The Edzell Connection Base Articles
The Courier and Advertiser, Tuesday, September 23, 1997
The closing date for offers for the base was 10th of september, there have been 6
offers for the whole base and 7 to buy parts of it. We may have to wait a couple of
months until they survey which offer together coupled with the bid is best for the
local economy and whether or not the MOD agree to the findings. All offers were
close to the 5 million pound asking price.
The Panmure Arms Hotel has been sold, as yet the selling agents will not release the
buyers identity as the offer is subject to a drinks license being granted buy Angus
council, but they have said that this would indicate towards it returning to a hotel.
LOCAL NEWS....The Courier and Advertiser, Tuesday, September 23, 1997.
THE STARS and Stripes and the RAF Ensign will be lowered at the redundant Edzell
communications base for the last time a week today.
A small and simple ceremony has been organised for the lowering - similar to
the one that heralded the arrival of the US navy when it officially took over RAF
Edzell.
The two flags have flown together every day since they were raised
simultaneously on February 11, 1960.
Squadron Leader Steve Bowen, the last RAF commander at the base, will give a
short address as will the US navy's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Sharon
Chamness, before the flags come down and the doors close for good.
The RAF chief said interest had been expressed in the ceremony by civilians
who once worked there and retired military personnel who remain in the area. An
invite was extended to them all.
It comes just over a year after an official farewell ceremony was staged for
base personnel, workers and people associated with the top secret listening post.
Sqn Ldr Bowen said, "I and the US commander decided that, although we have
already had a closure parade, it would be fitting to have a short ceremony as the
flags are lowered for the last time.
"We are conscious of the symbolism of the Ensign being lowered and what it
means in real terms.
"Although I have been here only two years, I have formed an attachment to
area.
Some of the MoD civilians have
been here 30 years and dozens have worked here for 20 years. This ceremony will mean
a lot to a lot of people."
It is a time for reflection for the
squadron leader who took up the job of steering the closure nearly two years ago.
Over that time he has seen the
base lose its operational status, and
watched thousands of tons of equipment being shipped out, buildings stripped of
high-teeh gear and vacated and the gradual withdrawal of the Americans.
He has been through a major bas closure before, as the RAF's property manager
at RAF Gatow in Berllin-"good experience" for the task in Scotland.
Sqn Ldr Bowen admits that, for himself and his wife Sue, it is with regret
that they leave the station.
"It is a strange feeling to see thus base wind down," he said.
"I think it is sad as I have seen the place with 1000 servicemen and 2000
family members, and all then activities here on base and in the community.
"A lot of the American personnel have served at RAF Edzell more than once. There are many links forged between the base and the
community so it is sad to see that ending.
Sqn Ldr Bowen has had his own impact in the area, becoming a familiar face on
the rugby scene as a referee in the Sottish Midlands area.
This weekend, two days before the closure of the gates, the mountain-climbing
commander is due to bag his 100th Munro=Buachaille Etive Mor in Glencoe. It is in the
last year he has been ticking off the challenges of the peaks.
He will leave following the ceremony for his new job at RAF Innsworth,
Gloucester, where he will be part of a team testing the operational readiness of
bases.
This site is created
by Roger Shambaugh and Dale Trzebiatowski for the hope to regain the good
times at RAF Edzell and get people back in touch.
