MD 1 - Churchill's Toyshop

I have been promising myself that I would visit this place for some years & when I heard Steve Cook (our local professional photographer) was coming here to complete an online article I contacted him & asked it I could join him.

So today he collected me from home before making the short journey to The Firs in Whitchurch. Steve had arranged to meet the owner who would give us a guided tour. The building is now converted to offices but it still displays some fine Victorian mock Tudor features. There were "tudor" fireplaces and the doors were also "period". There is lots of wooden paneling and some fine stained glass windows. The owner (Chris) keeps an office in the building where we sat and he gave us the history of its war time activities. It is known as Churchill's toy shop because when the boffins who worked there needed money or equipment they went straight to Churchill who signed the requests off in double quick time. The boffins who lived & worked here during the war years invented many explosive devices including the Limpet Mine & the Sticky Bomb. More here: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MD1_(military_R%26D_organisation)

Chris had lots of war time photos which he allowed us to copy using our cameras - See extra.

It was an interesting morning not only to see around the place but to chat to Steve when there weren't a lot of people around. I know that he does training courses & I said to him that I wouldn't mind a bit of one to one tuition. He reckoned my pictures were good already & he didn't think he would be able to teach me a lot.....very complementary I thought.

A fine sunny morning - but a bit chilly.

C not 100 % again.