RAF Scampton Fire and Heritage Visit

The U3A trip to RAF Scampton Fire Museum and Heritage Centre like all of Brian’s organised trips ran to time and delivered a variety of activities. It got off to an excellent start when we had the privilege of watching a solitary Red Arrow doing a test run before it was flown off to Greece to do their pre season final training.

Our tour of the RAF Fire Museum was very varied with vehicles and artefacts dating back hundreds of years. Our guide, Steve Shirley,  was responsible for not only looking after the collection but also owned most of the items including all the 40 plus fire engines. His enthusiasm for everything to do with fire fighting was very infectious.

Even those of us who were only there for the lunch taken in the Junior Ranks Mess (it’s been a long time since any of us have been considered Junior) were captured by Steve’s passion.

So after a good lunch, sorry no tea or coffee because there was a power cut, we were back in the Heritage Centre.

The Heritage Centre had exhibits showing the history of the RAF from the Flying Corps of World War 1 to the Hawks currently flown by the Red Arrows with some large chunks of Lancaster bombers filling parts of the hanger. There was even an opportunity to sit in a mock-up Red Arrow with most people commenting on what a tight squeeze it was. I confess I was intrigued by the nuclear weapons that had been stored at Scampton during the cold war when Vulcan bombers were ready to scramble once the 4 minute warning came in. Did the residents of Lincoln know there was enough nuclear weaponry on their doorstep to wipe them out several times over?

At the end of an excellent day we were back on the coach and left behind a wind-swept RAF Scampton. Thanks again Brian for all your efforts.