Our new web site.

Colin and Arthur welcome you to the latest version of the Cloud Observers web site, we hope you like it and approve of the content.

In May 2010 Colin decided that he had taken the existing  site as far as it could go technically and that to progress would increase his costs dramatically. By merging with the ‘Download’ site we have been able to overcome this problem and also keep the style and content as close as possible to the old site.

In addition a host of new features have been added including a new and easier link to the Forum which appears on the right hand side of most pages; more and better downloads and a very much improved layout on the Memories and Photo Album sections.

So much has changed and, we feel, so much has improved – take a look and see for yourself, then let us know what you think by adding a comment on the Guestbook.

Download News

Parts 3 and 4 of our special feature on Kete in both Pdf and Power Point format are now available.  To navigate straight to the ‘Downloads’ page, Kete Section, click HERE.

Our second special feature is entitled Travels With My Plotting Pens (TWMPP). Here we showcase the career of our individual members. The material and photographs are submitted by the individual members then ably edited by Peter Squibb who produces the download.  All downloads in this new section are approved by the originating member before publication. This months subject is Peter Claridge.

If you would like us to give your career the TWMPP  makeover then please contact the Secretary (TSB) in the first instance.

Finally in the Other Peoples Work Section we have added a Power Point Show simply called “Icebergs”.

Visit to Lee-On-Solent

Featured below is a report on a visit made at the beginning of the month and very ably organised by John Evans, an ex National Serviceman from the very early 1950’s.  To accompany this report are a couple of photographs taken on the day.  For those of you that served at Lee, it is just possible that we may create a slide show of the visit with one or two more pictures of the airfield.  This will be at some time in the future.

The Wyvern Pub – Jean Evans, Jim (Ernie) Bell and John Evans

On Wednesday, 4th August an intrepid band of Cloud Observers met at a hostelry near the now almost unrecognisable air station of Lee-on-Solent and after a pleasant meal proceeded to the airfield and thence to the tower. Although most of the former airfield has been taken over by industrial concerns and housing estates, the tower is still operating as such, but is used by Hampshire Constabulary Air Support Unit to control their aircraft which are the only ones now using the airfield apart from the RN Gliding club which is based on the Northern side. We were made most welcome by the Air Support Manager and his team, one of whom gave us a guided tour of the establishment and talked about the service which they provide. In fact as we arrived their Islander aircraft took off to join a search for a missing person near Winchester. It was quite interesting to see the old place under new management although the MOD, who still own the building, have not allowed any actual structural changes since the RN left so we were able to find our way around subject to some memory stimulation. The current residents were quite interested in what we could tell of the history previous to their period and we actually left them a copy of a detailed plan of the building circa 1950 and history to that date. Due to the current round of cutbacks it appears that this present use may be terminated and then the future of the building will be uncertain so any other visits could not be guaranteed at this time JDE

Outside Lee Tower L-R Clem Olliver, Jim Bell, Derek Tilley, Arthur Charles, Peter Squibb, Our Guide Chris, Peter Claridge, John Evans, Norman Bell

National Memorial Arboretum, 15 May 2010. LtoR Gill Charles, Mairi Squibb and Jean Brenchley stand next to the Aguila Memorial in the Wrens Garden. More pictures in the NMA section and on FACEBOOK