Greenham Common

I had a fascinating day exploring Greenham Common.

The day started with a visit to The Base, an extension of the Newbury Corn Exchange Arts centre. It was hosting an exhibition of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year.  The photography was stunning.

I then headed to the Control Tower, built in 1951 to 1953 to replace an original WW2 tower.  This gave wonderful views over Greenham and Crookham Commons which were only returned to public use in the 1990s.  The common are mainly renown for their use in the 1980s as an US Air Force base for nuclear Cruise Missiles, together with its 12,000ft runway built to take the heavy, nuclear armed bombers required to deliver them. 

The base was highly controversial, and on 5th September 1981 a group of mainly women arrived, having marched from South Wales, to deliver a letter to the base commander stating "We fear for the future of all our children and for the living world".  The protest developed into a permanent Women's peace camp which remained until 2000.

I do remember passing the camp, but am afraid the cold war mainly passed me by. I was also not aware until today that it was no longer a military area but had been largely returned to nature; it's runway broken up and sold for use to help build the nearby A34.

My image shows some of the few relics left: A fire hydrant with USA markings; a pillar, presumably to support runway lights; one of the off-limit bunkers behind multiple barbed-wire fences; and a mock-up of a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft used to train the base and local Newbury fire fighters.