Balderton Royal Air Forces Association and welfare officer and standard bearer give talk to Newark and District U3A in Balderton

The importance of a local military charity was discussed at a local U3A meeting recently.

The chairman of Balderton Royal Air Forces Association Brian Hughes, and welfare officer and standard bearer Jim Robinson, gave a post armistice talk to the Newark and District U3A at Balderton village hall.

Brian, a former RAF policeman, talked about the role RAF Balderton played in the area now known as Fernwood during World War II.

He told the U3A audience that at its peak, 1,718 RAF personnel — 1,510 men and 208 women — were based at RAF Balderton and thousands of sorties took off from its three runways.

He explained that the inventor of the engines powering the jets, Frank Whittle, had personal quarters at Balderton Hall which was used as an officers’ mess during the war years.

Jim also spoke about RAFA Balderton’s work today supporting surviving veterans, providing vital items for their homes and in one case, a purpose built shed to safely house a veteran’s mobility buggy.

Newark and District U3A’s speaker seeker Ian McGregor said: “The talk was fascinating and we all learned things we didn’t know about RAF Balderton’s role in the war effort, including that when the redundant runways were broken up afterwards, the materials were re-used in the building of the new A1 Newark bypass — and we may still be driving on some of them today!

“I am very grateful to Brian and Jim for finding the time to speak to us after a very busy time for them taking part in four fully uniformed armistice parades.

“They are a credit to their uniform and to the memory of RAF Balderton.”