.
“Surely, we can use these buildings in some way that enables people to occupy and work from them without their loss? Very soon indeed, we will lose our lifeline to the men and women of the Second World War. When their voices are gone, all we will have left are the tangible reminders of that epic time in our history. If the airfields are demolished, we will lose that unique connection with our past and the very reasons for our prosperity and freedom.”
For RAF Driffield, an aerodrome that has survived for over 70 years, the end appears to be near. My old friend, I feel so bloody helpless, knowing that I can do no more, other than go through the motions of exercising one’s rights to make a noise. I don’t know how I’m going to cope, as it wont be a quick and painless death. Not only has the establishment failed RAF Driffield, but it is also impossible to be heard. How do you make people take note and how do you fight against greed and systematic bollocks (technical term used in times of frustration)?
Thing is, it matters not if you label English Heritage a bunch of rude expletives or chastise those responsible for the demise of RAF Driffield, as they clearly hold the high ground. Not the moral high ground, but that strategically defended by status and clout (both financial and legal). And if you do shout and scream too loudly, the well oiled wheels of political and departmental spin will inevitably paper over the cracks.
But is it all doom and gloom for RAF Driffield? The hangars are technically safe. All four have now been leased, with Caledonian Building Systems taking on three hangars only recently. They plan to create 200 new jobs, and that can only be a good thing. Work starts within weeks to refurbish the structures, but what that entails is open to debate. And if Strawsons Property are sincere in their plans to retain the officer’s mess and married quarters, then that can also be seen as a consolation. That only leaves the technical site and the accommodation blocks. Now if only I can find a sympathetic developer to take on a challenge…?
Back to Business
For three, magical months I worked around the clock. To follow up my P51D Mustang prints, I created “Spitfires Ascending”, a 16in x 20in print, depicting three iconic fighters breaking through cloud. While creating the prints has been fun, marketing is the key to success, and so far I have failed abysmally. Build a website, and they will come and buy. We all know it doesn’t work like that, but when you are transfixed with your newfound abilities and motivation, all sense of reasoning go out the window. The real problem was that I was forced to start test trading before I was ready. Marketing my prints has been sporadic – patchy. Three months in and not a single sale.
I’m blessed to have achieved so much, but the real problem is one of credibility. The internet is a vast chasm, filled with scam artists and wannabe entrepreneurs. Attracting customers has proved difficult. And with no spare cash, paid advertising is beyond my means. Not sure what the future holds? But I’ll be damned if I’m giving up. I’ve learnt from my mistakes. Rule number one in business: be proud of your products and services. I delight in what I’ve achieved, with the generous help of others, notably Pete West.
So that leaves just RAF Driffield to contend with, and more bittersweet prose.
No doubt the landscape of RAF Driffield will change. That was always going to be inevitable – even with my own plan for the site. That said, what Strawsons Property propose is fascistic, unnecessary and it will corrupt. Money always does. I can both preserve RAF Driffield and make a profit. The problem is that greed dictates that the more houses that are built, irrespective of local needs and aspirations, the more money Strawsons Property will make. I’m alright Jack, and so are my shareholders and investors.
The real tragedy is that we – sorry, not we – I’ve done my bit. No, the real tragedy is that English Heritage and all those faceless minions, in local and central government, won’t learn from the mistakes made at Driffield. English Heritage are impervious to the fate of RAF Driffield, which was partially of their making. We looked to them for help. Not only me, but my band of brothers – those concerned about that innocuous aerodrome structure, or that Edwardian building, we pass on the way to work each morning.
My fight is much about the discarded. Every high street or village or industrial landscape has a structure that we adore, but which doesn’t tick all the right boxes. The unlistable. Yet, when they are gone, they will be missed, probably more than those ‘icons’ of statutory protection. With the government’s current obsession with eco-towns, an increasing number of historical and fairly complete airfields are under threat.
I recently revisited RAF Driffield with two researchers. We explored not only the site, but also the general locale. We confirmed the existence of a concrete pillbox, that overlooks the airfield. We also visited former RAF Hutton Cranswick. It was here that we discovered another defensive structure – a battle headquarters. This was an underground bunker, designed to direct airfield defences against invading forces. This structure isn’t statutory protected, and its survival is down to the goodwill of the owner. Despite being nearly 70 years old, this mundane structure is in excellent condition.
Yet, under current guidelines, it is unlikely that it would qualify for listed status. How long it survives is down to the family who owns the land and their future prospects. Farmers retire and farms are sold. One day, the luck will run out for this structure. It is important to understand this – preserving any structure isn’t about today or tomorrow. It’s about viewing the distant past from the perspective of future generations. How will we look upon the past – the history of the 20th Century – through the eyes of those living 100 years from now?
I’d like to think we can do more - to ensure that what little remains today survives beyond tomorrow.
Close your eyes…
I often sense the past. I can feel that time and that place – albeit for a fleeting moment. That notion that you’re ‘back home’ comes without warning and is separate from remembering RAF Driffield or my childhood, which takes effort. Sensing or remembering the past is both a curse and a blessing. Collecting conkers, or making that 1/72nd scale Airfix model of an Avro Anson, or just being there. The weather. That summer. The sense of personal nostalgia is palpable. I feel it – those memories that transport me back to a particular event or moment in time, both small and sometimes very insignificant.
I knew RAF Driffield during its final years of completeness – before the control tower was demolished, and the runways were removed. Yet, only recently have I come to terms with the realisation that actually, I rarely ventured onto the airfield during the 1970s. Looking back and analysing my childhood experiences, I probably explored the airfield no more than maybe a dozen times during the five years the family lived on camp.
I remember not only the events, but also the weather and the dimensions involved. Airfields are not flat expanses of grass and concrete. They are three dimensional, more so in their later years of abandonment. At ground level, you have the breadth of the concrete runways, then the knee-high grass and the myriad of small structures – which have all gone now. Then as you look up, you see the high-vaulted sky in a myriad of emotions. It could be winter and the darkening skies would propel you homeward bound. The stinging rain would soak into your clothes, and the pain of defeat would quicken your step.
The warmth of the setting sun, in late spring or early summer would calm your resolve, keeping you out until well past bed time. That day. That evening. I remember standing near Hangar Four, looking across the airfield. The warm colours cast by the setting sun on the hangars, control tower and long grass, brought with them a sense of majesty. Compare that moment to now, and as Spike Milligan once wrote: “Oh, yesterday leave me alone”. It’s dangerous to become too addicted to one’s memories – they rarely resolve present predicaments or difficulties. Subsequently, dreaming about the good old days can sometimes make things worse, but they are necessary. I think?
That said, although I was only seven or eight, the majesty of that moment has stayed with me all my days. I am not a poet. Love or passion don’t come easily to me either. But that moment was pure magic. Those days, never bettered, have driven me to both enlightenment and despair. I am both a better person because of RAF Driffield, and I am also a broken man. That day, and that moment, I caught a ray of glowing nostalgia and appreciation for an aerodrome in its final years.
Minutes later, I was caught by one of the RAF guards and frog-marched back to the guardroom. As is life.
