24
NAVY NEWS MARCH 1975
Pictures by
HAM FOREST MOOR
Dave Morris
The high hills of Yorkshire and the rich agricultural Fylde farming area of Lancashire may seem unusual localities in which to find the Royal Navy, but two of the Navy's wireless stations are situated here. These two "stone frigates" have problems which are possibly unique among Senior Service establishments, including blizzards, floods, foot and mouth disease. H.M.S. Forest Moor is nearly 1,000tt. Demonstrating the adaptability of up in the foothills of the Eastern PenBritish seamen, the young sailors have nines. A lonely spot . . . the nearest adjusted their existence to the unusual town, Harrogate, is 12 miles away over environment. The Arctic conditions are the desolate moors. But the three off ica great challenge, but the young men era and 62 senior and junior ratings who keep the, wireless traffic moving. man this station Am nasirlu all untlintAI . J".l. , --11 i., -, I I1 era. Most of them YorksP'Iremen. summer is very pleasant. Many of the have taken trout chaps up fishing and The commanding officer, Lieut.-Cdr. the hills are ideal for walking and L. D. Lever, says: "I've served hero ing. three times and thoroughly enjoy it. It's the second time around for the first VOLUNTEERS lieutenant, Lieut. H. Brown. We have an excellent lounge and TV Operated by the Army during the room and there is a gymnasium, badSecond World War, the wireless station minton court and billiards equipment.' covers 850 acres of rough moorland. The sailors also play football, cricket, The Navy has been in residence since tennis and volleyball. 1958. Relationships with the scattered civilian population are very close. Farmers Forest Exposed to the elements. and villagers are invited along to bonfire Moor is often cut off snow
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The snows not that deep yet, but the commanding
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by deep during the severe winters. Lieut.-Cdr. Lever must be the only commanding officer of a naval establishment in England with three pairs of snow shoes in his stores,
'On watch' Below: A typical "on watch" scene in the Fixed Service Hail, with CREL George Barrow and REM John Byrne at the desk.
Forest Moor, Lieu t.-Cdr. ivor Lever, is taking no chancesi
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nights and other functions. Orphans from nearby towns are entertained at Christmas. Despite the harsh winters and lonely life, sailors at Forest Moor volunteer time and again to carry out their important task in the fierce Pennine Hills. The establishment will soon be involved in a new and exciting venture.
A deserted farmhouse on the site is to become an adventurous training centre, to which sailors from all over the U.K. will go to carry out expedition training and pot holing.
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The sun has dropped below the horizon, but the work of H.M.S. lnsklp goes on, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The watchkeepers pictured below as they carry
Fresh eggs, too - it 1L fR ~!
Even In the coldest weather the work must. go on. Checking the loop aerial system at Forest Moor are REM Trevor Armstrong and POREUN Pete Mason.
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There's no shortage of fresh eggs here.,. "Head henkeeper" Is AB Steve Starkey,
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seen here handing over the day's collection of eggs to P0 Cook Mlck Cosies.
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