As I was choking on my morning toast I was disturbed by a call from the museum designed to ruin my day off. The knees quavered at the thought of going out today but the lass on afternoon shift had claimed sickness and was refusing to put it aside and do her duty. So because an attractive young woman called me out of my bed I went in this afternoon. This of course ruined my day. Instead of lounging around at home I had to lounge around in the museum all afternoon. Few people arrived even though it is market day. One or two did pop in but fewer than I hoped.
However the exhibition on '60's, 70's and 80's,' has been popular as many here remember the US based at Wethersfield Airbase just up the road. The US have been hanging around here since 1942 and many have experience of them in wartime and during the 'Cold War.' The Yanks left some time ago as the 'Berlin Wall' came down but once Donald Trump is removed it may be they will make their way back again as Putin continues his gangster operation on the west. An enormous number of airmen and their crew married local girls, bus loads used to arrive from as far away as Ipswich, and a large number remained in the UK after their service was over. Occasionally they arrive in the museum. It amazes me how many nuclear bombs were stored not far from my house. One big Soviet one and much of this area would have been unusable for decades. Nowadays there is little fear from the 'superpowers' bombing one another it is the little man with a suitcase full of 'small nuclear bomb' that is a concern. Sleep well.
I am surprised however that these books have not sold. I think one of the books on the right has gone but none of the 'Suffragettes' book have been sold and that only costs £1. Possibly the girls are all at home making their men's tea as they ought to be?
Saturday was a busy day, I rose very early as I had to be at work by ten, and it takes a while to get ready. Before ten I arrived to be greeted with the phrase "Go away!" This was because the email system at work had failed, again, and the email telling me to arrive at one p.m. had not arrived at my end, it did arrive around 11:30 that day however when I was back home. So I dragged my weary bulk back home via the market ensuring I bought nothing and rested my intellect until time to retrace my steps.
At two p.m. we had a talk to open the 'Cold War' Exhibition which runs alongside the exhibition featuring the 60's to 80's period, a very good idea indeed. Here the curator of the 'Wethersfield Airfield Museum' give a talk on the history of the base during the days of Cold War activity. This base was used by the USAF from the early 50'suntil sometime in the 90's when the world was once again safe for democracy, if you vote the way we say. There appears to be no webpage but there is a 'RAF Wethersfield' Museum page on facebook which is worth visiting.
Originally built for World War 2 bombers, twin engined A-20 'Havocs' flew from here, the runway was lengthened for jet fighter bombers when the US returned in the early 50's. The 'Thunderstreak' and later the 'Sabre' jet that became famous during the Korean War were later superseded by the 'F100 Super Sabre' supersonic jet and later the first prototype 'F 111' arrived here. These and other aircraft put on airshows attended by many locals. When asked how many in our audience of 60 persons had attended one of these around half had done so. The locals and the Americans got on very well indeed. The friendships were such that between the early 50's and 1990 around 4000 weddings took place, not all from the town but from the wider area. One anecdote concerned a bus driver who often drove girls from Ipswich to the base on a Saturday night for the dances and events staged there. He commented that when he left for home after midnight the bus was always half empty. Many women went to the States, some men remained here and one of those was in the audience last night, by chance his photo and details were mentioned during the talk. Many of the US folks return regularly to the town, often visiting the museum as they ought!
There was little fear during the Cold War that I can remember. Certainly we knew of the cost if war broke out but the 'Cuban Missile Crisis' was the only time that this came close and then neither side wished to pursue this. 'MAD,' Mutually Assured Destruction, ensured no successful war was possible and few entertained the idea. Today there is more danger from small militant groups carrying even smaller nuclear weapons in hand luggage! However the first CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament') march left from Wethersfield and marched to the House of Commons. I often wondered why these folks did not march through the streets of Moscow or campaigned to get the Soviets to stand down their weapons. In war two sides participate not just one, Soviet influence was strong among these groups, feeding on fear and a one sided 'appeasement' attitude that prevailed mostly amongst the middle classes as far as I can remember. They do not gather in large groups to oppose North Korea or Iran or Israel having such weapons, is there a reason for this?
A very popular and enjoyable talk which afterwards encouraged some attending to wander again through the exhibits and even spend money in the shop. This we were delighted to encourage! It did mean we did not close until late and then I got home just in time for the 6 pm football which was acceptable after a hard day enjoying myself working. It has been a physical hard week on my knees and I am dead beat today. Coming home from St P's I had to crawl up the stairs and sleep of my exertions. Sadly I feel I must do the same tomorrow, but I will manage to do so even if I would rather be hard at work somewhere...honest.
I have just discovered this on YouTube, a video by Ross from the Wethersfield Museum which is worth a look.
