1950s Canberra Jet bomber comes home to RAF Upwood
The cockpit of a 1950s Canberra Jet bomber is now safely back home thanks to its owners Mr and Mrs Buddle who recently purchased a property at the former RAF Upwood military base, now named Valiant Square near Ramsey in Cambridgeshire. Here a collection of officers houses have been restored by developer Storey Homes to provide spacious family homes at affordable prices.
Matthew Buddle explains: “I am a great aviation enthusiast and research the history of RAF Upwood. So when I saw the cockpit of a former RAF Upwood Canberra for sale on Ebay, I seized the opportunity to combine both interests. It had been rescued from a skip at Basingstoke and was in very poor condition which seemed a great shame.”
Matthew continues: “Canberra WH887 had started life as a B2 bomber being built by Short Brothers at Belfast. It was delivered to the RAF on 29th January 1954, and was issued to 1323 Flight (Flt) at RAF Wyton, which was primarily a Canberra PR.7 Unit. In October 1955, 1323Flt was merged with RAF 542 Squadron (Sqn), and WH887 was absorbed into the combined fleet as a result, moving with it to RAF Weston Zoyland, but it was later transferred to RAF 21 Squadron at RAF Upwood in Cambridgeshire and also later became a part of the station flight. It was one of the last Canberra jet bombers to fly out of RAF Upwood in 1961. After WH887's time at RAF Upwood, WH887 was converted to a TT18 and transferred to the Royal Navy serving until 3rd December 1992, when the aircraft was grounded and finally scrapped in 2004.
Matthew adds: “At the time I lived in the former married quarters at RAF Upwood and stored the plane in one of the hangars at the base. However, Beccy and I had always wanted to upgrade to one of the former officer’s houses, so when we got the chance to move thanks to Storey Homes’ part exchange scheme, we grabbed the opportunity, especially as they kindly gave us permission to store the Canberra in our back garden!”
Matthew continues: “As well as providing a permanent and easily accessible location for the Canberra, our new home at Valiant Square is ideal for Beccy, myself and our baby daughter Philippa. With two reception rooms, a fully fitted kitchen and four bedrooms there is plenty of space for us all. Also thanks to its’ location, we have a spacious front, side and rear garden which Storey allowed us to redesign to ensure we could park our three vehicles and the plane. Most importantly, due to the property’s position, we are not overlooked and our neighbours are more than happy with our unusual garden feature!”
Matthew continues: “Because the Canberra is now at home, I can work on the restoration programme whenever I get the chance. The electrics are now working and the cooling fans and lights are working in the cockpit, which is quite a feat considering it was found in a skip. It has also been a great way of meeting other enthusiasts, including former crew members. I regularly show the Canberra at events including the Cockpit Fest where I won the Spirit of Cockpit Fest the first time I exhibited the Canberra at Newark airshow in 2009.”
Matthew adds: “Valiant Square also proved the perfect choice due to its location. I work locally and Beccy works in Peterborough, which is only about 15 miles away. In addition, the local schools have a great reputation and will be perfect for our daughter in a few years’ time.”
Valiant Square formerly provided accommodation for married officers serving at RAF Upwood, which originally opened in 1917 and closed in 1995 and which played a major role in the character and recent history of nearby Bury and Ramsey.
Due to the success of the development t, there is currently only one property available. This four bedroom detached house has been recently refurbished to include a newly fitted kitchen, utility room, dining room and a lounge on the ground floor. Upstairs there are four spacious bedrooms and a newly fitted bathroom. This property also benefit from a garage and rear garden.
The refurbishment and upgrading of existing houses means that Valiant Square offers all the contemporary comforts of a brand new home in a development that has already matured into its rural setting. The development features a woodland/country walk that meanders through the development, creating a residential enclave that blends with the beautiful open countryside that surrounds it.
Ramsey is a historic market town founded around the Benedictine Abbey in the 10th Century. The Medieval Gatehouse remains today. The bustling town provides a selection of shops, cafes and public houses, amply accommodating everyday needs. For fitness enthusiasts, a Sports Centre, bowls club, a tennis club and Ramsey Golf Club are within easy reach. Families are also well catered for, with a good selection of primary, secondary and sixth form schools.
Situated just a few minutes from the A1, running north and south and within 15 minutes of the A14 running east and west, Valiant Square provides easy access to surrounding towns and villages. Huntington is around 20 minutes away and Peterborough can be reached in 25 minutes; both are served by mainline railway stations into London.
The remaining four bedroom house in Phase 1 of Valiant Square is currently available at £255,000.
For further information, visit storey-homes.co.uk.
