Out & About Magazine Autumn 2020

Greenham Tower Calling

“Reach 451 Greenham Tower, join runway two nine, altimeter three zero decimal nine one inches, circuit clear”

R unway two nine, one of the longest runways in Europe, replaced the original Second World War runway when the airfield was rebuilt in the early 1950s and became the base for nuclear armed heavy bombers. At just over two miles, the runway was so long that it was designated an emergency landing site for both Concorde and the Space Shuttle. In September 1980 Richard Noble broke the British land speed record when his car, Thrust 2, hurtled down the length of it at 248mph. Only the central part of the runway

A mystery surrounds the original control desk which was once in the observation deck

remains, but Greenham’s extraordinary history is told in the control tower, which also boasts fantastic views over the whole common and beyond from its observation deck. The tower was purchased by Greenham Parish Council in 2014 after it had lain empty following the closure of the base in 1992. After extensive restoration, the tower opened its doors to the public two years ago as a visitor centre and community hub. It has since been a venue for a series of talks, educational activities and art events. Its dog-friendly café offers welcome refreshments to the many walkers, runners and cyclists who come to enjoy this site of special scientific interest and discover the secrets of its past. The tower has two exhibition rooms. In one a permanent display charts the part Greenham Common played in the Cold War, culminating in the siting of 96 cruise missiles there. The subsequent peace protest became world famous with notable visitors including Julie Christie, Yoko Ono, Glenys and Neil Kinnock, Fiona Bruce, Sheila Hancock and Susannah York. In 1983 three peace women broke into the control tower and discovered a number of ‘secret’ documents regarding procedures in case of nuclear attack or accident. They remained there for five hours, eventually attracting attention to their presence by flashing the lights on and off. Their story forms part of a recently-filmed television documentary about the base which is due to be aired early in the new year.

The second room plays host to a rolling programme of exhibitions. It currently houses the fascinating Newbury Area in World War II exhibition, which salutes the vital role the common played in D Day. A mystery surrounds the original control desk which was once in the observation deck. Some say that the Americans buried it before departing in 1991 – but detectorists are not invited to dig holes around the tower in search of it! Rather, the tower is proud to announce that this autumn a new desk will be installed to provide an air traffic control environment in which visitors will be able to identify and zoom in on aircraft activity, track the routes aircraft are following and pick up live communications between aircraft and ground control. The desk is linked to the tower’s own weather station and monitors will display FlightRadar24 information. Timed guided tours are available to groups of up to six people each Saturday and Sunday. Greenham Control Tower is a registered charity. Volunteers serve as guides, are involved with outreach and education projects, help with fundraising and work in the café. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer go to: www.greenhamtower.org.uk/volunteering/ The café is open on Thursday and Fridays from 11am-3pm, and Saturdays and Sundays 10.30pm-3pm. Donations to the tower can be made by cash or credit card at the café, via a volunteer and through The Good Exchange at https://app.thegoodexchange.com/appli - cants/5736/greenham-control-tower-ltd

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O&A SPRING 2020