25th April 2004
ARCHIVE FOOTAGE
Lost archive footage of the public unveiling ceremony of the GPR and 233 Squadron RAF/Nursing Orderlies/Ground Crew Cairn on the 25th April 2004 at the former main gate at RAF Blakehill Farm. This material is from a VHS tape that digitised back in February 2020, and which has lain in a box in the Cricklade Museum archives unwatched and forgotten for some 16 years. I’ve done my best to track down the video owner so that the source and permissions can be acknowledged, but I’ve so far been unsuccessful – I shared the footage via the Blakehill Farm Facebook Page in an attempt to credit the source.
This amature video is part of the airfield's modern history and there are some familiar faces from the Glider Pilot Regiment.
Video Clip #1
Clip number 1 of the lost archive footage of the public unveiling ceremony of the GPR and 233 Squadron cairn on the 25th April 2004 at BHF with Staff Sergeant Laurie Weeden addressing the assembled crowd.
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/Z0Y4KY537zY
Video Clip #2
Clip number 2 of the lost archive footage of the public unveiling ceremony of the GPR and 233 Squadron on the 25th April 2004 at BHF - a bible reading by Brigadier Mike Dauncey, DSO
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/a2ZjXtvSwNc
Video Clip #3
Clip number 3 of the lost archive footage of the public unveiling ceremony of the GPR and 233 Squadron on the 25th April 2004 at BHF - very early on in the clip you catch sight of the hut with a chain link fence around it - this was one of the GCQH listening buildings - Lt Col Nick Nicholls leads the 2 minute silence whilst a distant cuckoo calls.
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/T0Bbu00M5vc
Video Clip #3
Clip number 3 of the lost archive footage of the public unveiling ceremony of the GPR and 233 Squadron on the 25th April 2004 at BHF - very early on in the clip you catch sight of the hut with a chain link fence around it - this was one of the GCQH listening buildings - Lt Col Nick Nicholls leads the 2 minute silence whilst a distant cuckoo calls.
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/T0Bbu00M5vc
Video Clip #5
Clip number 5 of the lost archive footage of the public unveiling ceremony of the GPR and 233 Squadron cairn on the 25th April 2004 at BHF - the wreaths placed after the unveiling of the cairn - a brief clip
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/0eq7r3NtGBk
Video Clip #6
Clip number 6 of the lost archive footage of the public unveiling ceremony of the GPR and 233 Squadron carin on the 25th April 2004 at BHF - watch the parade passing out with a WOOF!!!
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/jpoT8MiKPf0
Video Clip #7
I've included this very short clip as I don't know who this GPR veteran is, so am I hoping someone will recognise him.
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/uDp1Ab7ifIc
Video Clip #8
The final clip (number 8) of the 25th April 2004 at BHF - a very shaky one to finish but for me this is the most important - first off at the start of the conversation you get to see the site of the original airfield entrance gate, but as the camera moves to the gentleman speaking, we hear his short but remarkable story from being wounded in the Royal Artillery and flown back to RAF Blakehill, whilst his brother was serving at Down Ampney - a story that once again underlines the service of the flying nightingale nurses. I wish I had more to share......
CLICK HERE - https://youtu.be/r73dnJB_hJE