The Best Camp I've Served At - EVER!!

[shiny_arse]

In this day and age of insular individuals who prefer to sit in their deluxe cubicles with their lights off and their wrists frantically vibrating in time to their ........ playstation 2 game, who can remember back to the days when you were told there was a block party where the option was either join in or get your room trashed. Chatting about this with a colleague led me to reminiscing about previous tours.

My fondest camp so far I class as RAF Uxbridge, the Yank Bar was open at the back of the camp, everyone parted in town on a Thursday night at the meat market that was called "Continentals" then last orders either at Discotheque Royales with your bint or alternatively filling up at the kebab shop. Massive Barrack Block BBQ's at least once a year (usually when the Royal Tournament was on), baiting QCS when they trooped out wearing their pressed denim.

So I ask you one and all, where's been your favourite posting and why?. Obviously Germany will figure on a lot of the 70's, 80's & 90's crowd, but where about in the UK really took your fancy?

 

[Notsoblunt]

Germany Block Party!

Germany Block Party!

You are right that Germany will feature heavily, and that is mainly because you could do all that you could in the UK - only much cheaper and more often!

Out there almost every block had it's own bar, and the blocks were designed to have a common seating area in them, so a party was easily organised. For those blocks without a common room, the corridor was used instead. I say 'organised' when really is was just a standing thing that everyone chipped in and socialised together. With crates of Wobbly, Dorty, Becks & Grolsch all costing around £5 each, there was always plenty of beer to be had, and one of the block residents always volunteered to act as DJ by using their latest music system (tax-free of course). For those who got hungry, the obligatory oil drum BBQ was always stashed somewhere in the vicinity - just help yourself to whatever you fancy out of the communal fridge!

I recall one such party where our 16-man accommodation block became the mass party venue for an entire Bank Holiday weekend. Some 300+ 'guests' invaded and a 72-hour marathon drinking, eating, dancing (and some private shagging) session took place. There was a standing open invitation for anybody to attend, and many did. Not only fellow singlies (male and female) and local girls, but also the married folks - many of them bringing the kids along too. This created an atmosphere where everyone (rank immaterial) could just mix together and enjoy themselves. The RAFP patrols would occasionally poke their heads in, but only to check that all was OK and never to stop anyone's fun.

The place looked like something out of Glastonbury afterwards, but was soon cleaned up and ready for the next occasion. On top of that, nobody batted an eyelid because it was just part of 'normal' life. Somehow, I just can't see the same sort of thing happening nowadays, more is the pity. Those were the days!

Right, time to shut up before I get accused of sandbagging!

 

[dantura]

You're right, Bruggen for me, but in UK...training at Hereford...Chrystal Rooms (Sticky Carpets) on a Wednesday grab a granny, Restoration, Rugby club, sneaking in to the YTS girls block, being told by OC training to, 'get out of my school and I don't ever want to see you here again', scrumpy hangovers and many more wonderful memories..



D

 

[POB]

Every camp that I have been to in the UK has had its own unique charms, and at the moment I can not decide which was the best...I suppose ST Mawgan. I was allways off walking and climbing in the area, as fit as I have ever been, and the family really enjoyed the holiday tour.

Socially, St Eval was nearly as good as some of the quieter weekends in Germany. There were BBQs and parties, however nowhere will ever replace Gutersloh in my affections, for all the reasons already mentioned here and on the Germany thread and for so much more too...

Fair brings a tear to the eye...

P

 

[ROTORHEAD]

Galdersloh

Galdersloh

Like Pob, Gutersloh will always be the place that stands out for me. (see When I was in Germany thead)
That said, the best kept secret in the mob used to be Aldergrove. First tour there 87-90 on 72 (Full metal Wessex) Sqn was brill. N.I. pay, no food and accom' charges, free bit of tin to keep your chest safe. Loads of bars, great shift pattern, very like the Germany environment, but in gods country. More like a big deployment rather than a full blown Air Force station. Portrush (Kellys) on the pop and apart from the security restrictions and the odd mortar getting lobbed over the fence, all good clean fun. The odd trip to the forts to see what was going on, mid shift Jollys to the Isle of Man, the North West 200 in the summer. Class!
Went again 92-93, started getting a bit RAFy with Half past two (Flying Boat) Sqn turning up. Shift pattern modified not to the troops benefit (what a shock)
Then again 95-99, on aforementioned (FB) outfit. Very military and the fun police had been active, but managed to get out while it was still RAF SH (Support Helicopters) before the Army took over (JHF) Still good postings with some great people.

 

[budgie]

Laarbruch, best tour I ever did. Had to go out on the sauce, had no room in my room!

 

[Tigger]

Aldergrove....SUPERB, I loved it.
Being a biker it was just fantastic. RUC used to take us out on runs to various parts, inc the Northwest 200 one year.

And there were a few bars to aparently DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[BigNose]

Trade training at Halton holds particularly fond memories, Well not exactly the training.
The social life was second to none though. Many a happy hour spent in the WAF block.
And does anyone remember Top Gun showing at Halton cinema and a certain bunch on a fitters course turning up in full Biggles regalia?

 

[ROTORHEAD]

Yeah, Halton fitters course in 81 was brill. Lots of us wearing dark blue shirts as we couldn't change them due to the monotorium. (really wound up the D.Is)
Lunch times and evenings down the King & Queen. Winding up PTIs. Visiting the Nurses blocks. Winding up the Appos. Buggering about in the "Hunter Flight" parades through the underpass to the new? workshops. (OK a bit sad) Then £100 quid extra on completion, Wa Hey!

 

[The Gimp]

Wittering 92-95, superb bunch of guys, mondays in the malcolm club, tuesdays down the bowl, wed grab a granny in stamford, thursday the big night in stamford, start in the sylvian moon, hole in the wall, black bull, royales and finaly chilli masters for a donner naan.....still crave them now. fri to sun repeat.

Great

 

[The Gimp]

Wittering 92-95, superb bunch of guys, mondays in the malcolm club, tuesdays down the bowl, wed grab a granny in stamford, thursday the big night in stamford, start in the sylvian moon, hole in the wall, black bull, royales and finaly chilli masters for a donner naan.....still crave them now. fri to sun repeat.

Great

 

[GTFPDQ]

Germany - Wildenrath
UK - I really enjoyed Leuchars dont know why.

 

[Hmmmm]

Best UK stn - Chivenor. Just 'cos it had everything that a FJ stn had but was FTS hours and near the beach.

Overseas, already said - Gutersloh.

 

[Major Geek]

Defo - Chivenor in the latter half of the 80's. First tour straight out of training to a recently rebuilt station well away from the rest of the cold war. It's so true that you don't know what you have got untill its gone. Why did we have to go and give it to the Marines?
The old Chivenor village is set between the camp and quarters and all the old houses belong to the base. So the Fiddlers Green pub was err the pub, then there was the RAFA Club which was used more than the Colnel (Phoenix Club). Many a "do" was held at the RAFA playing skittles (very South West version of Ten Pin Bowling). Stagger out of there for a "Barry the Bast**d" Burger before the walk up the main drag back to the block. Then you woke to the sound of the weather ship in the morning, going high in the sky at a rapid rate of knots to avoid the birds on the Taw Estuary......and so began another day.

 

[Chaka]

Has to be little old Shawbury for me. DT_Xtremez_19:

Things have changed abit since the girly DHFS rotary ladies and MPGS chimps have invaded over the last 8 years, but overall it's still the home of Air Traffic and Flt Ops. Many fond memories,good friends and it's way away from the 'real airforce', nice. DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

Coltishall 4 years ago. End of.

(Happiest days of my childhood were spent in Blankenhagen as a Scaley!)

 

[Tojo]

Well obviously Gutersloh for all the reasons previously stated, but I have to say Coltishall comes a close second... purely because of the amount of pubs in the town centre!

Ahhh, The Reindeer....

*wipes away tear*

 

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

Well obviously Gutersloh for all the reasons previously stated, but I have to say Coltishall comes a close second... purely because of the amount of pubs in the town centre!

Ahhh, The Reindeer....

*wipes away tear*

the murderer's - in fact all of Tombland...

The beach at Holkham - the beach at Happisburgh (pr 'aysboro)

Roy's of Wroxham

*sobs uncontrollably*

 

[JoJo82]

I'd say HMS Dryad for me, it closed down a few years back now. I went there for my trade training and have to say I have some great memorys built up from 99-2000. My best ship, well that would be my first on HMS Campbeltown!

I know I am not RAF but I had to say it!

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

Stagger out of there for a "Barry the Bast**d" Burger before the walk up the main drag back to the block.

I had forgotten about Barry!! Awesome burgers, his were better than the awesome Oz at the secret oxfordshire helicopter base.

Chiv was my fave base, classic night clubs in Barnstaple "Xenexis and Bees", the quality beers in the Williams Arms, and the lock ins in the Aggie... and then there was Ruda down at Croyde, what memories